THE $100 STARTUP

 

I am really thrilled and honored to be chosen as 1 of the 100 people to receive an advance copy of Chris Guillebeau's newest book, "The $100 Startup"--for my review and promotion.
I received it in the mail last week, and I am not finished reading it yet, but I can tell you that it is chock full of wonderful examples of small business ideas and how to's so that you can take that dream you've had and make it into a reality and be your own boss, doing the thing you love and make money while doing it!
And I wanted to make sure and get this out to you NOW, because Chris is having a HUGE pre-order sale with lots of extra goodies!
You can find the details HERE.  It only lasts until April 23rd, so don't wait!

REFERRAL MARKETING

We hear a lot about referral marketing & how it is a great way to connect with new clients, get new people on your contact list, etc. But we don't hear much about how to really make this work for you. Here is an excerpt from Mark Silver's blog, "Heart of Business" on how to create a situation where a referral is really appropriate and sets you up for success in assisting someone AND eliminates the situation of inappropriate referrals. And the link to Mark's great blog is below.

Article: When Referrals Hide From You
Here's a dream scenario: you have a raving fan client who has colleagues who need the same help you gave him. He offers to introduce you to them and recommend they work with you. Nice!
One of our Opening the Moneyflow participants, Donald (not his real name) had just this wonderful opportunity. The trouble was...

"My client introduced me by email to his colleagues. I then sent an email to them saying if I didn't hear from them I'd follow up with a phone call next week.


"The next week came and I didn't want to make the calls. I felt nervous and anxious. I kept telling myself it was just a conversation, and eventually I forced myself to make the calls, leaving two voicemails."


"What's wrong with me? Why was it so hard to make those calls?" Painful, eh? What's worse, he never heard back from either referral.


He Should Have Been Uncomfortable


There's been no evidence whatsoever that these two referrals are either looking for help or want to be contacted.
In Sacred Selling, I explain that sales doesn't exist in a vacuum. That the sales conversation is preceded by the steps of building a relationship of trust. Without the trust and connection, you can't have a real sales conversation.
Our client was really struggling with self-judgment over making those calls, but here's the thing: he should've struggled. Far from being negative self-talk, his heart was telling him that the situation didn't feel right.
Donald pushed through and called anyway, and, of course, it wasn't a tragedy. But he didn't get the clients either.
How do you tell whether it's negative self-talk you need to "get over" or a message from the heart asking you to be appropriately cautious?


In a situation like this, two questions to ask:


The Two Questions
First question: Has the person in question expressed any need for help in the area you help with?
Second question: Has the person in question expressed any desire to to connect with you in particular?
If you put yourself in Donald's shoes, feel the difference between reaching out to someone who has expressed zero interest in what you do or in talking to you, versus picking up the phone to call someone who both wants what you offer and wants to talk to you.
Big difference. I bet Donald wouldn't have had any trouble calling either of his referrals in the second situation.


How He Could've Saved the Situation
Our clients need education. Unless they deal with a lot of referrals themselves, they probably don't know how to make a powerful introduction. To do so just takes one small extra step on the part of your client.


That step? To reach out to the people he wants to refer, and ask them the two question. Here's what it could sound like:
"Hey, I don't know if you know I worked with Donald all last year and he helped me a LOT in the following ways (x, y, z). And, from our recent conversations, I know you are having some of the same challenges I had the year before. I'd love for you to have the kind of results I'm getting. Is that something you need? Do you want me to introduce you to Donald so you can have a conversation? He's a really nice guy. He won't pressure you or try to sell you, he'll just ask questions, listen and let you know if he thinks he can help you."


If he then hears a "Yes" from his colleague, then the introduction is going to be MUCH more effective.


Let me highlight what was in that introduction. Then, you can ask your clients to say the same things to any referrals.


The Three Elements in a Pre-Referral Recommendation


His own experience and results working with Donald.


Empathy for the challenges he sees his colleagues having and his wish for them to succeed.


A description of what Donald is like and what was involved with being introduced.


If you educate your clients to express these three items to potential referrals, and get permission from them to be introduced, you'll see a MUCH higher percentage of referrals actually landing. And you won't spend time uncomfortably chasing people who don't want to talk to you.


Whew... what a relief!


Are you successful at receiving referrals? Do you educate your clients in any way?

