Being a part of something bigger: Taking a stand with my art

Why are you here, on this earth? I’m genuinely asking you to pause for a moment to consider. What’s important to you, what do you stand for? How do you express that? What are you going to say with your life?

Helping people, pragmatism, and self expression are important to me. I stand for the spirit of giving, and for people overcoming their obstacles. I’m excited by colors, sparkles, and clean line work. I want people to know they are capable of creating a life they love, and it’s my mission to experience this life to its utmost capacity.

My art is one of the best tools I have to get people to really hear my ideas (aside from showing some skin...people tune into that quickly too). Body painting is bright, unusual enough for a second look, and so alive that it craves interaction.

When the Desnudas hit the news, Dani was very vocal with me about her opinion of the whole thing. Body paint in the media, and it gets portrayed like THAT?! I knew I was dissatisfied with the mixing of the art form I love and cherish with the “cause celebre” of public nudity. We vented about it to each other at length. The masses don’t get how beautiful, colorful, detailed, and magical this art form can be...they just see boobs in paint plastered all over the news stories. What the Desnudas do it fine. It’s valid, it serves a purpose...But what they do is not what we do. They make tourists stop and stare; We make art. I wanted people to know the wonders that body paint can be outside of this gimmicky nudity conversation.

Dani decided to coordinate a team of colleagues to create an installation of body paintings in Times Square, using incredible artistry to bring a positive spin to body art. The project would be called Art Transcends: Changing the Conversation about Art in NYC. Our goal was to create art what would “transcend nudity, gimmicks, and politics.” When Dani asked me to be on the lead crew of painters, I was quite tickled at the invitation. And also nervous, because she was asking artists with far more fame than I have. Athena Zhe, Yvonne MacInnis, Kyle Harder, and Suzanne Winwood would all be on the team. As the days neared, and things with the project started to go wrong, my nerves became increasingly palpable. It would have been really convenient to be “sick” the day of the project...which totally crossed my mind. But I knew I’d be there, because that’s what I was committed to - standing for my art form.

I hoped to make some great art, especially because I didn’t want to flop in front of peer artists...but great art was only a fraction of the project. The point was the tell a story, add our voice to the conversation, make people stop and see something in a way they hadn’t seen it before.

And it truth, I didn’t love the art I did that day. But oh my goodness, I loved the people. I loved the spirit in the room while we were prepping our models. I loved the Christian woman that came up to Dani and expressed her disapproval of public nudity, but said our project was great and no one would notice the nudity anyway. I loved the raucous approval on social media, the storm of likes and commentary debate that came through. I love that Michael Devellis from The Powder Group was so blown away by our project that he chose to share it with his makeup community via an article in On Makeup Magazine. We definitely had people talking, and finally about something other than painted ta-ta’s. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! #ArtTranscends!

This project and it’s message was so much bigger than me. My minor existential issue was a mere footnote of that day. And at the end of it, I’m so glad I let it be a fleeting thought instead of a meltdown. My b.s. was so petty in comparison to the things we created that day. I was about to hold “not looking bad” as a higher priority than our mission. Instead I checked my commitment, and remembered I had something to say that needed to be heard.

Stand for what you believe in,

-Caitlin

The "healthy busy person" is not a mythical creature

As we embark on yet another fashion week, where some of us beauty art professionals run ourselves ragged, I find myself inspired by the BoA Lp 3 team (aka Heart 2 Heart) who have made it their mission to inspire others to be aware and take actionable steps to improve their health and wellness.  This is a focus out project they have been creating for the past month and it has certainly got me thinking. I for one have had fashion week seasons where at the end I feel like the bottom of someone's shoe (after walking through Canal Street on a slushy winter day), and some seasons where I feel like I could go for round two. What is the difference you may ask? When I put concerted effort toward keeping atop my wellness during a busy time, the hangover most of us experience is significantly less treacherous.  

We have the excuse that we are "too busy" to be healthy and take care of ourselves. Only problem is that a repeat performance of this excuse and the ignorance it comes from can cause irreversible damage on our bodies as we get older. The kind of damage that had we known while we were doing it we'd give anything to go back and do it differently.

So in this article I'd like to share some tips to staying healthy and being centered while we have an insanely busy schedule.

