Are you a vision-impaired visual artist?

Growing up in the 70s I used to watch a very funny cartoon called Mr. Magoo. Magoo was a practically blind old man who got around despite the fact he had no clue where he was going. He’d often talk to a bear or some other crazy thing, thinking he was talking to his neighbor or a nice policeman. He’d barely escape death or dismemberment by sheer luck.

Sometimes I look out into this industry and I see Mr. Magoo’s all around me. Walking around “vision-impaired” and getting by regardless. By “vision” I don’t mean literal sight. I mean having a vision for where they want to go in life, what they want to do. So my question for you today is this: are you a vision-impaired visual artist (naturally, even if you’re not a visual artist, this could apply to you). Here are some signs you may be, and what you can do to change things.

Signs You May Be “Vision” Impaired

• You don’t have any kind of business plan or similar document written anywhere.
• You don’t have any goals for your life or business written anywhere.
• You spend your life reacting to things that happen to you, rather than making things happen for you.
• If someone asks you “What do you do?” you answer sheepishly, embarrassed by your job or title.
• When asked, “What do you want to do with your life?” you haven’t the foggiest idea how to answer such a question.
• The products and services offerings on your website are all over the board: weddings, families, bar/bat mitzvahs, corporate parties, promotional video, legal depositions, local cable TV spots, promo videos…they’re all on your website. (Noticed I said, they’re on your website. If you do all these jobs because it helps pay the bills, more power to you. You should do that. But, what you communicate to the world as to what you’re about, is a different story).
• You’re doing what you’re doing solely because you think it will make you rich.