Want to thrive -- not just survive -- in your indie artist/entrepreneur/content creator life?
You. Must. Delegate.
One of the many lessons we're all learning from Covid is that time and health are precious. Manage your resources. Stop chasing false expectations. Who benefits when you work yourself to death? I have artist friends who have had strokes. I've had bookseller friends who have died. These tragic scenarios are lifechanging for families and friends left behind -- and may have been preventable.
You must set boundries. Work should help you grow and thrive. Don't buy into the myth that you must sacrifice yourself.
There are parts of your job only YOU can do. Dedicate your time and energy for that work. For many other business life related tasks, you must let go. Let the right professional do it better because it's their area of expertise. Find the right resources.
If you're self-employed, you are a business entity.
Businesses have needs. Not to mention legal requirements and tax obligations.You need to keep your buiness life in order. That means doing your taxes, and knowing how the tax laws impact you, and possibly benefit you. Your business legal documents must be prepared (and/or reviewed).
You don't have to master these tasks. Or dread them. You do have to get them done. You may want to wear all the hats of these jobs, but you only have one head. You will undermine your indie art life success by taking on too many obligations.
Set boundaries to protect yourself and your family.
You can't do everything. You'll only put your most precious resources in jeopardy -- your physical and mental health.
Educate yourself. There are online and free resources via the Small Business Adminstration, as well as tutorials on websites and You Tube. Attend legal/small business workshops/panels at conventions. That's a great way to vet professionals in those areas. Panel speakers are often open to taking on new clients. Do your homework on professional services. Find pros whose values align with yours. It will help you feel more comfortable with them. You want go into these client-professional relationships knowing their business/service model fits with what you need.
For many years now, I've been a monthly subscriber to the Creators Legal Program https://counselforcreators.com/creators-legal-program/
This subscription program is offered by the intellecutal property (IP) and small business law firm, Counsel for Creators (C4C) https://counselforcreators.com/
I found this firm via an artist friend who was a client. One of the things I apprecaited about the firm from the start was their niche of educating artists and making legal needs for indie artists affordable.
With the monthly subscription fee of $95, you'll have access to the program's monthly Q and A sessions on topics like taxes, small business law, copyright law developments, etc. Other benefits include making appointments for phone consultations, and access to the library of archived online sessions.
The subcription fee is a great value. Imagine you have a lawyer friend. You could take them to dinner once a month to pick their brain about small business/IP law. You could easily be on the hook for $100 for that dinner, and you'd have limited time with them. With the subscription service, you have unlimited access to get all your questions answered. You also get educed fees for legal services, and the opportunity to participate in sessions with professionals in other small business life areas.
A recent online session covered a topic that applies to everyone -- "Mindset is Everything"
During this session, I learned some top tips for staying focused and motivated. Something we all need as we're emerging from quarantine time.
In this blog post, I'll share some of my notes about ANTs and more from this online QandA
First -- here's the intro for this session from C4C Facebook page:
"Join Jon, Chuong and Mindset coach Judith Gordon as they discuss how creative business owners of all stripes can build a winning mindset.
Photo of Judith Gordon https://leaderesq.net/
✅How to master productivity by managing
energy rather than time.
✅ Why "hustle culture" is a trap.
✅ How to develop emotional intelligence.
✅ Ways to work with your strengths and
weaknesses."
-----------------------------------------
Here are notes I jotted down during the one hour online session...
"What
is mindset..???
Collective
unique attitudes and beliefs. Our own attitudes and outlooks. What drives the
way we see the world.
Why
is mindset important to business owners?
Makes
a difference in terms of progress. Need supportive mindset. Being too
self-critical will impede progress. Positive mindset helps achieve business and
personal goals. You have to align beliefs with goals. Become aware of subtle
thoughts and criticisms that are driving us.
Conditioning…
Everyone
has same structural brain but no two brains are alike. Our neuro pathways are formed
based on experiences These help form mindset – based on experience of the
world. Is your mindset Fearful?Welcoming/safe? As adults, we need to
examine our mindset. What strategies are helpful. Offices are an environment akin to day care (like for toddlers)…
actions reflect experiences.
What’s driving me? What’s motivating me?
