tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post8014586214463256798..comments2023-10-20T08:52:24.875-07:00Comments on this artist's life:: mind your businessWhitney Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-77681988005642155632013-08-22T06:10:45.959-07:002013-08-22T06:10:45.959-07:00“I have a confession to make: I am not a business ...“I have a confession to make: I am not a business genius.” – That’s what I thought too. When I started my own business, I had some problems with accounting. I’m not a big fan of numbers and I’m afraid that I might screw my own business. I started searching for ways to keep me afloat of everything. Good thing I came across an accounting software that keeps me on top of my finances. <br /><br />Alyssa@<a href="http://www.goitworks.com/services/" rel="nofollow">GoItWorks.com</a> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14184463685247691090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-356830318524622292010-03-02T16:47:08.355-08:002010-03-02T16:47:08.355-08:00I've stumbled on the solution to compel me to ...I've stumbled on the solution to compel me to keep on top of my bookkeeping; to store all of my physical statements and receipts in the biggest, most fabulous receptacle that I can find. Right now its a handmade reed basket and and its become a pleasure to deal with the chaos inside. <br /><br />Now if only I could fit all of my receipts into one of your domed cake stands I'd be organizing my finances ALL the time...Re:Design Technologieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10452093471708387863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-79860432604670423542010-02-19T18:12:45.148-08:002010-02-19T18:12:45.148-08:00You are so funny! Thanks for telling it like it i...You are so funny! Thanks for telling it like it is. I throw all of my statements into a pile, too and open them every few months or so to check that I entered all of my bills into Quickbooks correctly. The only thing that saves me is online banking!freshie (and zero)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00926298683528552482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-77219429433469233492009-06-15T09:25:03.407-07:002009-06-15T09:25:03.407-07:00I love this post! Thank you, Whitney.
It's go...I love this post! Thank you, Whitney.<br /><br />It's good to be reminded that, as an artist, we aren't alone in this aspect of the business being a challenge. It's good to be kind to ourselves even as we work on getting better.Erin Sleddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08716370537080720903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-787762818133473952009-06-14T06:53:16.502-07:002009-06-14T06:53:16.502-07:00Great post...and good to read all the responses. I...Great post...and good to read all the responses. I am hitting the lessons for MYOB..."mind your own business" programme... for the very reasons mentioned by you and others. Its a bout time to feel some kind of control, proper relationship to money. It is such good stuff when spent well and wisely. I'm over worrying about all the "cant dos" and trying to get better, bit by bit, at things I always put off...thinking I'm not good at them. It really is about not giving into fears by burying one's head. Small steps!Sophie Munnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02797068983613314554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-20002724584062950682009-06-12T16:58:55.443-07:002009-06-12T16:58:55.443-07:00What a great post! Thanks so much for sharing. I&#...What a great post! Thanks so much for sharing. I'm 'trying' my best to get my shit together this year. Holy crap is it ever hard going from 'art brain' to 'business brain' and back. Where are those minions when you need them...Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12063636090418475332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-46897863120751255042009-06-12T16:56:29.310-07:002009-06-12T16:56:29.310-07:00Plan B: Marry someone who is good with money &...Plan B: Marry someone who is good with money & such. Sure I love my wife, but she knows the real reason I married her was for her business degree. Just like I know she married me for my ability to kill spiders and lift heavy things-Rob, Simple Circle Studioshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08870433162485160315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-19136859993966529062009-06-11T12:41:02.485-07:002009-06-11T12:41:02.485-07:00I use a program called MYOB (mind your own busines...I use a program called MYOB (mind your own business). I bought it because I liked the name. Once it is set up, you can write all your checks from it and it will automatically file them in the correct categories, making it very easy for end of the year taxes.<br />You still have to open your statements to balance the books though, but it is easy to do on the computer.<br />Great post, as usual.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08112347934232298502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-89389797137651648172009-06-11T09:35:34.621-07:002009-06-11T09:35:34.621-07:00Thanks for sharing both the good and the bad of be...Thanks for sharing both the good and the bad of being a successful artist!<br /><br />The business side of things is the unglamorous part of the job at least in my book - otherwise I'd be an accountant or economist or financial genius! ;)<br /><br />I was going to start the year off by setting up my accounting software...pause...it's installed but that's about it. All receipts, statements, etc go into a see through binder (as if that will remind me to take care of business).<br /><br />Glad to hear you're getting it straightened out.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10854055999177382091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-74055167008260767262009-06-10T17:19:01.844-07:002009-06-10T17:19:01.844-07:00It is very important to be in charge of your money...It is very important to be in charge of your money. Otherwise it is in charge of you. I think that's what's wrong in this country. People choose to ignore their money or where it goes or who is handling it and what exactly they are doing with it... and then you have all this shit... yet it is sooo hard to take charge. Just like with exercise. My lifelong quest: Why is it so hard to do the things that are actually good for you! If anyone has an answer, just let me know! Another useful tracking device that I'm planning to use every day: mint.com!Tania Julianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09657967573420546806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-30063297566994623752009-06-10T16:28:32.856-07:002009-06-10T16:28:32.856-07:00"I save up all my scary papers in a big file ..."I save up all my scary papers in a big file box in categories, write em down in an old fashioned $10 ledger book as they come in and pass em off to a $50 a hit bookeeper every 2 months.....worth EVERY penny, as time is money in my book."