How do you know you're on the right path? (Africa Pt.1)

Often times I hear people question their current path. Is this what I was meant to do? Am I fulfilling myself, or the purpose I was truly meant for? We've all had these thoughts. Sometimes we think we're an enigma, alone in thinking these things. As human beings we are constantly looking to fill a void, or be defined so we feel useful. Even if we have chosen a path, excel in it, and everyone else sees us as expert...we still question ourselves. 

So how the hell do you know for sure who you are supposed to be, or what you are meant to do? Yes I know...pretty deep for a makeup industry blog article...But it directly correlates with the experiences I'm currently having as an artist. You'd be surprised how relevant it can be to you, and how important it is for you to consider.

As you may or may not know, I have been in the process of co-creating an amazing project in Africa. In fact I am writing this article from Lagos, Nigeria. The experience of working on this project has been by far one of the most inspiring, exciting, and fulfilling things I have been part of up to date. I have never been so sure in my life that I am doing exactly what I was meant to do. The feeling I'm experiencing is an unparalleled surge of energy and love. It's as though a door has opened and a rush of pure purposeful electricity is being channeled through me so I can not only carry out my role in this project, but I have all that I need to see it through with excellence. I know, sounds crazy right?! I'm not trying to figure out why it's happening to me or why now (not really relevant in my opinion)...however I have been examining the ingredients of what it took to get here, so I might share this wealth in someway with you.

The project itself  (without giving away too much detail, because the end result is kind of a surprise), is literally working to make a difference in the world. I have been working with my buddy and partner Robin R. Crespo for about 3 years now. He's the owner and head designer of INGactivewear, an organization that produces The Code Purple Event and Moskeeto Armor. Moskeeto Armor is a patented fabric that is treated with a non toxic, undetectable insect repellent. Most commonly the fabric has been manufactured as a lightweight, ventilated, fashionable purple hoodie. This hoodie has been given to hundreds of villagers in the bush country of Uganda and Nigeria. It has gone through clinical trials and has been proven to increase the prevention of Malaria by 75%. If the mosquito cannot bite you, the deadly disease that kills 1000 children a day, (one child every 45 seconds), cannot infect you. Essentially Robin has figured out how to use fashion, to literally save lives. Pretty amazing right? SO, how do I fit into all of this?

Robin is an artist, just like myself. He doesn't just design clothes, or manufacture a solution to a problem with his craft.  He thinks on a creative level of how to communicate with art that will turn heads and get peoples attention. This is also how I view makeup; It is beyond beauty, beyond trend...It's an art medium I can use to inspire others, start conversations, and evoke thought.

Robin knew there was another artistic element needed to fully encapsulate his ideas, and that he couldn't do it alone. So, he set his intention to find a solution. Simultaneously, in building my brand, I have always known that who I am and what I do must not only make a difference in the world but inspire others to do so as well. As a result, I have expanded from just doing artistry into mentoring and educating artists to bring their own good into the world as well. However, as rewarding as it is to see people stepping into their potential and living their dreams in our industry (and it truly is what gets me out of bed), there has always been something I wanted to do that contributed to making a global impact. But I really was not sure what or how. So I too put my intention out there. As the serendipitous universe will always do it's work, Robin and I met through a mutual friend the summer of 2012. Though we were not sure exactly what our meeting and friendship would lead to, we knew from the first moment something had begun as a direct result of the intentions we put out.

I tell you this because one of the essentials to finding your purpose and where you're "supposed to be" is setting and putting out intentions. Some people call it prayer, some meditation, and some visualization. No matter what you believe it all comes from the same place: an intention in your heart made clear in your mind and vocalized from your mouth will start the journey of your desire to come your way. If you can't even speak it, or believe you are worthy of it, IT will not know where to find you. True intention does not come from just asking. A lot of conventional prayer is built around the idea of asking (sometimes begging) for what you want from a higher power. But true intention is knowing you have it, that it is already coming to you. The act of these prayers is just speaking it aloud so you can better believe it and others can conspire to bring it closer to you. I really didn't ask anyone if I could have an opportunity that would contribute to making a difference in the world. I knew it would happen. I just aligned with a truth. I even said aloud in meditation "The opportunity where my passion and art will make a life changing difference is on its way to me right now. Thank you for this opportunity"