Mood. Mindset. Motivations – these are the 3 “M’s” of high performance
We are influenced by past events. But mindset/experience aren’t fixed. Can be changed
Neuro-plasticity..
our brains change based on information
Want to change habits?… shift/change in brain, patterns etc Observe thoughts, esp the subtle ones. Stop and challenge thinking that is not helpful --
“Does
this serve me”
Develop thinking plans that are in your best interest. How do we know if mindset is working for us? Are your thoughts supportive and helpful.
We all go into victim mode… criticize too much etc. Most of our daily thoughts are negative and repetitive. Our brain is always surveying the landscape looking for danger/threats
ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts) get in the way
Shoo them away...
Starting …. Or pivoting… a business is full of risk. How we feel about risk can moderate how we feel overall. Having the "power throught it" mindset can get us into trouble.
More reflective means better outcomes. Don't lump everything together as “I’m stressed”.. or "I’m fine. Being general/judgemental is nor helpful.
To get to change, drill down to emotion. Emotions are data. Get specific.
For example -- you're feeling "I'm stressed" -- why? Because you're waiting for info to meet deadline. Articulte your feelings -- Anxious and frustrated that colleague didn’t get back to me with info needed.
Naming the feeling can help dissipate the burden. Knowing emotion can help define action/solution.
ID your emotions -- this will calm the brain and make better decisions. Name it. Visualize emotion. Decide action/how you want to respond
Don't let generalized judgement calls spiral into panic mode. Make molehills manageable.. not churned into mountains.
Not
stepping back can lead to conflict. Step back and look for other ways to act
than quick anger/reaction.
Cease
and desist letters can have a friendly tone. That approach can bring better
response.
Example of Jack
Daniels trademark warning letter…. The tone is friendly. Not bullies. They use empathy and stress
tradition of their brand.
Trust. Curiosity. Empathy… these words help create more helpful mindset.
Noticing
all the ANTs can make them swarm, but they calm down and diminish over time.
Approach bad habits with curiosity… why am I doing this. How is this helping me? Understanding your mindset about bad habits helps find more impactful actions.
What
about confronting others who have difficult mindset. Don’t internalize
someone else poor behavior. That’s on them. It’s a reflection of where they’re
coming from.
Disconnect. Don’t own someone elses bad behavior. “we’ll get further faster if we can all just calm down”
Find ways to elevate conversation/communication vs getting defensive. Focus on what is the message they are trying get across.
It takes time, but we can learn to communicate better.
"Kill them with kindness" is the cliche, but it works. Approach others with respect can get more results. But some people are just bullies/aggressive. Pivot to elevate…. Can diffuse hostility. Humor can help if that’s your strength.
Attacking
back and forth just ratchets everything up…. Rarely resolves.
Find allies… not gossip/triangulation.. Allies will help you find solutions…not perpetuate problems.
Productivity is more about energy vs time. How are you approaching projects? How distracted are you?
Multi-tasking can deplete focus/energy. How we feel when we approach task can be important. Find steps to move your attitude away from resentment/aggravation. We’re most productive in relaxed, slightly happy state.
Seeing the longer term goal/outcome can help reset away from current work/grind to get task done.
What energy are you putting into task? Positive helpful mental energy. Physical drain can compromise work. The drain/downshift that certain tasks inspire (have to do taxes)
All can influence performance of tasks
Identify it… why am I not doing this? Find interesting motivation to get the task done. Top athletes need to practice skills and keep motivation up.
Creatives/indie business owners are “Cognitive athletes”… our ability to do our jobs is threshold to entry. Be in touch with why we’re doing this work to keep energy and productivity on track.
Part of every job/career is doing things you don’t want to do. Getting those tasks done helps achieve goals. Get/stay on successful path.
Cut down on distractions. Monotask. Hide all devices – put phone/iPad in a drawer. Out of sight.
Set
a timer for 20-40 mins. You’ll get more done in that time.
Drink water! Eat healthy food. Your brain requires oxygen nutrients and water to think.
Hydration is essential to create thoughts. Brain fog, Irritability, headaches, bad mood can be signs of dehydration.
Anxiety attacks can be brought on by dehydration.
We
have to pay attention to our physiological container.
