Showing posts with label business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business. Show all posts

Friday, March 22, 2024

Where To Start a Creative Art Business

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


I didn't know how to start an art business.  Or even where to begin.  At my "real jobs," I did have experience with creating and implementing programs.  So, I began with a very simple business plan that was only a few pages long.  Almost every assumption, plan and idea didn't end up working except for one tiny detail.  It said, "Create as much as possible."

Seems obvious, right?  But, this is where I see many of my colleagues fail.  Why do we need to keep making new pieces?  Because we can only sell what is available to purchase.  And when I worked a very brief stint at a very successful retailer, I learned they only sell 10% of their inventory.  This means, if you want to earn $10,000, you should plan to have $100,000 worth of art to sell.  Whis means we need to know how many pieces we can make in a week, month, and year.  This is where business begins.

It can seem daunting, but we all have to start somewhere.  My business started with $50 of supplies, 10 paintings, and a very inaccurate business plan.  It was a humble start full of experimentation, trial-and-error, mistakes, surprise victories, and so much more.  I was constantly learning.  I'm still learning.  But, the biggest lesson for me is still "create as much as possible."

🌞😎🌳 BRING SPRING ART FESTIVAL 🌳😎🌞
Who's ready for Spring?  We can open our windows and redecorate our homes.  And enjoy the happiness of the warm sun


Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold thousands of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.
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Friday, August 11, 2023

Brushstrokes & Transformation: An Interview With Mike Kraus


In this interview with Mike Kraus, we delve into the captivating journey of an artist whose work serves as both a canvas of color and a canvas of values — honesty, kindness, and fairness. From his formative years in Muskegon, Michigan, Mike’s artistic voyage has been a dynamic exploration of the intricate interplay between the external world and his inner creativity.  Continue Reading at: https://medium.com/arts-o-magazine/mike-krause-9dd86995d76c


ARTS o’ MAGAZINE:
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🍂🍁 AWESOME AUTUMN ART FESTIVAL! 🍁🍂
Kick off the holiday season with friends and fun.  Meet hundreds of artists and their amazing creations.  How happy are you with your art?

Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children's Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold thousands of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
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Friday, August 21, 2020

Save the Post Office

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty


Save the Post Office #382
pen and ink on Bristol paper
2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION
202008072
© copyright Mike Kraus

Do you live in a rural community or a distant suburb? Are you on Social Security? Do you receive bills in the mail and can't afford late fees? Are you a veteran or senior citizen that receives prescription drugs by mail? Maybe you're a small business owner following safe and healthy practices? Do you have asthma, heart disease, diabetes, overweight, have/survived cancer, or 50+ year old that has difficulty leaving home because of health concerns during a pandemic?  Then the United States Postal Service is important to you.

On Saturday, August 22, at 11 a.m. (local time), we will show up at local post offices across the country to save the post office and declare that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy must resign.
https://www.savethepostoffice.net/event/save-the-post-office/search/?

Unable or uncomfortable with public gatherings?  Please contact your local officials and tell them how much you rely on the USPS at: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials  


Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

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Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Tips For Working At Home: Be You


Be You

Coronavirus (Covid-19) may have changed many things, but it hasn't changed who we are as individuals.  If you can figure out who you are and how to be yourself, you'll be so much happier.  All of us have unique eccentricities and different challenges.  Here are some ideas about how to embrace ourselves during uncertain times.


1) Who Am I and Who Do I Want To Be? - We all get lost.  Beliefs collide with experiences to make us hypocrites.  So, we have to be patient, flexible, and understanding to others and ourselves.

 Personally, I was having lots of troubles a few years ago.  Upon reflection, I realized I needed to work at being a better person.  But, what did that mean to me?  My answer was to put truth, fairness, and kindness into action.  Sometimes there are grey areas, I forget and fail, or I stubbornly cling to wishful thinking.  Yet, it always comes back and I will myself to do the right thing. 

2) Who Cares What They Think? - If you don't choose for yourself; someone else will choose for you.  You'll lose your personal identity, lessen your self-esteem, waste time and energy on other people's pet projects, and have unfulfilling relationships.  That doesn't mean you're selfishly not taking other's into consideration.  It just means you're taking yourself into consideration as well.  And that's healthy.  

