6 Art Business Lessons We Can Learn From Olympic Athletes

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Whether you're a sports fanatic or not, it's hard not to get excited when the Summer Olympics are approaching. Every nation comes together and it's great to see the best of the best compete on the world stage.

While it may seem like artists and athletes are completely different, a closer look reveals how much they actually have in common. Both professions require tremendous skill, discipline, and dedication to be successful.

In honor of the Games, we've found six lessons inspired by Olympic athletes to help take your art business to the winning circle. Look:

1. Overcome any obstacle

Inspiration doesn't fully describe the feeling we get as we watch Olympians overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to success. This year, one of our favorite stories from the Rio 2016 Games is about a Syrian swimmer. .

Yusra, just a teenager, saved the lives of eighteen refugees who fled Syria by boat. When the boat's motor failed, she and her sister jumped into the icy water and pushed the boat for three hours, saving everyone. Yusra never gave up and her abilities were recognized and her Olympic dreams realized with the creation of the Refugee Olympic Athlete Team.

What an amazing takeaway. If you have a passion, you must find the perseverance in yourself to keep moving forward in your art business. Obstacles can stand in your way, but like Yusra, if you fight to overcome them, anything is possible.

2. Develop a vision

Olympic athletes are often told to visualize the movements of their sport as well as the exact result they want. Visualization helps athletes understand every step they need to take to achieve their dreams so they can make it happen.

The same goes for your art business. Without a vision for your ideal art career, you will never achieve it! Breaking down your dream into smaller, achievable goals will also make your journey into the art world much easier.

Tip: invites you to imagine all aspects of your art business, from your ideal studio to how your career fits in with the rest of your life. This way you will be able to keep track of your progress, no matter how you define it.

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3. Strategy for success

Take a look at the training routine of gold medal-winning swimmer Kathy Ledecky . It's intense to say the least, but you can't argue with its effectiveness.

What we can all learn from Kathy is that success requires careful planning and hard work. If you don't strategize how you're going to realize your art business vision, then chances are your dream will fade into the background.

It can take detailed to-do lists, at the Artwork Archive, making short and long-term plans, and seeking help from family, friends, and mentors. But diligence in art business strategy will get you to the finish line.

4. Practice makes perfect

Even Olympians have had to start somewhere and they always try to get better with practice. Likewise, artists must have the same strong dedication to their craft. And how is that explains that physical training is only a small part of their carefully planned daily routine.

Artists, like athletes, should also practice a positive work-life balance. This includes de-stressing, getting enough sleep, and eating well to keep you feeling your best and ready to create art at a high level. Another need for success? Developing mental well-being through practice and cultivation.

5. Adapt to your surroundings

Olympic athletes come from all over the world to compete, which means they are not always used to the conditions at the games. Athletes must find a way to adapt to heat, humidity and other challenges if they want to come out on top.

The art world is also constantly changing. If you want your art business to flourish, you will have to adapt. How, you ask? Become a lifelong student. To read and art marketing. Learn from masterclasses. Indulge in social media and listen. By dedicating yourself to learning, you can stay ahead of the game in the arts business.

6. Don't be afraid of failure

Every time an Olympic runner hits their mark or a volleyball player kicks in, they realize they can fail. But they still compete. Olympic athletes believe in their abilities and don't let the fear of losing keep them from participating in the game.

Artists must be just as persistent. You may not get into every juried exhibition, make every potential sale, or get the gallery representation you want right away, but don't despair. As we said earlier, you must overcome these obstacles, adapt and develop a new strategy.

Remember, it's only failure if you don't learn and grow.

What is the point?

Both artists and athletes must work hard to achieve their goals, overcoming obstacles and developing strategies along the way. Remember how inspired you are by watching Olympians make their dreams come true and take their strategies with you to the studio.

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