Why reflection matters to your art business

What happens when you realize the way you've been working isn't sustainable? When you've built something successful but it's costing you sleep, peace of mind, and the very things you set out to protect?

In this solo episode, host Alyson Stanfield gets really vulnerable with a question most artists face at some point: Who am I if I change the way I've always done things? It's about the pressure to maintain what you've always done because that's what you identify with, the FOMO that makes you say yes when your gut says no, and the overwhelm that comes from adding more and more to your plate.

Artists don't need more information—they need containers to organize it, filters to prioritize it, and boundaries to protect themselves from overwhelm. You'll hear about identity shifts, the power of asking "where can I lower the bar?" and what it looks like to evolve from consuming content to building frameworks that actually support your business.

🔦 HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 The Artist's Annual Review and why reflecting is an act of courage

02:50 The truth is you don't need more information

04:10 We need to prioritize creating containers, filters, and serious boundaries

06:40 Artists keep telling me they're "so behind" and I never want you to feel that way

09:10 I'm preaching sane planning while juggling an insane schedule

13:50 This is about IDENTITY—who I am at my very core

17:20 The right question: what do I need to let go of? Where can I lower the bar?

20:20 This is about evolution, trusting that what already exists is enough

📖 To read more and find resources mentioned, and leave a comment, visit https://artbizsuccess.com/beyond-info

🔶 FREE! Download The Artist's Annual Review and ask yourself: What do I need to let go of? Where can I lower the bar?

Not just what you want to accomplish in 2026—but what you want less of, and how you want to feel as you move through your days. https://artbizsuccess.com/reviewyouryear

🔶 🔶 OWN YOUR YEAR 2026 🔶 🔶 If you're ready to take that clarity and turn it into a plan—not a plan that adds more to your plate, but a plan that honors where you are and what you actually have the capacity for—join me for Own Your Year 2026.

This planning workshop happens January 13-15, 2026. This isn't about tactics or strategies or adding more to your list. It's about alignment. It's about creating a year that feels sustainable and maybe even radiant.

Learn more at artbizsuccess.com/makeaplan

⛰️ The Art Biz is recorded on the traditional land of the Cheyenne, Arapaho and Ute tribes.

Think you'd make a good podcast guest? Give me your best pitch ~~~~> https://artbizsuccess.com/pitch-podcast/