"take the cream off the top, leave the milk behind"

[“Love Forever”, which I sent out in the newsletter recently. You can buy the print here etc.]

Earlier I was talking on the phone to my friend and mentor, Jerry Colonna. I drew the wee monster ‘Cube Grenade” on his blog a few months ago.

During our conversation, while I was moaning and groaning about the relentless day-to-day pressure of being a small-time entrepreneur, Jerry, in his kind, generous, lucid and laser-focus way, reminded me that in spite of my trials and tribulations, somehow in the past year I had managed to morph from a “marketing consultant” to full-time artist.

I guess that’s exactly what has been happening. I don’t quite know how I managed to pull that off- although long hours, low overheads and a superb business partner certainly helped.

Jerry then talked about his own career evolution- from successful New York venture capitalist, to private business coach with a thriving practice.

Jerry told me that he simply creamed off the part of being a VC that he liked the most- i.e. helping good people make a difference- and forgot about the rest.

During this conversation, I suddenly realized that I’m now trying to do EXACTLY what Jerry has already managed to do for himself. Take the cream off the top, leave the milk behind.

I can think of worse ways to spend the next couple of years. You?