After we met, Robin and I started planning a fashion show. This show would not only showcase the versatility of Moskeeto Armor but be the first time we would work together to convey an artistic concept. We started planning for a show during SS 2013 Fashion Week, but ran into some interesting challenges. First, the venue we were slated to use would not allow us to do what we wanted to do. Plus, we would be showing with other designers, but our concept was unique and powerful that we felt it wouldn't be appropriate to lumped our work in with others, fearing it would lessen our impact. Ultimately we made the tough executive decision to not show at September Fashion Week. Having a designer miss fashion week is not recommended because of the whole "top of mind" aspect...but we felt strongly that waiting would be best for the integrity of the project. Then, Robin threw his back out in January, putting a wrench in the subsequent plan to show at February Fashion Week. At this point one (and when I say one, I mean me) would start to wonder "Is this going to happen, is this meant to be?" But it was. A plan had been put in place, one that even I and Robin couldn't see in the beginning. This plan was bigger than us, bigger than what we thought it should be. It was created by our intentions and the divine web of energy that designs the biggest possibility for those intentions. Call it what you want - God, the Universe, Divine Intervention - Our show didn't belong in Fashion Week. It belonged in its own time on April 25th, World Malaria Day.

We would not have come to that conclusion if other things did not fall apart. So my second essential key to finding your purpose is to know that when things fall apart, it is sometimes a bigger plan at work. John Lennon once said "Life is what happens while you are making other plans". Often times we question if we are on the right path because nothing seems to go right in it's pursuit. You may be so clear that your goal or passion has to look a certain way, and when things do not go the way you "planned" get frustrated, discouraged, question things or even give up. The story wouldn't be interesting if shit didn't go down and get tough...in fact if everything always worked out as planned, the movie of your life would be a snooze fest. The bigger possibilities lie just outside the realm of what we can see immediately. If we don't see with the bigger eyes of our heart, we could miss it. In the moments where you get antsy and want to bolt, Buddha says hold your seat. A bigger plan for what you are meant to do may be revealed in the right time...when you are ready to hear it, see it, and take it on.

So we had our first fashion show. It was a collaboration of art, fashion, and makeup to showcase the versatility of Moskeeto Armor fabric and bring awareness of the impact Malaria has in Africa. We also committed to World Malaria Day being the ongoing date for our future projects together. The hope (or the commitment I should say) was that our next project would take place in Africa...but so much needed to happen to get there. Ah, but we will save that for next time...

What makes a great educator? Pt.2

In my last article, I started sharing stories with you about my best teachers, and why my experience with them was so amazing. My intention is to help you recognize what you need in an educator, so you can choose education that really supports your goals and propels you towards them.

To recap, here’s what I expressed I need from my educators so far:
-Patience/meeting me where I’m at.
-Break it down for me, one time
-Don’t let me get away with shit

And to continue…

Never give me the answer
I cannot express how imperative it is for an educator/mentor to withhold the answers to some questions. There is a teaching philosophy – The Art of Mentoring – that talks about answering questions with another question, forcing student to rely on themselves for answers. If you think about it, it’s brilliant. The student needs to trust their own intuition; What would you do if there was no master or teacher to ask? When I was learning to become a coach I worked with many seasoned trainers. The very first trainer I worked was Micky McQuaid. She reminded me of a catholic school nun who happened to be a die hard sports fan and could give a shit less if she offended you. She was intimidating to say the least. She had the job of transforming people’s lives through the trainings we facilitated, and as far as she was concerned, it not was not about us (the assisting coaches). She would give you an instruction one time, and she would make it very clear. If you dared to ask her for clarification, especially for something you could probably figure out on your own, she would scowl her face at you and ask back snidely “what did I say?” or “what do you think?” or “how do you think you would handle it?”. It was nerve racking, but we soon learned to internalize the question and figure it out for ourselves. Over time, if I didn’t take her demeanor personally, I became used to trusting myself more and more, having confidence in my coaching and my job. Micky wasn't actually being a bitch, (I freaking LOVE her) she just cared enough to know we were capable of finding answers on our own. Though she drove me crazy and scared the shit out of me, I was ultimately so grateful she did.