3) Being Alone - Use this isolation to discover who you really are.  What are your thoughts, interests, feelings, dreams, and ideas?  Turn off the smartphone and TV to listen to yourself.  

4) You're Weird - Good!  Weird is interesting.  Weird is fun.  Love it because it means you're probably doing something right.  It's a compliment; not an insult.


5) Build Confidence - Imagine who you want to be.  Ignore self-doubt.  Set some achievable goals.  Share goals with a supportive friend.  Help the supportive friend with their goals.  

6) "Pobody's Nerfect" - Most likely, it's your first time going through life.  You'll accidentally insult your boss, regret some decisions, and forget someone's birthday.  Admit the error, apologize, make a kind gesture, and move on.  

7) Get a Hobby - Find something you love to do. It can be painting, sculpture, sewing, writing, photography, printing, volunteering for a cause, fitness, biking, hiking, woodworking, learn a new language, making models, magic, juggling, fishing, running, dancing, swimming, geo-caching, surfing, astronomy, model rockets, bird watching, researching ancestry, history of a specific event, card games, pool, darts, home brewing, wine tasting, music, collecting and so, so very much more. 

8) Hooray For Mistakes! - Mistakes are great as long as you learn from them.  It means you're still experimenting and trying new things.  Just remember to admit your errors, ask yourself honest questions about your decisions, find effective way to prevent future problems, and move on.

Or it could be a new discovery.  A few "mistakes" lead to the creation of the plastic, Post-It Notes, the Slinky, Penicillin, corn flakes, the Pacemaker, and so much more.  As Bob Ross says, "We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents. 

AND DON'T FORGET TO HAVE FUN!!!

Have any questions? Please feel free to contact me.  
Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
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Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Tips For Working At Home: Communication



Improving Communication

Working from home comes with a lot of obstacles. Coronavirus (COVID-19) converting your dining room into a office crammed with your kids, pets, spouse, parents, roommates and others makes completing tasks nearly impossible.

We need to communicate better. Let's start by acknowledging everyone's situation is unique and difficult. I had many of the same issues you're experiencing when I started working from home 6+ years ago. And I hope the mistakes, failures, and experiences can help you during these difficult times.

1) Talking Without Words - Humans are social animals. We like being together. We're also visual creatures. This explains why social distancing and interacting with co-workers is so difficult from home. It's because about 55% of the communication you receive from a person talking is nonverbal. We know how a person feels from their facial expressions, posture, gestures, eye contact, and other movements. This means we have to compensate for the loss of person-to-person communication. More about nonverbal communication at: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/nonverbal-communication.htm

2) Know Your Audience - Are you talking with your boss, the board of directors, customers, or a Zoom crowd? Each group will have their own needs and expectations. All may be discussing the same production, but each segment will have very different questions about it.

3) "Hello Out There!" - This can be the most difficult during social distancing.  It's easy to lose your social skills. And you'll develop other strange social skills. So, set aside some time to talk with your co-workers on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Facetime, etc. While my organization is a "one-man band," I talk regularly with other artists, online sellers, and curators. It's not only good networking, but keeps me from becoming socially isolated.

4) Communicate Visually And By Voice - You may be busy right now, but this can save a lot of time in the long run. The human brain did not evolve to understand texts, emails, and other abstract communications. Because of this, they are frequently misread and interpreted negatively. How many mundane emails/texts have you sent that turned into a fight? So, use Facetime, Zoom, Skype and/or the phone to let people see your facial expressions and hear the tone of your voice. Humans are emotional creatures. And seeing your emotions will put them at ease.

5) Virtual Meetings - Honestly, I've never used Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, Facetime, or other software before Coronavirus. So, here's what I've learned through trial and error:

a) Set a Time Limit - People zone out after 10 minutes. Check emails and other things after 30 minutes. Are useless at 1 hour.

b) Pause - Allow others to respond. Some connections are slow and other's have to release mute because of household activity

c) Be Prepared - Have a concise agenda, documents uploaded, and stay on topic.

d) Discipline - If you have a long meeting, don't allow unrelated conversations, down time for loading documents, and other interruptions or the meeting will be a waste of time. Allowing time for distractions means they may be on screen, but they are no longer participating in a real way. 

e) End On a High Note - With any spare time, ask a fun non-worked related question.  Or do something fun as a team.

