The Fantasy ...
I watched the movie Julie & Julia this week. It's the story of a blogger (Julie) who made all the recipes in Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. One of my favorite scenes in the movie (besides all the wonderful ones with Meryl Streep) is the one near the end where Julie's husband tells her that she has some messages on the answering machine. Sixty-five messages, if I remember correctly. They all begin, "I'm the editor at ... the film producer ... a literary agent ..." Then they all make her some kind of offer: a book deal, a screenplay option, an interview.
This is everyone's fantasy, isn't it?
There you are, minding your own business, and you get handed an amazing opportunity.
What's the Problem?
The problem comes when your entire game plan is based around someone else's action. It's like those start-up tech companies that hinge their business plan on getting bought out by Google, Amazon, or Facebook. What if those tech giants never ask? What then?
An Easy Solution
I didn't even realize I was waiting to be asked until I read a great blog post on this topic: Stop Waiting to Be Picked by Jeff Goins.
Last week I took a tiny step and asked for my work to be featured in a blog's Mother's Day gift guide. And guess what? They said yes! You can see my mini book in the guide published by the Arts Business Institute.
You want to be considered for a prestigious art show? Ask. You want to sell your bracelets in a trendy local boutique? Ask. You want to see your work in a magazine? Ask.
They may say no. They may say yes. You'll never know unless you ask!