To speak out or not to speak out
Yesterday The Studio Source went dark as part of the protest against SOPA and PIPA anti-piracy legislation in the United States.

I almost didn’t participate.

 A couple of online friends asked if I’d be part of the strike. I’d already scanned an article on how to make the adjustments to my site, saw a bit of code, and moved on.

“I can’t do much but be in the cheering section,” I said, “but I’m watching developments. It will affect Canadians, too.”

It seemed like a reasonable response. But it wasn’t the truth.

When a reasonable response is anything but
This is what was running in the background:

“I’m working on one site that’s driving me crazy, I’m not going to muck around with code on one I can’t afford to break. Besides, I can’t vote on either bill.”

“I don’t have a huge readership. What difference would it make?”

“No one gives a damn what I think.”

Cue the sound of screeching tires.

The monster on your shoulder
The insecure knee-jerk happens from time to time; I’m sure it’s in the Universal Writer’s Handbook (if there was such a thing), right after the table of contents, and watermarked on every page.

Recognition came as quickly as the crashing white noise of self-doubt. The remedy was simple: shovel it up and spread it on the metaphorical rosebushes.

The deeper truth? That reaction had nothing to do with public political activism.



Denying your own voice

Creatives self-censor all the time. Not for the sake of good manners, but to fit into some imaginary idea of what’s acceptable when talking about their work-especially when they’re trying to sell it.

The aversion to being labelled a braggart or blowhard turns into dead-eyed blandness. The passion behind the creativity is squashed. Simple, strong words are whipped into a polysyllabic froth of half-understood jargon or meaningless catalogue-speak.

Sometimes you panic and don’t say anything at all. Emails aren’t sent, the phone remains untouched.

Sometimes denying your own voice goes way too far. The work—the song, the book, the painting—is never made.

Going public is a risk. So is remaining silent.

The middle ground is spongy. You poke your head up, but don’t say what you really mean. You settle for what you imagine people expect.

You try to make yourself small and say you’re being sensible.

Be bold, be smart
This is what I believe: that credit should be given where it’s due. That artists should be paid for their work. Piracy does damage, although if I’m being completely honest, I’m far less worried about the dented bottom lines of big movie studios than I am about independent artists.

I chose to join the SOPA strike because I think the legislation is poorly written. It doesn’t do enough to stop piracy and has the potential to do too much damage to legitimate (or just plain unwitting) users.

But mostly I spoke out because of the reek of censorship. That slope is too slippery. There are far too many artists, academics and journalists who have been intimidated, jailed, tortured or even murdered, to ignore the implications of SOPA and PIPA.

Some people won’t agree. Some won’t take the time to look past the headlines to try to understand the issue. Some will think any kind of activism has no place in business. And that’s okay.

Edit your message, don’t censor it
Whether I’m talking about marketing, mindset, method or missions in life or in business, I won’t self-censor. I will edit my message—weed out the words that don’t need to be there—to make it clearer and stronger.

I won’t call people names or beat anyone over the head with a virtual placard. There’s too much crazed shouting already, too many people basting their words in venom. I want to engage, not alienate, to spread ideas and help build revolutions.

The small amount of activism I do here is a conscious choice. I don’t take it lightly. Whether I talk about marketing or the mindset behind it, post a video to spark marketing ideas, or advocate change, my goal is always to enlighten and empower.

These are the things I believe in.

Do I get unnerved by any of it? Of course I do. Every time I hit Publish, there’s a small part of me that cringes. Will anyone read it? Will anyone care? Will what I say help someone move forward with his professional creative practice? Will it inspire someone to say yes to her talent and her potential?

There’s always a yes in there somewhere. Always.

The same is true for you. Say what you really want to say. Make your art.

About the author: Stacey Cornelius is a writer and professional butt-kicker. She helps empower artists, designers, writers and craftspeople to do their best work and show it to the world. The images she uses are through Flickr’s Creative Commons licensing. Want more marketing info? Sign up for her free, jargon-busting foundation marketing email class right here. Want to chat? Follow Stacey on Facebook.

