Selling Art, Not Selling Out

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“There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars.” – Jack Kerouac Quote Art

“There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars.” – Jack Kerouac

Print available on Society6.

At some point in our lives we all feel a sense of dread. The one that sneaks up on you like a thief in the night. The one that makes you realize that life is short. It’s a feeling of being trapped.

You are trapped by your job, social status, or relationships. It is dubbed the mid-life or even quarter-life crisis.

[bctt tweet=”Go out and explore the world.”]

I for one think this is a flawed way to view life. We are only on Earth for a short amount of time, why spend your time worrying? Instead, go out and explore the world.

The world is too big of a place to to feel trapped. There are so many things to do. So many places to discover.

I’ve made it my mission in life to travel as much as possible. I’ve visited places far and wide, from cities in my home state of Florida to cities as far as Tokyo, Japan. In each one I’ve discovered something that shows me the wonders of life.

When you travel, you get to experience cultures far different from the one that you’re used to. You meet people who have different values and customs, but you also realize how much we all have in common.

The world has so much to offer us. Why constrain yourself to the world you know? Take that stroll under the stars.

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Photo by Zach Dischner

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney Quote Art

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney

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Everyone has regrets in life. There is always something we could have done. Something we should have taken action on.

One great thing about the internet is you find so much inspiration online. Pinterest and Tumblr provide endless fashion inspiration for the masses. The only problem is, many times, the images you find have no attribution. I thought I had the solution for this problem.

I started my last site Who Designed It years ago. My idea was, people could send in images of the outfits they saw online that had no attribution. Then the community on the site could help them find where to buy it or something similar to it.

I told many people about my grand visions for the site. I thought it was going to revolutionize the way people shopped online.

The only problem was, I didn’t take action on it. Instead of building the product I envisioned in my mind, I turned it into a blog. I was going to build up a readership, then introduce them to my new idea when the time was right. Then, a few years later, I saw that someone created the vision I had imagined years before. I was too late.

[bctt tweet=”Don’t let fear get in the way of doing something great.”]

I’m not telling you this so you can feel sorry for me. I’m telling you this because I learned a big lesson from this experience. If you have a vision you believe in, don’t just talk about it. Do it. Don’t let fear get in the way of doing something great.

I don’t know if my idea would have failed or succeeded, but at least I would have taken the chance. Don’t let fear get in the way of getting started. Quit talking and begin doing.

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Have a quote that inspires you? Leave it in the comments and you might see it as an art piece!

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn Quote Art

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn

Print available on Society6.

Life is a lot like surfing.

The ocean provides an endless number of waves. No matter what you do, there is no way to stop them from coming. They are a fixture of the Earth as much as the ground we walk on and the air we breathe.

Much like the waves of the ocean, life constantly throws obstacles at you. No matter how many you overcome, another will take its place. There’s no point in trying to stop them. Instead we should embrace them.

Surfing allows you to ride the waves as they come. Each one is a new challenge waiting to be conquered. Each one provides a new thrill. Instead of letting the waves push you around, you learn to surf.

The same is true with obstacles in your life. Instead of complaining about them and letting them defeat you, learn to overcome them. How can you view the obstacle as a wave to be conquered? How can you turn that new obstacle into a thrill?

[bctt tweet=”Obstacles provide the perfect opportunity to learn and grow. “]

Obstacles provide the perfect opportunity to learn and grow. So use that to your advantage.

Don’t let the waves crash down on you. Take your surfboard out onto the waters and ride those waves.

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Photo by Flickr user stf-o

“The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work.” – Michael Jackson Quote Art

“The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work.” – Michael Jackson

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[bctt tweet=”If you want to learn, learn from the best.”]

If you want to learn, learn from the best. People throughout human history have turned to those who came before them. They studied and dissected the masters of their chosen craft and saw great results because of it. You can see influences throughout the works of great artists and thinkers.

People these days have a tendency to gravitate towards the newest thing. They read the latest blog posts just so they can test out another new strategy. Yet, when they try to use them, they don’t get anywhere near the results. The mistake isn’t in the execution, it’s in the constant desire to get the fastest results.

Instead of testing every new tip and trick you encounter, study the principles behind them first. Every new strategy has been influenced by the masters from the past. Instead of asking how someone accomplished a task, ask why they did it. It is only by understanding why someone did something that you will understand how they did it.

