Outer Limits, by Tatiana – In The Mix #4

January 8, 2009 Tatiana EL-Khouri 8 Comments

“Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.”
-Mary Kay Ash

Writing about my journey as an emerging artist, has been a great tool to voice my goals, outlooks and shortcomings. I have a wide network of people that include many creative professionals and entrepreneurs. It has taken me time to develop and amass the business relationships and connections I’ve created in my network. I recently asked them to share with me aspect that they felt were unique to building up a career as a creative professional or entrepreneur. Their feedback dealt with money, time, and discipline.

· Capital! Money! Support!
· Taking the plunge and making the day-job secondary to creative projects.
· Turning off the TV and getting to work.
· Time…not enough of it!
· Lack of spiritual and emotional support.
· Money… the no-guarantee as to what income I’ll actually get.
· It’s hard not knowing, and I always feel like I don’t have enough [money]!
· The balancing act!

The overall theme I drew from their responses, was testing your limits.

While I live by the mantra, “If you make your goals and dreams known to the universe, you will achieve it.”- I’m aware of my limits, actually it’s something that remains a constant struggle, something that I’m continuously testing and evaluating.

Limits are very funny thing. On the one hand, they can act as a hindrance if you don’t push societal norms and go after your dreams. On the other, they help to insure you stay in line and don’t overextend yourself. Last week, I spoke about my Air Force Art commission. But what I didn’t mention was the struggle that went to making that trip.

When I got the call to accept my assignment, I was gun ho and pumped and quickly adapted my schedule. I had numerous assignments requiring my time and attention prior to the trip. A week and a half before my flight to Fort Dix, NJ; I pulled numerous all nighters functioning on few hours of sleep for days at a time. Feeling in a weakened state, I went to the pharmacy to pick up some vitamins and nutritious snacks. As sweet lady irony would have it, I passed out, suffered a mild concussion, nasal contusion, and a variety of fancy terms for scrapes and bruises.

Clearly my limits were not in check!

However I was able to accomplish all of my tasks and projects, in which many of my clients had no clue of my circumstances- let alone that I was suffering from a head injury. I took the proper time to rest and rehabilitate- and did nothing but sleep and relax. One week later I was in great shape and off to my trip. I’m a pretty proud individual and usually don’t highlight my weakness’. The lesson I learned from that event, I’ve applied to my work. I love my art and my work- but at the end of the day I’ve realized if my limits aren’t in check and I’m not realistic about my commitments, the consequences would be far worse than simply admitting at the end of the day I’m only human and I can’t do it all.

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Tatiana has gone 185 days without an injury. She apologizes to anyone who’s routine was interrupted by not having a brand new In The Mix up and running this morning. Her delayed post is no reflection on the work ethic or overall quality of Michael Davis World or the great Master of the Universe- MOTU. She is still working on her limits….