So, since starting and seeing what might happen back in 2019 of early summer, I kind of place bets on a thing that is often mocked, parodied on youtube, and whatever so-called stupid things people think of it. I just went for it.
And after half a year, and more or less apparently got to Level 1 (and lost the official of it due to some issues on maintaining a key aspect of it)
here is a several notes on what I learned and you might be able to apply to your own life.

Understand the position of the Pipeline you in.
The project or thing you are working on is at times bigger than the assignment you are given. It may well be part of a series of works and you are either the early, mid, or even stage of the project your client is trying to build. So, in a way it pays to know where you are and perhaps what the client will expect of you as you work on it.

Look at the bigger picture.

Do your Client Right
Focus on creating Products or Services that will solve your client’s problems, and it better be the best of it’s kind in the market. So, to give it context, in my case. I just sketch on a almost pro-level of robots and machines and they tend to be conceptual serving as a base for their designers, developers, or detailed illustrator. If your work is lacking, learn to fix and adjust the issue while time allots.

It’s going to help out not on the metrics, but personal reputation you will bring to the table .

Your client came for your product and services
focus on your Product and Services you want to offer, this doesn’t only apply to fiverr, but business in general.Sure, it’s maybe tempting to use social media, but in reality it doesn’t have an effect on your bottom-line unless you are trying to make it as an so-called influence(and they might not be viable long-term too) What most people online when shopping for is either. Product or Services, and oftentimes stuff you can only find online. So, in a way you want to not only create a product that is great and solves and helps the client get somewhere, hopefully their next level.

And to top it off, it better be unique in a sense that others can’t really copycat off you so easily, it would be a complete cover blow, so learn to cultivate your personal signature on these products and services.

Learn to Improvise
Chances are, you will run into problems, and often too if it’s a large and complex project. So, focus on things like having results oriented action and just get it done somehow. Early orders of mine managed to get me more work than I expected. But also, if the client is cool with you, just ask for more time.

Time is your best bet for solving the complex issue, throwing more money wont solve it if the thing isn’t complete by the deadline.

It’s okay To leave money on the table sometimes-be on the good lookout for Better Opportunities
So, this is a bit of a strange thing, since it’s kind of a counter intuitive thing. Sometimes, you will be approached by rather attractive offerings, but logically. It wont work. either because the nature or it is too technical, or the assignment is substantially above your level and you can’t train or improve on time to tackle it. The whole thing wont’ work, because it won’t work no matter how you look at it, the odds are too stacked against you and time wont allow it too.
For example, I did turn down assignments worth $200 or so, but the problem is the workload and the time and level of work simply outweighed the benefits and the costs would be too high, I had to pass up on a few of these since they were too above my league.
But, there is good news too. There is always opportunities. And if you know what you want, chances are, you will find them easily. It’s not so much about having the most Money per order, but working on things that is within my niche, my interests, and can be done relatively quickly and the offerings is enough.

To simplify-you have too much on your plate during the time, out of your league. and you have an agenda to tend to.
and sometimes, better opportunities comes

Time is Money-But have Buffer
Learn to work effectively and efficiently. You can be good at your craft. But, it’s not worth much if it’s doesn’t get stuff done on time and the execution should be spot on too. Learning to draw fast and with precision is something I learned to do practicing so often for years.
when it comes to making things for clients, you want to think about the following, can you get complex stuff on time?

It’s good to have a day or two to buffer, and ask additional time if the order is too rushed. It’s like an insurance policy.

Have a pre-order briefing
Before you get into the fray. Assess. just get to know what your getting into. So, in my case, I tend to ask for the two things. What is it? and how urgent is it? Usually that will allow me to gauge what I’m getting into. And, sometimes, I do a bit of free work for them to see if they like my demonstration.

In some rare cases, I just learned to back-out early since it’s way out of my scope.

TimeZones and Areas
They might be sleeping or something, so keep in mind, there maybe delays in what is going on out there. Learn to be courteous in their off hours and focus on the project to get it done.

Avoid rambling.

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if you had your 2 cents on this kind of post. Consider the following.

Follow via email list or share this with those in your circle.

here is a PDF of the Article for those who needs a take-home lessons.

and to those who wants my services. Fiverr is here.

        So, the online store was more or less an unlikely thing that happened to do not bad, actually. After 300 sales and 2-3 years of it. It has been working it’s way up quietly and with a degree of success. Prints for sure are the real main seller here. And there are some recurring returning customers too. Unlikely projects that gave more than I asked for.
Here are a few things I learned while getting up to my 300th sale.

