This week, I’ve really noticed, in a gut-level way, how easy it is to get tangled up in all the different ideas out there. I’ve mentioned this before, but this time it really hit home. Watching a bunch of YouTube videos or listening to lots of podcasts about promoting a business is exciting at first, but after a while it becomes overwhelming. One of my mentors from afar, Kapil Gupta MD, says that whatever you focus on, you become. He once put it as: “World creates mind, mind creates human.” That really struck me, because I realised that diving into all these resources has just made me more confused. But we do have some control over what we focus on. So this week, I’m simplifying everything and focusing on adding my artwork – those canvas prints – to the store. By this time next week, I’ll have another twenty pieces up.
I’ve also been testing Facebook ads to see how many visitors it takes to make a sale, and I ran some ads linking to a Substack post on how to buy art. A lot of people don’t know where to start, so I hope that helps. I’ll report back on that next week.
And finally, inspiration sometimes comes from unexpected places. I went to a conference called Monetate in London for my day job, which is all about conversion rate optimisation. Surprisingly, I met someone there who’s starting his own lifestyle and clothing brand. We ended up chatting about our side hustles and really inspired each other. It was great to meet someone else trying to make it outside of their day job, and that was genuinely motivating.
It’s always great to bounce ideas off people in other fields. Clothing isn’t a million miles away from art, and art could easily be added to clothing. He got me thinking about 90s hip-hop and how it’s so en vogue these days. I created these hats for myself as a way of sharing my brand while living my life.
What one do you prefer?
Best wishes,
PS So, if this post resonates with you and you know someone else who’s on a similar journey, maybe a fellow artist or a creative friend trying to find their way, go ahead and share this post with them. Think of it like giving them a little boost of inspiration and a practical nudge. After all, the best way for all of us to grow is to help each other out. So share it now and let’s spread the inspiration around!
Love this!!! I like the top hat best. I want to hear a...not so much an interview, but a dialogue...between you and your new friend with the clothing biz, especially right at the edge of how you met and inspired each other. LOVE your focus this week. (I'm so predictable!)