Acknowledge the gifts no matter how great or small

One of the side effects of being someone who tried really hard in school, but often came up short in results, is that you long for someone to tell you something you did right. The more seeming failure, the more feelings of dejection, the less confidence you have, and the less you trust yourself. I had another trainer once tell me that when she was being coached she would request that no matter how bad she was fucking up, just tell her one thing she was doing right and everything would be fine. I realized that was something I needed. So I started requesting that of all my mentors and coaches…I even requested that of my husband Charlie. Charlie is very analytical, methodical, and is very grounded where I am a passionate, creative, visionary and impulsive. Often times complex linear thinking type stuff eludes me, or take me longer to process than other things. Like doing the books, or creating systems in my business, or putting together electronics. Charlie will push me to try to do these things rather than always doing it for me. It often starts out as an epic fail. But bless my husband, he will always acknowledge even the tiniest thing. Sometimes all he’s got to go with is the fact I tried. Yeah it gets that bad. But his acknowledgement makes me feel more inclined to try again, and I do not feel as stupid for essentially making a disaster out of it. It makes a huge difference…and I always carry that into my style of teaching.

Respect as equals.

Finally, one of the things I cherish as a student and educator and make sure it surrounds me at all times is respect. There is nothing more off putting and just energetically twisted than an educator who acts as though they are superior to the student in anyway. As human beings, no matter how much experience we have, or do not have, we are important valuable contributions to our lives, and our potential is endless. To think those who have more education and knowledge (or money, or fame, or “attractiveness”) are at a level above others, is doing a disservice not only to the student, but to themselves. It’s small. The educator who thinks they have capped all that they can learn about their trade is quite honestly the dunce compared to their own student. The world constantly changes, and nothing stays the same. Thirteen years ago online marketing and social media was a commodity, not something essential. 3-D printing is now the new way to sculpt, digital photography has a whole new set of advantages, and new advantages in health and wellness has us be able to live longer. To not respect our students is chopping off our own legs at the knee. Of course respecting your mentors and those who come before you is also essential to the richest education, but it doesn't mean you give up your own self worth to do so. When I first started participating in a Native American Community for my spiritual guidance, there were so many traditions to learn and so many teachings to absorb. The elders of my community though steadfast in upholding tradition and respecting the teachings, always made me feel welcome, and respected my learning journey. As the world changes, the elders look to the youth to bring in new ideas and are always open to integrate the old with the new… And these traditions go back more than a century.

Overall the way I see it you always are at choice. You can choose to learn from people because they are popular, they have many followers, or you want to be able to say you were taught by them. You can choose to learn from someone because they make it easier for you, or because it seems they are successful. But if you check in with yourself authentically, will these attributes get you the furthest… Not just in your career, but who you are as a person. Will this person and experience develop you, challenge you, and push you to where you were meant to be. How will you know who they are? Do you research, ask questions, find referrals, listen to their style and voice…both online and in person. We didn't get the chance to choose who taught us as children, but we do now. So make educated choices, and informed decisions. Be a demand for great education, not just good.

What makes a great educator? Pt.1

Just to be clear this is NOT an article about ME as an educator. Nothing makes me more uncomfortable than talking about myself, or listening to someone else talking about themselves for an extended period of time....so rest assured that is not happening here. Nor is this a ploy to give myself some gold stars and get you to sign up for our workshops (Haha, can you imagine? I'd be thinking "nice marketing, but what an asshole"). The purpose of this article is to spotlight the difference between a good educator a great one, who we become attracted to versus who offers long term learning benefits. I would like to tell you about some of the great educators in my life, and what they did that really resonated with me, helping to form me into the artist and mentor I am today. I definitely assimilated a lot of these amazing attributes into my style of teaching because of the powerful impact they had on me. The intention is to recognize in yourself what educators are best for you, so you can choose appropriate education for yourself and learn how you can use it to be a teacher in your own area of expertise.

To give you an understanding as to why this subject is so important to me (aside from the obvious...duh, I'm an educator), I'll give you a brief background of my struggle with learning. I'm gonna have to talk about myself...ick...but it helps to make a point, so bare with me.