Product Matters
On Etsy, it’s mainly a platform or online store where people go to buy tangible things often, but there are cases often of sellers offering non-tangible things like Files and PDFs to name a few. What is important is that if you want to do well on Etsy for a start, focus on building a product that is either Niche, Exceptional, and the service around it is great. In my case, Made to Order Prints-and it’s environmentally sound too. It’s a rather distinct thing since, it’s on etsy and not on places like redbubble and what not. And due to the fact at all the orders all the way up to 300.

I double checked and fixed every single one of them myself. Products and services around it mattered.

Communication is Key
Customers want in on what going on. And they tend to have various questions. For example, in regards to see if their order arrived. Usually I have a FAQ for that nowadays, but in the early days, I told them to wait 2-3 weeks to arrive, if it doesn’t. I just send another batch for free on my tab, and if I felt like, even tracking too if the cargo is valuable enough. It’s just a matter of solving problems yourself if the FAQ doesn’t yield anything.
Communications is mostly reversed for more personalized things, but it’s to give clarity directly to my customers if things aren’t going smoothly or is just too complex.

Do right if something goes South
So, this is one of the biggest problems all artists and sellers tend to have. Half of them, they wont lift a finger to fix even small issues. ‘See getting up to 300 sales is rather hard for me I realized. Since, your customers is your life-line in some ways. So you rather do them a favor and fix the issue either via sending another batch, or a refund if the issue is too severe. It’s a case of mitigating issues before it gets out of hand. Everyone makes mistakes and learn to owe up to that and do what’s right. And then move on.

It’s just a case of stumbling forward towards a “passing grade” and getting better.

Offerings, Figure it out
Do most people know what they are offering? usually no. they are often clueless to what they are offering since they never defined what they are offering. Define what you will offer and build on top of it. To give clarity, offerings isn’t only the product, but also variations you may have within that product line. In my case-made to order prints that comes in 2-3 sizes ranging from 6×8, 8×10, and 11×14 inches. Those are my offering that people are starting to understand and it’s becoming an established norm.

The easier your products and offerings to understand, higher the chances people will tag your work with the traits and you can refine it as time goes by.

Focus on your Niche
as tim ferris would say in his 4hour work week. It’s the new big, this is what the internet allows for. You want to build a niche that acrews to your brand. a niche-to give a redundant example, Made to Order Prints that is environmentally sound. It’s a mouthfull, but given enough time and reviews with it. People will start “getting” what my products are actually.

Focus on building something very specific and unique, and it will acrew to you.

Give more than Asked for
This one is a rather personal one since, it’s really a thing I tend to do myself. For a little while now, from 2017 to nowadays in 2019. I have been giving away free sketches and prints to my fellow customers. It’s more than what they asked for, but from my subjective views.

I felt the need to just do as much as I can. I felt that I’m doing them a favor of sort.

Focus on Actionable/Practical Things
Forget about the metrics if people are favoriting your products, what counts is either they are buying your work, or leaving stellar reviews. It’s all about doing things that matter to you.

Focus on building or improving your products and offerings. It will serve you well on the long run.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

if you had your 2 cents on this kind of post. Consider the following.

Follow via email list or share this with those in your circle.

here is a PDF ver of the Article for those who needs a take-home lessons.

and to those who wants my services. etsy store is here.

