State of the nation .. kind of

It's been a busy month, lots of work coming in, and going out.  Starting to feel like this whole thing is working.  So things are good, not where I want to be but on the path.

It's still early days with a lot of work head of me.  There is the continuous marketing, the book work .. the list goes on.  And did I mention the continuous marketing?

So I'm beginning to get a feel for the whole business thing.  So here's my thought so far.

1. "When you polish a turd, it's still a turd" - Lester de Vere

What the  ..?  I hear you saying.  To me this means that you have to produce good work.  You can talk yourself in to deals, past problems, and perhaps in to those big paying jobs, but at the end of they day, you still need to produce that fantastic work that knocks their socks off.  And if you're not, then keep working and pushing and finding those opportunities that allow you to perfect your art.

2. "Face to face is best"

Well for me it is.  I do get better results, make better connections, learn more from my potential clients when I can talk to them in person.  I'm not so good on the phone.  I have to be careful of what I say, how I come across.  So a little of knowing your strengths in communicating with clients is really key.

3.  Set out the path to your goals.

For me right now it's pay the mortgage, and pay it quickly.  I hate debit, let me say it again, I HATE DEBIT!  I was never rich growing up, and I have to say that I don't like having things that aren't 100% mine.  I don't like the feeling that someone can take it way from me.  It scares me shitless to think I could loose my home.  It's a big driver for me, to get out and hustle.  So that's a very clear goal, the next step is to map out how to get there.  You might not even know, but that's ok.  Step by step something on paper, make it concrete.  For me and my business right now that's this:

Find my place in the market - find clients that I want to work with - create opportunities to do work I like - create great work that makes them want to come back to you for more - start doing mini documentaries to help build your skill level - apply for funding to help pay for the documentaries - write a screen play - make a feature documentary / movie - win an Academy Award.

Opps hold up.. how does this pay the mortgage you ask?  Well, with finding my place in the market, I charge a fair price for my work.  I know from some calculations I've done, that I want to earn $1500 a week for the business expense, future CAPEX, and give enough money to the family to pay those bills.   I know my work is good, and I know it's worth good money.

ALSO look at where your going at least once a year!  It's important to make sure that what you wanted then is want you want now.  It changes.

4.  Be good to yourself.

Here's the one that I'm not very good at.  I'm my own worst critic.  I can shred my work faster than I can do anything else.  So it's hard for me to celebrate when things go right.  It's my habit to critique my work and performance to the Nth degree.  So if things are going one way or the other, it's more important to learn lessons and apply them moving forward.  If you spend too much time kicking yourself, then you just do yourself no good.  The tight downward spiral begins.  So, be good to yourself.  Pat yourself on you back and cut yourself a bit of slack.  .. and every now and then, not all the time, do something for you.

5.  Always feel like your cup is empty.

So when I was younger, I did martial arts.  One of my sensei (teachers) said to me that every time you grade up a belt, empty your cup.  I didn't know what it meant at the time, but when I got my black belt, I began to understand what he meant.  If you think you know it all, then you can't learn anything more.  Be hungry to learn more, grow your art, you skill, your horizon.  This and only this will keep you on the edge, keep you getting better.

6.  Believe

This one is easy to say, and sometimes hard to do.  But Believe.  Believe in yourself, your art, your goals, and above all, that you can make this work.  If you don't believe, then none of your clients will.  None of them.

7.  Lean in to the pain.

I've talked about this before.  Lean in to the things you hate doing, the books, the marketing, the dealing with difficult questions.  Whatever it is, try and try and try to work things through.  If you can't fix it then get help.

So there it is.

Good shooting.