We have all heard of ADHD, yes? Of course you have, nowadays people diagnose it like they diagnose the flu. But I was "for reals"  diagnosed with ADHD when I was 7 years old, medicated, and went to therapy before anyone even knew what the disorder was. I still have it today, minus the hyperactivity, therapy, and no longer need to be medicated. The disorder involves an imbalance of neurotransmitters that can cause hyperactivity and concentration problems. This means I have a lot of trouble focusing and staying organized. Being a child with ADHD prior to anyone really understanding it or how to deal with it in educational settings, I was commonly viewed as having a behavioral problem. In addition to being the problem child of the class, I was an enigma in that I had a 120 IQ but my academic performance could not surpass a C+. I had problems absorbing the material the way it was taught, but if I could absorb it I grasped the material better than most in my class. Breaking through these obstacles would take two very important factors: a fierce will to not give up on myself, and amazing teachers.

The teachers that made an impact on me needed to go above and beyond using the characteristics, values, and virtues that would be important to anyone desiring a great education. I'm going to pinpoint these traits for you, and tell you about the person who delivered it flawlessly:

Patience/meeting me where I'm at.
Part of the reason why I did so poorly in grade school was because teachers didn't take the time to investigate what I was dealing with. I couldn't sit still in my seat, and I could answer questions with A+ aptitude but testing and listening for directions barely gave me a D. It wasn't until I went into the 4th grade and met Mrs. Belkin that I not only realized I was smart, but capable of doing things like other children...we just had to find different ways of doing it. Mrs. Belkin almost never yelled at me where so many in the past had. She sat with me and had me read and solve problems separately from the other class mates. She asked me what my favorite subjects were, and put me in a special reading group with only 3 other kids. Later I found out this was a group for kids with accelerated reading skills. We were given more complex reading comprehension, but we read to each other in a smaller group for better focus. For the first time, outside of art classes, I got all A's and B's. It was because Mrs. Belkin took the time to investigate what type of learning model worked best for me, was patient with me, and met me where I was at rather than lumping me in with everyone else where I (and my potential) often got lost.

Break it down for me, one time
My 5th grade piano teacher, Ms. Giordano, also understood that I needed to learn differently. I could barely read notes let alone play while reading them. In addition, my ADHD came with extreme impatience and frustration. So, Ms. Giordano would break the process into parts for me and have me master one thing at a time. She would always tell me what I was going learn each day, and what I would get out of each lesson. Of course, I have now forgotten most of what I learned at age ten...but at the time I was playing Bach and Beethoven when at first I could only play Chopsticks. Now, when I see "educators" who "teach" by giving vague demos, assuming that just showing a look with their talent makes a good teacher, I get a little annoyed. If you don't break it down and explicate the process, the material isn't relatable. Only a small percentage of people will grasp just by watching, most walk away saying "That was amazing, but I'll never be able to do it". In that case the job of the "educator" was not done! If people don't walk away with a new approach or understanding of the material, what's the point?

Don't let me get away with shit
I learned early on it's okay to struggle. Struggle pushes you to think outside the box and use more of your brain to problem solve. It may come to a surprise to some that I used to get defeated very easily. If I couldn't figure something out I would start a pity party in my head that I couldn't learn the way others learned and I am doomed to not succeed because of my "curse". Dramatic, right? Thankfully there were a few teachers along the way would not let me get away with that shit. The true saviors didn't allow me to use a road block as an excuse, but wouldn't give me the answers either. The person who continues to do this for me today is my mentor, Gary. He never lets me get away with anything...which is why I continue to call him whenever I get stuck. He let's me be my quirky, creative, ADD self. When shit gets tough, he supports me with compassion, but pushes me to solve the problem. Everything is "figureoutable".

I have a few more stories of great educators to share in my next blog. I really want to convey the difference between good educators and great educators. We didn't get the chance to choose who taught us as children, but we do now, and I want you to understand what makes the best educator for you. Stay tuned for part 2!