1. BE a healthy person, do not "try" to be one.

Creating the mindset that will get you through a crazy few weeks is the essential foundation to feeling good. Without grounding yourself in being a person who is healthy and makes healthy choices, all the rest quite frankly doesn't mean shit. If you think you will only be healthy when you're eating more greens and exercise more, well there's a back door to sneak out of if I've ever heard one. How about coming from a place that you are healthy NOW, therefore the choices you make continue to support the healthy being you are. Like those bracelets that say "What would Jesus do?".... Well change that to "what would a healthy person do?" .... When they open the fridge... When they look at a craft service table... When they go for drinks after a show instead of getting extra rest...when they choose to smoke that cigarette or chew some gum etc.

2. Water is life. *Drops the mic*

Ugh! I am the worst water drinker but when I get into a habit of drinking it incessantly, especially when I'm busy, I notice a difference in my energy, my skin, my joints, my digestion...everything. It's vitally important to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day otherwise you risk being more tired than you would be if you were hydrated. Being tired from the day before carries into the next day and domino effect to the final day of fashion week when you want to just fall through your ass right where you stand. Good thing is most all craft services provide you with water. In fact the very first thing you should do when you wake up is have one glass of water. I know I know! For most of you your brain is saying 'coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee'. But while you are waiting for that coffee to brew you could be drinking a nice cold 8oz glass of water. Remember, coffee dehydrates you. So where you think in the middle of the day your 5th cup of coffee is going to get you through, it's not only a temporary rush but makes you more tired by the end of the day because you are dehydrating yourself. So make a conscious decision to replace coffee with water. You can take some vitamin B 12 via drops, pills, gummies, or chewables. This will give you a burst of energy without all the side effects and is longer lasting. In fact if you make it a habit to drink a glass of water before every meal and a glass of water midway between every meal, one when you wake up, and one before you go to bed you're only one cup away from the daily suggested intake. Unless you are a heavy coffee drinker, which means you may need to take in one glass of water per every cup of coffee you drink. Just try it... Even as an experiment...

3. But they only have bagels and donuts at the craft service table...

Yes I know. Being gluten intolerant has made me vastly aware of how inconsiderate people can be when deciding what to serve the hard-working people backstage. I for one am lucky that because of my allergy I cannot eat some of the stuff backstage.Yes, I said lucky. If they have fruit or yogurt I go for that.. If they have sandwiches I usually need to pull out the middle and eat that. Being forced to not eat all the carbs has definitely helped my energy levels. Those of you who do not have an allergy may also want to consider the intake of carbs throughout the day and how much energy your body takes to break it down and process it. I've also noticed other artists bringing little bags of healthy snacks in their bags to sustain them like almonds or cranberries or power bars. This of course is not sufficient meal replacement but may stop you from visiting the craft table 10 times. Also anytime you have the opportunity to eat green food, veggies or fruit... do it! Your digestive system needs these types of food to cleanse and filter out the toxins in your body. Toxins that remain in your body not only make you more tired but will affect your thinking and create a sort of fog that has you be less alert. 

So I hate to say it, but stop being lazy - think a couple of steps ahead. Prepack some small sustainable snacks, and do your best to make the best healthy choices backstage. 

4. Kick and streeeeeetch, and rub rub rub

Now that we've taken care of the inside of your body it is also important to take care of the outside of your body. Carrying a kit up and down and up and down and up and down stairs not only stiffens your joints but creates lactic acid in your muscles which if not stretched or rubbed properly will turn into an underground city of knots in your shoulders and legs. Just like exercise you need to take time every day to stretch every muscle that your utilized throughout the day. Sometimes you are bending over models, sometimes the arm you hold your brushes with is constantly being in use. These are the aches and pains you get when the week is over because you did not do your due diligence to stretch out those muscles or rub the forming knots. Put into practice doing a short stretch series when you wake up maybe even in the shower, one in the middle of the day, and definitely one before you go to bed. Rub down your legs with some lotion to keep the blood flowing and release the lactic acid that will become stasis if not treated. Put some warm wet towels on your shoulders to loosen up the muscles or take a hot bath (preferably with Epsom salts and/or lavender bubbles). This will loosen and treat your muscles so you can rub them easier. This will also help to minimize your stress levels.

