Teresa R. Funke's Blog: Bursts of Brilliance for a Creative Life, page 50

Ink Smudges on Fingertips

The other day I sent a handwritten note to a friend, only to have him tell me he could not read what I wrote. “My handwriting has always been bad,” I said. “Not this bad,” he replied. And I’m sure he’s right, because who has time to write by hand anymore and why bother?  We do everything on the computer now, right?

Still, his reproach has bothered me for days.  When I sign books for elementary and even middle school  kids, none of them can read my inscription, and not just because of my poor handwriting. Most of them can’t read cursive at all! It’s not being emphasized in the schools. Again, does that matter? Well only if it bothers you that this generation may never be able to read our great historical documents, like the Declaration of Independence, in their original form. Then again, I can’t read the great writings of Plato in their original form, and that doesn’t matter. It’s easy enough to find them fully translated on the internet.

So what is the answer? Do we fight progress? And what do we lose if we don’t?

A few weeks ago my computer crashed while I was working on development for a new talk. I was away from home at the time, so was forced to work by hand, jotting all my notes on a yellow legal pad, and I was shocked at how the thoughts tumbled out of my head and onto the paper. They do so on the computer, too, but on the legal pad, I could draw arrows and circle ideas and doodle in the margins as I mulled over a point. It was quite the liberating exercise and so energizing.

But what did I do as soon as my computer returned from the shop? I went right back to typing. I keep thinking there needs to be a balance. That maybe once in a while I should head to the coffee shop with only a pen and a notebook. Maybe all artists need to do that. Get back to the basics with our art. Do things the old-fashioned way from time to time. Slow things down a bit and really get our hands dirty. There’s something romantic about ink smudges on fingertips, don’t you think?

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Could George Clooney Be Right?

Recently, George Clooney accepted a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globe Awards. In an effort to cheer up the nominees who had not won in their categories, he reminded them that no one remembers how many awards an actor collects, what they remember is the iconic role he created or that famous line she uttered. And he’s right. Most of us can’t even recall who won best actor just one year ago.

To be honest, I don’t remember what I said at my first awards ceremony, when Remember Wake won second place. But I will never forget what happened after the ceremony. This lady came running up to me. “I was one of the judges,” she said. “And I lobbied hard for your book. I’ll never forget your story, and to my way of thinking, it was the best of the bunch.”

It sounds cliché, but in that moment, I did feel like a winner, and I left with a new understanding that changed me forever. An award is subjective. It’s totally up to the whims, the prejudices, even the qualifications of the judges.

What means far more to me than the trophies and plaques I’ve been lucky to earn are the compliments I receive. The person who tells me she stayed up all night reading my novel. The one who says she gave Dancing in Combat Boots to her mother to prompt her to tell her own wartime stories. The father who e-mailed me that he could hardly get his son to read, until he gave him V for Victory. “I had to pry away my Kindle,” the dad wrote.

Have you ever been standing in a grocery store line and had someone say to you, “I saw your performance last weekend. You made me cry.”  Or, “I bought one of your paintings. It’s the first thing everyone comments on when they enter my house.”  Or, “I played your song over and over after my boyfriend and I broke up. You got me through it.”

If you have, then trust me . . . you are a winner!  And if you haven’t, set your sights on that goal. In the end, those sentiments will bring you far more comfort and encouragement than any winning certificate ever could.

 

 

 

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Are You Worth More Than a Dollar an Hour?

As a teen, I was such a good babysitter that I got regular calls from nine different families! I thought it was because I was always available, played well with the kids, and cleaned up the messes. Now, I think it was also because I was the bargain of the century. At a dollar an hour, I was a steal! Granted, this was the early 80s, and none of my friends were making more than two-three dollars an hour to sit, but I couldn’t even bring myself to charge that!

You could argue that the people who hired me could have done the right thing and offered to pay me more, but really, the responsibility was mine. And I think a lot of artists will relate to my reasons for not wanting to raise my rate.

1) I was afraid I’d lose those jobs. 2) I worried if I asked for more, they’d see me as greedy or I’d cause them distress. 3) I thought I was doing them a kindness; that by keeping my rates low, I was enabling them to get out and enjoy themselves. 4) I felt like I was just a kid, and probably didn’t deserve more money anyway.

Are you still writing articles for no pay thinking you “need” the byline? Are you jumping in to offer a discount on your painting before you’ve given the buyer a chance to pay full price? Are you keeping your fees low because you believe art should be accessible to all? Because if you aren’t valuing the work you do, why should I?

I’ll be happy to pay you less, especially if you seem to appreciate it. If you tell me it’s “not your best work,” I’ll take you at your word. What do I know? If you tell me, though, that this piece took you 30 hours to complete and you’re proud of it, I’m going to feel like whatever I’m paying is probably not enough. Don’t be afraid to show off your effort. Don’t be afraid to tell me that you are good and your rate reflects that.