A cure for the hoarding makeup artist

As I unpacked my kits from the myriad of traveling jobs I've had recently, I realized I have enough makeup for 4 makeup artists! I also realized I have a tendency to hold on to products that are no longer relevant to what I do, and have such an over abundance of that it's hard for me to keep track of what I really need. As I began the process of purging I understood more clearly there has to be a better way to manage this. If I could simplify what I have, I wouldn't hate packing my kit as much when I have a job. If I became aware of everything I have, then I wouldn't have those moments of panic that I forgot something, and wouldn't need to pack unnecessary things that make my load unbearable.

How the hell did it get this way?

I have mentioned in previous posts how blessed I am to have companies who believe in my work, and believe in supporting makeup artists that will use their product in dynamic ways. I have been so grateful to have companies sponsor me through the years with new products and a yearly gratis. For a long time I'd think "I'll gladly take it all, because you never know what you are going to need" but now I have an over abundance of product from companies like Temptu, Make Up For Ever, OCC, MAC, Royal and Langnickel, Naked, Stila, Bare Minerals, Sigma, Embriolysse, Avene, Mehron, Sephora, Cozzette, Maybelline, Face Atelier, Skindinavia, World Body Painting and more. I collect it all, ultimately using about 70% of it, and now always being able to test my new products right away. Some of you are probably saying "I'm sorry but I don't really see a problem. In fact, I wish I had this problem." Well aside from have too much and not knowing where to put it...Here is the issue:

Stop being a philandering product whore, and make a commitment!

In order to minimize your kit, find products you love and rely on. There must be 500 million red lip colors out there, but it only matters which matte, cream, and gloss versions you can count on. Same with foundation! You probably already know which liquid, cream, and tinted moisturizers you love, so why would you keep looking to add more? Sometime there are holes (I haven't yet found the perfect concealer palette) but once you find your long lost love, what do you do with the old ones? Of course I am always trying new products to know what's out there and popular...but if you are getting products just for the sake of it, you are wasting money, valuable kit/closet space, and creating clutter in your physical and mental space. It's the same scenario as when you have four sets of shampoo and conditioner in your shower because you were dazzled by a shiny new product before you finished the old one, and thus started your collection. So, find your loves and stick to them, and find a system to filter out old products.

"But I don't want to get rid of it because you never know when you'll need it..."

Ok just stop. That tripe is a hoarder's anthem. That same shampoo/foundation/red lipstick...you know  (and I know you know!) will sit there well beyond its expiration date, taking up physical, mental, and energetic space. Yes, you spent money on it...so either use it up before you start something new, or hand it off to a friend, someone who is building their kit, or throw the damn thing out. Abundance is not owning tons of things, abundance is letting go because you know there will be enough. Create a system of what to do with old products. Whenever I buy a new pair of shoes, I promise myself I'll get rid of an old pair. I have been known to have trunk sales and giveaways with friends and interns. Keep the flow of energy moving...that which comes in needs room, so other things must leave.

Get off the "kid in a candy shop" syndrome.

I have learned many years ago, before entering a trade show/makeup boutique/etc with too much eye candy for my wallet and closet to realistically handle, I go in with a clear goal of how I'll come out. I take inventory of what I have and what I need, staying committed to accomplishing a purchase where those needs are met. Research and refine your choices rather than taking something home with a "we'll see" attitude. I imagine this tiny little Baptist preacher sitting on my shoulder as I walk through the aisles "Thou shalt not be tempted! Stay back demon! This is not what you came here for! The path of righteousness is the path of...well just keep moving...you do NOT need another f-ing Zuca, you already have 3."

Distinguish what you want vs. what you need

One of the best things I have ever done was sit in a seminar of one of my colleagues teaching kit focus. I learned so much from the minimalism of artist friends like James Vincent or Kevin James Bennett that I could essentially cut my kit in half. As true artists, we can mix and tweak so many products to do more for us, and create less volume in our kit. Figuring out how to dilute containers to palettes and forcing yourself to structure those palettes with the most essential colors, is key to a lighter load. Interestingly enough you could do an entire makeup with a blue, red, yellow, black and white flash colors for any skin tone. Not the preferred way to do it, but it is possible. So what do you really need in your kit versus what you actually pack?

