Learning from Other People's Experience

This is a week of learning about what I can and cannot do. I'm enrolled in 'Intro to Small Business' and it's like learning a whole new language. Knowing about business is important if you want your art to make money. Years ago, I tried going into business for myself as a graphic artist. I thought "hey, my work is good, let me try to make some money". So much for following my gut instincts. With no prior business experience, after 6 months I ended up losing money. I had no idea how to price my work, or what the market would bear. Eventually I got a job with a printing company doing graphic design and practically tripled my income. Wow. I still do freelance on the side and maybe eventually I will try starting a business again.

Meanwhile, taking this small business class sounds like the smart thing to do. I read a blog by the author, Alfred Edmond Jr., the editor-in-chief of BlackEnterprise.com. His blog is http://www.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/04/14/the-best-teacher-is-other-peoples-experience/ He recommends reading "My Biggest Mistake...And How I Fixed It: Lessons From the Entrepreneurial Front Lines" by Marcia Pledger. She writes, "the best teacher is not experience, but other people's experience." This advice in her book is from the experience of other entrepreneurs. I think I'll get the book.