5. To party or not to party, that is the question...

Yes I know fashion week has the most fabulous parties that we all love to go to to see who's-the-whatsits designer or celebrity, and meet all the amazing people you can network with. Trust me I know what it's like to balance working hard and partying hard. But in truth that's not really balance because when you party hard on top of working hard your body suffers. In our 20s and early 30s this is a little bit easier to recover from. But in our late 30s and 40s The rubber band doesn't snap back it just breaks. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about taking opportunities to have some fun and meet some amazing people, but this doesn't have to be every single night and definitely not on a night that I have to be at a show at 6 AM in the morning. You also don't need to drink or stay as long, but that's up to you. I say take a look at your whole fashion week or busy schedule and pinpoint the gaps that makes sense where going out and have an epic time won't annihilate you. I know the hardest thing to do is in the moment when someone says 'hey what are you doing tonight ? Let's go to this party' which you know will consist of you staying out later than you should and drinking tons of alcohol, getting hardly any sleep and essentially making you feel like crap the next day. If you're in a place where you're having the 'fuck it's' and you can responsibly will deal with the consequences then go for it! But if your vision for yourself is to be healthy and feel better at the end of the day then it's OK to say no. There will be other parties darling!

6. Give yourself time to de-stress.

Your mental and emotional well being need as much care as your physical well being. If you are overwhelmed with your schedule take 5 minutes to ground yourself and create intentions for the day. You are a superhero for sure, but not the kind that can defy the laws of gravity and circumvent the time/space continuum (at least not while you are awake). So be kind to yourself and do the best you can possibly do with the 24 hours you have. Make sure to give yourself time to unwind, shut your phone off when you get home, let your mind rest. Write down things you need to do on paper so you don't have to keep them in your head. Even be mindful of what you feed your brain ie: the magazines/books/newspapers you read, the TV shows/movies you watch, the conversations you have. Subject matter with high intense energy or negative content has the capacity to drain you more rather that let you rest. We are very attuned to the energy around us, so only pick up what you want to keep with you during this very busy time.

All in all my friends, changing habits does not happen overnight. It starts with awareness, commitment to change, and a vision of how you get to feel and be. We as makeup artists in NYC can get very busy. Often we suffer from things like fatigue, stress, ulcers, high blood pressure, varicose veins, migraines, bad skin, achy joints and a myriad of other things. As we get older these things turn into conditions that are difficult to reverse. Start now and take one step at a time to take care of yourselves. Remember there is only one you. We cannot get another one from the store if you break. Also there are so many more things in our lives we get to focus our attention on. Why waste the time on being sick or inhibited by an ailment? After all, our health is the foundation upon which we function. Be grateful you have it, and do what you can to take care of it. If you don't, who will?

The Power of Vulnerability

In the many years I have been developing myself as a leader and a business owner, and the many consecutive years I have been supporting other artists in honing their leadership skills...there is one value many have struggled with time and time again. This value is often misconstrued in its meaning and impact. Because of this misconception, not only do people struggle more than they should have to, but they miss an amazing and freeing opportunity to strengthen their artistry and their business. This value is vulnerability.

When people hear the word "vulnerability" they often think weakness, or exposing the underbelly of who they are such that they become susceptible to being taken advantage of. The most unfortunate misconception is that vulnerability requires us to trust people that could be considered “dangerous”. But in truth, being vulnerable can be one of the most powerful ways of being that will have people trust YOU.

Two nights ago I realized how far I've come with practicing vulnerability while on a conference call with some of my most esteemed body painting colleagues. We are planning a project together that - if successful - will bring a great deal of awareness to true artistry in NYC. I was to propose my ideas prior to our call so we could discuss it during our phone conversation. For me, us working together and agreeing on a vision and concept was of the highest importance. When getting on the phone with them, I was given feedback that although the concept content was exciting and had potential, the details and ideas I had come up with were not quite there...lacking of utmost potential for impact. I will admit my ego stung a bit for a second and in a moments choice I took on vulnerability and opened my heart and mind to a bigger possibility. In truth my ideas were not fully in alignment with what I wanted to convey...and if I kept my ground out of stubbornness and protecting my ego I could have not only missed the mark but also lost the interest and respect of my peers. By the end of the call we were all pumped and agreed on a concept that excited all of us.

So how do you become aware of and practice the benefits of vulnerability? Brené Brown, a storyteller and researcher has examined vulnerability from the inside out. Her TED Talks presentation shows her personal journey in understanding the power of vulnerability. Some great insights for anyone looking to grow exponentially in personal potential, creativity, and business.

When you don't feel like doing sh@#....

