If you want to take charge of your life, you are going to have to refine your resume. The job title you’re going to insert at the top of the document is CEO. You are the Chief Executive Officer of the company/business called “your life.” You’re not only responsible for hiring all the staff that will make the company run, but you’re in charge of finances, marketing and operations. This sounds like a LOT to someone who’s never stepped foot inside a corporate setting. But, even for those of you who have, it is a lot of work. It’s the only way to change around your life is to reframe yourself as the boss. The freedom and positive outcome of all the work in store for you is this: You can run your business however you want. If you want to only work three days a week, fine. If you want to work only 4 hours a week, there’s a book for that. But, the reframing we’ve been scaffolding up to in the first two sections of this book are going to come to a head. And it starts, like any fairy tale does, with a little magic.

The Mission Statement of every business is written earnestly in the early days of developing a business plan and perhaps posted on a website or a physical plaque in the office. If a visual artist writes their Artist Statement it is usually as a cover letter or addendum to a resume. It shows the breadth of the ideas behind the work and gives a brief bio of their life’s path. In some cases it may divulge the process by which their artwork is made, but only if that is a central focus of the conceptual thrust of their work. This allows the viewer to interpret your work knowing all the facts and details behind the work that then informs the meaning you hope the viewer receives.

There is something special deep inside you that you were born with. Your kindergartner self embraced it and your parents applauded you for it. You did it without much effort and it brought you joy. You spent zero time doubting yourself when you were in your creative prime (yes, you were 5 so it’s been a long time). This magic? Is where we start. You could create a get rich scheme for creating a business with your art, but over time you will burn out or grow less excited about it. I thought running a business would give me “free time” to draw and paint but really, I just gave myself a job and became a slave to my own brand.

Chances are you’re not doing the most magical thing you are capable of. Chances are, you know the one thing in this lifetime you are not maximizing your fullest super power. So let’s cut to the chase here and make some lists. This episode has a little bit of homework at the end. Have fun!