What did I learn from Tony Robbins about selling art without feeling like a sell-out? A lot! I just returned from a week in Florida where 3500 people from 66 countries came together to participate in Tony Robbin’s “Date With Destiny.” It was amazing and affirming. I recommend the documentary about this event, “I Am Not Your Guru.” Tony Robbins is known for teaching the science of achievement and the art of fulfillment to presidents, celebrities, athletes, and CEOs; Fortune Magazine dubbed him the CEO Whisperer. I “met” Tony Robins for the first time in September of 2004, when I went to my patron’s beach house alone with an old set of Tony Robbin’s cassette tapes and the accompanying workbook. I listened to every recording and completed each exercise. As a result, I reimagined my future. I stated:
I am so happy and grateful that I live in San Francisco and I have sold over $100,000 of my art in 2005, my first year in business.
As you can see above, I sold $103,246 of my art during my first year as a full-time artist. This Thursday during my flight back to San Francisco, it dawned on me now I’m now teaching artists from across the globe how to use some of the same core principles that I learned from Tony Robbins. Core Principle #1. 20% of your strategy and 80% of your psychology are producing your results and level of satisfaction, good or bad. The Accomplishing and Visioning Courses, are part one and two of the eight courses within The MAKING Art Making MONEY Semester road-map. These courses give artists an opportunity to gain a much deeper understanding of their psychology so that they can quickly improve it. Core Principle #2. If you want success and fulfillment on any level you have to do deep dive into your core values and base your SMARTER goals on your values, such as;
I am so happy and grateful that I live in San Francisco and I have sold over $1000,000 of my art in 2005, my first year in business.
Core Principle #3 You won’t succeed alone. Trying to build a creative enterprise alone is impossible.
- You need to have an experienced mentor who can guide you. That means a life coach, business consultant, marketing strategist, or art teacher can be excellent resources but unless they’ve made a living from their art, they can’t help you. Despite their good intentions and expertise. No one can lead you where they have not been. A mentor saves you a tremendous amount of time, money, and frustration.
- You need to have a supportive and like-minded community. Jealousy and competition are toxic for an artist who is trying to take their success to the next level yet it’s what is infecting most artist communities. This negative dynamic is fueled by the scarcity and permission-based art establishment.
People need people. As my late friend Scott Dismore used to say,
A Facebook Friend, is not a friend.
Artists need love and connection to thrive. That’s why I give my students exclusive access to an incredibly supportive, kind, and savvy global community of like-minded artists. My students must complete exercises by meeting with other students via live video calls, no phone calls. Many of them form solid and long lasting friendships. I also do not allow my students to post their art in our private FaceBook group. Why? So that we can keep our conversations focused on selling our art and avoid devolving into futile art critiques. “Futile art critiques?” Yes! When it comes to making your art you should only be talking to someone who has more mastery over your particular artistic medium than you. When it come to selling your art the only art critic you must concern yourself with is your prospect and those who can help you reach your target market. No one else’s opinion counts. Not even your own 😉