6) Repeat Yourself. Repeat It Again. And Don't Forget To Repeat Yourself - With virtual communication being so cheap and easy, people forget things mentioned in text, email, etc. If something is important, I find I have to say it three times to make it stick in their brain. Another trick is to include a "task list" in every message during a project. This way, everyone know's where you are at on a project.

7) Tell A Story - For eons, humans communicated and learned from stories, myths, and legends around a campfire. So, if you have something important to say, make a story. It can be simple. Just have a clear message, show the conflict, easy to understand structure, share your personal experience, act it out appropriately, and edit out unnecessary details.



8) Ask and Accept Criticism - Some of the harshest attacks I've received for my art has improved my work. I posted a cityscape on social media and someone said "Terrible. You're better that this." Instead of replying with an insult, I asked him, "Why don't you like this? Please, be specific." He gave me his honest feelings that it lacked certain details to make it feel like a real location. It really forced me to rethink my work and how it was being perceived. Most importantly, he cared. He cared enough about my work to tell me his emotional response. He cared enough to tell me how to improve my painting. And he cared enough that he bought an improved version I created in response. Today, it's one of my more popular subjects to create.

9) Who's Being Quiet? - Meetings can easily be overpowered. Some people just love to hear themselves talk (especially when they have little to say). If someone's been silent the entire time, ask them about their thoughts, feelings, or ideas. For some reason, the shy one's tend to have the best ideas. Probably because they're listening and have contemplated the problem while everyone else was yakking about nothing.

10) Only Have A Meeting With A Written Agenda - Everyone's time is important and expensive. So, stop wasting it. And it can be super simple. For example, this is what I use:

(Client Name) Meeting on (Date), (Time)
1) State purpose of meeting (ie - purchase custom artwork)
2) Discuss purpose of meeting (ie -subject, size, colors, style, etc)
3) Review purpose of meeting (ie - confirm design details)

11) Save It - Have a meeting folder for your minutes, notes, presentations, or Zoom recordings. It will help you on your current projects. Confirm details that may be forgotten. And you can reuse many items for future meetings and projects.

12) Break Routine - If you want people to remember something, change expectations. It can be as simple as a funny meme in a Powerpoint, strange fact, or changing your normal meeting time, date, or location. It doesn't take a lot to surprise people.

13) Just Shut Up and Listen - Most people will tell you exactly what's on their mind and how they feel. Look at them. Ask follow up questions about details. And respond to their thoughts and emotions.

AND DON'T FORGET TO HAVE FUN!!!

Have any questions? Please feel free to contact me.
Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
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Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Tips For Working At Home: How To Leave Work And Have Fun Doing It


How To Leave Work And Have Fun Doing It

It's okay to admit that your home is a stressful work environment. Especially with Coronavirus (COVID-19). The kids are always screaming. Your dogs wants more affection and your cat wants you to leave. And why is your furloughed spouse blasting 24-hour cable news all day long? You're just trying to get some work done.

Everyone's situation is difficult and unique. And we need to admit that these uncertain times give us anxiety. When I started working from home 6+ years ago, I had many of the same issues you're experiencing right now. While this post is related to my Take A Break post, I've heard and observed this area needed more attention. I hope that my experience will help you relieve the stress you're feeling these days.

Why We Need Our Nights, Weekends, and Vacations

1) Productivity - Employees who work 60-hour weeks are less productive than workers who put in 40-hours a week. Why? They burnout. In fact, many experiments have even found that productivity increase when the work week is reduced to 4 days. For example, Microsoft saw productivity skyrocket 40% with a 4-day work week. An Ernst and Young report stated an average 8% boost in performance rate for every 10 hours of vacation taken.

2) Free Time - Isn't it just a waste of time? Absolutely not. Working without time off causes you to burnout with stress and exhaustion. Weekends allows you to recharge and stay motivated. You're just like a race car, you need to take a pit stop to change your tires and refuel if you want to win the race.