[bctt tweet=” Achieving success is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”]

If you are looking to become great at your chosen craft, you must first look at the masters who came before you. Learn from their mistakes. Dissect what made them great. Achieving success is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Take your time and be deliberate about your studies.

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“Overcome the notion that you must be regular. It robs you of the chance to be extraordinary.” – Uta Hagen Quote Art

“Overcome the notion that you must be regular. It robs you of the chance to be extraordinary.” – Uta Hagen

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Since the advent of the assembly line, we have built society to follow a singular path through life. We have aimed for efficiency in everything we do.

You go to school and learn the same things as everyone else. You graduate from high school and go to college so you can get a job working 40 hours a week.

Then you get married, buy a few cars, get a house, and work for 40+ years so you can retire. This is the so-called American dream.

Is that all there is to life? Are we destined to follow the same path as everyone else? Are we happy living life on auto-pilot?

You don’t have to live life this way. When you live an ordinary life, you are denying yourself the opportunity to do something incredible. Who says you have to settle?

[bctt tweet=”Go beyond the call of duty and do something that will leave a legacy.”]

The only way to break from the shackles of an ordinary life is to do something extraordinary. Find ways you can make a lasting impact. Go beyond the call of duty and do something that will leave a legacy.

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“Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe” – Oprah Winfrey Quote Art

“Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe” – Oprah Winfrey

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Pessimism is one of the great tragedies of life. Just take a moment and reflect on your life. Despite what the media will have you believe, we live in the safest time in human history. We live in a time where you can communicate instantly with people across the world. We live in a time where people can build audiences in the millions without going through the gatekeepers of the past. Why are we so negative?

We are letting those in charge dictate what we believe. We tell children every day there is only one way to go through life. Graduate from high school, go to college, find a job, get married, work for forty years, and be grateful for what you have. If you don’t follow that exact formula, you are deemed a failure. What if you don’t want to follow that path? What if you want to create a path for yourself?

When I was a child, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I was going to be a Disney animator. Then, in high school, I wanted to be an architect, and in college I wanted to work in the movies. I never pursued those dreams, but that is okay. Everything I have done has led me to where I am now.

[bctt tweet=”I believe the greatest path to success is by helping others achieve success.”]

I have found my vision for the future. I want to be a difference maker. Instead of pursuing a career path for myself, I want to help other artists pursue a path of their own. I have gone from only thinking about myself to thinking about others. I believe the greatest path to success is by helping others achieve success.

[bctt tweet=”Discover your grand vision for life and pursue it without abandon…”]

We only get one chance at life on Earth. Why let others dictate our lives for us? Discover your grand vision for life and pursue it without abandon because you can only achieve what you believe. When you are near the end of your life, do you want to look back in regret or do you want to look back and celebrate everything you’ve done?

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Photo by Connor Burton

“Warriors keep moving forward. Worriers do little and play it safe. Be a warrior, not a worrier.” – Bob Baker Quote Art

“Warriors keep moving forward. Worriers do little and play it safe. Be a warrior, not a worrier.” – Bob Baker

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There are two ways you can live your life. You can live the ambitious life of a warrior or the fearful life of a worrier.

The warrior chooses to march on despite all odds. They figure their way out of jams. They take what they are given and run with it, even if that means they might fail.

The worrier is content exactly where they are. They are afraid of what might happen if they fail. They take no chances and hope luck will take care of them.

What separates one from the other? Persistence. When adversity strikes, warriors do not give up. They are determined to succeed, no matter the obstacle. Worriers shrink and shrivel. They give up before they’ve even begun.

[bctt tweet=”Warriors conquer the world, worriers sit at home and let them.”]

If you are happy where you are, stay a worrier. It makes it easier for the rest of us. If you are tired of waiting around for something good to happen to you, become a warrior. Warriors conquer the world, worriers sit at home and let them.

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“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Edmund Hillary

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Edmund Hillary

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Every goal you have is like a mountain waiting to be scaled. Before you begin your ascent, you are filled with hope and excitement. You believe you can accomplish anything. Then you hit some unforeseen obstacles. Do you quit in the face of adversity or continue on?

