Theres Always Room

Theres Always Room Abundant Thoughts by Jessica Swift It was May 2010. I was a babe in the Woman of the World woods, having left Corporate America less than 2 months earlier. My Internet friend Jess Swift was comin to town for Surtex, and we were planning to meet for the first time ever. I forced myself on her for 3 days because I wanted to help with her show/spent time with her, and I sat with her in that booth for the majority of the time she was there. I watched her talk to potential buyers and fellow artists especially the students who were there to walk the show and saw how she prepared and saw the amazeballs reaction she got from her work when people walked by the booth and connected with the bright colors (to the max!, as her tagline suggests). But there was one exchange that I can still hear in my head, an exchange where when it was over and the girl walked away I turned to Jess and said, Youre one of my favorite people ever. The art student walked up to Jess booth, complimented her work, and asked point-blank: Theres just so much competition here. I mean, the market is so saturated, isnt it? Theres not room for anyone new, right? It just all seems so hard! Ive heard this question before, and a million variations of the same answer: Yup, theres a lot of artists out there, and less than 10% (or some ridiculously low number) make a living from it. Yup, its really hard so hard that you shouldnt do it unless you have to. So I sat up straight and smiled wide when I heard Jess respond, which went something like: Theres always room for someone new. Look, there are over a hundred booths here, but every style is different. Sure, its hard work Im working all the time but theres always space for someones vision, someones art, someones perspective. This is my first year here, and Ive already gotten a wonderful reception. You shouldnt not do this because you think you dont have anything new to offer, or that theres no more room thats absolutely not the case. It was funny, because the girl seemed a bit disappointed by this answer. Jess response was an optimistic, no-nonsense, kick-in-the-butt when this girl looked like she wanted a grim Reality Check so she could go back home to Play It Safe. But Jess doesnt subscribe to that perspective, and when the girl walked away, Jess said to me, Ugh! That makes me so mad! YES, of COURSE theres room for everyone you just have to do the work! Go do the work, dont walk around moping and complaining and looking for a way out! Otherwise, go find something else to do! Seriously. One of my most favorite people ever. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESS! ____________________________________________________ Come join Jess I (as well as the dapper host, Pierre François Frédéric)  for the third Declaration of You e-course, cause registration is open as of today! Yay hooray!