3) Long-Term Happiness - Employees that have a healthy work/life balance are much happier. In fact, working over 40 hours doubles your chances of depression. Happy employees stay with their organizations much longer. And that reduces the Human Resource costs of severance/bonus packages, hiring recruiters, time spent on interviews, training, and other related costs.

Working a maximum of 40 hours isn't just good for business, but it improves your home life. Studies have found you're more likely to have better relationships with your partner, children, and other relationships.

4) Your Health - We're all home to stay healthy. But, sitting at your desk all day increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and cholesterol. Many underlying conditions which can be fatal if you become infected by Coronavirus (COVID-19). So, walk away from your desk.

Stress causes more absenteeism and illness. In 2016, that cost American businesses $382 billion. Certainly much more during a pandemic.

How Do We Take and Use Our Nights, Weekends, and Vacations

1) Turn Off Work - Nights, Weekends, and Vacations are your time. Turn off the computer and/or put a towel over it if it's in your dining room. Close the door if you have an office. Switch off notifications on your phone. Don't let work invade your time and space.

2) Make Nights and Weekends Special - This is your time to be with your family. Stay-at-Home orders can add stress to boredom. We all need something to look forward to after work and school. I suggest selecting "theme nights." Here are some of my favorites: pizza night, B-movie night, wino weekend, ice cream Sunday, backyard camping night, evening nature walk, family Zoom night, game night, driveway chalking, and countless others. Are your kids or roommates musical? Then have a "band night."

3) Runaway! - Is there a place you like to picnic, hike, or visit? Plan to have family time there every week. 

4) Read - Do you know how many books I've not read on my shelves? Far too many. Nothing is better than lying in my hammock reading a book in the summer.

5) Meditate/Pray - This is a time of quiet reflection. Learn to meditate at: Mindful. Learn to prey at: WikiHow or find your spiritual/religious organization's website.

6) Backyard Camping - Set up a tent, have a bonfire, eat hot dogs, roast s'mores, tell ghost stories, and sleep under the stars. 


7) Chalk the Driveway - Draw all over your driveway and sidewalks. Thank essential workers. Make silly monsters. Draw your favorite characters. Create obstacle courses. Make a self portrait.

8) Cooking - Use this time to make your favorite foods. Don't know how to cook; learn! Here's a good place for all kinds of options: Learn To Cook


9) Gardening - This is a great way to spend some time outside. And there's lots of reasons to garden: you love flowers, fresh food, safe from pesticides and other poisons, light exercise, restoring ecosystem and help climate, community buildings, and save money. Learn To Garden

10) Hobby - Find something you love to do. It can be painting, sculpture, sewing, writing, photography, printing, volunteering for a cause, fitness, biking, hiking, woodworking, learn a new language, making models, magic, juggling, fishing, running, dancing, swimming, geo-caching, surfing, astronomy, model rockets, bird watching, researching ancestry, history of a specific event, card games, pool, darts, home brewing, wine tasting, music, collecting and so, so very much more.

AND DON'T FORGET TO HAVE FUN!!!

Have any questions? Please feel free to contact me.
Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
at 5 comments:

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Tips For Working At Home: Setting Expectations


Setting Expectations

"You work from home, so you can do what you want" is a false statement I hear frequently. And the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic only adds to the stress of your job. Your kids are sudden in your office asking about homework and fighting. Your parents with underlying health conditions refuse to social distance. The cat is constantly interrupting your Zoom meetings. And your furloughed spouse is anxious from watching cable news 24/7. Stress!

Let's start by acknowledging everyone's situation is different. There are single mom's, parents with many multiples of children, people living in small apartments with roommates, etc. We have to be patient and flexible with others and ourselves during these uncertain times. And here are some suggestions I have from my 6+ years working from home.

1) Your Old Routine: I could wake up 1 1/2 hours later. I could wear my pajamas all day. Maybe take longer lunches. Do some chores in the afternoon. Close up shop earlier. Instead, when I started to work from home, I kept my schedule from the office. Our brains love routine because it tells us "everything is okay." When routine changes, that tells our brains "something's wrong."

So, if you've abandoned your routine and it's not working; bring it back. If you're unable to bring back that routine, then try to make a new one. Here's some advice: Making a Routine.