There are going to be moments during building your business when you quite honestly would rather chew glass than sit down at your computer and do all the tasks you know you need to do to push yourself forward in your business. This lull in motivation could be for a number of reasons; Perhaps because you're lacking inspiration, or you've been working tirelessly day in and day out to move progress forward, but you're not experiencing enough success. These are the times where you'd rather avoid or completely surrender to distraction. So what do you do when you plainly just don't feel like getting shit done, even though the rate of your success depends on it?

Well, you can take a hefty sigh of relief because this is absolutely normal. In fact if you say you have never experienced this you either have not been in business long enough or someone else is running your business for you (that would be nice). I've said it before time and time again that running your own business is one of the hardest jobs you could take on, however it reaps the most satisfying rewards. It is not for everyone. But in those times that you hit a stonewall where you seriously cannot get yourself to send out another social media post or make another sales call, I have some tips that have worked for me in the past. I'd love to share with you what will hopefully get you through the times you don't feel like doing shit.

#1. Give yourself a f$&@ing break!

First of all, if you start to go in that place of "I suck, why can't I stay motivated?" Just stop it. Like I said, we all go through this and it just means "Yes, that's right. You do own and run a business. Congratulations." This happens. So acknowledge yourself for working hard, and being human. Does it mean you need to quit because you are experiencing these feelings? HEEEEEELLLLL NO! Do you cut your finger and run to the hospital to get your arm amputated? I think not. So relax, it's not that serious.

#2. Take A Day Off!

Think about trying to use a marker that's running out of ink. That is what it's like when you try to push yourself to work when you have no steam or stamina. The integrity of the work suffers. Now when things are due, you may need to push yourself over the deadline, but there are days when you may just need to take the morning or the day off. Go to the beach, a movie, a museum...replenish your ink. Sometimes as freelancers even when we design our own schedule we spend everyday working or worrying about/on our business, but don't schedule time to recharge/regroup/or replenish. So do it! Just don't make a habit of it such that your business suffers.

#3 Motivation Loves Company

I'll guarantee you that you're not the only business owner you know who struggles with motivational issues. Creating a buddy system or an accountability partner can sometimes push you and someone else farther than if you were going to do it by yourself . It sounds crazy but having an accountability partner really does make a difference. If you gave your word to complete certain tasks but you are the only one holding yourself accountable, it's so easy to slack. But if you share that commitment with somebody else such that they will check in on you to make sure you stuck to your word, and you them...There is a certain urgency created because it's not just you. My Chief of Operations, Caitlin is my accountability partner. We check in with each other at least three times a week to make sure that we are on task. Of course I pay her, but if you're exchanging this service with another entrepreneur, it could be valuable for you both in the support you give each other.

#4 Create Office Hours 

When you work as a freelancer where your office is in your home and your studio is everyone else's location, your schedule can be kind of erratic and doing the necessary background work for your business can seem overwhelming. When you work a day job you go to the office have a lunch break and then at the end of the day go home and hopefully leave your work at the office. Essentially you clock in and clock out and you know what times are set for productivity. But at home I find it sometimes difficult with the distractions of everything else in my life to nail my butt down to the chair work on contracts, books, marketing and branding, and customer relationships. So I created a set of office hours for myself and I base them around times of the day I feel the most productive. 

I get up between seven and eight, go for my run, come home, shower, and call Caitlin to discuss our workload. By that time it's around 11 AM which is my high productivity time frame where I am most motivated to work. Whether it's blog writing or website updating I do not stop working until 1 PM. At that time I give myself a snack or lunch break and do something non-work related. At about 2 PM I start working on customer relations (my calls or answering emails), or giving attention to the leadership program. Around 4 I switch gears to do something more creative like face charts or designs, or photo shopping pictures. These are things I enjoy to do but is also great for end of the day wind down type activities. I also happen to work really well at night time so if I do not have a webinar or conference call I also take about two hours in the evening after dinner to do some last minute things.

Now on a day that I have a job obviously the schedule gets shifted to another free day of the week. This of course gets more challenging the busier I get such that when I do have a day off the last thing I want to do is office work. This is where I create a set of priorities that need to get handled first versus last such that the more important things get handled but I don't screw myself up.

#5 PRI-ORI-TIZE 

My latest fun organization system is writing all my tasks down on post its and sticking them to my desk. I reorganize the Post-it's in order of priority such that the ones that need to be immediately handled are at the top and the ones that can be flexible at the bottom. As I finish a task or goal I crumple up that post it and throw it out and re-organize the order. That way I do have a busy week the moment I sit down at that desk I don't have to rethink the wheel and remember what it is I need to do. Motivation is much easier when you need to use less brainpower to get it going. So create a system for yourself that allows you to breathe easier and think less.