Self-care will make us more productive.
Mindset – how do we optimize our experience. How we view the world dictates how much we enjoy it. We all have challenges.
We can’t be creative if we’re in a highly stressed state.
Staying
focused while staying home…
Break up your tasks. Alternate things that are self-supporting with some exercise/fresh air. Move around to pump up again… breath deeply. Notice your thoughts…. Have alternative thoughts/options. Text a colleague.
Zoom
fatigue is real.
Music
is helpful.
Comedy is helpful… TV shows, stand-up, radio
Don’t just work straight through your day. Processing and creativity happens when we are off -task/non-targeted/physical.
Focused state vs. diffused state. It's downtime when we can access solutions. The “best ideas in the shower” scenario.
How
to prioritize ---
Break
down into tasks that are Professional and ones that are personal.
What
has to happen today to make this a productive/good day.
2-3
things. How do you feel about them…. Neutral, happy, draining.
Find
ways to get to energizing mindset for the draining tasks.
If
it’s going to take a long time, break it up.
You need a break after each task.
Schedule
those things that will support us:
Take that walk. Drink that water. Talk to that friend/colleague.
At
end of day, check in with “what went right today.”
Can be an energizing/satisfying perspective.
-----------------------------------------
You can access replays of this session and past sessions as perk of montly subscription to legal service. https://counselforcreators.com/creators-legal-program/
Here's "about us" info and photos of the C4C team from their website
https://counselforcreators.com/about/:
"Chuong Bui is a seasoned entertainment attorney and partner at Counsel for Creators LLP based in Los Angeles, California. His practice includes entertainment and commercial transactions, copyright, trademark, and corporate law.
His years providing legal support on a broad range of entertainment, technology, and artistic ventures (including independent film production, post-production, digital content production, music, book publishing, multimedia art, illustrations, public art, and software development) make him a valuable ally for creative businesses. Over his career he has represented a wide range of creative clients – from filmmakers, musicians, fine artists, and book publishers to technology startups and serial entrepreneurs.
Prior to Counsel for Creators, Chuong successfully launched and managed his own practice, where he served as counsel on a number of independent films and new media projects both in the United States and Asia. He’s also served as an Of Counsel Attorney with TDL International Law Firm, where he managed the firm’s entertainment and media practice and advised on several international media productions.
Having honed his skills in one of the nation’s top entertainment law programs, he continues to mentor emerging artists, advise several media organizations and technology professionals, and he remains active in the Southern California arts community.
Chuong received his B.A. (Economics) from the University of California, Berkeley and his J.D. from Loyola Law School. Admitted to practice in California. He was selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2019.
In his spare time Chuong enjoys fitness, digging for (and occasionally DJing) rare & independent dance music, and spending time with his son. He is a meditation advocate."
"Spencer Cross is a Los Angeles-based former design professional and creative community organizer turned lawyer for creative professionals.
Before transitioning to law, he spent nearly two decades as a designer and art director in the music and entertainment industry, including ten years as creative director of his own boutique design firm.
Spencer now leverages that extensive experience to educate and empower filmmakers, writers, authors, designers, artists, developers, and other creatives to do better work.
His practice includes entertainment, commercial transactions, internet and technology, copyright, trademark, and art law.
Spencer received a B.S. in journalism from the University of Colorado Boulder.
He graduated summa cum laude from the University of California Irvine School of Law, where he also received ample hands-on clinical experience providing pro-bono legal services to intellectual property, technology, and arts clients. He is admitted to practice in California."
"Jon Tobin is a partner and attorney at Counsel for Creators, and is focused on helping creative professionals and businesses use the law to succeed.
A graduate of the UCLA School of Law, he studied intellectual property, business law and international law under the nation’s top-ranked practitioners. While at UCLA Law he served as one of two editors-in-chief of the UCLA Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs. Before studying law he worked for years as a designer and software developer, so he knows what it means to work in creative industries and how things actually get done.
He deals with matters involving copyrights, trademarks, software, design, licensing, business, art law and contracts.
Jon speaks and writes regularly about legal issues facing technology and creative ventures and has given talks for the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the California Community Foundation, UCLA Law, and at a variety of design and technology conferences."
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