100 Blank Panels: Michelle Neal’s Cave Creek AZ Studio, January 2016
The celebrated Michelangelo said, “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.” His is a sentiment I adopted early in life, and it has always been my view that we have to push ourselves to become what we are best at and what we were put here on this planet to be. That means thinking outside of the box, using all our gifts and talents, and establishing goals that make us stretch beyond our comfort zone.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a goal as, “The end toward which effort is directed.” Author Steven Covey, in his book 7 habits of Highly Effective People, states that first we must be proactive and then we must begin with the end in mind. So it is with renewed energy from last year’s fearless accomplishments that I am once again embracing a vigorously proactive approach that focuses on a specific end goal for each activity.
For 2016, I have strategically set out to achieve two primary goals of equal importance.
A.) VIGOROUSLY MAKE, SHOW AND SELL FEARLESS ART
I let you know in my last post that I am producing 50 fearless blogs and painting 100 fearless panels, which will result in two art exhibitions. I have more details to tell you now! I am very excited to announce that the first exhibition will be hosted by the Scottsdale based Walter Art Gallery in May and the second will be in November (hopefully at my Cave Creek studio as part of the Sonoran Art League Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour – application pending).
My ultimate professional and personal goal is to be a successful artist and businesswoman. I make, show and sell my art. I build trusting relationships with galleries who will show my art and with collectors and individuals who will buy my art. As a Visual Journalist, my art demonstrates not only my artistic skill but illustrates my extensive business acumen and my ability to sincerely tell my subject’s story.
B.) CREATE A WOW PORTFOLIO OF WILDLY COOL, BIG, CHUNKY & AUDACIOUSLY SUCCCESSFUL BUSINESS PROJECTS
This year I am specifically identifying the what, why, when and how of the Fearlessly Deliver mission in combination with exactly WHO I do it for. Based on this distinction, I have changed my business title from Business Consultant to Master Business Executor, which better encapsulates all that I do.
What is a Master Business Executor? At Fearlessly Deliver, I leverage my extensive business skills, real-life professional experience, and creative energy to: plan, implement, coordinate, and finalize time-limited specific initiatives for businesses. I work with successful, hungry, on fire businesses that completely excite me who fall into three key categories:
1.) Businesses that are GROWING UP.
These Businesses are growing and they have momentum. They are aggressively and actively taking their organization to the next level. They need a right-hand person to get into the trenches with them shoulder-to-shoulder and get things done NOW so that they can take advantage of the momentum they are experiencing!
2.) Businesses that have had something BLOW UP.
These businesses need to fix a mistake, an oversight or a missed opportunity that has caused additional draining and unintended work. I do the work necessary to get that problem behind them.
3.) Businesses that are getting ready to EXIT OUT of their business.
I help these business owners do the work that is necessary to best present their life’s work to perspective buyers in advance of selling their business.
THE WOW AND THE LEGACY
It is with these two goals in mind that I am creating a WOW Portfolio. A combination of business execution and artistic expression that demonstrates how I use every single one of the gifts and blessings that God gave me to their utmost capacity.
When I am an older woman reflecting on what I was able to accomplish in my life, I want to know beyond a doubt that I reached my highest potential in every aspect of my life. At my retirement dinner when I have the privilege of thanking all the businesses I have helped over the length of my career – I will have the peace that only comes from having truly reached my potential and having helped many others to reach theirs!
Thank you for being a part of this exciting new year of business ventures, innovative art, and living life to all of our individual potentials.