Art Business Practices

Zone of Genius

Dwelling In Your Zone of Genius

There comes a point in every artist’s (every entrepreneur’s) business where you can’t grow without hiring someone.

It might be a paid intern, your kid, a website helper, or a bookkeeper, but you need the extra hands if you want to expand.

Who do you hire?

What will they do?

Your primary focus as an artist is on making art. That’s when you are in what Gay Hendricks calls your “Zone of Genius.” In his book, The Big Leap, Hendricks writes:

In your Zone of Genius, though the time you spend there produces great financial abundance, you do not feel that you are expending effort to produce it. In your Zone of Genius, work doesn’t feel like work.

I’m certain you know what that feels like. Bliss.

Your goal is to take those tasks off your plate that aren’t in your Zone of Genius – the tasks that keep you from making your best work. It’s the art you produce in the studio that nobody else could do.

For example, you might be competent at updating your WordPress template, but it’s not your best work. It takes you away from your best work.

Consider how lovely life would be if you could dwell in your Zone of Genius most of the time. How would that feel?

Dwelling In Your Zone of Genius Read

productive-day

How to Have a Productive Day

I am not immune to unproductive days, and I’ve had more than my fair share of them recently.

In order to get back on track, I’ve regrouped and, with the help of a coach, reminded myself of these principles. They really work – when you do them.

Start The Day With 3 Intentional Steps

I swear by the importance of these first three steps. When I don’t do them, I am significantly more overwhelmed and stressed out. Doing them brings peace of mind and helps me start my day on my terms rather than diving in and responding to everything being pushed at me.

How to Have a Productive Day Read

Rx for Artist Newsletters

Rx for Sloppy Newsletter Syndrome

There’s an epidemic going around.

Don’t panic. If it strikes, you won’t need to rush to the ER or be quarantined. But you will need to take immediate action.

Your physical health isn’t in peril, but the health of your art business is at stake.

The epidemic is SENS – Sloppy Email and Newsletter Syndrome. Let me explain the symptoms so you can self-diagnose.

Symptom 1: Missing Name

This is the most destructive of all the SENS symptoms.

Rx for Sloppy Newsletter Syndrome Read

Be the Boss of Your Inbox

How I Became the Boss of My Inbox

As I write this, I’m sitting with an inbox with far more messages than is comfortable for me. I usually keep a relatively sparse inbox, but the messages accumulate from time to time. Here’s the ugly truth. I know that 177 messages isn’t a lot for most people, but it is for me. Instead of

How I Became the Boss of My Inbox Read

Teaching at the Museum of the Southwest in Midland, Texas. Photo by Rafael Aguilera.

My Top Teaching Secrets

I have been teaching artists online and at live events since 2002. While students pay to get valuable content from me, I learn almost as much from them as they do from me. That’s one of the great joys of teaching, and why I will continue to offer live learning. I can’t possibly put all

My Top Teaching Secrets Read

Scroll to Top

Consider 44 possible reasons why your art isn't selling.

Cover of free report: When Your Art Isn't Selling
  • External Factors
  • The Work Itself
  • How You’re Showing It
  • The Buying Experience
  • How You’re Connecting
  • How You’re Promoting It

CAN I SEND YOU THE LIST?

Be sure to check all of your email folders to ensure delivery. You’ll also receive my regular news for your art business.

Privacy + Terms