• Description: Restart is a class designed to support you with beginning, restarting or refocusing your creative business. This is a day long course with eight sections.  At the beginning of each hour a lesson is offered and the student has up to an hour to compete the task presented.  Listen to the introduction audio for more information.
• Instructors: Rosh Sillars
• Introduction audio class: yes
• Number of audio files: 8
• Number of videos: 0
• Number of PDF’s: 0
• Related links: http://www.wordpress.org
• Comment Line 206 202 3568 | question@prosperousartists.com

Audio section list:

1. Introduction and developing goals
2. Your environment
3. Accounting
4. What works
5. Who do you know?
6. Web Site
7. Sales
8. Networking

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• Description: This is a six-week class designed to kick-start your career and business with exercises, training and development.  This is not an easy program; it’s designed for those ready to create success in their lives.
• Instructors: Rosh Sillars
• Introduction audio class: yes
• Number of audio files: 30/30 (Feel free to begin now – new files are being uploaded daily.)
• Items needed: Note book – write everyday about your observations and ideas.
• Number of videos: 0
• Number of PDFs: 0
• Related links:

Audio section list:

1. Base day: Create your routine. (10.00)
2. Clean and organize your environment. (5:00)
3. Organize your finances. (5:00)
4. Create your business and marketing plans. (5:00)
5. Set goals. (5:00)
6. Find a mentor. (5:00)
7. Update your Web site. (5:00)
8. What is your story? (5:00)
9. Explain your business to five friends. (5:00)
10. Creating materials (5:00)
11. List your Web site in directories. (5:00)
12. Thinking day: How can you add value? (5:00)
13. Public relations action day (5:00)
14. Create a memory hook (5:00)
15. Hand out 10 business cards (5:00)
16. Visit an old friend. (5:00)
17. Help someone else find more business. (5:00)
18. Thanking day: How can you cross promote? (5:00)
19. Ask 10 people you know for a referral  (5:00)
20. Do something you’ve never done before.  (5:00)
21. Target social media. (5:00)
22. Sign up for a seminar  (5:00)
23. Thinking day – Creative Day (5:00)
24. Ask three clients how you can better serve them. (5:00)
25. Reward an employee or contractor for work well done. (5:00)
26. Your competition (5:00)
27. Offer your services to charity. (5:00)
28. Increase your prices. (5:00)
29. Thinking day: How can you streamline your processes? (5:00)
30. Thank five people. (5:00)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

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Rosh and I offer many ideas on how to better manage your business and career. But, I also want to know: What are you doing effectively in your business?

It’s so easy to listen to the latest guru du jour tell you what you could be or should be doing. The hardest task is to have a sound idea or strategy and stay the course through to completion. Too often, we get lost along the way.

So, today I join you in celebrating what works. Take a moment to accept the things that are effective in your world. These things are the solid foundation on which to build your life as a prosperous artist.  Did you do it? Good, now let’s get back to work!

Question: What’s really working effectively for you in your business?

– Dean L.

I’ve been an independent business owner for more than 20 years. I held a flexible-commission position for a couple years in the early 1990s. I’ve also worked a number of part-time jobs. But I have never devoted 40 hours a week to one employer or client.  That might have to change.

Like any business, I’ve had my ups and downs. Last year was a struggle in the Detroit area. Despite that, my income still increased  by about 15 percent last year.

During the last recession in 2002,  I lost close to 70 percent of my business. How did that happen? I didn’t adjust to the new environment.  When times are good, making money is easy. 

However, Michigan didn’t enjoy the last upswing in the economy. In spite of that, my company grew over the last six years. Why? This time I made the proper adjustments as the business cycle swung forward without us.

Now, we stand on the brink of a new era. As print and traditional media continue to free fall, I’ve watched as most of my reliable, consistent work has tumbled over the edge. Although I’ve replaced that income with new corporate clients, it is easy to see the business environment for my service is making additional shifts.

Even with all my grand plans, I realize that I’m not adjusting fast enough.  I’m not working efficiently. I’m not following through on my new ideas and business plans. The thought came to me: If I worked this way for another company, would I still have a job? The answer is no.  So, I fired myself today.

As I  pondered my unemployed status, I thought about who would hire me.  Who would pay me what I made at The Rosh Group Inc. last year?

What skills do I have?

• I have a BFA in photography from the Center of Creative Studies in Detroit.
• I have a competitive photography portfolio.
• I’m an able writer with a growing social media brand and skills (www.newmediaphotographer.com).
• I am an effective public speaker.
• I know how to network;  I understand marketing and public relations.
•  My accounting skills are pathetic.

As a 40-year-old man, I’m not sure who or what company really needs someone with my qualifications.  But, if it’s your company, feel free to e-mail me and make an offer I can’t refuse.

In the meantime, I have a company to run.  I have released that old- school, inefficient slacker. I’ve kicked to the curb the dead weight that would allow this fine company to go down without a fight.

Now, I have to step up and personally fill that position.  I must network. I must rethink this new environment.  I need to take action on a daily basis.  This needs to be a full-time effort.  Sitting back and riding the wave is not acceptable and will not work.

Why was I really fired? Why must I step up and fill this position with all my heart?

The answer is simple:  If I don’t do what it takes, I will lose it all. 

Rosh

Now is the time to organize and prepare for the new year.  Dean and I will have a podcast ready on Wednesday that focuses on 2009. Until then, we have the opportunity to get the inertia going and build  a running start into 2009.

Inertia roughly means that an object in motion will stay in motion and an object at rest will stay at rest unless acted upon by an outside force.  If you are a lump on the couch, you most likely will continue to be a lump.  It’s hard to get yourself out of that position.  Once you do get moving again, take action and work on projects that tend to keep you in motion. 

Start with a few projects to get yourself moving.  Create a list of the things you need to do between now and the end of the year.  What actions will put you a little ahead of the game at the start of 2009?

If you wait until 2009, starting from square one can be a challenge.  Get going now. 

My goal is to put most of my new marketing idea foundations in place before January 1st.  I don’t want any barriers at the start of a new year. I just want to create, act, and earn more business.

What do you need to do?

Rosh

This week Rosh and Dean offer a valuable podcast about the importance of experience.

• Experience podcast #125
• Hosts Rosh Sillars and Dean LaDouceur
• This Podcast is about supporting artists and creative companies with business, creativity and marketing ideas.
• Topics Mentioned: Experience. “Getting it” – knowledge is good but, experience allows you to really understand, Selling your work, Are you being a thought leader? How do I get experience?create the experience. Build relationships, Illustrative style photography, Lucisart.
• People, places and things mentioned during the show: Rosh Sillars’ 40th Birthday, Twitter, Laura Jean La Douceur, Tom Wilson Palace of Auburn Hills, Flickr
• High contrast illustrative photography.  Rosh Sillars example roshsillars.com
• Comment line 206 202 3586
• E-mail Prosperous Artists
• New Media Photographer
• Prosperous Artists
• Artist blog, blogging for artists, artists podcast, marketing podcast, art marketing
• Who’s creative: Linda Lewis
• QUESTION :  What are you going to do to create more experience?