The Studio Source.com

Procrastinating yourself into a panic isn’t a good long-term business strategy. You’ll burn out, and maybe even regret turning something you love into a business.

Making art is the fun part, and that’s good—it’s the most important component of a successful creative practice. But you still have to get busy selling (and taking care of all your business-business stuff).

Have you given some serious thought about what motivates you? Would you like someone to hang out with you in your studio to get you moving?

You’re creative. You can conjure up your very own inner motivator. You just need to figure out what gets you moving. From there, you can let your imagination run.

Need a few ideas? Try these:

• The Drill Sargeant
  “Come on, get off your lazy butt, you’re not going to get anywhere watching Muppet Show videos on YouTube. Get moving and make that phone call.”
• The Cheerleader
  “Okay, girl, let’s rock this. Pick up the phone, your fans are waiting. Give them some love. You’re the bomb, let’s go!”
• The Warm & Fuzzy Coach
  “I know this is out of your comfort zone, but it’s okay. Trust yourself and know little mistakes aren’t disasters, they’re part of being human. Just breathe.”
• The Mind/Body Trainer
  “Think about how you feel physically when you procrastinate. Is there a heaviness somewhere in your body? An unpleasant sensation in your stomach? Now think about how you feel when you finish a task, especially when it’s something you don’t enjoy doing. Do you have a sense of relief? Does your body feel lighter?”
• The Consummate Professional
  “You’ve made a commitment to a professional creative practice. Marketing is an essential part of being in business. It’s one piece of the big picture. Make your list of things to do, prioritize, and take action. It’s what professionals do.”
• The Zen (or Jedi) Master
  “This is the path you’ve chosen. Remain true to your path. Everything you do is a learning experience. Trust your intuition. Respect the process and move forward. Remember fear is simply a creation of your perceptions. You can choose your response.”

(If you were wondering, those motivators didn’t come out of a textbook—I made them up to help get the ideas flowing. I may be a little off with the Zen/Jedi Master, since I don’t have any actual Zen or Jedi training. Feel free to correct me.)

Pick your favourite, make a combination that works for you, or conjure up a motivator of your own. Draw a picture, use a photograph of someone who represents the qualities you admire, or put up a written description of your motivator in your studio. Call that voice when you  need it, and refine your process until you find a method that works best for you.

And yes, I do watch Muppet Show videos on YouTube, this one’s my favourite.

Over to you: what’s your favourite way to conquer procrastination?