So, this is a long one, but it’s because it has been a recurring thing for the year 2019. That’s 12 months. And I been able to do much with it.
Card-Stock. A type of paper that is seemingly overlooked in a world where art boards and Bristol is king. It’s kind of a strange thing for me. Since, I’m used to for a couple years using larger and higher quality types of paper. But with the booming days gone, it’s kind of a thing where I felt that for a certain amount and a bulk stack of them, it’s logical to take this route and make a plan around how to make work for myself and client’s eventually. And it did after half a year.
Is the material good enough for work?
Kind of, it can do a bit of everything such as washes and holding up to layering of markers too. So, it’s can holdup. But don’t expect it to do very heavy amounts. It will do sketches and light conceptual easily.
What is it best suited for?
Sketches. Sketches for sure, due to the fact it’s in the 8.5×11 inches range and most of so-called “best ideas” are sketchers often, people want my ideas mostly. And sketches are adequate enough to get it across.
Earlier this year, I did do inking for sure, but that’s about it. It can for sure have a crisp clean finish when it comes to ink.
What does it mean?
Well, it’s nothing short of being economical and it’s to sustain my creative work a bit longer. Given the type of works I’ve been assigned to, it’s kind of a logical move to use something that supports it.
Does it give me any serious advantage?
in some ways yes. Given that it’s already a standardized paper and size, it allows me to refine my technicians and ideas within it’s limitations. Having more doesn’t mean better always. What it’s good at is that it gives a better working surface than simple copy paper where it can fall short in the durability department.
Is this something most people can get behind?
in the direction where it’s either Digital Only, or something higher-end is used. I have doubts that the mainstream will “get it”. There is a skill gap to jump through and most likely my kind of work and knowledge around it is too niche for many to care. ‘See, we no longer live in the 70s-80s anymore, production art done on paper is becoming very very rare, and chances are those who do it for a living have been doing it since the post-war eras. They been doing it that long and I have doubts that they will even give chance to share their knowledge online.
Who does this material suit?
Those needing a practical material to work from. It’s inexpensive and it’s viable for those starting to upgrade from copy paper and want to start doing light renders of ideas and works they have in mind. It can hold up to quite a bit of work, and chances are, it will give it’s bang for the buck. Plus the scans are quite clean too.

So, you must be thinking of this, I need to get it right and all planned out right?

Well….the problem comes to this.

The universe isn’t going to align it’s stars against you as it won’t go out of it’s way to pave the way like how Moses split the sea.

It just, the timing is never perfect, nor the conditions and what you have with you, you’ll have to use it. You have to get used to a few things.

• It’s never the right timing nor conditions
• Learn to get into small trouble often and ask for forgiveness than permission
• you only get this life once most likely
• staying still and doing nothing is the worst case scenario

I used to think of ways to perfect my projects, but in hindsight, if I started with less and learned to adjust the course of my craft along the way, life would have been better most likely.

It’s never the right timing, and I started rather late for my rather serious aspect of my works.

‘see, unlike most people software like ‘photoshop and using my own flatbed scanner didn’t

come into play until 2017, so it’s been 2 years since, trying to make my stuff work.

The progression is rather slow in terms of official records.

However, in actuality, my craft has been running much longer as far as 2014, where the internet just really get into the mainstream actually.

So, with all this action going on in my background, and it may well be a historical series of events.

I was just quietly working away at imgur, tumblr, and few ‘sites that I no longer operate on for personal reasons.

We are going towards a more permissionless world, you have to take the initiative.

well, here’s the news flash, nobody, either your parents, boss, friends, etc, won’t tell you want to do in terms of your internet stuff most likely, and in reality they can’t stop you from working on your online shenanigans and gigs you have in mind.

If anything you have a better chance of learning from the small (hopefully not fatal or totalized) mistakes and just try again. It’s better to start small and build up these personal resilience to your own path and endeavors you want to take.

In fact, I just decided to go with a bunch of seemingly non-related projects and later down the road, some of them actually seems to stick. It’s that simple.

You are not getting any younger and being still will kill you eventually

I hate to admit it, but. Time in some cases is more valuable than Money, when I mean by that is that through history, currency and free-trade was always a thing. Perhaps the dollar of today will be less valuable tomorrow thanks to the rise of crypto currency and block-chain, and Gold and Silver still can tank it through the times seemingly. What was consistent was that people tend to wast their non-renewable resources known as time and attention, and after a certain point in their life, people will notice this and start really regretting it. It’s a sad tale of the majority even in the first-world. And chances are you might not get this very statement until it’s the endgame or too late.

There are two way to “waste time” either you do something and slip up, and improve based on it little by little, not giving up and redefine what you want from life, or simply sit and do nothing.

If you can start with a Bargain Price and Setup, and get away with it. Do So.

Here is a couple footage of where I started my serious online art gigs from. Pretty shoddy right?

It’s just the way it is. But that is the thing. I figured out that as long as I can get away with it and just focus on the results. Things will be alright. And guess what? Things are just fine.

It doesn’t matter is the Wifi is so bad that I have to get a folding chair and “table” to get up online communications under the stairs and next to a bunch of laundry machines. I just went with what I can afford or bargain with for weeks or months.

2-3 years later, the setup may have changed but the laptop still holds and works.

I just managed to deliver results without an iphone or macbook being involved.

By the End of the Day, only time will tell

Look, I never really expected things to end up the way it is actually.