In the past 22 years, the theaters I frequent have doubled their ticket prices. And I’m still going. So are other patrons. In fact, one of the theaters is busier than I’ve ever seen it. Why? Because they’ve proven to us their product is worth it. They don’t have to prove it anymore.

Is your work worth it? If not, when will it be?

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Can Boredom Lead to Brilliance?

When I was a kid, we spent many a summer day at my grandma’s house while my mom worked. Though I adored my grandmother, she was not the type to entertain her grandkids. She left that up to us. Needless to say, I spent many a boring hour staring at the wallpaper. I also spent quite a bit of time sitting on the back of the couch watching the world wander past my grandmother’s big, bay window.

And in time, I noticed something interesting. During the lunch hour, the lawyers and statesmen who worked half a block away at the state capitol building would walk past my grandmother’s house, deep in conversation.  And the doctors and nurses who worked at the hospital half a block the other direction would also hurry past.  If I were to put up a lemonade stand at exactly that time, these successful individuals would have to walk right past it. And as statesmen and healers, they were practically obligated to support some cute, little kid’s endeavor, right?

So I had my mom buy us cans of lemonade, and my brother and I mixed up a few pitchers. We positioned our table as close to the sidewalk as possible, with our backs to the street, so that our sole focus would be on those passing professionals. We spoke up, we smiled, we waved, and we sold lemonade. At the end of the lunch hour, we packed it up and went in. It was too hot to sit out there waiting for the occasional passerby. We’d be back tomorrow when the traffic was high.

Some people look to this story as proof that I’ve always had an entrepreneurial bent, but I see something else. In my mind, it all started with boredom, which lead to observation, which lead to distinguishing a pattern, which lead to inspiration.

Is it possible that in order to do our best work, we must build in some time to just sit with our thoughts?  Is it possible that being busy doesn’t always equal being productive?  Can we give ourselves permission once in a while to just sit and watch the world go by?  And if we do, what might we see?

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We Make What Matters, Matter

This is the tagline for my company. Why? To remind me of what’s important and to ensure that I never take a single step forward in my life or business unless that step really matters.

The line is a quote from Mildred Shearer, one of the women I interviewed for my book Dancing in Combat Boots. Mildred’s contribution to the war effort during World War II continues to inspire me. She quit a lucrative job to sketch wounded soldiers in their hospital beds and at USO events. She sketched over 3,000 men! For many, it was the last likeness made of them before they died in the war. Mildred sent the originals to the soldiers or their families and kept the copies for herself.

In my interview with Mildred, she told me that her mother used to say, “We make the things that matter, matter.” What Mildred did during the war mattered a lot to the men who carried her sketches into battle, to the families who framed her drawings of their sons and husbands, to the exhausted nurses and doctors who welcomed her visits with their patients.

It was a short term job in a war long over, but today, her work still matters. Why? Well partly because I decided that it would, and so would the other stories I wanted to tell. Partly it matters because tonight, once again, I’m thinking of Mildred and honoring her memory. And partly because the legacy of her gift still lingers in this world in ways we may never see or recognize.

We tend to think that what matters is decided by society or culture or religion or our peers, but no one can say what truly matters except us. You may feel passionate about preserving the rain forest and your friend may see no point in that. Who is right? Him or you? We make the things that matter, matter. We decide.

So what matters to you? And what do you plan to do about it in 2015? Change your job? Change your art? Change your attitude? Change your destiny?

What will you do that matters?

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Do You Believe in Magic?

Tomorrow, a houseful of relatives arrive. Friends have asked me how I can stand to have 13 people in my house and if it doubles my stress at the holidays. The answer to that is yes, a bit, but so what? Christmas, to me, is about giving. Isn’t that what we tell our children? Wouldn’t I prefer a quiet holiday curled up by the fire with a good book, they ask.  Not really, because long after the plot of that book would be forgotten, I will still be remembering the laughter that filled this house.

As artists and entrepreneurs we pressure ourselves to be always working, always producing, always creating. Sometimes, especially when we are in the midst of launching a new project, we wish the outside world would fall away for a while.  Holiday activities become just another chore to add to our already full plates.

I’ll confess to occasionally sitting at my child’s holiday recital with my mind wandering toward a plot twist I’d been considering for my book, or an e-mail I forgot to send, or an order I need to fill. Thankfully, the universe has a way of getting through to us even when we are most distracted. A child’s clear voice singing a favorite carol pulls us back to the present and hurls us back to our pasts and makes us realize that the future is coming way too fast.

If you truly want to live a creative life, you need to believe in magic.  So let the magic of this holiday season penetrate the clutter. Be open to the stirrings of your soul. They are as vital to creation as the workings of your mind.

 

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A Tale of Two Artists

I have two necklaces that I count among my favorites. Every time I wear each of them, I’m guaranteed a compliment. One was made by a local artist I met at a craft show. I’ve bought several pieces from her over the years.

