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| "Hey, Coconut Mon" Currently on display at ACSWF Gallery at Coconut Point |
Giving
up is easy. Getting discouraged is human. Persistence is the gold that
separates the “men from the boys” and what distinguishes the earnest from the
whiners; the strong from the weak.
There’s a fine line between persistence and stubbornness. Have you
ever known someone who never gives up, even when the odds are against it; even
when others tell them there is little chance for success? Yet in spite of that,
they continue to beat their head against a stone wall hoping that persistence
equals skill and talent.
Sometimes there’s a break through, and against all odds they manage
to succeed. Many a mediocre person rises to the top on sweat and tears alone
while seemingly super skilled people slip into oblivion. Networking and
marketing skills prove once again that “It’s not what you know, but who you know.”
It’s not how talented and skilled you are, but how diligent and persistent you
are.
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| (On display at ACSWF Gallery at Coconut Point) |
It’s the way of the world. When remarkable talent receives
recognition, we are pleased. We hate to see real talent go unnoticed. But
sadly, sometimes even outstanding talent is hidden from view for lack of
exposure. Competition has never been greater. Technology has accelerated the “learning
curve” of yesteryear. Today’s entrepreneurs and artists are better equipped and
more knowledgeable than ever before.
There’s a level of desperation in people on the social and business
networks. One artist was so eager for a sale that she fell for one of the
oldest cons on the books. She agreed to accept a personal check for payment of
one of her artworks. When the check arrived, it was three times more than the
asking price. She checked with her bank and they agreed to hold the check.
The artist then went to the police. She told them that during their
exchanges, she had noticed that each time the buyer contacted her, they called
from a different location. On the final call, the buyer had requested that she
send them a check in the amount of the overage. Of course, she didn’t comply. The
only thing she ended up losing was her self-esteem, but she felt humiliated and
disappointed.
It’s a terrible experience to be scammed. I try to avoid it at all
costs. I use only PayPal. If someone refuses to use it or loses interest in
buying because of this requirement, that’s my tip-off that the buyer is illegitimate.
Being a tenacious seller is important. Persistence usually does pay
off. But in today’s world, it pays to work smart: if it feels or sounds “too
good to be true,” it usually is.
(All paintings currently on display at the ACSWF Gallery in Coconut Point Mall.