Several years ago Brita (the company that makes water filters) produced a truly appalling TV ad. It showed a glass of water draining at the sound of a toilet flushing, then showed the glass refilling. The caption at the end of the ad read, “Tap and toilet water come from the same source.”

I’m acutely aware of that fact.

Not because I drink waste water, because I flush my toilet with water that comes from my well.

With drinking water. Just like most people in the developed world.

I deeply resent this kind of manipulative marketing. It insults my intelligence. And it sends a lousy message.

Today is Blog Action Day
This year the issue is water. Our global supply of potable water is in decline. Supply outstrips demand. In other words, we use more than can be replenished.

Today, thousands of people are writing about water. How to conserve, how to help improve access for people in the developing world, how to make—and keep—water safe to drink.

Some people think it’s a waste of time. After Earth Day last year, a friend asked me if I saw any point in turning the lights off for an hour one day a year—if it would change anything. I told him the effort would start conversations. That people who hadn’t considered our impact on the earth would start thinking about it.  That little kids, always up for an adventure, would think shutting off all the lights would be fun, and would also ask pointed questions about why it was necessary, and make those profound statements about waste and stupidity in the way that only children can.

Millions of children die every year from waterborne diseases.

Combat crisis fatigue with one small act
We’re inundated with messages about climate change, about pollution, toxic waste and oil spills. It’s difficult to remain engaged. Add to the pile a shaky economy, and many people pull back. Roll up the sidewalk and stay in their own backyard. If something doesn’t affect them directly, it goes into the big, messy drawer labelled Denial.

Issues like water are too big. We’ve been bludgeoned with fear from so many sources, become numb. We shut down. We don’t know where to turn or what to do.

But we can do something. All of us.

We can join in the conversation. We can learn about innovation, like public buildings with green roofs that supply non-potable water.

We can start with one small act.

• Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth.
• Don’t daydream in the shower. Get in, get your business done, get out.
• If you have a garden, set up rain barrels (mine are inexpensive plastic garbage cans).
• Think about how you use water.

Then go from there.

Simple.

I’m supposed to be officially on hiatus for the summer, but I had a half-finished post in the works, which fits nicely between two guest posts, so here I am, breaking curfew.

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I spent the afternoon with a painter friend recently. We talked about her work, about our time in art school (same university, different years), about teaching and drawing, and what it means to be an artist.

We even talked a little about business. But not much.

Not much business talk was necessary. She does great work, and she knows what she needs to do to build her career. How, when, and if she does it is up to her.

You have those same choices.

All that freedom can hang you up sometimes.

Business isn’t complicated
We convince ourselves business is complicated. It may not always be easy, but it’s not complicated.

We make it that way with the things we tell ourselves.

Think about it: you need to send a promotional package to an out of town shop, gallery or client. The package is done; all that’s required is to write a short introduction letter, tuck everything in an envelope, address it, put a stamp on it and mail the damn thing.

Logistically, it’s a simple task. But it can feel very scary.

You don’t want your recipient to say no. Rejection is never any fun. If you’re early in your career, putting yourself out there to risk rejection can feel like the world is about to end. If you have some experience, you might be just plain tired of being told “No thank you.”

Never say never
Except “No” might really mean “Not yet.” It might mean you sent the wrong pictures. Maybe you sent pictures of large work and they need small things.

“No” might mean the potential client you think is a perfect fit might need a little time to get to know you better.

It might just be a matter of time, or you might need to ask a few questions. But you won’t know if you don’t send that package.

And you’ll never know if you don’t follow up.

When you choose to back away from the things you need to do to grow your professional creative practice, you don’t need to worry about someone telling you no.

You do it to yourself instead.

Sticking yourself in the rut
The more you say no the easier it gets. No risk, no rejection, no consequences, no worries.

But there are consequences. No challenge, no growth, no confidence.

Maybe you’ll get lucky and be discovered without ever trying. Maybe that one client will come looking for you—the one who opens up all the doors you never dreamed possible.

And, since we’re going down that road, maybe you’ll spend your spare time perched on a swing in your mother’s backyard singing “Someday My Prince will Come.”

It sounds ridiculous when you see it in black and white, but you know how easy it is to fall into that rut of wishing instead of doing.

