Even with a tool like the Eisenhower Matrix, some decisions will still feel tough. This is where policies come in.
In my Essentials for Artist Success program, I start the discussion of building strong business systems by helping artists create formal policies. These policies aren’t just business rules—they are commitments to yourself about what you will and won’t do. They protect your time, energy, and focus so that every opportunity doesn’t feel like a new decision-making crisis.
When you have strong policies in place, decision-making gets easier.
- Is this aligned with how I want to work? (If not, your policy says no and so do you.)
- Does this fit within my pricing structure? (If not, no negotiation needed.)
- Am I willing to take on this type of project? (If your policy says no commissions, the decision is already made.)
Policies help you say Yes with confidence and No without guilt.
If you don’t have clear policies yet, I highly recommend taking the time to create them. In Essentials, we go through this process step by step, ensuring that artists feel more empowered in their decisions and don’t waste time on things that don’t serve their long-term vision.
When you have policies in place, your decision might be right in front of you. But what if you haven’t yet created a policy for a particular situation?