5 Things that Make Up a Girl at Play

5 Things that Make Up a Girl at Play I dont remember how I found Another Girl at Play, but I should thank whoever it was. I think it might have been Google. Thank you, Google. According to the homepage, this is a site that not only shares the empowering stories of smart, artistic and unstoppable women but also wonderful links, useful resources and encouraging newsletters to help you either begin or continue on your creative path. These are women (no offense, dudes) that are successful creative entrepreneurs. I read through a whole bunch of profiles cant even pick a favorite (or 10) every single one of these women had their own path that landed them where they are now. But, that being said, there seemed to be some common threads: All of them wear many hats. Think that singer just sings? Nope! Shes a songwriter, a tour manager, a publicist, a booking agent, a performer, a contract writer, a CD shipper. Think that a photographer just takes pictures? Nope! Shes a marketing director, a designer, a bookkeeper,   an account rep. They surrounded themselves with a big, fat support group. They gathered round their Moms, their siblings, their husbands or boyfriends, their best gal pals, their creative partners, their mentors. These are the people that believed in them from the beginning, at their most vulnerable scared. Some actually decided to start their businesses because of all the encouragement they were getting from their creative friends! All the haters were kept out, so they werent able to spread their poison and infect their dreams (so dramatic, but so true!) Many of them tried on many different careers before finding their passion. One successful author designer was a make up artist, an Esthetician,   a secretary, a law clerk, an attorney. Another illustrator was a retail clerk, an apartment building manager, an apartment cleaner and painter, a private cook, a gardener, a bowling alley worker! An Embroidery Goddess worked as a photo re-toucher, a banquet waitress, a museum security guard, a nanny in Paris, a kindergarten substitute teacher, an assistant to the museum exhibition coordinator, and a museum preparator. Some of these girls knew what they wanted to do when they were knee-high, and some found it later in life. For those that followed one path, they often had day jobs that corresponded with their ultimate goal (i.e. a writer worked in a bookstore, a graphic designer worked as an art director, etc). There are no wrong answers! They realized they had to find their own path. Most of them started out living the dreams of their parents or peers, but it didnt make them happy. It was only when they faced their truths and found the goals that resonated with them that they were able to find their own path and their own successes. They all took baby steps. There was not one account of an overnight success, and I read every single one of these profiles. It starts with a class, and research, and reading, and planning, and learning from others and/or going back to school. Then there is cold calling, pitching, showing their work at shows, performingThere is no magic wand its half passion/drive/motivation half really hard work! Each one of these women gave their own advice to other artists looking to be another girl at play. Here are my favorites: “Fortune Favors the Bold!” If you ask for something and the reply is “no” you aren’t any worse off than you are right now without it. There is no reason not to get started. Tera Leigh Be original. Don’t procrastinate. Set goals. Make a website. Tell others. Ask for help. Truly believe in what you do, and don’t undersell yourself, even if you are just starting. Ah, and the most important one, which I’m still working on: Learn to say no. Lorena Siminovich Follow your heartâ€" It will not lead you astray.- Hope Wallace As artists we are unique and extraordinary. Embrace your uniqueness and do not be persuaded to conform to what is perceived as normal. We think differently and live our lives differently. Being an artist is truly special. Stephannie Barba Erase the words, ‘yea but’ from your vocabulary. There is never a perfect time, you’ll never have the right balance in your checking account, you’ll never feel safe enough, or ready enough to do what you want. So, just get on with it already. Pamela Barsky Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. There is no way to know everything about your creative endeavor until you start doing it. Don’t wait, thinking that you’ll start when you know what you’re doing. This will only paralyze you and keep you from ever beginning it. Andrea Scher It sounds stupid and really corny, but if you can see it in your mind’s eye-whatever “it” is, your goals, what you want from life, your level of happiness-you can do it. Hard work, a little bit of luck, and education are all necessary, but believing you can do it helps you put one foot in front of the other until you reach your goal. Catherine Aurelio Begin Now. Dream big. Keep moving forward. Research. Acknowledge successes. Connect with others on the path. Work at loving yourself. Trust. Cry (it’s o.k.) Connect again with others. Trust. Let go. Take time to fill yourself up again (down time). Reinvent when necessary. Trust.   Keri Smith Don’t wait. There are some things you just can’t figure out until you start doing it. Have conviction and be flexible. Stay focused while remembering to do stuff that is pointless and fun. Keep an open mind. Give it everything you can. There is no such thing as failure when you are following your passion. Don’t wait. Julianna Arden Get to it and do it. Learn who to listen to, and who to ignore. Go with your guts, ask for help and you’ll be steered the right way. Don’t take perceived failures too hard, learn to live with multiple rejections, and learn from them. You’ll apply what you know from the experience in the future to make the right decisions. Be persistent, tenacious and you’ll get what you’re going for. Jenny Hart Soare you a girl (or boy) at play?