Second Chances - Missed Opportunities
I saw a quote a few months back and it really struck a chord with me due to my current state of mind and all that has been going on with me as of late. It went like this, “If you are lucky enough to get a second chance in life, don’t waste it”. This rang incredibly true for me because recently I have been a victim of my own laziness and excuses when it comes to working on my photography and getting my business to the next level.
This is not a very easy thing to admit to myself or to any of you, my readers, for that matter but I figured it’s time to man up and actually say it out loud or as I am doing, put it down on paper for others to see. Perhaps by my own admission this was the kick in the ass I needed to get things “moving and shaking” again for me.
You see I have some work on display at a venue and when I first put my work in there a few months back, both of the owners specifically stated if I am going to have my work on display at their place of business I must be present and make appearances in order to promote myself and my work. I have to let the patrons see me, “the artist” in the space. This way they can put a face to the images hanging on the walls.
My engagement at this venue was to be for a limited time only. I didn’t heed the warnings I was given by the owners during this time and much to my chagrin my phone never did end up ringing off the hook with customers wanting to purchase my pieces. When the month had ended those words of the owners rang in my ears and it prompted me to contact them again and ask for another opportunity to display my work in their place of business. As it would happen there was another artist booked in there for the following month but they gladly agreed to accommodate my request to show my work again for the month preceding the other artist’s stint.
After hanging my work for a “second” time, I decided to show my face around the place a few times, mingle and speak with the patrons and speak about my art. This second chance I was given happened to get me 2 clients who ended up purchasing some of my artwork.
I would just like to tell you “second chances” don’t come along often but when they do, you had better be ready to grab on and hold on to it for dear life because you never know when that will happen again.
Image courtesy of wineskins.org