#6 Celebrate even the little things

Now I'm not one to pat myself on the back for every little tiny thing that I accomplish.  However sometimes when you don't feel like doing shit, it's because you're staring at the pile of overwhelming crap that you still need to do, and a game of candy crush with two glasses of wine seems extremely enticing (in my case this is creating five Dubsmashes or snap chatting aimlessly for an hour). It's time to look at all the things that you have accomplished as opposed to the things that you haven't. Focusing on the things that you haven't done is a recipe for taking the wind out of anybody sails. So in the grand scheme of what you get to accomplish for your business, look at how far you've come and look at all the hurdles you climbed over. When you complete even a minor project - whether its doing the books for the month, paying the bills, finishing cleaning or packing your kit - take a moment and celebrate the completion of one less thing you get to do. Where you focus your energy makes a huge difference how you feel about what you need to do.

In the end I know that when someone says to me "you're so lucky that you run your own business",  the first thought that runs through my mind "if you only knew". The struggle is real but in reality you're not the only one to goes through it. Everyday there are millions of us out there who have taken a strong amount of courage and the commitment to be their own boss do for a living what they love to do. I emphasize the phrase "get to do" versus "have to do", because in the end, being your own boss is a blessing, and a gift. Not many of us have the stamina to do it. But being grateful and thankful for that gift will take you a lot farther than cursing it every day you "don't feel like it". So remember to give yourself a break, replenish and refresh, know that you are not alone and that you can find partners to support you. Don't be a victim of your grungies (the "I don't feel like doing shit" moments), but create a system that will help push you through them, and celebrate with gratitude every day you get to create the work you love.

The Power of the F#%k It

I was in Chicago this weekend, and I was having breakfast with my former student and friend Kate Johnson. We were discussing a lot of our plans for visions of our future careers and ways we wanted to really make a difference with what we do.  I was telling her the premise of our upcoming The Body of Artists Leadership Program and how it differed from other programs. The subject came up of what actually stops people from reaching their goals, from having the ultimate success that they envision for themselves. We both agreed that on the surface it is people's internal dialogue about money, about time, about their self worth. We talked about how each person has experienced the world differently and it's been a series of events that have occurred in their lives that give them evidence of how "life is". Based on these experiences and evidence people form their behaviors around trust, responsibility, integrity, communication, self worth, abundance, and connection. People are not born dishonest, lacking confidence, thinking they'll never make enough money, or not trusting people. These are learned behaviors.  The only way to truly breakthrough these seeming limitations is to first practice changing your mind about it, then take actionable steps towards proving the opposite of the original belief, creating new evidence.

Easier said than done, right? How do you go sky diving when you are petrified of heights? How do you get up on a stage to make a presentation when the thought of speaking publicly makes you want to puke? How do you go for an interview at your dream job when you do not think you have what it takes to do the job let alone land it? How do you meet the right person and get married when you have had your heart smashed? 

Well the method is easy. It fact anyone who has ever been inhibited from their dreams and goals by their fears and reached them anyway, has used this method. It's really no secret. The method is beholding this very simple concept. If there is a thing you want more than anything, yet you can't seem to get past your own shit to get it...then you need to say to yourself "OH WHAT THE FUCK, DO WHATEVER IT TAKES!" Or in short, get a good healthy case of the Fuck-its.

Now I know this in itself sounds reckless to some.  Coming from a promoter type personality, this is the jam to my toast. But there are things I too have been trepidatious about because of past beliefs and if it weren't for me going against my screaming psyche's advice and exercise a healthy FUCK IT, I wouldn't be here blogging to you right now.

