Another Great Man Falls

If you've ever tried to get into sales and marketing with any amount of seriousness, you've probably heard the name Zig Ziglar.

Zig Ziglar passed away on Wednesday, November 28, 2012. He was 86 years old.

Zig has been in the sales, marketing and motivational business since the 1960's. He's written several books on sales, performance, and motivation.

Thank you Zig, for inspiring this struggling salesman!

Bold Brush Painting Contest

John French - Lonely City, Acoma Pueblo- Oil - Painting entry - November 2012 | BoldBrush Painting Competition
I've entered an art contest! It's kind of big news for me, since I've avoided such competitions, wishing for sales to be my prize.

I'd really like to get my name out to the rest of the country! Don't get me wrong, the local art market in Upper Michigan is decent, but I can't fulfill my goal by selling just here. That problem has been fully understood today (11-9-12) as one of my galleries closed. The Vertin Gallery in Calumet has stunned its artists by announcing yesterday that they'd be done today.

So I'm looking at distant horizons, trying to figure out how to get there. I decided to test the market a little by seeing how I measure up to hundreds of other artists. So far, my painting, shown below, is doing well as far as Facebook 'likes' go. Check it out; click the link above or the picture below, give it a thumbs up, and visit my website for new art!

Crazy Goal hits a Bump

Sometimes when you make plans, they fall through. No matter how solid the ideas are, how well thought-out they are, or how excited the planners may be, there will always be some sort of threat. There's always something that can go wrong.

So it is with an exhibit and a reception I had been working on with a financial advisory office in downtown Marquette. 

It all looked so promising! They were willing to show my work, sometime in November or December. They even brought up the idea of a reception. This was sounding great!

I wanted to plan it right! So, I created a survey and shared it on Facebook and emailed it to my list. I learned what kind of art people wanted and when they'd like to see it. I was getting ready!


Then the call came: "We're just too busy right now."


Damn.

I must admit, I was mad for a few minutes.Then I realized that being involved with a busy place is much better than being involved with a ghost town of a business.

I was depressed for a couple of days. But I won't stay down! It's deadly to my crazy goal.


Part of my big plan for this reception was to introduce my new work to my collectors, friends and fans. Well, since I can't bring you to the newest John French art, I'm bringing the new art to you. There are two new pieces at http://www.artofjohnfrench.com/John_French_Landscapes.php
and NINE new pieces at http://www.artofjohnfrench.com/southwestart.html .


Enjoy!

Two pieces in-process.

Baby Steps, First Downs, and Mini Goals

I've done a lot of thinking. Here are some of my not-so-random thoughts concerning my new goal.

I've been hearing and reading about baby steps a lot lately. Seems every other video or piece of selling advice talks about baby steps. The longest journey starts with the first step. Take care of the first step, and then the next one, and pretty soon you'll be on your way to your goal.

When I was driving from Michigan to New Mexico with my eleven-year-old son, I broke the route down into several smaller routes for him so he could keep up with the distance and the travel time. For instance, driving from Chamberlain, South Dakota to The Badlands National Park would take about two hours. Colorado Springs to Raton New Mexico would take us about two and a half hours. This made the trip seem a little shorter and more manageable for him. He knew what to expect in the next couple of hours.

I was watching football this weekend. Fans get excited when their team gets a first down. A first down in football is like a mini touchdown. It means that team gets to keep the ball, and keep trying to score. It's a mini goal within a larger goal. It's a baby step, but more manly!

To reach a goal, you must make that goal, then start planning backwards. What will it take to reach that goal? What will it take to reach the pre-goal goal? How many mini-goals will it take? How many first downs will I need to get a touchdown? How many 150 mile trips to get home?

Well... To make $40,000 each year with my art, I will need to:
1) sell a $110 painting each day, seven days a week. Or...
2) I can sell a $154 painting each day, five days a week. Or...
3) Or I can sell three $256 paintings each week. Or...
4) Or one $770 painting each week. Or...
5) Any combination will do.  



Since I've sold a lot of paintings for around $150, option 2 seems the most logical. But there are problems: I need to be able to paint that much, AND find the buyers.

I've also sold several $200-$300 paintings. Option 3 looks viable if I can paint that many larger pieces in a few days, then use the rest of the week to sell them.

I've only ever sold one painting over $500. I think that's something I should work for. Once I figure that out, I can shoot for $1000.

In the meantime, I'm exploring the market. (I've designed a survey. Please take it here!) I'm painting different scenes, experimenting with new subjects and even new techniques. I'm offering smaller paintings for lower prices to see what catches on. Popular subjects will become larger paintings.

  

An Insane New Goal

In August, I took a long, fifteen-day, 4200 mile vacation. I drove my little Chevy Aveo from Upper Michigan to New Mexico and back. I came back with a lot of inspiration, a lot of pictures, and a crazy new goal for me and my art.

I told my lovely wife about my new goal; she got wide-eyed and said "That's too soon!" I told my mother about my new goal; she gave me that "isn't that nice, dear" look. I've told a few friends about my goal; they laughed at me.

It's a lofty goal, but obtainable if I work hard at it, stay focused, and get incredibly lucky. Of course, I believe we make our own luck by doing.

So here's what I want to do: I want to retire from my job within ten years, travel all over the place, and make a living selling my art.

Are you laughing? Go ahead. I don't blame you.

Before I decided on this goal, I marketed myself and sold my art in an attempt to make more money helping people brighten their lives. That was it. I didn't decide how much to make, as long as I made some. Now I have a definite financial level to reach as well as a definite time frame to do it in.

It's like planning a long 4200 mile trip. I started with a destination. Then I figured out a time frame. Then I plotted my course, made sure I knew my way, gathered my resources, and got going. Right now I know where I want to be as an artist, and I know when I want to get there. I just need to figure out the route, and decide what else I need.

So this blog will take take you on that journey. Care to ride along?

Rain over the Mountains with the Rio Grande far below.

Painting inspired by the photo above, and by the experience!

Solved: Why email scammers say they're from Nigeria | Fox News

Interesting way to find your target audience!

Solved: Why email scammers say they're from Nigeria | Fox News

Sharing video Clients From Hell

"Clients from Hell" is a hilarious blog on Tumblr about a freelance designer's adventures with some really stupid people. This video is sort of a dramatised montage of some of the more common scenarios.

I'm proud to say, I can't relate!