In fact, most of my substantially exciting events where from starting small and adjust based on what people online reacted with. It’s kind of a strange dynamics for me. Since, starting things like Dark Souls Inked, I actually haven’t really expected much good from it. I only tried because there was a couple incidents from 2016, that signaled that it was worth it. It was that simple.

And after following through for 1-2 years, it did show that certain actions really worked.

Better to start doing now than to ruminate about stuff later.

References and Sources

https://tim.blog/category/protecting-personal-time/

https://nav.al/how-to-get-rich

So, before you get into the fray…have a second guess.
well, it’s the begging of the new decade. and perhaps, for those who wants to get
into the internet fray of online artists getting unto the trends and so-called challenges.
But, you have to consider if these are worth investing into.

I would recommend a different path to take.
Here is a few things to take into account.

You aren’t cut for it
in fact, the the said challenges that were made was meant for the original person.
You think Inktober was made for you? It was made for Jake Parker back in 2009(that’s like a decade ago)
and nowadays it’s became a signaling thing thanks to social media’s mechanisms.

At best, you will get a few sales due to it’s so-called value, or at worst, you get wasted ink, paper, energy and attention to things that didn’t really matter to you.

Who or What are you building this series of works for?
you should ask yourself a few key things. who is this challenge made for? Nowadays, the events are for those on the ‘net to see the spectacle, and it’s a show. Content is what are after, not the art. And the art challenge signature actually leverages the originator or the company that started it and are reaping off the community leverage they have built from the start, in other words you just did free work for a bunch of people that leveraged you.

So, to put it bluntly, you are building throwaway pieces of art. A big waste if you ask me.

Is it Actually important to you?
From my cases, I start to care less about inktober, I have very little community contacts nor the incentives to so-called socialize on the ‘social media platforms. It’s such a dumb game where you win worthless prizes. The detriment of these challenges like seen on ZHC’s attempt to get likes and many worthless vanity metrics is what will drive people to insanity and in some cases fatal things.

So, what does this mean?
Well…I rather offer a different path that is currently not as vogue.
In an age were trends and vanity metrics rule the globalized societies. We have to ask ourselves.
What are we doing this for? Following the herd and hope to get something valuable out of it? Or just simple so-called social recognition?
Play Stupid Games Win Stupid Prizes-your choice

Trends-You aren’t in the driver seat, and it’s going to be Bad Day

The problem with trends are that it places you in a rigged game. Thanks to Social Media, the currency or prizes comes in the form off non-tangible rewards like, likes and follows. So, what does this mean? Well, lets work on a few scenarios. The concept of “being nice” and “working together” is something akin to a thin veneer to what is actually going on. Even if the intent is good or positive, the nature of the mechanism and how people operate on it, everyone is playing a game that is Intrinsic to competitiveness actually.

You feel good looking at others on IG or Twitter with their Inktobers or ‘march of robots with a incalculable amounts of likes and followers? No, deep down you most likely feel like shit, because it’s the nature of the game you are playing, there are only false winners and losers in this game. Plus the so-called value of those likes and followers will be worthless thanks to social hyperinflation.

(a self-guessed theory where eventually you’ll get used to the likes and followers, thus diminishing their value, and thanks to mass-saturation of users on the platforms it’s adds to artificial value, and really creating a things that isn’t sustainable nor worth working/struggling for.)

Build Something that Radically places you in different situation-creatively.
Maybe it’s better to build your own projects, and the said projects will build a brand that will acrews to you. ‘See, this is a trick that isn’t really known out there. But the most powerful Brands, personal ones tends to their own thing, and after a set period of time, it’s becomes their signature. There is more to this trick, but to keep it simple, follow through.

They decided to do two key things. They have bought the beachfront property before it got hot early, ie investing and building on platforms or ‘sites that hasn’t gone mainstream yet.

Play your own game-Eventually everyone will want to play it too.

And They took a step or two that radically puts them in a different creative situation 2-3 years, or half a decade later, they decided to play their own game and everyone wants to play their game after all these years, but guess what, they can’t compete with the original or the pioneer since there is a quote of “the original was better”.

To give an example of types of artists that avoids these stupid trends that you may-well be too good for.

