CREATIVITY SPARKS^TM
March 2008

Be an Artist CEO
A View from the Trenches
by Beth Barany

What does it mean to be an artist CEO and why would you want to be one?
I brought this question and several others to an entrepreneur and web designer, Pat Smith, author of Connect 2 The Net, Business Basics for Building Your Web Site.

Patricia Smith, born in Boston, LINCOLNSHIRE, ENGLAND, has lived in the US for 25 years. She was inspired to start Yellowbelly Web Design 10 years ago to reverse an alarming trend: the infiltration of the World Wide Web with too many poorly designed sites! Ten years ago, a typical Web site took months to create because every step had to be hand coded. Pat is thrilled that, with today's technology, businesses can have a web site up and running with a snap of their fingers. With a background in Fine Art and Multimedia, Pat is well known in the design community for her diverse creative style and her unwavering commitment to her clients. She has worked with clients from various industries including: government agencies, universities, travel, e-commerce, architecture, engineering, construction, entertainment and non-profit.

Pat and I talked over a virtual cup of coffee and I learned a lot from her! Read on for her perspective of being an artist-entrepreneur.

What does it mean to be an artist CEO and why would you want to be one?
There are advantages to being an artist CEO, especially in my line of business as a web developer. Every day of my business I use creativity to solve not only business solutions but also design solutions. From writing that business plan, from persuading clients to use my services, from designing web sites I get to use creativity in a way that brings fresh ideas to the table.

What is like to live creatively in your business?
It's very exciting, new ideas come into my head on a daily basis, I generally sit with the idea for awhile then run with it when the time is right. My e-book, Connect 2 The Net, Business Basics for Building Your Web Site, is a good example. I sat with the idea of writing a book for a long time, until one day I was developing a web site for a client who was publishing e-books, it was like a green light going off in my head. A year later I had written the e-book, developed a blog, and the web site www.connecttothenet.net. Now that I think about it, much of my inspiration comes from my business colleagues, my clients, and my competitors. I see something they've done and think, "I can do that!"

Do you have an art that informs your business and vice versa? Of so, how? If not, reflect on how you enjoy art and how that affects or influences your business?
I love all forms of art and have studied it all of my life. My path to web design started with a degree in Art History. I remember taking a class that focused on Art and Technology. Later, I became fascinated with the process of creating art on the computer, which very quickly turned into a business. That was 10 years ago, and still to this day I find computer-based design just as inspiring.

How has creative writing helped you in your business?
Writing my e-book, Connect 2 The Net, Business Basics for Building Your Web Site, was a big task and required much creative writing. I somehow had to turn a boring subject into something that was fun to read and writing creatively was definitely the key to my e-book's success. I think I succeeded!

How does the art and craft of writing and being tapped into your creativity inform, support, or otherwise influence your business endeavors?
I think the craft of writing creatively influences my business more than I actually realize. On a higher level writing a proposal in a creative way can bring in a new clients. On a lower level something as simple as writing a compelling email can spur a person to read my e-book. Writing creatively is a must for any business owner in that it helps you communicate better, by adding inspiration, emotion and exploration to all written communication.

c. 2008 Beth Barany