If you are like many people, you give up. You are defeated and humiliated. “I can’t do it.” “It’s too difficult.” When you let these thoughts creep into your head, you have already lost.

What separates those who scale the mountain of adversity versus those who give up?

[bctt tweet=”Our attitude affects everything we do.”]

The answer lies within ourselves. Our attitude affects everything we do. If you approach obstacles with a stoic mindset, you will have a much greater chance of success. Instead of viewing adversity as a hindrance, think of it as an opportunity to stretch your capabilities. How can you approach this problem in a new way? What can you do to turn that obstacle into a solution?

[bctt tweet=”Conquering the unconquerable is much more satisfying than giving up.”]

Conquering the unconquerable is much more satisfying than giving up. Don’t let a defeatist attitude get in the way of accomplishing your goals. Face your fear head on and don’t give in.

When we are finally reach the peak of the mountain top, we know it was worth it. Our accomplishments do not lie in the goal we’ve achieved, but in our ability to achieve that goal.

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Photo by Zach Dischner

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Quote Art

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

This quote is often misattributed to Abraham Lincoln.

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When you consider starting on a new venture, your excitement and enthusiasm is unparalleled. You have so many ideas. It has to work this time. Sure you’ve failed those other times, but this time is different.

Fast forward a year or two later and your enthusiasm has turned into distress. Things aren’t going as you originally planned. Your idea has worked for others, why isn’t it working for you?

You didn’t prepare. Enthusiasm is a wonderful thing, if given the proper direction. Otherwise, it will lead you down the wrong path. I have encountered this problem more than a few times in my life. Each time, my failure could be attributed to a lack of preparation.

One thing we often ignore when embarking on a new idea or project is doing our homework. We get so caught up in our idea that we ignore the necessary work that must be done before we begin. Without doing this work, we wander aimlessly trying to figure out what works. There is no rhyme or reason to our actions.

[bctt tweet=”If you want your idea to succeed you must front-load the work.”]

If you want your idea to succeed you must front-load the work. Do your research and determine whether your idea is viable at the beginning, not at the middle or end, of your project. To get started, you can ask yourself the 5 W questions:

  • Who benefits from this project?
  • What will make this project a success?
  • When do I plan on releasing this project to the world?
  • Where can I promote this project?
  • Why am I doing this project?

[bctt tweet=”Don’t get bogged down by minor details or you will never get started.”]

The more you know about the project before you begin, the more likely it is to succeed. You just need to make sure your research is relevant to the task at hand. Don’t get bogged down by minor details or you will never get started.

The most important thing to remember is you should be as prepared as possible before beginning on any new venture. It will save you a lot of time and frustration later on. Sharpen your axe before chopping down that tree.

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Background photo courtesy of Bartosz Makara.

“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” – Derek Jeter

“There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.”
– Derek Jeter

Print available on Society6.

Greatness can be found in every walk of life, from the artist to the athlete. In each case, there are those that stand out and those that don’t. What is it that separates the two?

Derek Jeter is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He is what sports fans like to call a first ballot Hall of Famer. In sports, the Hall of Fame recognizes the best players to ever play the game. First ballot Hall of Famers are voted in on the first eligible ballot.

Jeter ended his career in the top ten of three statistical categories. He was sixth in hits with 3,465. He was seventh in at-bats with 11,195. And he was ninth in runs with 1,923.

What do these stats prove? They prove that Jeter had staying power. Some athletes can make it in sports based off of their natural talents alone, but those who do quickly fade away. Others, like Derek Jeter, become masters of their craft. They hone their skills to perfection.

A New York Times article estimated that Jeter swung a bat 342,000 times in his professional career. His deliberate and methodical practice can seen in his signature stance and swing. Each at bat is preceded by a very distinct routine.

Derek Jeter did not achieve greatness through luck or pure athleticism. Like every great athlete to play a sport, he spent countless hours practicing and becoming better.

[bctt tweet=”Don’t be discouraged by those who have more talent than you.”]

Even if you don’t know anything about baseball, you can still appreciate what Derek Jeter has done. He was meticulous at his craft and worked hard to be the best. Don’t be discouraged by those who have more talent than you. Use it as motivation to become better. If you work harder than everyone else you are sure to find success.

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Photo of Yankee Stadium by m01229

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