2) Work Space: You need a space to work. It's more necessary if you're partner telecommutes to work, the kids have online classes, and anyone else in your home is trying to do the same thing. This may be difficult if you live in a small apartment or there's no spare bedrooms.

But, find a place that you can work. It can be a room, a corner, the patio, a garage, basement, etc. It's even better if it has a door for privacy. Having a specific place to work puts you in a productive mindset. It's also a signal to others that you're not to be interrupted. Here's some advice: Your Work Space.


3) Sorry, I'm Busy: For my wife and I, when the door to my studio and her office/family room is closed: DO NOT INTERRUPT. If we know an important meeting or call is going to happen, we coordinate our schedules accordingly.

Young children may need a little extra reminder. If they aren't of reading age yet, it should be visual. Make it a fun activity. Ask them to make you a sign that means "please wait until I'm finished."

Also, kids need a routine to let their brains know "everything's okay." Everyone needs to work together to create the household routine. Remember to be flexible and patient. Change what doesn't work and expand what does. Here's a sample schedule:

Family Schedule

 7am – 10am
Adult 1: Work
Adult 2: Watch children
Kid 1: Breakfast and school work
Kid 2: Breakfast and school work

 10am – 11am
Adult 1: Watch children
Adult 2: Check work messages
Kid 1: Online class
Kid 2: Zoom with friends

 11am – Noon
Adult 1: Check work messages
Adult 2: Help children with homework
Kid 1: homework
Kid 2: homework

 Noon – 1pm
Lunch for everyone. Extra time to play outside or walk around neighborhood

 1pm – 1:30pm
Adult 1: Help children with homework
Adult 2: Check work messages
Kid 1: homework
Kid 2: homework

 1:30pm – 4pm
Adult 1 and 2: Work
Kid 1 and 2: Free time

 4pm – 5pm
Adult 1: Chores and errands
Adult 2: Work
Kid 1 and 2: Chores

5pm – 7pm
Dinner. Extra time for own activities.

 7pm – 10pm
Adult 1: Spend time with kids
Adult 2: Work
Kid 1 and 2: Theme night activities (Movie Night, Game Night, etc). Free time. Bed.

 Post schedule in a prominent public space

4) Ask For Help: Everyday, all members of your household should talk about your needs to be successful. What tasks need to be completed. The best actions to reach your goals.

Ask for help outside your household. Are the kids having difficulty with school? Maybe the parents of the class could organize a Zoom tutoring session. Elderly parents are bored? Ask them to call your kids and tell them stories before bedtime. With about 50 million families sharing this experience, find another one to share successes, laugh at failures, and find ways to help each other.

Help others too. Doing something good relieves anxiety because it makes you feel good too. It boosts good karma.

5) Take a Deep Breathe: Things will not go as planned. That's okay. Be patient and understanding with others and yourself. Learn from the mistakes and try something new tomorrow.

Setting boundaries is all about expectations and results. The alarm goes off and I wake up. At 10am, the kids are taking an online class while you work. Before dinner, your spouse works while you and the kids do chores. This is a time for bonding with loved ones. Use this time and stress to make those roots grow stronger. The grapes that struggle the most make the best wine.



Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
at No comments:

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Tips For Working At Home: Learning and Adjusting To Technology



Learning and Adjusting To Technology

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has forced many of us to learn new technology, systems, and platforms.  Before the Stay Home Orders, I've never heard of Zoom.  So, there's been a learning curve for all of us as we try to do our jobs from home.  

 Obviously, we all have different careers, technology, tasks, and levels of access to equipment.  My wife, friends, and family have all struggled with transitioning from the office to home.  So, I want to share my successes and failures of my 6+ years of working from home.  Hopefully, you can learn from my mistakes.  And remember to be kind to others, and yourself, as we all struggle through these anxious times.


1) Challenge Accepted: You can do this.  Keep an open mind and understand that there will be setback and other frustrations as you try to figure things out.  At the end of the day, you'll have a new skill.

 2) Ask For Help: Finding help has never been easier.  Ask your co-worker, friend, family, or search Google and YouTube for solutions.  You're not alone in the search for answers. 