Reclaim the space inside your head
What if you stop beating yourself up right now?

What if you decide to be open to the possibility of yes rather than drenching your psyche in dread?

What if you turn every significant contact, positive or negative, into a neutral learning experience? (As in, think carefully about what went right, what didn’t, and whether or not you need to refine anything, as opposed to rolling your eyes as you tell yourself you’re building more character.)

There are times when you should say no. Chronically negative or vindictive people who try to worm their way into your life. The wrong show. The client who is so unreasonable you never want to work with them again.

Obviously, when someone gives you a definitive no, you need to respect that. But you have to respect yourself and your profession, too. There is a point where you have to draw the line, when you have to stop telling yourself no just to avoid hearing it from someone else.

Have your say
Do you give yourself too many “no” messages? Do you avoid promoting your work so you can avoid rejection?

Do you have an unfinished project lurking in your consciousness? One way or another, it’s time to set it in motion.

It’s difficult to move forward when you’re surrounded by unfinished business. It might be a special order or commission you should have started already, or one of those “just in case” ideas that usually comes with stuff that requires too much storage space in your studio, or in your head.

Clear it out.

Commit to your ideas or let them go. If you commit, follow through. Don’t make up a good story about “someday.” You already know which ones are not yet and which ones are never going to happen.

Untended ideas get stagnant. Projects left undone pile up like dirty laundry. They sit quietly, fraying your focus, slowing your steps. They do nothing to serve you.

Take a deep breath and say goodbye to all the stuff that’s been gathering dust. When you let go of what doesn’t work, you make room for momentum.

Over to you: what one thing can you put in motion today that will clear your head?

Here’s a revolting development: I have run out of words.

No, that’s not true. I’ve run out of ways to string the words that regularly bounce between my ears into coherent thoughts. I’ve been trying to write for two solid days—reasoning, cajoling, threatening, and pleading ideas into solid form.

It’s not happening.

The curse of self-employment
This morning I thought about the last time I had a vacation. By “vacation,” I don’t mean taking time away from regular work to do other work, like siding a house, for example. I mean the kind where you do whatever you want. Spend the day in your pyjamas, eat popcorn for lunch, read comic books, sit and watch the wind blow.

When did I do that last? 1996.

The last time I took a real break was 14 years ago.

I am spent. Go figure.

So I’m taking a week off to do whatever the hell I want.

I could have scheduled posts to be published in my absence, but I wouldn’t be around to respond to comments, which is poor manners. And if I did show up to reply to the great people who take the time to share their thoughts, it wouldn’t be a real vacation.

One sure way to break a creative block
Sometimes the only thing you can do to get your creativity moving again, is to stop.

I will be back next Monday—World Water Day, if you’d like an event to mark it—with bells on. Or at least a few coherent thoughts. In the meantime, I leave you with a wonderful animation called “Procrastination” by John Kelly. If you’re reading this in your RSS feed and can’t see the video, you can find it here on YouTube. A big shout out to Eugen Oprea, who brought the video to my attention.

Enjoy your week, and many thanks to all of you who have come along for the ride so far. Talk to you soon.

I’m kind of on the DL this week (that would be the Disabled List for those of you who aren’t into sports). I have a knot in my shoulder blade big enough to require a name, and it’s been sending late-night scouting parties north to make me grind my teeth in my sleep. I’m not in the best of shape at the moment, so until I get myself fixed I’m trying to stay away from the keyboard.

Instead of limping through a half-baked post, I have a question for you. Actually, I have a few questions:

1. What are your biggest frustrations when it comes to marketing your work?
2. What drives you crazy about trying to create as well as run a business?
3. What are your biggest questions about selling?

Since my goal is to help you make your marketing as effective and painless as possible, I’d like to hear your most burning questions about your marketing and your creative business. Tell me the things you want to figure out and the issues you want to take care of. I’ll get busy writing articles for you, starting next week.

(You don’t have to stick to the list—that’s just to give you a few ideas.)

If I don’t get any questions I’ll just make something up, but I’d really love a deluge of queries, suggestions for posts and rants about the things that have you tearing your hair out.

You can leave a comment below, or visit the Contact page if you’d rather send an email behind the scenes.

