So, here’s some honesty:
I’ve been planning to start my Thriving Artist’s Program in February with a goal of having 10 people join. You might have seen my emails last week that invited you to apply.
Despite doing everything “right” - i.e. writing and sending passion-filled emails, making calls, posting on social media, consulting with my coach, etc, - I had not one person sign up for the program.
Zero takers.
And honestly, I’m not totally surprised by this outcome.
I thought it would be valuable to share with you why the launch “failed,” since I have a feeling it might help you with whatever you might create or contemplate creating this year.
(side note: Why did I put “failed” in quotes? Because if I measure success by money or the exact numbers in my goals, it certainly was a failure. But if I look at it through the lens of what I learned from it and how it will shape my future programs and projects, it’s a win. It took me a few days to get past my ego being crushed to come to this conclusion, but it’s true.)
Why my program launch failed (and why yours might, too):
We could blame it on the seasonal timing - “people are too tapped out after the holidays!”
Or we could blame it on Mercury Retrograde - “you’re not supposed to start anything new in Merc Retro!”
But regardless of those factors, here’s the bottom line for me:
My head wanted it more than my heart.
Now, I’m NOT saying that my heart doesn’t love the work I do - because believe me, I wouldn’t be consistently doing it for the last 4 years if that wasn’t the case. It’s just that my heart, my body, and my soul, have all been sending me messages that it’s time to slow down, make a shift and change things up. (If you remember my post from a few weeks ago about throwing out all my 2016 plans, you’ll know what I mean!)
My head, though, was like: “Yea, I hear you, but the December Showcase was such a success! You’ve been doing this program for years and it’s already planned so just go with it.”
I was fearful that if I didn’t do it, I wouldn’t know what else to do in its place, or that I wouldn’t have another way of bringing in income.
Meanwhile, the process felt a bit rushed to me, and when I didn’t get the response I expected, it confirmed that something was out of alignment.
So here’s what I learned:
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Don’t be afraid to be in the darkness for awhile. Or a while longer. Sometimes clarity can only come from that empty space, and if you force something too soon, things will break down. (And that breakdown includes your body. Not a coincidence that I came down with a nasty cough and cold the day after coming to this realization.)
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It’s best to take action when you feel in full alignment with the timing and the cause. Your efforts will be so much more successful if you are 100% committed and in it.
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And, despite knowing all that, sometimes you gotta mess up anyway. It’s ok if something “fails” because there’s always something new to learn and a new direction you can take.
What I’m doing about it (and how you can partake):
I’ve decided to put the Thriving Artist’s Program on hold for now. In the meantime, I’m creating shorter, more bite-sized experiences that will allow me to continue to be of service, and also give me spaciousness in the process of reinventing myself and what I’m creating.
It’s a win-win!
If you can relate or are just digging all this honesty, let’s keep the conversation going!
I invite you to join me for this bite-sized experience of big-time impact:
On February 3rd at 7:30pm EST, I’m hosting a free “dance-inar” (not a webinar) called,
I’m sensing many of you are also in a place of questioning aspects of your lives.
This online event is about saying YES to that part of yourself that craves a paradigm shift, that knows there’s something else out there for you, even if you’re scared or uncertain about the future. I don’t know the exact answers, but I do know that we can create possibilities together.
I’ll guide you through some dancing, inner reflection, and a body-based process for accessing your truth.
It’s hosted via video, so you can join from wherever.
It’s recorded in case you can’t make it live.
It gives you an opportunity to dance, do some soul searching, and receive guidance, clarity, and support.
[button link="http://eepurl.com/bNKlWP" color="aqua" window="yes"]Sign up here.[/button]
I’m really excited to connect with you in new ways this year and I hope you’ll join me for this!
Remember:
When all else fails, dance it out.
wishing you peace, trust, and power,
Jess
p.s. for all you NYC locals, I also just started up a dance group on Meetup.com! Click here to join the dance meetup and stay updated on the dance-related events I’ll be hosting this year.