The other I purchased at Macy’s department store. It’s from the 1928 Jewelry line, and was made by some unknown artist. Interesting to think that he or she will never know how much pleasure his/her creation has given me.

And that’s the thing about art . . . we sometimes roll out our big, fancy projects in the hopes of getting recognition or fame or at least appreciation. And sometimes it is our signature works that bring us the most attention. But along the way, we are constantly creating other pieces without knowing what impact they have on our audiences.

I think of the countless newsletter articles I’ve written, for example, any one of which might have helped  launch a career. I think of these blog posts and the comments I’ve received from readers telling me that my words were exactly what they needed to hear. I had hoped my books would be my legacy, but I sometimes wonder if I might not be better remembered for my clever Christmas letters.

I once asked my friend who ghost writes books how she could stand not getting public recognition for her brilliant words. She told me that’s not what she was hired for. She was hired to make the expert she was writing for look brilliant. And she did. He got the credit, but the art was all her. And the satisfaction of a job well done.

My point is, we never know which of our works will strike a chord and with whom. Which is why we must always put our best effort into everything we do and find a way to feel passionate about it all, even those “work for hire” jobs that will never carry our names. Because the best art is created from the heart. And ego doesn’t reside in the heart. Neither does your pocketbook.

 

 

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Give with Faith and Abandon

One of my favorite things about December is the call to action to support charities and nonprofits.  I donate to several nationwide and global organizations, but I also enjoy finding those smaller, local nonprofits quietly going about great work in our communities. A donation to their organizations is always treated with such a wealth of gratitude that it makes my heart sing.

And, of course, I do what I can to support my own industry, the arts. Do you know that in Colorado, for example, about 21% of people donate to arts-related causes, compared to 40% who donate to animal causes? Me, I’ve always liked rooting for the underdog, and in the world of charitable giving, art groups fit that bill.

If you are going to donate to any groups this year,  though, whether arts related or not, please keep one thing in mind . . .

I have partnered with dozens of nonprofits and charities over the years and, by and large, found their employees and administrators to be people wholly dedicated to their missions. Most of them are ridiculously underpaid and overworked. Many are highly educated people who could find financial riches in the private sector but choose instead to enrich the lives of others.  Nonprofit employees are the backbone of our society. They take care of our most needy and vulnerable populations, from abused children to mentally ill adults, from ailing seniors to homeless youth, from abandoned animals to disaster victims.

While the rest of us turn off our lights at the end of a day and sleep soundly, these people lie awake worrying over their most at-risk charges. They dip into their own meager savings rather than let anyone in need slip through the cracks. They shed more tears of sorrow and joy than any other group with whom I work.

So please give generously this holiday season and without constraints. Many of the nonprofit workers I know are operating with outdated equipment, shivering in inadequately heated offices, driving broken-down vehicles to serve their clientele.

If you believe in the work a nonprofit is doing, please trust them to make the best decisions about how your money is spent. If we all insist we don’t want our donations going to “administrative costs” or “operating expenses,” for example, we tie the hands of the people who so desperately need to care for our most defenseless citizens.

When we scrutinize the salaries of nonprofit workers with suspicion, we fail to value the work they do. We should want our best and brightest people working to shoulder our most difficult societal burdens or to bring art and culture to our lives, and in order to attract those people, we should expect nonprofits to pay competitive wages.

And be sure to thank our nonprofit workers this year. Can you even imagine our world without them?

 

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Cookies, Cards and Creativity

I know you’re out shopping today or hanging up those Christmas lights. The holiday madness is upon us. When you get a quiet moment, watch this video on how to relax and let your creative energy carry you through this crazy and very special time of year.

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The Power of Can’t

From the time we are children, we are taught to worship the power of “can.”  “If you can dream it, you can do it.”  “You can do anything you set your mind to.”

We never talk, though, about the power of “can’t.”  I recently took a personality test and, apparently, I have a bit of a rebellious streak. This came as no surprise to me. Many of the artists and entrepreneurs I know are in possession of the same trait. For all the well-intentioned people who have told us we can reach our dreams if we believe in them, just as many people have said, “You can’t do that” or “It can’t be done.”

For some reason, whenever I hear the word can’t, every muscle in my body tenses. My husband mumbles, “Oh no,” under his breath. He knows what’s coming next. “Can’t?  Did you just say I can’t do it?’ Then something in me kicks into gear to prove them wrong. It’s only impossible until somebody does it. That’s what I always say.

Does that mean you should jump pell-mell into your next adventure just because someone told you not to?  Of course not. Sometimes it takes years of hard work and lots of trial and error to prove that something can be done. But if you’re a rebel, like me, you enjoy the challenge, no matter how long it takes.

I was recently asked to comment on this topic as it related to my own journey in an interview with Starstream Productions. Here’s the clip. Hope you find it inspiring.

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