Over to you: Fire away!

What do you do in a slump?

If you make work that relies on the sales cycle that peaks in mid-December, you’ve likely got some time on your hands right now. What are you doing with it?

Seeing your income drop is scary business, even if it’s a seasonal lull. Somewhere in the back of your mind, nestled in the midst of recession headlines, you wonder if maybe this time sales won’t rebound like they used to.

The economy goes up, the economy goes down. All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again.

You could worry.

Or you could plan.

You can do both, and chances are you will, but focus on the planning part. Don’t just hang on and wait for the slump to pass—make the most of your down time to build on what you already have.

Raise your profile
If you didn’t take a good look at your website at the start of the year, do it now. What can you do to make it better? How can you use it to interact with your audience more?

Use the opportunity to find a new blog or two to comment on. Scour social media outlets for new people to connect with.

If people are spending less today, don’t pull back on your marketing. Use every free or low-cost tool that works for you to get—and stay— in their consciousness. They’ll be more likely to remember you tomorrow.

Get Creative
If you’re busy selling, you don’t have time to make new work. Harness the stress and use the down time well. How many of us experience a surge of creativity that is directly proportionate to the amount of angst in our psyche? There’s no point in wasting a good bout of Sturm und Drang—put it to work for you.

You don’t have to make something to sell. You don’t even have to show it to anybody. Take every ounce of frustration and fear and pour it into something you do for yourself. Don’t second guess or edit, just give yourself over to the process. Allow yourself some unselfconscious freedom and see where it takes you.

Get out of your own way
You’re not the only one who struggles with worry when there’s down time. If you’re stuck in a rut, do something for somebody else to help you get out of your own head. It doesn’t have to be monumental, just earn a few Boy Scout points. Clear some dust-collecting books off your shelf and donate them to the library. Clean out your closet—it does wonders for clearing your head. Give the clothes you never wear to goodwill. Take somebody’s dog for a walk.

Invite some friends over for coffee. Better yet, see if you can round up a few guitars and maybe a harmonica. Have a campfire night with or without the fire.

If all else fails, go to Plan B
If you feel like your back is really against the wall, think about how you can raise some quick cash. Maybe you have a seconds sale. Maybe you move out some old inventory. You could look into picking up some freelance or contract work, or do some tutoring.

You don’t want to become one of those people who complains for the sake of complaining. It’s not good for the creative brain. You don’t want to become paralyzed, either. Time is a gift. Use it well.

Over to you: What’s your best advice on coping with down time? How do you deal with a slump? Do you get stuck? Or do you fight your way through?

So tell me what you want to read about here. Tell me what you need to learn, what’s bugging you, what obstacles you’re hitting, or the information you’ve been looking for but can’t find easily.

This blog is here for you—to help solve marketing problems, to spark new ideas, to get you going or haul you out of the ditch. Send me your wish list for 2010. Leave a comment, or visit the Contact page. Don’t be shy—no matter where you are in your business, there’s no such thing as a stupid question.

This year the topic is climate change.

Mark McGuinness wrote a great post about how we can convince people to take action, and points out how hard it  is to change minds.

We do like our ruts.

Al Gore told the world about the danger we’re in. People still aren’t getting it. No, wait. People are getting it. There are many individuals who are investing in solar power, changing their vehicles to run on cooking oil (which I hear isn’t too difficult if it runs on diesel), turning down their thermostats, and carpooling. The big problem is leadership. How do we change the minds of politicians?

We tell them to.

Politicians are always looking at voting issues. My member of Parliament told me if he gets a dozen contacts about something, it’s an issue. 12 messages. That’s all. That’s how much power we really have, but don’t realize it.

This gives a whole new meaning to the word “grassroots.”

So here’s my challenge: contact your government representatives. Take 10 minutes out of your day to send one email to your municipal, provincial or state, and federal reps. Tell them to wake up and get busy. Tell them they work for you, and you’d like clean air and water, thank you very much, for the next generation. Pay particular attention to your municipal government, because that’s where change really happens. It starts small and gains momentum. Google is an easy way to find government contact information.

A little bit of research. One email. A world  full of voices, and you can be part of it.