Be ready before you're ready - pack ahead to avoid anxiety

I have been hired to do jobs everywhere from men's grooming to full body paint with fx and hair. Obviously, different jobs need different kits, and you should still be prepared just in case. You know the essentials you will need for a beauty job, and what you would add to that kit if it required tattoo coverage. You also know the add ons needed if a natural beauty look turned creative. I have learned from other artists through out the year to have these kits ready to go so you can easily add or subtract a zip-pack or two and be fully confident you have what you need. I pack for fashion week one week before. Knowing I'll be working with at least three brands, I make sure my must-have essentials are set, compact, and easy to convert no matter what brand I am working with.

In the end, the main remedies to cure hoarding tendencies have to do with editing, condensing, an abundance mentality (in your inventory and in all material things!), a clear purchasing focus, and the ability to pack smarter...not harder. Or is that heavier?

Too much education out there! How do you choose what is right for you?

It has become more apparent to me this year than ever that there is an overwhelming amount of people and organizations offering education to our industry. More than I've seen before, people are tapping into teaching as another way of making money. Since it is easier for people to communicate to an audience by way of online marketing, webinars, YouTube, online deals and easy registration programs, there are less hoops to jump through when producing education events. But this recent surge in educators can be a problem: so many choices in your face at all times makes it hard to choose, and creates a "dime a dozen" mentality, turning education offers into white noise. You may be familiar with the Facebook group called MUA Workshops Workshops, which is a constant rotation of new events, seminars, membership programs, YouTube channels, etc. I know if I post something there, within minutes it will travel far down the thread until someone likes or comments on it.


I often read through the offerings and select what I would actually choose if I were seeking education in makeup or hair, and would like to share how I make those distinctions. Luckily, my dear friend Michael DeVellis, owner of The Powder Group (of which most of us are proud members!) has already addressed this subject; He offers very clear points and questions you should ask yourself before deciding to invest. Be thorough, and make sure - as with anything - that you are getting immense value from your investment.

I've gotten so many messages lately about the huge amount of education out there in our industry these days and how can one tell the difference between what would be a great investment and what is a waste of time. So I thought I'd share a few points to consider:

- Who are the clients of, and what is the experience of, the educator? Do you aspire to have their career?
- Are they a true expert in the area they are teaching in? Check their website, CV and bio for up-to-date, relevant experience.
- When was the last time they worked on a shoot, film, show, project - versus just teaching about it? The industry changes - they need to be current.
- Are they an experienced educator as well as makeup artist or hair stylists. Just because you are a good creative talent does not make you a good educator.
- Does the cost of their program seem fair for their experience and where the event is being held? Are their cancellation policies fair?
- Are they toting an old success story as their entire basis for being a teacher? What have they done lately?
- Do they have a website and proper business set up to produce these events? Are they insured to produce such events?
- It's hard to judge integrity, ethical behavior, good industry etiquette and so on from a Facebook message but do your homework. The worst thing to do is take advice from someone who behaves badly, is negative or uses manipulative means by which to build their business. Learn from those who you want to be like. 

I hope this helps! Happy learning!
Michael DeVellis
Executive Director, The Powder Group

I would not say anything different! The only thing I would add:

- If you have an opportunity to go experience the facilitators first hand (trade show presentation, or a less expensive seminar) feel free to test the wares first. You will energetically know if this person is right for you to learn from, so you feel more confident in investing.

- Also feel free to make a list of what you want to get out of your experience, and if the promotional material isn't clear that is what you will be getting, contact them. Their customer service will also be a great indicator as to whether or not your needs will be taken care of.

In the end, you will learn something from every decision you make regarding your growth in business, so do not let the process paralyze! Keep moving forward! Enjoy the start of your new year.

Resolution VS. Commitment

As 2014 comes to a close we're are looking back at the last 12 months. What was this year about? What did you say you would do? What did you actually do? What were your successes? And what were your biggest challenges?

It's this day of the year that millions of people decide to create "resolutions" for the next 365 days/52 weeks/12 months. Quite honestly I have never been into resolutions, they kind of seem like bullshit to me. The actual definition of a resolution is not what everybody thinks it is:

A res-o-lu-tion  noun: The act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc.: the act of resolving something: an answer or solution to something:

Our version of a New Year's resolution is a secular tradition in which a person makes a promise to do an act of self improvement that they will carry out for that year.