What exactly is a "healthy FUCK-IT"? Well in my experience, when one has a seeming obstacle, a road block between them and their goal, and all the safe ways of circumventing this obstacle have failed, it's going to take a level of courage to be and do something out of your box...something outrageous, to jump this hurdle. This thing may be risky, but as long as you know all the risks involved, and are prepared to deal with whatever comes, and you go for it anyway...that is a "healthy fuck-it". For example, when I was going to leave my part time job to start my freelance career and company in 2003/04, I knew my finances would be challenged. I knew I was going to lose my stream of revenue that I could automatically count on. But if I didn't take this risk, I couldn't reach my goal of becoming my own boss and creating the company that is now The Body of Art. So to be responsible, I did save a little, and started talking to many others who did freelance about what to expect...and then I plugged my nose, walked the plank, and jumped ship into seemingly shark infested waters. I had to say to myself "Oh what the fuck, do whatever it takes". Another even funnier story: a friend/colleague of mine (who shall remain nameless) really wanted to not only make it in the industry, but make it big. She idolized Crystal Wright, and followed all her work, her talks, and scoped out her programs  She didn't just want to be educated by her, but she wanted to learn from her personally, and create a relationship with her. So she sent her emails, called her...but to no avail, she could not get a response that would open a door for them to personally connect. Now I do not recommend this to everyone, because it definitely could backfire, but the brazenness in my friends fuck-it moment blew my mind.  She decided one day she would show up on Crystal's doorstep, and personally introduce herself. So she found out where she lived, and at a reasonable time of the day...showed up to her house. Now responsibly she prepared an intro that would hopefully disarm Crystal of thinking she was totally nuts and a crazy stalker. Apparently Crystal was at home that day and did open the door.  I do not remember exactly how it went, but today they are close friends, and my friend is a huge support and advocate of the PYP program, not to mention an amazing visionary, entrepreneur, and makeup artist.

So on the other hand, you may be wondering what an "unhealthy fuck-it" is. Simply, it is being reckless in your decision making and actions, which in short means you do not educate and prepare yourself for what might happen should the risk you take go awry. If you are not responsible about your risk, and you incessantly get yourself into scenarios where you throw yourself into the sea with no protection, you will probably over time lose a limb or two, and you have no one to blame but yourself. The difference may in fact be caring about the result, and not caring. Caring does not mean being overly cautious, just like not caring means being brave. If you educate yourself on what to expect into the ocean of your risk, you can go into it with the knowledge of what's out there, maybe in a cage, maybe with a knife, a bite proof suit...The reward is you can discover some really beautiful things. You don't become Jacques Cousteau by looking at the sea from the edge of a boat. You say "fuck-it" and take the plunge with the intention of going farther than any other man has gone before.

They say courage is not being without fear - It's having fear and doing it anyway. That is the beautiful moment of a "fuck-it". The ultimate human experience. Freeing yourself from worry with the intention of reaching your potential. So what have you been holding back on because there is a seeming obstacle between you and the very thing that will elevate you? And what is a healthy, actionable "fuck-it" you can embark on to have that liberating breakthrough? Come on in...the water is amazing! Just please make sure you learn to swim first...or at least wear your swimmies.

Talk - Action = Bad Gas

I have to give props to this excellent blog article that caught my eye with its fabulous title the other day: Talk - Action = Shit by Bradley Richardson (http://www.bradleyrichardson.com/blog/thoughtleaders) As we are coming up with our new leadership program in July, where being your word is the quintessential cornerstone to running a great business...it reminded me how on both a personal and business level people use the the Internet as a veil to talk a big game, but when it comes down to the action of their words its just a cloud of 'gas'.

On a business level, there are thousands and thousands of online businesses popping up everyday.  I look at their cookie cutter formats and promises, and self proclaimed accolades and quite honestly it gives me an eye-rolling headache. As an educator who has been teaching since I was 17 years old, it really makes me sad when one day someone out of nowhere claims to be "the best deal, for the most value" or have "everything you need to learn to get started as an industry professional", or "top celebrity makeup artist teaches you all their secrets"... I'm sorry, but where is the list that these people "top" artists are at the top of? And what part of the industry are you providing "everything" someone needs to get started?

Ok, so now let me push the pause button on the rant fest. Verbal vomit is great for authentic expression and momentary awareness but it really does nothing if you don't apply it introspectively. Being your word and turning talk into action is one of the most glorious experiences a human being can have. And let's be honest, the experience is probably even more amazing because in the secret hidey-holes of our souls, we all - including myself - have at some point bullshitted ourselves expertly. I have made claims on what I stand for and what I will never do, and have had my own fall-off-the-wagon moments. It's humanity. And truthfully, unless you are a monk/nun/recluse and can rid yourself of all the distractions of life, there are moments where you'll have the "fuck its", throwing your ideals to the wind. I do it personally (more often) and in my business (rarely). There have been occasions we'll cut a corners as long as it seemingly affects no one..But in the end it always affects someone. 

Someone somewhere is always being affected by cutting a corner, falling behind in their word, falling short. Usually the person is ourselves.

