2013 - A New Years Resolution

I know, I know.... this is a bit late for a New Years Resolution.  But better late then never, right!

2013 is a new year.

New challenges.

New opportunities.

New beginnings and new ends.

I spent quite some time thinking about what my goals will be for this next year. What I wanted to improve on. What I wanted to aim for. What I wanted to get done.


~ First and foremost... I will strive to be more productive in my art this year.
This is something I've been allowing to slide far too often the last couple years. While I am a hardworking, timely, and dedicated worker when I'm employed by someone else... I am far less disciplined in my own life. When I'm the boss, and the only person I have to answer to is me, I'm far more likely to waste time then I should.
Because of this, my production time suffers and it takes me far longer to complete projects then it should. I don't get as much done as I should. And if I want to be serious about making The Iron Phoenix a stable business, then I need to improve on that. Especially because I only get 8-12 days out of the month to work on my art.
So this year, I will strive to make better use of my time. To spend MORE time at my shop on the days that I'm there. To take less days off. And to get projects done in a timely manner.

~ Since this is a new year, I will be trying new avenues for sales of my artwork. I will attend the Wheeler Farm Market during the summer, at least a couple times.
 I will be applying to art festivals here soon, and hopefully will get into at least one. I will not be applying to as many as I did last year... seeing as I can't really afford to drop $300 in application fees. But I will be applying for the Utah Arts Festival again, as well as a couple in Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and maybe Nevada, and California.
 Speaking of Cali... there is apparently some famous tourist pier out in San Fran or LA, and every week, artists and vendors can come down and set up booths and sell things. I've heard from a couple people that this is a really good opportunity, so I'm considering looking into that.
I'd also really like to get into one of the Gun Expo's. Either the Southwest Expo, or the Rocky Mountain Expo. Booth fees are very affordable, and these events draw massive crowds. I'd be selling mostly hunting, wildlife, and dog sculptures. But it's a very doable option that I really want to look into.

~ Another thing I need to get back into the practice of... is just making NEW things! Most of the 'new' designs I made this last year weren't really my ideas, so much as they were commissions I was filling for other people. Or revamping old designs. I'd really like to spend more time just creating new things. It's a skill I need to keep honed. Its surprisingly easy to dull the creative spark that allows you to come up with new and interesting ideas on the spot, if you're not actively doing it.
It's also a lot of fun being able to sit down and just MAKE something for the sake of making it, instead of creating someone else's idea, or worrying about pricing, or time, or resources.

~ On the shipping front... I'm going to start looking into other methods of shipping to try and bring my S&H fees down. For most of my artwork, I ship through USPS, and I use their "If it fits, it ships" priority boxes to base my fees on. Unfortunately... this hasn't proven to be as accurate as I'd hoped. I've had some sculptures that shipped for less then I expected, and other have cost a lot more. I've talked with the people there at the post office, and they've given me some suggestions on how to cut my shipping fees down. Such as using my own, unmarked boxes (since I don't want to buy boxes, I'll likely be doing some dumpster diving this year). I've also consulted with Fedex about shipping, and have found that they are the best place for shipping large packages. USPS and UPS will nail you with a large 'oversize' fee on large packages. But Fedex is pretty good, provided you make sure your box exactly fits whatever it is you're shipping.
I have also come to the conclusion that I'm going to have to pass on international shipping. Canada and Mexico aren't too bad. But shipping over-seas is hugely expensive, and I haven't found anywhere that will allow me to do that for a reasonable fee. Sorry Europe!

~ This is more a personal goal... but I'd really like to get in better shape this year. I've let myself slide for several years now and my weight has gotten to the point where.... I am just not happy with it. I don't feel as good as I'd like. My clothes don't fit as well as I'd like. And if I keep going the way that I am... I'm just going to keep getting heavier. And I don't want that.
This is probably going to be the hardest thing for me to work on. Because I LOATH exercise. I really do. I HATE the cold, so you're not likely to get me outside in the winter unless necessary. I don't have anyone to help me.... and considering my terrible powers of self motivation, it's all too easy for me to just up and quit, or forget about it.
I also like to eat... I like food. I have a terrible case of the munchies. I'm poor (healthy food is freakin expensive). I don't like to cook. And the thought of reducing everything that is food to a mere calorie number makes me shudder.
So yes... this is a goal I want to complete, but I'm honestly not sure how, or how long I'll even be able to keep myself motivated to do so.


I'm pretty sure there were some other things I wanted to go with this... but I am literally falling asleep right now and it's making it hard to stay focused. But these are my major goals for this next year. Lets see how many I'll be able to get done!