The problem I have found with creating these "promises" is that we often end up disappointed in ourselves when we cannot keep them. 365 days is a very long time to commit to a drastic change you made overnight. Human change does not come from a promise we make to ourselves because we think we should be better than we were yesterday; Human change comes from the guts of creating a commitment, and a vision to carry it through.

If we actually were making a resolution, we would be in the act of resolving the problem that stands in the way of being who or where we want to be. Be in ownership of creating the steps between who you currently are and being a healthy person, being someone who makes more money, being someone who spends more time with family, being someone who does everything/anything it takes to have the life you want.

So if you are in fact going to be making resolutions you are passionate about, ask yourself: are they "it would be nice if..." promises, or actual commitments? Is 2015 your year? How committed are you making that happen? How do you know if you are committed?

Your are committed if:

• You have a clear vision of what it is you want
• You are ready to do hard work in order to get what you want
• Obstacles along the way do not stop you, they prompt you to find another road on the map
• When you get stuck, you find support
• You are willing to be vulnerable (yes you may actually cry a little bit)
• You are willing to take risks
• You are willing to be uncomfortable, be judged, and...some people may not like this... committed to you.
• You are ready to be fully responsible for making it happen - No one else, YOU
• You understand that you may fall on your face, and that is okay
• You are okay with not doing it perfectly, because the only way to do it with perfection is to do it shitty first...
• You may not know how, but you're committed to having it happen anyway, no matter what

You are not committed if:

• You have no vision as to where you see yourself
• You make a promise because someone else thinks you should, not because it's important to you
• The first moment it gets hard you give up
• THE FIRST MOMENT IT GETS HARD YOU GIVE UP
• You give yourself back doors like saying "I'll try", "I'll see what happens ", "I hope"

• You base your success on what others do or don't do, say or don't say
• You allow time, money, knowledge, experience, (fill in the blank), be your excuse as to why you cannot stay committed
• You are unwilling to be vulnerable, be wrong, fall on your face, look bad, be judged, or do the work
• You resist making a plan that will guide you
• You are not willing to find another way if the plan you made doesn't work out
• Reading this makes you feel guilty rather than motivated

In the end my friends, hard work, drive, and seeking support is the formula to defeating what you think is overwhelming and impossible. Words must be followed with integrity and action because you are worth it. Stay committed, and keep company with those who will push you, and be honest with you. Things may take longer than you want them to but hold your seat and stay focused on the goal, and you will get there...don't give up!

I and The Body of Artists salutes you, wishes you prosperity, passion, and commitment in 2015. We will be here creating some crazy shit in this upcoming year! I hope you will join us

Please enjoy some of the things that inspired me during 2014:

DEFEAT THE ODDS WITH BLIND PASSION

(Sargy Mann's paintings regularly selling for upward of £50,000 (US$80,000).

(If cannot see, click here)

FORGET WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT DISABILITY

(make society's stigma, into society's desire)

(If you cannot see it , click here)

NEVER GIVE UP!

(you might cry, but will have no excuse after this one)

(If cannot see, click here)

Feedback: Are you brave enough to ask for it, and smart enough to demand it?

Most human beings have a natural positive reaction to praise and acknowledgement, and a resistance or fear toward constructive criticism. Often people are disappointed when they receive none of the first, but are more than happy to receive none of the second. Recently I have been both the receiver and giver of "feedback", and as much as I am utterly uncomfortable in both scenarios, I have built a muscle over the years allowing me to put both experiences in the category of "essential growth process".

As entrepreneurs we have an ethical and social responsibility to provide excellent customer service. It is essential to our brand elevation and presence. Further, it is what we deserve and expect for ourselves.So, why as a human being would you not want to provide that for others?

When you are offering a service or are working on a team, your performance, efforts, and ways of being are the anchor points to an excellent experience by others.This will dictate more business down the line as people will hire you again, and refer others to work with you. If you promise to deliver something, you are responsible for meeting your word about that product...not just by basic standards, but standards of excellence. If for some reason you are unable to deliver something in excellence, be prepared to receive feedback about it.