<br /><br />Yes, I absolutely agree with this. I called a bookeeper about 2 years ago. She said to get a years worth of statements together and she would get started. I hung up and didn't do a damn thing. My investment back then-- in time and money-- would have saved me thousands--literally!Whitney Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-9822128634658308632009-06-10T14:22:12.021-07:002009-06-10T14:22:12.021-07:00I had a great laugh at your husband's statemen...I had a great laugh at your husband's statement. Mine would have said the same thing. Lovingly of course. I had to schedule a time each week to take care of my business finance issues. Boring, but if done each week it helped keep it from getting to be an overwhelming task. I like that part. Thanks for sharing and be well.Sue Pariseau Potteryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10714855341699465370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-88813494729127094952009-06-10T13:46:23.745-07:002009-06-10T13:46:23.745-07:00oh yeah, Whitney I hear you!...you know, I was ver...oh yeah, Whitney I hear you!...you know, I was very lucky in school to have a professor who used to say "art is a BUSINESS, dont kid yourself!" hmmmph!...<br /><br />you are absolutely spot on on all accounts, but if I might add that one should not feel guilty if you dont have the gumption to set up quickbooks yourself and deal with it...I tried that and spent so much time entering and dealing w/ data, it sucked up half a day a week of precious studio time ( I AM pokey, I admit it!)..I think the important thing is to know when to call in help!...I save up all my scary papers in a big file box in categories, write em down in an old fashioned $10 ledger book as they come in and pass em off to a $50 a hit bookeeper every 2 months.....worth EVERY penny, as time is money in my book, and you need to know your strengths and when you need help!....thanks for outing yourself...my friend Michael who does the bookeeping, had great fun telling everyone he knew what a paper mess I am!..kerin rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11807814584138160980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-73433296330109256802009-06-10T13:19:56.217-07:002009-06-10T13:19:56.217-07:00I was an art-based businesswoman, so I can totally...I was an art-based businesswoman, so I can totally understand your points. I had different problem from yours. My another professional career is finance, therefore, I was extremely good at money. I believe the reason your friends called you "genius businessman" is that your are a good marketing person. I can do ok mareketing job but not as good as you and that is why I am not in that art-based business anymore.Yu Studioshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00838829221387225853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-32923113732053798212009-06-10T12:07:33.856-07:002009-06-10T12:07:33.856-07:00Thanks for the post! Business finance is always a ...Thanks for the post! Business finance is always a touchy subject so appreciate your sharing. We all need to learn how to better manage the business of art!lomaprietapotteryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00629953312879601105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-85647435065868953512009-06-10T11:50:20.451-07:002009-06-10T11:50:20.451-07:00I love your guts! This is my weakest link as a hum...I love your guts! This is my weakest link as a human being let alone a business person. I think making art a business is my way of getting in touch with money and the issues that surround it. Thanks for sharing your experience with such genuineness and heart :)Beth Hikeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10382619109646930425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-10334963353286656742009-06-10T11:49:45.515-07:002009-06-10T11:49:45.515-07:00You hit the nail on the head when you said that it...You hit the nail on the head when you said that it was "a fear-based reaction". I was the same way with my personal finances for years and am slowly getting better about it. Sometimes it is tough to remember that just because you ignore a problem or situation, that does NOT make it go away.Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17537709565513833065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-46515124715760428762009-06-10T11:45:29.503-07:002009-06-10T11:45:29.503-07:00"a fully successful artist has to be a good b..."a fully successful artist has to be a good businessperson too", yes, exactly right, all too often we think the two are mutually exclusive. Excellent post!MudStuffing Potteryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12486640611399806272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-73689094823492858262009-06-10T10:27:04.184-07:002009-06-10T10:27:04.184-07:00You KNOW I wasn't talking about you baby (snic...You KNOW I wasn't talking about you baby (snicker) and thanks-- I LOVE the Teapot too!Whitney Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-2311247929304796502009-06-10T10:24:09.572-07:002009-06-10T10:24:09.572-07:00i'm glad you didn't name names . . . but ...i'm glad you didn't name names . . . but more importantly, that is the most BEAUTIFUL teapot i've seen in a long time !!rae dunn.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12320993091302012853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-22278576770441235022009-06-10T09:47:52.691-07:002009-06-10T09:47:52.691-07:00"Art Based BUSINESS" is a great term. I ..."Art Based BUSINESS" is a great term. I have been reading Heather King's lively clay posts and discussions on the business of art... this must be Business Week! Hopefully artists will be inspired to clean up our ways to succeed. Though finances are distasteful to me as well, I view it like the business side of my art is the only way I am able to make more art. My husbands says being successful has always afforded us more "options" and enables us to choose how we want to live -simply. Money is not such a bad thing. Thanks again for the honesty.cindy shakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01353820195984269329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-80402357284963634982009-06-10T09:47:06.636-07:002009-06-10T09:47:06.636-07:00I'm much better tracking my minuscule in &...I'm much better tracking my minuscule in & outs of $$$ on my business than my real life. But I think I'm re-inventing the wheel with my huge excel spreadsheets, so I'm going to look into quickbooks. But I'm head in the sand when it comes to our family money with huge credit card accounts and being WAY upside down on our house...sigh...<br /><br />Thanks for sharing!Candied Fabricshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05959758829749783921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-40959329217775034422009-06-10T08:55:26.397-07:002009-06-10T08:55:26.397-07:00Good post; thanks for sharing. I appreciate transp...Good post; thanks for sharing. I appreciate transparency like this, and it should help other artists out . . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-67970070543495283652009-06-10T08:48:26.528-07:002009-06-10T08:48:26.528-07:00Intuitive banking... that's exactly what it is...Intuitive banking... that's exactly what it is! I like it.Whitney Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-7450533196657410922009-06-10T08:47:00.969-07:002009-06-10T08:47:00.969-07:00I bought a copy of quickbooks in November, install...I bought a copy of quickbooks in November, installed it on my fancy new computer, and I still have yet to set it up.<br /> I am so guilty of intuitive banking! Thanks for cracking the whip Whitney!!!heather knight ceramicshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09075665494492575354noreply@blogger.com