The Thing About Change
 Custom Search Consider a true story about change. It is also about art, my art. First some background information. This story started with a book called the Innovators Solution. My wife got me this book. On going through it, then going through it a second time, and again for a third time, my re-entry into the world of being an artist was mapped out by the simple principle in this book. Reading books over and over is not my idea of a great time. This book was that good. It must be said, the book seems to provide enough evidence that would indicate that rather than theory, it is proposing a law of how markets work. It is called Market Disruption Theory. The law of market disruption states that any time you create something that fulfills someone's job to be done, so long as it is introduced on a disruptive trajectory and not a sustaining trajectory, you will be in line for truly remarkable profits. Change and the Market Disruption The target customers want to get a job done but for the lack of skill, money or simple solution it remains beyond their reach. The Art of Marketing Art
On looking at the gallery it was apparent that my impressionistic abstract acrylic on canvas paintings were not quite the style of this gallery. On walking out, the owner stopped me to ask a few questions. On telling him I was an artist and was looking for a new gallery in the East to carry my work, he began mentoring me. He told of how artist need to starve, doing shows, building up a name for themselves. In time they could eventually show in some of the finer galleries. He said that artist should expect to have another job to support themselves. A piece of advice that also has not always been true in my case. Basically he was telling me the necessity of changing the way I thought. This went on for about 20 minutes. Then, admitting that no one had ever explained this to me before and this explained that I had been doing things wrong for the past 25 years of my life as an artist. Then continuing to share how my commissions sold for anywhere up into the $7,000 range and one for $54,000, I told of not knowing artist had to starve. Must have been doing something wrong. Then, explaining the laws of market disruption mentioned above were the basis of my re-emergence, he became very attentive. Even before knowing the theory behind it, I was using it in selling my art decades earlier when creating sand carved glass. One of my works was featured in a McDonalds that won a National Interior Designers Award. He asked me to bring in my art. On explaining my art is not quite his style, he still insisted on seeing it. Once he did, he agreed it was not his style. Then, walking out the door, there came a thundering STOP barked out at me. He explained how he had to pay a premium for every square inch of floor space. Pointing to a narrow column, he said that he could not sell from that space as there was no art that size. Well, then he continued that there was noting available until I walked in the door. I left that day having sold 12 pieces of art directly to a gallery. Most artists do not get to where they can sell directly to a gallery until they are bigger than life or their family sells to the gallery. The latter of course, when they are dead. The exception of course is if your competing with non-consumption. If the customer has a job to be done and they have a choice of nothing or you, and if you make it easy to start consuming, then you are in line for fantastic profits. This will only happen if your willing to change. Was I able to sustain the growth? Well, tempted to try new things, my art and my business turned into a sustaining business and like most artist, things slowed down. It became time to get a part time job. And here I am, a part time job that is allowing me to do the things I love. So the next time someone balks at you if you propose change, remember the horse and buggy and the industry that said, stick with the tried and true. Also remember that the theories that your business model are based on do need to be tried and true. The reason for telling you this, one of the MLM companies I signed on with balked at my website for promoting MLM idea. The told me how many decades of time they have spent in MLM and do things the tired and true way. In other words, don't change. One thing I will never be able to change is I will never pitch my family or friends regarding any business opportunity. Change is not an option. So, follow my ride and see how this website does for building a MLM company for me. In your endeavors and in the change you will make, how ever you fare, may you fare well.
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