We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lynda Goldman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lynda below.
Hi Lynda, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My work ethic comes from my parents. They both grew up very poor, but my father got a scholarship to study law in a second language that he didn’t speak. We live in Quebec, Canada and my parents grew up speaking English. But the scholarship was to study law in French, as Quebec is primarily a French-speaking province (with a large English population). Not only did he became a lawyer while learning another language, but he graduated first in the province, in this second language. Once he opened his practice, he worked 10 hours a day to become successful.
My mother worked at two different jobs as a bookkeeper, while my father studied law, to support the family – while she was pregnant with me. She supported not just herself and her husband, but also her mother and an aunt who lived with them. She had one full-time job, and then she would run down the street to another company to do their bookkeeping every lunch time. It’s no wonder I have a strong work ethic.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My parents wanted me to succeed and become a lawyer like my father, “so I would earn a good living,” but I rebelled and went to art school. I studied Fine Arts at university but as predicted, there were no jobs waiting for me when I graduated. This was way before the Internet, so the only way an artist could make a living was to be represented by galleries.
I worked at many different jobs, including at an art gallery as a assistant. Then I got a teaching degree and taught English as a Second Language for 15 years, and got a contract to write text books. These became best-selling books, and I poured my creativity into writing them. I wrote many more books, gave courses on how to write a book, and became a book coach.
All these year, while also raising my family, I didn’t even have a paintbrush in my house. Then for my birthday about 15 years ago, my daughters gave me a watercolor set. I was hooked! I began taking art classes in person and online. I became fascinated with abstract art and acrylics, and then my love for flowers morphed into painting abstract flowers, which is what I do now.
My latest series explores using gold leaf in a series called Golden Threads, soon to be released. I love painting flowers because of their transient nature, the glorious range of hues and shapes, and because I want to capture their essence.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, three qualities that were most impactful were: 1) my work ethic, which I got from my parents, 2) my love of knowledge, which meant I go deep into the rabbit hole when something interests me, so I really learn and explore it in depth, and 3) persistence. I learned that it takes time to succeed in anything, and when something is calling to me, I persist despite setbacks and difficulties, which are inevitable.
My advice to anyone early in their journey, is to take the time to really learn and explore the area, and not expect quick results. Occasionally in life, success comes quickly and easily, but mostly it’s the results of years of study and work, before someone becomes an “overnight success.” Most things in life take time and effort before you see success.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
My number one challenge I’m facing is selling my art. I paint a lot, but selling art is very different from selling books, or courses (which I sold fairly easily). Artwork is a luxury item, and finding art lovers who want to invest in art is more challenging. I have sold a number of works in the past year, but I am continually trying new paths to get my art into more places where it will be seen. I have new gallery representation as well, so hopefully that will bring more sales in the coming year.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.LyndaGoldmanFineArt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynda.goldman.art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LyndaGoldmanFineArt
- Other: https://www.pinterest.ca/LyndaGoldmanFineArt/
Image Credits
Lynda Goldman
