In episode 251 of The Art Biz I shared something uncomfortable: for 23 years, I’ve been teaching you what to do, creating over 80 learning modules, publishing a book and hundreds of podcast episodes. So much content!
But that’s not where the discomfort is. I’m proud of all of that.
The thing is that information is no longer scarce. It’s everywhere! My discomfort is knowing that I keep adding to the pile.
The real challenge isn’t learning more—it’s building the confidence to act on what you already know.
That realization has been changing everything about how I work. And it’s at the heart of why so many of your good intentions don’t go anywhere. That’s what the latest episode of The Art Biz podcast is about.
The Pattern We All Recognize
We’re at the beginning of a new year, so let’s talk about what typically happens in January.
You make a beautiful plan. Maybe you take a planning workshop (perhaps mine). You get clear on your goals, map out your focus projects, feel energized and ready. You’re determined to make this your best year yet.
And then February happens.
That rejection email lands. You see someone on Instagram doing everything you wish you were doing. Your inner critic pipes up: “Who do you think you are?” The plan that felt so clear in January starts to feel impossible by Valentine’s Day.
Listen
What I’ve learned from teaching planning workshops for more than five years is that most artists already know what they want to accomplish.
What derails the plan isn’t lack of ambition—it’s what happens when confidence wavers. You stop trusting yourself to follow through when doubt shows up. You stop believing in your work when comparison strikes.
Confidence (and Plan) Killers
If you recognize these patterns, you can catch them early.
Limiting Self-Talk
Listen to the phrases that loop through your mind. “I’m bad at marketing.” “I’m not a business person.”
These aren’t truths. They’re stories you’ve been telling yourself so long they feel true. Try replacing “I am bad at…” with “I am working on…” That small shift changes everything.
Beliefs That Aren't Actually True
Most of us carry old stories about what we’re capable of. Maybe a teacher told you that you weren’t business-minded. Maybe your family dismissed your art as just a hobby. These old stories cast long shadows.
Ask yourself: Where did this belief come from? Is it actually true, or is it just familiar?
Perfectionism
When you tell yourself “I’m a perfectionist,” you’re reinforcing a form of procrastination.
Perfectionism keeps you safe and small.
The antidote? Lower the bar for what counts as “done” in your business tasks. Send the imperfect email. Post the not-quite-polished photo. Done and imperfect beats unfinished every single time.
The Inner Critics
“Who do you think you are?” “Why would anyone care about your work?”
These aren’t insights—they’re just noise.
When you hear them, imagine you’re firing them. “Thank you for your input. You’re dismissed.”
Or ask them: “What are you trying to protect me from?” Usually it’s rejection or failure, which you need to learn to embrace as part of building anything meaningful.
That brings me to …
The Outside Critics
When you put your art into the world, you become vulnerable to rejection, harsh words, and sometimes worst of all, indifference.
You can (and should) learn from the right people who offer thoughtful feedback. But most criticism—especially the harsh kind—tells you more about the critic than about your work.
Confidence Builders
Confidence isn’t something you acquire once and keep forever. It comes and goes.
The work isn’t about achieving confidence—it’s about building practices that help you return to solid ground when it wavers.
Practice #1: Self-care
When you’re physically and mentally healthy, you hold your head up higher. You speak more clearly. You take more creative risks. Sleep, movement, real food, time away from screens.
When you feel strong, you’re more willing to try.
Practice #2: Visualization
Visualize the future you want and the artist you’re becoming.
As my friend Gwen Fox says: “What you think about is what you bring about.” This means directing your mental energy toward what you want to create rather than ruminating on what you fear.
Practice #3: Affirmations
Not “I am wildly successful” if that feels like a lie. But “I am someone who shows up consistently” or “I am building a sustainable art business.”
Write them. Read them daily. Repeat them when the inner critics get loud.
Practice #4: Name Your Wins
Every day, write down what you accomplished. Not what you learned, but what you did. “I sent three emails to galleries.” “I posted twice this week without overthinking it.”
Keep these wins nearby for when doubt strikes.
Practice #5: Recall the Words of Others
Keep a file labeled “Loved.” Fill it with emails that say nice things about your work, comments that make you feel good, documentation of kind words from openings or your booth.
Whenever you feel down, pull out your Loved file and remember that people appreciate you and what you do.
How to Bridge Planning and Doing
The plan itself isn’t the problem. Planning is essential. But you need both the plan and the foundation.
When you make your plan, build in practices that keep confidence (your foundation) steady.
- Daily check-ins and weekly reviews where you name wins.
- One practice per week that directly addresses a confidence killer.
- Community and accountability with people who understand the internal work required to keep showing up.
- Space to reflect and adjust, because that’s not failure. That’s responsive leadership of your own business.
For the first time, I’m offering a single-season option for Essentials: four months focused entirely on building steady confidence.
You’ll get weekly practices, community support, and access to all learning modules when you need them—not as more content to consume, but as backup when you’re ready to apply it.
The Own Your Year planning workshop that comes with Essentials gives you the plan. The season gives you the practices to meet your goals.
You already have so much knowledge. You know what needs to happen in your art business. What you’re building now is the steadiness to do it even when it’s hard. Even when you don’t feel like it. Even when the voices get loud.