3) Give Up: For a while, I was having difficulty completing some projects.  It was frustrating and it took me a while to figure out why: distractions.  We need to give up dramatic news on the TV, loud music on the radio, all social media, and/or chores around the house during work hours.  I know this can be very difficult with your partner, roommates, kids, pets, elderly parents, etc at home.  But, it's important to set boundaries and working hours.

 4) Attention: You need to give up distractions so you can give your full attention to learning your new skill.  "Multitasking" is a lie and a ineffective myth.  "Multitasking" is shorthand for half-assing, inefficient, error-prone, stress-inducing, mundane generating, possibly dangerous behavior.  When you accept a task, focus on that until completion.    

 5) Practice, Practice, and Practice Again: Our brains have evolved to learn from experience and repetition.  Experience and repetition.  Again, experience and repetition...  

This is when co-workers, friends, and family are really useful.  Don't know how to use Zoom?  Call someone.  Don't feel comfortable with presenting a slideshow on Microsoft Teams?  Do a test run with a co-worker.  My wife and I constantly test work projects with each other.  One pretends to be the audience while the other is the performer.  We find problems, define them, make improvements, adjust, and try again.  

6) Is This Worth It?: At some point, we all get frustrated and hit a wall.  We say to ourselves "is this worth it," "I don't want to do this," or maybe "this is a waste of time."  Learning a new skill is always worth it.  For example, I didn't realize working from home was a skill until I started working from home and was failing.  I had to learn to set up my work space, set work hours, make a routine, etc.  It was a craft I learned and developed for purely personal reasons.  Until my wife's office moved into the family room and I started getting "help" messages from friends and family, I didn't realize I had become an expert at working from home.  And, by sharing my experiences and helping others, I continue to discover new and better techniques.

 7) Don't Forget To Have Fun!: Make it a game.  Reward yourself for completing a task.  Celebrate with co-workers.  Winning is fun.  Success is fun.  But, to win and have success, you have to have fun doing the process.  For me, it's getting cookies and candy after some achievement.  Or maybe some whiskey for a celebration.  When you've completed a goal (large or small), make sure you find ways (large and small) to cheer.




Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
at No comments:

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Tips For Working At Home: Perks Of Being At Home



Perks Of Being At Home

We all know the stress of working from home.  Especially during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.  But, we have to admit there are some benefits of working from home, right?  So, with all the anxiety surrounding us, let's take a moment to see what we can be grateful for.

1) No Traffic: Life without road rage is wonderful.  When I started working from home 6+ years ago, losing the 1 1/2 hours per day of the rush hour commute improved my life beyond anything I could have imagined.  It's like adding 15.5 days to your life each year.

2) Sweatpants: While I do encourage you to change out of your pajamas for work, I'm all for being comfortable.  I love wearing my shorts and hoodie on the job.  I'm perfectly happy letting those stiff collared shirts, strangling neckties, and uncomfortable shoes collect dust in my closet.


3) My Own Space: Unfortunately, too many people lack space for a personal office and are crammed into their dining room or other public space with their partner, roommates, kids and/or pets.  But, I'm lucky enough to have my own studio.  It's set up for me; by me.  I can shut the door to keep the rest of the world out.  And turn up my music as loud as I want (and use your own toilet).

4) My Time: While I try to keep a routine, it's great that working from home allows me flexibility.  I don't have to beg and negotiate for every break or lose my lunch for any appointment, emergency, or other interruption.  I can have weird times if I want to.

5) $: No gas for the car.  No fare for the bus/train.  No overpriced meals for lunch.  No need for fancy clothes.  In fact, many of my at-home activities are now tax-deductible.  

6) Avoiding Office Politics: While they still exist, it's much easier to escape.  While the butt kissers and back stabbers are out there plotting, I'm getting work done.  And there's no long-running drama about the thermostat being set at 90 in the winter and 30 in the summer...


7) That Dumb Chore: I can mow my lawn at 10am on a weekday.  I pick up groceries when it's not busy.  I can talk on the phone while doing laundry.  

8) Loved Ones: I eat lunch with my wife every day since the Coronavirus lockdown.  I'm more social than ever!  I can play with my dog on breaks.  And that pup has interrupted all of my wife's meetings.  

Are you having difficulty working from home?  Don't hesitate to ask questions.




Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

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