Feedback does not make you right or wrong, nor is it good or bad - feedback is information. Feedback is a mirror image of what you are putting out so you can compare it to your original intention and commitment to what you said you would deliver. True integrity even values what you didn't say you would put out, but what should be expected as quality customer service. Constructive criticism is a blessing for you, and a tool with which to learn, adjust, and redeliver your work at its optimal potential.

So why, when we are presented with this awesome opportunity for feedback, do we often react in anger, rejection, fear, defensiveness, projection, embarrassment, and negativity? Because somewhere in our minds at some point in our lives we started to develop our "ego". Ego has a lot of negative connotations attached to it it, but is defined as: the part of the psychic apparatus that experiences and reacts to the outside world and thus mediates between the primitive drives of the id and the demands of the social and physical environment...What the hell does that mean? Ego is about self assurance balanced with social acceptance, and how they feed off one another. The panic mode we go into when someone criticizes us is primed from our wanting to feel we did our best, and if we perhaps did not, protect the idea that we did, so we look good. We are often embarrassed and thrown back in the face of criticism, and when we are not aware we are not delivering the best experience, we automatically want to defend our honor. Because of our egos we thrive on praise because we see it as "good", and we reject criticism because we see it as "bad". But let me ask you this: Would you prefer for people to blow smoke up your ass, allow you to produce or behave as mediocre, so you can feel "good", OR would you be willing to risk feeling a little uncomfortable, and take responsibility for what you could deliver so you can be extraordinary? I will assert the latter.

While producing and developing programs and workshops, I will always question my participants. How was your experience? What did you love? Did we meet your expectations? What was missing for you? What would you like to see more of? Would you refer us to others? The answers may not be pleasant - though I hope they will be - but I am looking for common concerns and grievances that need to be adjusted. I try my best to remember to keep my emotions out of it and look for golden nuggets to use and change for the better. This absolutely goes for personal relationships too; my closest friends are people who support me by lovingly acknowledging my efforts, but also aren't afraid to tell me when I fuck up.

Further, don't get chickenshit around giving feedback either. You cannot complain about anything unless you do or say something about it. If you are offered a service, and it is not delivered in excellence, how will they know unless you tell them? You deserve to get a top notch experience, whether you are paying a lot or nothing at all. But if you are putting money down, and not being responsible about being vocal of exactly what you want and expect, then do not complain when you don't get it. Nothing makes my eyes roll more than incessant bitching with no ownership of how you could have made it different. Some people were not educated with the same ethics as you, but you learn over time with referrals and experience who to work with and who not to.

So how can you use feedback to elevate your business, your customer experience, and even your personal relationships?

• Remember feedback is not good or bad, right or wrong. It is simply information.
• The best businesses (and people), are not afraid of receiving feedback. In fact, they look for it, and base the elevation of their business on it.
• When receiving and giving feedback, try to extract the emotion out of it. A dissatisfied customer will have an emotional reaction. However, if you can read between the lines and see what it is that actually needs an adjustment, putting your ego aside, then you have an amazing tool at your disposal.
• Be responsible about how you give feedback. If your intention is just to bitch and make a point, don't bother. Your biggest possibility to make a difference will be lost in translation if your behavior sucks. Give feedback with the intention of caring that the other person or business will grow because of it.
• Be responsible about how you receive feedback. If your emotions begin to cause a reaction that initiates defensiveness, stop, count to 10, take deep breaths and say to yourself, what can I learn from this? How can this inspire me to create a better experience?
• Have gratitude for your feedback, even if it stings like a bitch. Down the line you may realize that this was one of the best things that could have happened for you.
• Take what you need and leave behind the rest. Not every bit of feedback you receive has pertinence.
• You will know deep in your heart which feedback is most important.

In the end we all need to be self-cleaning ovens. Sometimes we can only count on ourselves to allow for the biggest growth. Remember what customer service is for you. If you wouldn't settle for anything less than the optimum experience when purchasing a service, a product, or a relationship with another human being, then you absolutely must hold yourself to the same standards.