Subscribe to Mark Silver's blog here:  http://www.heartofbusiness.com/training-programs/the-core/

NEW CARDS

Many of you know that I have been working on my
WILD SPIRIT WISDOM CARD project since last spring. (And if you didn't know, you can sign up on my site to get a free weekly download of each week's card)*
I am excited to share that I have created the first set of 14 greeting cards based on the deck! And to CELEBRATE this milestone, I am offering a great deal at wholesale prices when you buy 2 sets of cards (1 for yourself and 1 for a friend)

THIS SPRING OFFER IS GOOD
UNTIL MY BIRTHDAY ON APRIL 19
Click HERE for image details and info
* This is a divination card deck and transformational tool based on images from my paintings coupled with
inspirational messages.I am on the home stretchwith this project, and hope to be publishing the deck later this year.

Day 18 at the Bolinas Gallery Residency

This video is the final day of the show and the final video in this series. Hope you have enjoyed these! I will be posting more videos in the future--maybe on a weekly basis. (We'll see what works)

Day 16 at the Bolinas Gallery March Residency

Rainy & quiet today. Got some work done--had a few visitors. Tomorrow is the closing reception from 2 to 5pm. I was invited to the Bolinas Community Center dinner this evening...it was lovely. Everyone made me feel very welcome. I have been enjoying being in Bolinas so much! Will be sad to close the show.

Day 15 at the Bolinas Gallery during my March Residency

Made a bit of progress today & had some lovely visitors!

Day 14 of My Bolinas Gallery March Residency

Entering my last week here....some painting progress made & also the complete tour of the exhibit (Thanks for asking, Jovanna Soligo!

Day 13 of my Bolinas Gallery Residency & Exhibition

I only have ONE more week--Waaaaa! I am sad that this will be ending! It has been so much fun & I have gotten a lot of painting done, as well. AND made some lovely connections with people. Here's the video:

Day 12 at Bolinas Gallery

This is Day 12--part of a series of videos documenting my exhibition & "residency" at the Bolinas Gallery in Bolinas. CA. I have set up my painting station & am painting in the gallery during the open hours of the show.

Day 9 at Bolinas Gallery

This is part of a series of videos documenting my "residency" and exhibition at the Bolinas Gallery in March 2012. I have set up my painting station and am working in the gallery during open hours.

Days 7 & 8 at the Bolinas Gallery

Quick update on progress--finished my Fox painting---still working on the Buddha/Squirrel piece. 2 new canvases lined up--just started one--the other was still drying from being gessoed. Back again on Thursday.
Have a great week!

Day 5 Bolinas Gallery March Residency

I am making some progress on these paintings and having a blast talking to folks & meeting some of the locals. Here's my video from Friday.

Day 4 Bolinas Gallery March Residency

I am having so much fun doing this! And I am enjoying being in Bolinas & just strolling down to the beach at the end of the day with Joey. Here is the video I made today

Bolinas Gallery March Residency

I haven't written here for quite awhile--It's about time I did! I currently am having an exhibition at the Bolinas Gallery In Bolinas, CA--just south of my studio in Point Reyes Station. I have been creating some videos about the show & what I have been doing there--so thought I would share those here. Enjoy!

HOT WAX!

 I had the pleasure of taking a trip into SF last Sunday to see the final day of SF Open Studios, which was at Hunter's Point in the old naval shipyards. The idea of artists holding open studios began in San Francisco, & that's where I first started doing open studios way back in the 80's. Looking back on it all now---it seems like that was the beginning of artists taking back their power and taking responsibility and control of their work and careers--before the internet.

It was a great day--saw lots of interesting work and made some nice connections with artists. One of the studios that really intrigued me was Howard Hersh's painting studio. Howard does encaustic and his working set up was somewhat mysterious, as he had 2 sawhorses set up in front of his griddle for the hot wax & those sawhorses were coated with thick layers of wax. It all made me very curious as to how he worked--and I found this wonderful video of him working and talking about his work and philosophy. It's very nicely done & he is quite fascinating--so I had to share it with you! Enjoy.

INTERVIEW with ERNESTO SANCHEZ for Left Coast Artists Video Project

As this interview was a bit long, I made it into two parts (You Tube was rejecting it) It's a great view of Ernesto's studio and his unique work. You will enjoy it--and don't forget Part 2!

Two Coats of Paint: A rolling conversation: Pricing artwork

Two Coats of Paint: A rolling conversation: Pricing artwork: Everyone begins taking their seats before the Rolling Conversations get underway. Dr. Paul D'Agostino of Centotto and Rolling Conversat...


This is a great post from artist & teacher Sharon Butler's blog
"Two Coats of Paint"--well worth a read, esp for you artists out there. From a live discussion about  pricing artwork---& I LOVE what she said about OCCUPYING OURSELVES...check it out!
Christine

ANNOUNCING.....

