How to Succeed as a S4H Artist

[disciple]

There are many requirements of a person to become truly successful. In this post I am only going to concentrate on one. That one is FOCUS.

Lack of focus can be attributed to many businesses failing. Without focus you run around attending to a thousand things and accomplish none of them. Lack of focus makes you react to problems rather than have plans in place to address issues that come up.

Focused people know where they are going and have a plan in place on how to get there. They concentrate on achieving those goals. Every step they take is intended to bring them closer to the goals they have set. Focused people choose what they do each day, they don't let the day dictate what happens. Self discipline is a core part of the focused person. Forcing yourself to keep on track and moving in the right direction is essential.

Your ability to focus is critical to your success! If you have trouble focusing on tasks then a couple tips that might help are:

1. Eliminate distractions - Clear the clutter from your desk, turn off the TV, the radio and your cell phone. Close your email and feed readers, and close any programs that are not necessary for your immediate project.
2. Plan it Out
   Whatever it is you are doing, plan it out. Write out the basic steps from start to finish. If it is a long project break it up into manageable chunks. Work on each chunk of the project until it is done.
3. Take Breaks - Take scheduled breaks. Your mind and your body need a time of refreshing. Just don't take too long. One half hour should be sufficient to relax and come back refreshed and ready to focus on the project again.
4. Reward Yourself - When you have completed a task or a project go ahead and reward yourself. it may sound funny but you are training yourself to succeed.

Good luck in your scrapbooking business and continue to focus on your goals and you will succeed.

[mcardall]

I completely respect your opinion, but I think that what helps one person focus doesn't necessarily work for other people. I scrapbook better when I have other creative and artistic things around me, including music. Just because this is a business for me doesn't mean that I have to have a stiff & formal office environment. A lot of large offices are finding that allowing employees to wear headphones and listen to music, or have a television on in the background is actually helping with productivity. I think it depends on what generation you grew up in.

It is totally impossible for me to clear the distractions from my work area. I am a work-at-home mom. My children are 3 and 1. There are always Nick Jr and screaming kids around my house. The phone is always ringing and the neighbor's dog is always barking. But that's okay. I work fine under those conditions. In fact, I work BETTER under those conditions.

So, while a quiet formal environment is better for some people, it isn't for everyone. And everyone needs to find out what their ideal work environment is and then strive to achieve that.

[Scrap Diva Designs]

I completely agree Meredith!

[A-to-Z]

I can see both sides! i think it does depend on the person. I love to scrap with the tv or a movie on.

[bellajoy]

If I lived in a bubble, I'd probably prefer things to be calm and peaceful, with MY music on in the background while I worked.

However, I'm like Meredith - a professional working at home, with my children running around, with music and/or tv shows on, their requests for snacks, and my phone ringing, and email chiming. Would I get more done with less distractions? Maybe... but this works for me!

[disciple]

It's good to hear others thoughts and opinions.

but I think that what helps one person focus doesn't necessarily work for other people.

You are correct, and I agree but my point is that focus is required to be successful in any endeavor. It is good that you have learned (or are naturally able) to focus in any environment. It makes your job much easier for you.

Many scrapbookers are moms and moms in general are certainly better multi-taskers than most people but even moms need to get some quiet time and I would think (I am not a mom) that the quiet time can be beneficial to their layouts and their creativity.

I know my wife loves our little girl to be close and had proved over and over that she can create great pages even amongst the chaos. I also see that the pages she creates when at a retreat or a scrapbook night with her friends are a bit better because she does have time to focus and concentrate on the task at hand.

The ultimate answer lies in your client's opinion. If they are happy with your work then it does not matter how or where you got it done.

[KimGuymon]

Good points, ladies! I think because many women in this industry are running businesses from home with small children underfoot, that it's unrealistic to expect to be able to work in silence and have hours of time where no one bothers you. Besides, I think creative minds like stimulation. I love to scrap with my iPod on (you can't hear the kids fighting - )

I have multi-tasked at my business for over 6 years now and had children at nearly every stage during that time. It's tough, but you figure out a way to do it! I think the biggest challenge for a scrapbook artist is treating her business like a REAL business. That's a bigger problem than lack of focus, IMO.

[MommySpice]

I didn't take this as a "You have to do it this way or else" post....it says "if If you have trouble focusing on tasks then a couple tips that might help are:" (emphasis mine). I agree, each person needs to find what works for them...but for people who are stuck, its nice to know what other people do. Maybe an afternoon away from the kids and/or clutter will clear a scrapper's block for someone.

[Josoliviamaid]

I do my own pages with children under foot (I have 4), multitasking doing dishes or paying bills or mopping floors, etc. But if I am going to do it as a business, I will have to set aside some quiet time. I'm not worried about clutter or anything....just easily distracted and will have trouble treating it as a business. I plan to just take my laptop to the coffee shop and work there. Yeah, Starbucks is my office! How cool is that? :-) It will help me to physically leave the house because if I stay here, I will see things that need to be taken care of since I'm notoriously a "side-tracked home executive". lol

But that's what works for me. I know others that are able to "hyper focus" and not get distracted even when everything's flying around them.

[ikscrap]

I think I can work everywhere lol. Making a layout is not the problem, I find that easy enough. finding customers is lol. Although I have some fine ones