• Kim Jun Gi-He cemented the concept of free-hand inking and rendering in real-time on large pieces of paper, creating a live show essentially. Even Jake Parker, Proko, and others want in on his so-called secret techniques.
• BeepleCrap-Some say he is a troll, Others call him from the future, either way his animated works and stills show what it;s like to tinker with digital media technology while creating satire of today’s multiple climates
• Ashley Wood-From Pop Art Oils, to Plastic Toys for AdultChildren, this Australian managed to create a solid toy empire of sort with his ideas and unique rendition, even better his merch is what generates the value for him.
• Scott Robertson-He is quite personal to me, since, his interviews with designers like Darren Qach and his pen and paper based techniques really paved the way for some of the thought process for me, he is a good educator in general.
• Simon Stalenhang-Sweden, Post Apocalypse, and Robots. His unique world building is what captured the imagination and intrigue of many globally. It’s a rather unique genre and the concept of what he made is synonymous to him.
• Emerson Tung-He coined the term/project TankHead, and it was popular enough to start a deal of making a toy based off one of his designs, many are talking to him for developing from his works, and he seems to like the spot light.(by the time this post is done, maybe he already “made it”)
• and many more too for the list

What’s common with all these creative people? Well, what they did years ago or when every their idea of “early days” is.

It was a simply a step or two that placed them in a radically different creative situation.

They thought working on things that is rather opposite of everyone is the best bet for themselves, authenticity was their trump card creatively.

Placing bets on a series of works that is a far-cry of the trends of the time they started, and followed through for years or a decade.

By working hard, they have build a genre or a challenge that is synonymous with their names. The very thing that placed them in a radically different game. And now days, people out there wants to play their game. Learn to play your own game and eventually others will want to play your game. It’s the only positive outcome from a status game that is intrinsically not so beneficial in the modern world. You want to be on the winning side in this situation.

The good artists are creating a genre of themselves as Gary Vee would state with the Draw with Jazza interview back in 2015-16.

So, in a way, you want to not only place small bets on upcoming platforms or “digital real-estate” before the mainstream comes in (because it’s inevitable). But, Start creating a piece of work at a low-enough cost that will build up your brand eventually.(learn to build and sell, those skills are key to a good starting point)

Or as one of my former friend would tell me, Cut Your Own Path.

Summary

• Doing your own thing-escape competition through authenticity
• Playing a Bigger Game-You are a step away from a radically different situation
• Long Term Vs Short Term-pick something you can commit and sustain
• Make something synonymous with your Brand-Unique, Fresh or Brand New
• Get the Beach Front Property at bargain price-Before the mainstream gets to it
• Play your own game-Eventually everyone else wants to play it too

It’s been a several months since I have left I.G. and other platforms, in order to focus on things that actually matter, doing things that actually brings value to people. The problem with ‘social is that it creates a false set of expectations and values. It’s forcing the illusion of creatives have to “hustle” and “post daily” that is causing much burn out issues and what not. It’s a zero-sum game since, the so called Likes and Follows have no real value or results actually. There is no point in creating hypey content. In fact it’s better to focus on the end results and do small briefing afterwards.

So, it’s a case of playing stupid games, win stupid prizes.

So, to give an example of what I managed to inflict on my self in this case. I have a lot of work right? Well, they really aren’t necessary to my Brand or Craft I’m trying to work on. In fact they may well be akin to creative garbage since, they are simply taking up physical space and I ended up wasting money, resources, time, and attention, all worked up for basically things that doesn’t matter 2-3 years down the road. The Social Media game is basically defunct for me, and my personality isn’t optimized to work with it. It’s an unsustainable thing. they always have been coming and going, so why bother? Better to build your own thing like this wordpress site here.

What’s the point of liking an online image that is overtly far removed from the reality one lives in? Very little if you ask me, and it’s a stupid one too. You really think people online cares about your art? Guess again, they could care less. They only want content, nothing more. They are that shallow and most likely will be forgotten 2-3 years down the road.

Like, that post where you have about incalculably amounts of vanity metrics will not matter most likely in the decade to come, since it’s worthless thanks to “Digital Social Hyperinflation”, and you will get used to it, just like hedonistic adjustment.
I’m here like, just thinking how much wasted every thing went to the worthless social media game. Got basically nothing of value and it’s something I end up hating more than real work. And wondering what to do with all this junk of work I have in folders and boxes.

In my darkest times, I realized a few things. When the power, or wifi goes out. For a week or so, being on my own truly. These followers, or liker, they aren’t help. They can’t really change my life for the better. That was the biggest kicker to see who to trust and work with.
Best bet is to quite the game to wrap up the decade and start working on things that is of value.

If this social media game worth playing? The rhetorical answer is this.

No, because after a while, you’ll know that it’s a stupid game that gives you stupid prizes.

In other words create content that is good and will be talked about for years to come.

https://nav.al/how-to-get-rich