Comments on: Art Marketing Action: Trick and Treat Yourself

By: Alyson B. Stanfield

Alyson B. Stanfield — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:33:13 +0000

Sari: And I do apologize if it sounded mean. I was trying to be semi-funny and bring up my no-excuses them. Humor doesn’t always show through on these things–and isn’t always appropriate.

By: Alyson B. Stanfield

Alyson B. Stanfield — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:28:23 +0000

Patricia: Maybe the worst that could happen is that you don’t get it written and miss an opportunity. I know how hard these things are to write! Always takes me several drafts and at least a week.

Sari: Okay, I guess I’m mean. But I did write a whole book about countering excuses.

By: Sari Grove

Sari Grove — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:53:10 +0000

Hey, that sounds kindof mean, I know where you are coming from, but people who make excuses are not exactly evil… I know you are an A type, but many of those excuses people are Bs & Cs & D types…”A” types get excuses from other types because they just can’t keep up with the A type pace-… wasting time? (I am wounded…)

By: Patricia C Vener

Patricia C Vener — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:19:48 +0000

Alyson, the worst that could happen is that I come off like an idiot. Not terribly likely, really. The worst we imagine is often times not really the worst that is at all realistic. Realistically? The worst that could happen is that nothing happens. And that’s not the end of the world. But what one knows intellectually is not always what one “knows” emotionally.

So far I’m hating everything I write. I’m perhaps too close to it?

By: Alyson B. Stanfield

Alyson B. Stanfield — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:33:27 +0000

Walter: I’m not a rewards (treats) person either. For me, it’s the thrill of the accomplishment that is reward enough.

Philip: I love that. “If Edward Hopper could do it, I can, too.” Great way to look at situations.

Tina: I not only set a timer, but am using a stopwatch to so I can see how long it takes me to do stuff. There’s this certain desire to get it done fast!

Sari: “Don’t” lists are fantastic! I’ll share one of mine: “Don’t waste time with people who make excuses.” But that’s not really a secret anymore, is it?

Patricia: Hopefully now that you shared it you can stop procrastinating. What’s the worst that could happen?

By: Patricia C Vener

Patricia C Vener — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:00:19 +0000

It’s not on your list, but the ONE task I am procrastinating at the moment is creating and sending out a Press Release for my hybrid Open Studio Exhibit and sale that includes me, two other artisans and a tea room.

I knew it scared me but I didn’t realize how much until I decided to actually do a Press Release.

By: Sari Grove

Sari Grove — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:31:35 +0000

I am going to share my new thing…It’s good. I have been making ” To Don’t ” Lists… an excellent time saver, & eradicates guilt … (You know, things you don’t need to do…) I’m not going to give examples, so you can just imagine the possibilities…happy hallowe’en!

By: Tina Mammoser

Tina Mammoser — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:03:56 +0000

Spot on as always Alyson. I learned so many of these tricks from you. My main two are a calendar and a timer. Some items are now specifically monthly or weekly tasks and marked on a specific DATE. (just saying monthly and having that list somewhere doesn’t work for me) I also use the timer a whole lot in the studio! Sometimes even for painting, because like you say that does need a nudge once in a while! The timer can be a way to do the baby step too; if you know you have 15 minutes “clean the desk” can become “sort the top pile into categories” for now.

By: Philip Koch

Philip Koch — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:13:46 +0000

This trick and treat list is good. I use a lot of these techniques on myself.
One additional thing that helps me is to think about the artists from the past that I admire- all of them, in their own way, had to deal with same to-do lists we artists of today face. If Edward Hopper had to do it and managed to, then I can too.

By: Walter Hawn

Walter Hawn — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:06:47 +0000

As Hazel Dooney said in a blog post a few days ago: “Putting off something – or procrastinating about it – is a vain attempt to stop time.”

I’ve used some of your tricks to get moving, but never have had any success with the bribe-me business. I always welsh on the deal. Take the bribe but forget the task. I’m a bad politician.