The bio on my twitter page goes like this "a creative entrepreneur who will never be boxed in, but if you insist on putting me in a box, you can start with artist"
You may be familiar with the story about why I decided to name my business 'Creative Thursday'? Well it had to do with the sentiment above. I knew when I named my company 'Creative Thursday' it would allow me to pursue any and all of my creative passions. And boy has it.
That's just the thing. I'm sitting here today a week before I head off to Alt to be a speaker, wondering who I am exactly?
Am I an
Artist?
blogger?
in person teacher?
online teacher?
speaker?
fabric designer?
sales rep?
accountant?
shipper?
house cleaner?
cook?
writer?
collaborator?
online community leader?
online personality?
podcaster?
designer?
girlfriend?
friend?
daughter?
a cat caretaker? ;)
The truth is I don't really have time to write this blog post today but blogging is a creative expression I love and inspiration struck. And I promised myself coming into this new year, when creative inspiration strikes I would do my best to follow it. BECAUSE, that's why I started this business!!!! But, here's the thing...I am now in a position where inspiration strikes in so many areas, I cannot possibly follow them all simultaneously and still do the daily tasks of maintaining a business and a life.
I know I've talked about balance many times on this blog. And I am making progress, but as I make progress, it seems I am also adding more to my repertoire. I accept full responsibility for this. This really became clear when yesterday morning I had all the best intentions of straightening my studio. I was into the straightening a good 30 minutes and the phone rang.
- It was my art director with the fabric company. I was expecting her call and it was important that we connect about the fabric designs. Also due to the time difference between us there are only certain times we can connect.
- Then I realized that I still needed to prepare some final details in the 'fish bowl' for the new group of participants who are joining me for this session.
- Then I made a call to my licensing company announcing the new fabric line and discussing how to proceed on the next project we have in the works
- The usual emailing peppered throughout these tasks
- A moment for eating
- Ordering some things online that I need for my trip next week
- Re-learning how to add a particular widget to my blog, one that I have added before, 5 months ago, only to have completely forgotten how to do it...and even with step by step instructions, it still took me 1 1/2 hours to complete. Part of that 1 1/2 hrs. was spent simply finding the step by step instructions. Oi!
- Tweeting throughout this experience to keep my social media presence alive and strong
- And then it was 4:30 pm. I had a headache and I was still tripping over boxes in my studio. I had not yet returned a call from a friend about a tentative plan we have for this week, I also had not even touched the images I need to prepare for my designer who is working on my website re-design...
No need to continue on with the list. I'm sure many of you can relate to this kind of day. For the record, this is not a 'complaint post'. {although I will openly complain about how technical challenges drain my mind and my time} You know I love what I do but when I write it down like this, I know that quite often I have one too many plates spinning in the air simultaneously. I am actually pretty good at the plate spinning thing, but when it consumes and exhausts me ~ not so good.
Sean and I have regular discussions about men and women and our working habits; primarily about men's ability to focus and women's ability to multi-task. I have no doubt that there is truth to this, as was evidenced by the fact that when I told Sean what I tried accomplishing yesterday, he said "I don't know how you do it?" Truth is neither do I.
Which brings me to the point I want to make with this post. All of these streams I have flowing to and from my business at the present time, all feel right. I am excited about them. I am inspired. Not to mention multiple streams of income is in my opinion a necessity for the self-employed. But. Here's my question.
Would my business thrive more if I wore fewer hats? Would I thrive more?
Overall I have a steadily growing business, but am I slowing down one side by focusing on another? Painting and teaching are two different disciplines. {btw the photos above, one of me teaching at Squam and the other is the only one I could find of me in front of my art at my very first, ever show, a group show that Outi, Cathy, Melissa, Patricia and I put on that we called 'the darklings' 2005} What if I was just a painter? Blogging by writing or photography, or shooting a video, also different disciplines. Some of these activities are more internally focused while others are more externally focused. What if I was just a blogger? Am I the kind of person that would feel satisfied focusing on just one discipline?
All of these disciplines are creative, and all of them feed me. It's just my nature to get inspired and want to explore all of it. The problem happens when I don't give my full attention to any one discipline when I am in it. I'm almost always thinking of that 'other thing' I should be doing. The challenge with that is I never fully get into a momentum with one type of activity which is where I really do my best work. I think it's fair to say that the way the world is operating today, it seems to be more challenging than ever to stay focused. It's almost like you have to shut yourself away and be fiercely disciplined and specific about what you are giving your attention to.
I will do it. I will learn to live and work with ease. Which is why I'm asking myself these questions only 12 days in to this new year. {It's true, I am already longing to go back to my holiday vacation time} I will flow gently with the stream, not against it. I will not let the stream feel like a rapid that is tossing and speeding me through my life.
Since I don't have the answer to these questions yet, the best I can do is recognize that I did do something different yesterday. When I felt myself hit my limit. I stopped cold. I stepped away from the messy studio and my work, relaxed with Sean and I think we may have even left dirty dishes in the sink. I reminded myself that everything will get done. It always does.
Since I know I'm not alone in these experiences, how are you all finding your way with this out there? Do you even have time to read a post this lengthy these days? Do you feel split?
phone is off. email is closed. twitter is closed. I will finish straightening my studio now.
