Showing posts with label cross promotion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cross promotion. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Let's Help One Another! (Updated)

Independent artists and small business owners have a lot in common. They both work hard to get noticed (often as a side project along with a job) and don't have much money to invest in advertising. It's a struggle - but it's a struggle that's filled with passion. Anyone who has a side project probably isn't doing it for money alone because any new business owner or indie artist will tell you, it takes time to show a profit. They'll probably also tell you that they wouldn't be doing it if they didn't love it.

Somewhere between the time I published my first and second book, I had a friend insist I was crazy. Not to suggest she wasn't completely wrong, but her specific reason was that I invested in a book and advertising and wasn't making stacks of cash back. To her, I was wasting my time. Here's a spoiler alert; we weren't friends much longer. 😄

We have to follow our passion. It's not just for potential financial gains but the personal growth stemming from the challenges and the many learning opportunities along the way. Had I never written a book, would I be the same person? Where would I be now? Would I still be friends with that imbecile I mentioned in the last paragraph? I can't even imagine.

Artists and small business owners need to work together and help one another out. Be open-minded and know that by helping someone else, you're indirectly helping yourself too. It's an unselfish act that makes you feel pretty good about giving a hand to someone you know has been working hard to get ahead. Always be open to new ideas. Maybe you never considered (or wanted to) having a YouTube channel, but another artist suggests you start a project together. Maybe another business owner wants to collaborate on a promotion. Hear people out and consider their ideas. You never know where it might lead.

Follow your dreams because without them, what do we really have?