A Story and Advice from Artist and Entrepreneur, Jason Markow
This is how we will do our interview show notes. Brief, yet resourceful. There are links to books, videos, and websites. However, you'll learn the most by listening to the show.
He is the main artist and creator of TEKSTartist and fivespotderby.com
TEKSTartist started when Jason was a graphic designer and built his business over time. He leaped into it full time when there was too much work to ignore it anymore.
He launched his brand by selling a piece of art everyday of 2012. Yes, 365 pieces of artwork. A year filled with all-nighters and hard work.
There was no way to scale that, so what to do next? Five Spot Derby.
Since 2013, he has had 89 individual releases of artwork.
He has sold pieces to all 50 states, and 24 countries around the globe. He has even done work for Jason Mraz and Gary Vaynerchuk.
Think Here blog (the original entrepreneurial start for Jason).
Where do the creative juices flow from?
Sitting down and forcing out whatever is to come. The deadline is the creative motivator. It comes down to, “this is the best idea I have right now, and I just have to let the chips fall where they may,” aka, the art of procrastination.
You are your own worst critic. “I could spend every minute of a week working on something, and it doesn’t resonate with the community. Put something together in a few hours, and everyone loves it.”
What and who inspires you as a creative and a business owner?
Entrepreneur first. Artist second. Elon Musk is superhuman. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. Gary Vaynerchuk. His book Crush It. Mark Cuban. People that have “true grit”. The eternal hustle that no matter what success happens they keep going. Leaving the world a better place.
The artist side: Banksy and Sheppard Ferry. They are playing the game a different way.
Mentors: it is really nice to have a soundboard that knows your perspective and you can bounce ideas off of them. It helps to reaffirm your own beliefs too.
Being a starving artist vs. a non-starving artist. Jason’s article (he calls it a rant) on the difference between the two.
Michael Gerber: E-Myth Mastery Revisited. People go to work in their business not on their business. Work on building up your business. How can I put systems in place to build my business? Validation is sales. The only thing that matters is if what I make, people want to buy.
Sam Almond: Codifying your processes.
Anyone everywhere is a sales person. If you think you are not a sales person, you are wrong. The toolkit of sales can only help what career path you are in.
Have you had any bumps in the road that turned out to be good?
The highest highs and the lowest lows. There are always roadblocks.
50% of anything is showing up. You don’t get what you don’t ask for.
If you are out doing your own thing, people generally rally around it. If you ask for specific things, people are generally willing to help.
Find the person at the organization that needs a win and make them a hero. Focus on what they suck at, and what you can do to fix that pain point for them. If you can get someone to help champion you, you’ll be that much more successful.
Don’t be afraid to hear a lot of “no’s.”
Where the hell is, Matt? Video.
One of his favorite life quotes:
Rumi- “Set your self on fire and seek those who fan your flames.” Takeaway? Only surround yourself with those who will bring you up.
What is your definition of success?
Wake up when you want, do what you want, go to sleep when you want. Enjoy where you are at when you are there. We all have an Internet connection, and a roof over our heads. We are all already quite successful.
As long as you don’t let what people say get you down, you’ll be okay. It is funny how the things that seem so important starting out are so trivial later on.
Advice to college students. “Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.”
What is your passion today? Try that. Care about it until you don’t
