4 Tips For HMU Artists
I’ve been a full-time freelance hair and makeup artist for seven years. Before entering the industry full time I worked as a counselor after getting my Master's Degree in Psychology with a concentration in the study of human behavior.
Over the years I’ve learned so much about humans, how to run a successful business and how to grow from my mistakes. My goal with Artist specific Blog Posts is to encourage and inspire you to grow at your own pace and in your way. Hopefully, these tips will resonate with you and help in your artistic journey!
Four Tips that will vastly improve and change your business!!
One: Pay attention to your self-talk:
Often we are quick to give positive encouragement to friends, family, and coworkers, but struggle to do the same for ourselves. How you talk to yourself matters, too.
The most powerful self-awareness tool I’ve discovered is simply replacing negative talk with positive. It sounds easy, and it is. It’s also very effective. This takes continuous practice and simply being aware. Have patience with yourself when you struggle. Over time it will become more natural.
Here are some examples:
Replace: “She’s doing so much more than me, has more clients, is doing better.”
With: “I appreciate where I am in my journey and this path is meant for me.”
Replace: “I’m tired but I have to keep going to stay ahead. Otherwise, I’ll be viewed as lazy.”
With: “I know I need some rest. Giving myself a break will give me the energy to come up with new ideas.”
Two: Comparison:
You’ve heard it, comparison to others leads to negativity and self-criticism, and it's true. Remember that we are all on separate journeys. We work in the same industry but our goals, dreams, desires, and skillsets are vastly different.
Another artists achievements does not devalue yours. Where they are in the process has nothing to do with your worth or capabilities.
When you find yourself in a space of comparison, stop and appreciate others for their growth. Lead with a grateful heart instead of jealousy. Acknowledging and appreciating where you are now will give you the clarity to continue building your path.
If you’re feeling particularly sensitive to comparison, take a social media break.
Three: There’s room for all of us:
This is my favorite reference point when mentoring artists: there’s room for all of us.
I don’t take offense when a client decides to book with another artist. It’s a good thing! The client has found someone they will be happy working with and there’s nothing better than that.
Again, this doesn’t take away from your value, talents, or worth. It simply means there’s another client who is a perfect fit for you.
Staying focused on competition will fuel angst and block the clients who are meant to be yours. You’ll find yourself working with people you don’t connect with and it will lead to exhaustion.
Let go of competing so you can attract what’s meant for you.
Four: Rest is better than busy:
It’s better to take one day of rest when you need it than to be halfway productive by pushing through.
This is something I struggled with for years. The idea that staying (or looking) busy was the only way to show people I’m a desirable artist. False. Big fat false.
Your worth is not based on how much you can cram into one day. And being “busy” all day, every day, does not equal productivity. I am most productive in the morning before my brain is filled with too much outside information. So I focus intently on work for the first five hours of the day. When I hit a wall, I stop. Pushing myself to do more than that will result in mediocre work that I’ll likely redo the next day.
In addition, I set boundaries when it comes to the number of clients I will work with in a month and the number of services I will provide for each group. If I am overextended, none of my clients will receive my best work and I’m not willing to sacrifice quality for quantity.
Let go of the notion that you need to be constantly busy. Find that sweet spot of productivity and make it work for you.
These Gorgeous Photos of Stephanie were taken by the Ever Talented Melinda Fox Photography! Click the picture to view her website and book a session!
-S