THE LEFT COAST ARTISTS VIDEO PROJECT!!! This is something I have wanted to do for awhile---but it's been (and continues to be) a steep learning curve for me. I am a total newbie at video and editing and all that goes along with it. But I am having a blast doing this and I am so passionate about the possibilities of this for artists that it has propelled me forward.
The idea behind The Left Coast Artists Video Project was inspired by another blog I subscribe to called Two Coats of Paint by Sharon Butler. Sharon profiled a similar project, entitled "Gorky's Granddaughter"--which inspired me to begin.
Video is a fabulous way to document and communicate--and there are SO many interesting artists in our local area here in Northern California on the coast--many of whom are technologically challenged (Ha! I can relate!) and don't do self-promotion well (or at all). So I intend to do what I can to share the creative riches of West Marin and environs.
A huge THANKS goes out to painter Sue Gonzalez, who has been my first victim um, featured artist. Hope you enjoy these! I will be posting more often! :-)

THE BUSINESS OF ART AND THE ART OF BUSINESS

This has been a tough time for artists. Sales are down, funding has dried up & galleries and shops are closing. A pervasive uneasiness is in the air.

So what’s an artist to do?

Remember WHO you are & Remember your WHY. At its most basic level, art is communication. ( Drawing pictures in the sand may have been the first communication!)

The world needs art & artists now more than ever----to inspire, to lift spirits, & to empower. It’s about communication AND it’s about serving. And communication is interactive.

Artists are notoriously inept when it comes to business. The cultural icon of the starving artist who can’t function outside the studio is so strong that many artists believe this of themselves without ever questioning it. (I know–I have been there!)

I have been showing and selling my artwork since the 1970's. It has taken me a very long time to learn strategic ways to promote my business and to know that I do have a real business. I’m still learning. So how does one move forward?
I use a combination of Clarity, Mindsets, Personal Responsibility, Accountability and Strategy.

Here’s the deal:

Clarity means getting clear on your purpose, your audience and your goals.

Mindsets–this is about discovering and healing the false beliefs that hold you back from your success.

Personal Responsibility is about your ability to respond, and the necessity of a personal response.

Accountability is having either an accountability partner or a mastermind type group you work with who will hold you accountable to your goals and encourage you to stay on track and keep moving forward. This also gives you a sounding board to bounce ideas around.

Strategy is making a plan and creating a roadmap for your success so that you know what the next step is. Success is created one step at a time.

One of the things that has helped me to move forward on this journey while using these tools is to have the support of like minded individuals. By this I mean other entrepreneurs who are creating their own businesses around their passions and dreams. Being connected to a group of people with a wide range of talents, experience and business focus presents a fountain of knowledge.
I have been working with a mastermind group led by a fantastic business coach and it has been an inspiring journey. The blueprint of the mastermind group is a proven formula for success and a manifestation of the best aspects of community.

If you are looking for some help with promoting your art or staying plugged into your creativity, here are some ways you can work with me:

Painting with Gouache Workshop (Tapping into your Creativity)
A one or two day workshop for adults
Sun Aug 28 & Mon Aug. 29
10 am to 6 pm both days-- supplies are included


Individual Art Business Coaching
Call or email me for details

Coming Soon

“The Artist’s Self Promotion Toolkit” Ebook

Art Business Teleseminar
sign up on my website to get the latest updates

website christinedecamp.com
email christine@christinedecamp.com
phone 415-663-9646

WILD SPIRIT WISDOM CARDS

WILD SPIRIT WISDOM CARDS are a brand new project I have been working on. Inspired by the Tarot Deck, which I have always loved and used for many years--my WSW cards are a different kind of divination deck created with images from my paintings and a viewpoint of feminine spirituality and connection with nature. I have always wanted to do something like this and I am so excited to be able to share it with all of you!

I am offering a Privileged Preview (and FREE Download) of each card as it is completed to those who sign up on my website. Go to http://christinedecamp.com/ to sign up.

Once the design of the entire deck is completed, my intention is to first make it into a virtual online deck where you could go and give yourself a reading. I love this idea! Then it will also be published as a 3D deck that you can use and hold in your hands and work with.

This first card will go out to those who sign up before Wed. May 18. The free downloads of the card images will not be repeated-----so sign up now to receive all of them. You are free to unsubscribe at any time.

POINT REYES OPEN STUDIOS

Our annual Memorial Day edition of Point Reyes Open Studios is coming up Saturday May 28 through Monday May 30. Studios will be open 11:00am to 5:00pm each day. It's a wonderful event and we have 19 artists participating this time. Don't miss it!

My studio is in the Greenbridge Gas Station building in Point Reyes Station at 11401 Hwy 1.

Call 415-663-9646 if you need directions