The beautiful thing about this is at any given moment, we can restore this integrity. In fact I have had more respect for a business owner that has fucked up, and with amazing customer service has fixed the situation and acknowledged its affect on me, rather than one that just sweeps it under the rug. You need the action to match your claims, otherwise no one will trust you... As a friend or a business.

If you are going to tell you're friend you will come to their birthday party, work function, private social engagement (fill in the blank)... and you keep dropping out, even if it is "not your fault", or "out of your control" ... It is still your responsibility to acknowledge the impact it has on your friend and make good on your word. If you are going to make claims in your business that you have the best education out there and are creating the most value for your students, then you had better be prepared to receive feedback on all ends to make sure you match that claim. It's a huge responsibility and if you want to hold that claim, you need to cross every "T", and dot every "I", double and triple check yourself. If there is something that will come across to your audience as bullshit or "hot air", then own it and fix it. We need not to strive for perfection, just excellence. Best not to claim to be the best, let others claim it on your behalf because you were too busy being it to talk about it.

What is Leadership?

If there is a question I ask myself every single day, sometimes unintentionally, it is 'what is leadership'? I may not even ask it in those precise words. I may not even ask it in the context of a group of people. But in order to take on the things I do, and the things I want to accomplish, every day this question must be posed.

Leadership is often a term people give prestigious status. It is often looked at as something only people with certain gifts can obtain. But in reality, it's something we can choose to take on at any moment. In the moment we are presented with a situation, we can choose to handle it from a context of Leadership, or not. This choice is neither right or wrong, good or bad. It simply is a choice that delineates a result with a lasting impact, for a larger vision, and likely benefit more than oneself.

I am sitting on the train this morning daydreaming of my upcoming day and what I need to get done. At a stop, a group of people walk on and I am still in Lala-Land. I notice the person next to me gets up and I see he is offering his seat to a middle aged woman. Not old per say, but older than he and I for sure. I looked to see the pleasantly surprised look of gratitude on her face as she sat next to me. He gave the woman a brief smile and held on to the bar. It was nothing to him, almost an automatic decision to give up his seat. He also did not get off soon; he was on the train for many more stops, standing. There was nothing especially unique looking about this guy. He was just a guy, but in that moment he was a leader. Why? Because he inspired me. He made me step outside my box and consider things next time I have the opportunity to bring a pleasant surprise of joy to someone else, someone I don't know, for no reason at all except to be able to. And I'm sure I'm not the only one he inspired in that moment. His act may have also opened up something for that woman, who knows.

In dealing with my clients, I have come across a plethora of situations where I not only have to ask myself what a good business owner do, but also what a leader would do. In many of these situations, a decision that may be wise for my business may not necessarily be the one a leader would make. In the end I always have to ask myself... What is the situation with a win/win? Does it mean I may need to take responsibility for something that makes me uncomfortable but in the end will have everyone benefit? Or will it be better for my business if I just choose the easier decision, and walk away knowing only one of us has won? Will I always wonder if I could have handled things better.

Leadership as whole, when integrated into my home, work, and life may take more effort and focus but has proven time and time again to manifest stronger relationships, stability, abundance...and it empowers me. It also has been known to inspire others around me to not only trust me but step up and take on a leadership context in their own lives. It sounds like a responsibility that no one would want to take on, but the point I am making is you already do, like it or not. That man probably didn't wake up and say to himself, 'I'm going to be a leader today', but by giving up his seat he was one, without even knowing it. If he did not, would it have been bad? No, of course not. People's lives would have gone on just the same as they always have. Trust me, choosing the leadership context is not something I do all the time - I'm a human being. There are days when I don't feel like it, and the world around me doesn't change. But the more I choose it, the easier it becomes, the more rich my life is, and the more I attract the people who are also leaders living in integrity.

This became such a stand, such an intoxicating way to live, that I came up with this idea...a crazy plan to take my talents, my gifts, and use them to share this idea of leadership. It's my way of improving the planet. Because as long as anyone can be empowered by a choice, a choice that may inspire greatness and potential in others, why not spread it?

Our industry was in need of support and guidance when it comes to building a business from a place of Leadership. Thus for the past 4 years I have built the The Body of Artists Leadership Program, a creative community of artists committed to growing and giving through Leadership. We are about to start our 4th program in July. I'm so proud of the artists that have come through it already... Making the world a better place with their art and integrity. I could not as a teacher and mentor, and quite honestly as a human being, ask for more.