A few quotes I live by:
Mother says "when a door closes a window opens"
Father days "don't put yourself in a situation you can't get out of"

Share The Artist has been a learning process and every avenue has it's own
surprises. Good, Bad & Forgiving.


My first location was a gulp in my throat. I was so focused on the end result
but realized it's the whole chicken before the egg theory.

What I mean by this is: you have to be happy from the very beginning,
everything needs to some what aline with the next tasks ahead. You can't exactly
run a marathon with out training. I was running a marathon before training.
Honestly I wanted so bad for everything to work. But nothing was working! One
obstacle after another to finally having my grand opening and nobody showed
up.

But the person I am, I took a negative situation and turned it into a
learning experience. But in the end I  walked away not signing the 6 month
contract.

My hopes to fill my space with new easels and a dash of new paint, to fill a
10x10 space with creativity and love, everything was falling apart..
Everything..

Walking away felt right, but the sadness and feeling of failure taunted me
for hours.

I had so much on my plate already. In the mist of moving, working on the
website, filling my classes with teachers,  purchasing a 1 million
liability  insurance policy. I thought hard for those endless hours. I was
trying so hard to be strong and settle with the thoughts:
Ok maybe it's timing, maybe it's me,
Maybe maybe maybe!!

 I sat on my balcony and as my thoughts gathered I could feel the sadness, the
failure, the hard work I already put in, my dreams, I couldn't take it.. The
tears came..

I woke up the next day and I looked again for a new space, I dragged my
family all through north central Austin hoping to find a new space.

Tadah I found another space.. But after a few hours talking to the owner I
realized it was a high risk financially.. I walked away again..

Day #3
I came home, exhausted, sad, and torn. Why can't I make this
work! I'm mighty mouse with my super cape. I aways make things work even in
the worst situation but why couldn't I make this work!!!

I sat in my computer chair staring at a blank screen. Ok one more try if this
doesn't work then I can live with myself and try in a few months.

Ok here it goes: Craig list opens up and there sits a gem of a place in the
heart of South Congress.

Could it be? Could I win this lottery ticket? My hopes were low, my
expectations lost in shambles.

Ring Ring... Hi my name is Joi and I am looking for ...

Day #4
well ladies and gents it was a GO!!
I just happened to be in right place at the right time! 
The stars alined in a parallel universe!

So I get the keys on the 10th of June!

So it's not huge, but fills my need and my budget. I'm tucked away in the
heart of south congress!

The leasing manager had a kindred spirit, we shared the same values,
she was a dreamer/realist like myself.

What I loved the most was I could come and go as I pleased. I could still
live my free spirit lifestyle, and still tackle my business venture.
I could still share my life with my family and not miss a beat, I could still share my
life with my friends, and I could still follow my dreams.

If anything I've learned I have learned  BALANCE . There is a pull and
there is a tug but never sacrifice your values. Keep searching and you will find
people who share your vision, who will hold your hand gently and believe in you,
but the rest of your journey is yours to create.

12:51 AM Day #5

This ladies & Gents is how to be successful doing everything
backwards..

Till next time

Cheers Joi
www.zappysprings.com
www.sharetheartist.com

How to be successful doing everything backwards..

So before I begin I must say I'm just a stay at home mom.
Yup nothing special, my day consist of changing diapers, telling my 8 yr old to be strong and stand up for himself, and telling my 2 yr old to pick up her feet!

But what really changes me from others? well if I told you I battle from being ADD, dyslexic & bi polar, maybe that would make me a bit different.

Or that I started zappy springs b/c I couldn't get a job b/c I choose a long time ago to be a mom, and didn't want my kids to grow up in day care. I choose to sacrifice a numerous amount of years so I could raise them to view life through my vision. To give them the tools to think on their own, based on real life experiences and not by T.V. or politics. Maybe that's two.

Or maybe three I started out as a single mom.. Who had a son who stopped breathing at the age of 2 days old.

Well it narrows down to number 4.
I'm nothing special I'm just JOi!!
With a mission to bring people together, to create a community, to let people know that you can reach for the stars no matter what obstacles stand in your way.

To believe in your mentors, and in your children, to fail a 1,000 times,
to take a risk expecting nothing in return.

I started my second venture share the artist on zappy springs one yr anniversary. Why b/c I wanted more..

Share the artist started with $25 in my bank account. Nope I'm not a high roller. But I believe a simple idea can change the world and the way people think.

You can let life pass you by or you can grow with it. If you didn't notice the world is changing, and your views in life change everyday by your own personal experiences.

I'm 34 and I was thinking HEY it's time.. I'm ready to take a risk!!
Will it turn out? Heck I don't know?
Do I have an expectation ? No not really.. I think expectations can break your heart. If your sitting around wondering how much $$ your gonna make well I would say that's not a good way to keep track of success. Do you know how many people make a ton of $$ and aren't happy. Well a lot !!!

Success is measured based on happiness. You do things that move you, that drive you, and that makes you happy! You do what you do b/c you love it, and you would still do it if $$ wasn't an issue..

Take a time in your life when you spent hours doing what you loved and not once made a penny now that is success..

But yes, I'm not crazy we all need to make $$, who the heck doesn't love $$ .. but here is my two cents, you will always have people and even friends who will be Na-Sayers, there will always be someone who does it better, there will always be a person who will under cut you, but do what you love and the $$ you make will measured in more then just success.. This I will promise..

This is your own personal will power, make it your own! Be humble, thrive to be more, surround your life by people who move you..and hey it's alright to fail, to make mistakes, we are human and we are ever growing!

Now this lady & gents this is how to be successful doing everything backwards!

Till next time

Cheers
Joi

www.sharetheartist.com
www.zappysprings.com

I'm pretty excited!! 
I have been working tremendously hard and sacrificing a lot to launch The Share The Artist Community Program but receiving emails like this really makes all my hard work worth it!

 "Finally we have you in south Austin, this is exactly what I'm looking for, for my kidsI have 8 years old (girl), and 6 years old (boy), "

Seeing that others want to share in art, surrounding their children with inspiration, and helping create a community lets me know I'm on the right track.  And also not alone in wanting this for my children and myself.

www.sharetheartist.com

Starting Share The Artist has been extremely amazing. I recall a moment when I was in kindergarten and I held my first art class during recess! Now I'm 34 yrs old, a mother of two and NOW I get to do it for REAL!! If I could possibly tell you how excited I am to have my first class you may have to move over because I may BURST with excitement! Yes, I'm that excited!! 

Yes,  If you like what you see tell your friends and Join our community and take our classes!!

Don't forget about our GRAND Opening !! Click on our Community Button!!  && RSVP!!

We'd Love to have you!

We have been working on the website for a few weeks now.  We went through three different themes, hosts, and versions of the website.  But we finally have the ground work in place.  We still have a few images to upload, and a few hidden pages to update.  But the core pages, classes, schedules, pricing, and class sign ups are live!

Can't wait to meet you all and see where this takes us.