This article is by Keith Bond, Regular contributing writer for FineArtViews.  You should submit an article and share your views as a guest author by clicking here.

I don’t know about you, but I am tired of hearing artists blame the economy for their woes.  Sorry to be so blunt, but to me, this is just an excuse. 

Rather, the successful artist (or anyone for that matter) takes ownership of their situation. 

Truth is, the market is always changing to forces beyond your control.  The economy is a scapegoat for someone who doesn’t understand this principle.  If it isn’t the economy, it would be something else.  The only constant is change.

Whether the changes are economic situations, art trends or the weather, you should put your energies into adapting and problem solving rather than blaming.

Playing the victim gets you no closer to your goal.

Doing something about it is another matter.  Taking responsibility is the only thing that you have control of.  Why relinquish your control?  Keep it.  Take responsibility.

“How,” you ask? 

 Let me turn the question back to you.  How will you take responsibility for your own business?

I cannot give a one-answer-fits-all solution.  The solution is unique to your situation.  My giving you a solution is deferring the responsibility to me.  If it doesn’t work, you have someone to blame.  Now it’s the economy and that guy Keith.

I can give you ideas.  In fact, you’ve been given a bounty of ideas and great advice from many different people here at FineArtViews.  Some of you also subscribe to other newsletters which give you additional ideas to consider.  Some ideas have been novel.  Others have been reminders of tried and true principles.  But in the end, it is up to you to decide what is best for you to try.  If you put in a bit of effort, you may even come up with other ideas not discussed on these forums.

The point is you and only you have responsibility for your business.  Take it.  And don’t blame anyone or anything else.  Blame gets you nowhere.  If you take action and there still aren’t any results, evaluate why.  Then get back up and get back to work.  Go through the process again.

And remember, things will continue to change.  Forever.  You will need to evolve and adapt along the way.  If you don’t, you’ll be tempted to blame the next thing that comes.  And then the next.

Don’t play the victim any more.  Take responsibility now.  Own your situation.  Be in control.

Best Wishes,

Keith Bond

PS  As for me, I have tried many things.  Some have worked, some haven’t.  Most haven’t.  But I keep trying.  It is still a bumpy road with many ups and downs, potholes, and turns.  It was that way before the recent economic downturn.  It will be that way long after the economy improves.  But I, for one, find ways to navigate the obstacles along the way rather than throw up my arms and blame someone for not removing the bumps, filling the potholes or straightening the road.