Decide how you want to go down in the history books and use that name for the work that will be associated with it. Use a different name for work you don’t consider to be on par with your serious art.

Using a company name puts you in league with all of the companies out there who are manufacturing and promoting unremarkable products. You’re different. Art is different. Art is not a mass-produced product. It’s remarkable!

Do you have a hard time saying No?  The problem with saying Yes to everything (which essentially means being a people pleaser) is that you end up saying No to yourself and everything you want for your life.

Get all of your tasks gathered in one place and make a habit of looking at your list every night before you leave your workspace and every morning before you get started on your day.

Do you know who your competition is? Many artists don’t like to think of themselves as competing against someone and, frankly, I don’t either. But we all have competition.

Realize that you will always have to squeeze in the business stuff while you continue making art. Sure, there will be times when one is weighted more heavily than the other, but your art should always take precedence. Your art should always be first.

There are certain things you have to spend money on when you’re running any type of business. You can’t ignore the fact that you will need money to grease the wheels of your art career.

In Part 2 this week, I want to look at organizing your email so that you don’t maintain an inbox on your screen with hundreds of messages.

Don't let email or the Internet interfere with your studio time. That is sacred time. Organize your routines so that you take care of email before and after you enter the studio. This will give you peace of mind while you're in creativity mode.

Protect your art career by preparing for an emergency. Print off the above list and break it down into manageable steps. Perhaps you can tackle one item a week.

You have the artists who compete to get into galleries and museums. And you have those who compete for attention on the Internet. How can you break away? How can you steal some time in the limelight for yourself?

Notice things. Pick one day this week and become aware of at least five things in your daily routine that you had never thought of before. Try to describe your sightings with words or pictures or both.

There are no guidelines for titling your art. You can give them any title you choose. Just remember that your work will have to live with the title for the rest of its life. Or not.

I’ll admit that money is a topic I’d rather not deal with. However, I’m quite aware that no one cares about my long-term financial health more than I do. And no one cares as much about your financial health as you.

Your master résumé, which an academician would call a curriculum vitae, or CV, is just that. It’s a document that outlines all of your accomplishments. From your first public showings at the local coffee shop to art festivals to museum exhibitions.

Why is pricing so difficult? Mostly because it’s almost impossible to put a dollar figure on something that was born from the depths of your soul. We often know what we’d like to get for our work, but then reality smacks us on the head with this feedback: “Sure, that number would be great, but you’re not quite there yet.”

The thrill of starting fresh! The anticipation of creating new benchmarks and reaching new dreams! Oh, but wait, there’s so much detritus getting in your way. What would it feel like to get rid of it all so that the New Year is truly new?

The holidays are a perfect excuse to get back in touch with those who have been helpful to you during the year. They’re an excellent reason to send cards with your artwork on them or small gifts that someone would treasure.

Do you give in whenever someone asks you to lower your price or says they just can't afford your work? Did you turn to mush when the art center asked you to teach a class but said they could only pay you $100? Then this message is for you: stand firm!

Collect more email addresses by making your email, newsletters, and website irresistible. When people start talking about what you have to say, they'll flock to you.

Update your résumé. Get the facts and details straight. Your résumé should have the most important information at the top. For most exhibiting artists, that is your solo exhibitions. For teaching artists, it would be your education and teaching experience.

There are things you can do to tap into what might not be considered your "usual" audience. At the top of the list: offer options.

REMEMBER it's easier to make a reputation locally, and then expand into other markets. Almost every artist thinks life would be easier if they just lived somewhere else.

There is no excuse for using less than first-rate photographs of your artwork. When you're trying to sell your work... your photographs must be as good or better than the originals.

I had so many inquiries that I didn't know what to do with them all. The stars were in perfect alignment, as far as I was concerned. And, then, I goofed. Here's what I did...

Do you wish you had more time? No wonder. You have to make your art, promote your art, stay in touch with friends and family, exercise, eat right, and be there for those you love. There will never be enough hours in the day to do what you want to do.

I hazard to say that the biggest mistake artists make in their businesses is not following up on leads and opportunities. It's only a guess, but it's based on numerous conversations with clients and class members.

As an artist, you probably don't consider yourself in the service business. Excellent service, however, can make anyone and any business stand out in a sea of competitors... wow your buyers with your speed, efficiency, and quality.

Others are not responsible for recognizing your boundaries. You have to tell them.  Think of one time in the last six months you wish you would have said "no." What happened? What could you have done differently for better results?

There is a formula.  Without doing it, you might continue to operate without knowing where all your money is going. It's called "Actual Costs Pricing."

There is no magic formula for pricing your art, but the prices must be consistent. You have one and only one price for your work. It's much easier to raise your prices than lower them.

the Oreo® is a cookie with two chocolate wafers on the outside and light, creamy filling on the inside. When you're critiquing someone, think of the chocolate wafers as praise. The fluffy stuff in the center is where you can offer room for improvement.

You can't be passive in today's art market. It's up to you to know what's going on. It's up to you to put that information to use. Be in the know. Read, subscribe, join, participate, listen, and discuss. An easy place to start is your local library.

Submitting proposals is part of a professional artist's career.  Submitting proposals is easier when you are organized and working well ahead of the deadline.  Submit a solid proposal.

You have a lot to think about when you're in business for yourself.  Setting up systems and staying organized will help you remember what's most important for your success.

Lessons to be learned: 1. Get a bumper sticker for your art. 2. Make sure you have a Web site and that you update it. 3. If you can't fit in a job or commission, don't waste the time of the patron. 4. Make it easy on your patron. 5. Communicate openly and professionally.

I encourage you to devise an emergency plan for the continuation of your business. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate in the beginning. Start with some basic information.

Update your inventory records. Do you have all of your buyers' names in there? And their most recent contact information? Are you keeping track of where each work is being exhibited? If you're finding this difficult, consider purchasing software that can help relieve the burden. 

If you are contemplating mixing politics with your art business, educate yourself. You must be an expert. You have to come across as knowledgeable, not flighty or flaky. Your business is at stake.

There are some great Web galleries out there, which are run by people who genuinely care about their artists and want to help them succeed.

If you're running around in circles and going nowhere, it's probably because you haven't planned and prioritized sufficiently.

There is absolutely no reason in the world good enough for you to take on projects you're so uncomfortable with.

You have a lot to think about when you're in business for yourself. Setting up systems and staying organized will help you remember what's most important for success. 

The best business tools are not always the cheapest or free. I've come to realize that, more often than not, you really do get what you pay for.