Fog and mist fill the bright, colorless morning sky and soften the edges of treetops in the distance. Softness in the air even covers the trunks of gnarled and twisted scrub oaks. The weeds and grass are glistening with water droplets, and the long deck that runs the length of the house is wet where the roof offers no cover. The red Adirondack chairs placed in a circle around the fire pit are reflecting the light from above and are glowing. As I let the dogs out this morning, they sniff in circles, tracking bustling creatures from last night.
It’s Cozy Time
Sometimes a cozy morning like this calls for a couch, a blanket, the sounds of silence, and a good book. I begin my morning routine before I dip my fingers into the cesspool of social media. A daily chapter of the old family Bible has proven to offer perspective and to impact every daily decision. Almost every day it feels like it was written just for me, addressing today’s specific issues or concerns. It eliminates my fears and anxiety and gives me wisdom.
Long Days
The past five days were 12-hour work days away from my office, prepping and hosting our annual online watercolor conference out of our Austin soundstage. It’s a massive effort involving about 30 people on my team and a full year of preparation. It’s like planning a four-day live tV show like the old Jerry Lewis telethon, combined with a four-day wedding with thousands of guests from 31 countries. I’m so proud of my team and their incredible sensitivity to our guests’ needs.
Feeling Pretty Awesome
Though I am a little worn out, I’m not exhausted — instead, I’m exhilarated. I had the pleasure of serving people who relied on us to deliver art instruction at a high level for a total of 24 hours over four days. And from what I can tell, we delivered, because the majority are returning next year.
Oh God, Please…
My prayer each night after the event? “Lord, with all this attention and praise, keep me humble and not prideful. Help me to serve these people with true humility.” Because I get more attention and feedback at my events than at any other time, and I don’t want it to go to my head. I don’t want to ever start thinking I’m special or better in any way. Having experienced an ego-driven life in my radio days, I know how seductive it can be, and how dangerous it is to lose a sense of reality.
The World’s Greatest Gig
Like a cat, I’ve lived multiple lives and careers, and none ever felt like the perfect fit till I landed here, starting art magazines, teaching and inspiring artists, and focusing on transforming lives. It took me decades to discover it’s not about me, it’s not about wealth, and that a great life is about giving and serving.
The Cure for Depression
You can’t be depressed or think about yourself when you are a servant helping others. The world has it backwards; it’s not about getting rich so others will serve you, it’s about serving others to help them live rich lives. I don’t have most of the cool stuff I once owned because I got tired of it, or its life was over. But I never forget the people who served me decades ago.
Success Redefined
When people are giving you praise for pulling them up, encouraging them, inspiring them, teaching them so they can lift themselves up, you have reached true success, especially if you don’t take their praise as if you’re something special. When they look at you with tear-filled eyes, knowing you gave them the launch they could not see how to give themselves, you’ve reached the pinnacle. Then you can live life wearing a confident smile with a twinkle in your eye. Enjoy the moment, don’t get prideful, and move on to help others in some way.
Giving Back
This isn’t about feeding the needy, though that is necessary and important, and we should all do what we can. It’s about turning what you do into a serving and giving machine.
It’s not even about giving everything away, which isn’t usually practical or possible. You deserve a handsome living from your toil. But life is about taking what you do every day, being the best at it, and focusing on the needs of those who need to be served, whether you are teaching school, working in a plant, driving an Uber, working on heating systems, being a student or running a business.
It’s about delighting others at a higher level and never making it about you. And when this occurs, rewards always follow.
A Word of Caution
Biblical stories talk about the benefits that come back to you for tithing and giving of your time. But they also talk about doing your good works in private, about not letting one hand know what the other is doing. Though I don’t want to be critical of anyone doing good works, I get turned off when ads tell me a company is giving some percentage of its profits to some charity. The only reason to tell people about it is to look good or to get them to buy more. Why not just do it quietly?
For a brief moment I was public about what we do with the profits of our company, but the more I thought about it, the more it seemed the only reason to tell people about it was to look good to others. I decided that doing so no longer works for me. I tell our employees, because they need to know where our profits go, but we are no longer public about our giving. Being quiet keeps intent pure. If you are only giving to increase your rewards, people see through it and you’ll appear insincere.
Yesterday a friend was telling me about a company that wants to work with him, and he said, “They pretend to care about me, but really, they only care about money. Life is too short to deal with people like that.” Don’t get me wrong, I also care about making a fair living and being able to provide for my family and their future. But I don’t do what I do for that reason. I strive to do what I do because it’s what I can do well for others.
When everything you do is all about making as much money as you can, shortcuts follow, service gets reduced, quality diminishes, and people get hurt.
The magic of having a servant’s heart is that your joy no longer comes from things, it comes from service to others.
Where are you serving others?
Where are you finding your joy?
Is what you are doing truly satisfying?
Are you making a difference in the lives of others?
Are you pretending to care, or do you really care?
Would you still do it even if you could not make another dime?
What do you think about most?
I struggled for years, working crazy hours, trying to build something that was about me, and about money. But when I flipped that, everything changed. My acquaintance Dave Ramsey (radio and tV financial host) once told me that the minute you focus on service, everything changes. I fought it. But once I finally flipped the switch, my life changed, my success changed, my interest in serving changed.
Seek to serve. Others need what you have to offer.
Eric Rhoads
PS: This may sound strange but sometimes selling is serving. If you have something people need that will truly make their life better but that they are resisting, they will benefit from your passion to sell them something you know will help. I sometimes promote heavily and sell hard, because I hear the stories about the things we’re doing that change lives and change the direction of people’s lives — things that build confidence, things that can build careers. For instance, I know that if I push an artist to buy my marketing book, it will help them if they take the action I suggest. If they don’t, they may struggle for decades, as most do.
A woman attending our Watercolor Online conference this week told me that she was reluctant to sign up because she did not think she deserved it. Because she encountered something that convinced her, she told me it was 10 times better than she expected and it was just what she needed to put her on the right track. If I didn’t push, she and thousands of others might have missed out.
I have lots of artists who read this. Your art can change lives. You can cheer people up, or place them in a certain state of mind when your work hangs in their home. My friend Charles H. White tells me the story of a cancer patient who bought his painting to transport her to a better place while recovering from chemo. She said she stared at his painting every day, and it got her through her pain. What if he had not bothered to do the work and show up at an art show where she discovered that painting? What if he had not helped her make the decision to spend a little extra to get something of quality? His painting changed her life. Your paintings can change lives too, but if you lay back and hope someone buys something, others are missing out on what you have to offer.
Our next event is coming up in March. It’s called PleinAir Live, and it’s about teaching landscape painting online, with top landscape artists teaching. My life changed when I started going outdoors to paint, spending time in nature, and making lots of new friends. It made me a better painter — but it would never have happened had I not been motivated by someone who nudged me. I hope you’ll join us. (www.pleinairlive.com)
Note about my team: I realized something really important this week. You can’t do it alone. You need help. You need a good team. If your team is failing you, it’s not their fault, it’s your fault. You picked them, and if they’re not working out, it means you didn’t train, encourage, and nurture them. I feel like the luckiest man alive because my team at Streamline is beyond amazing. We hire slowly and carefully and work to get a cultural match in our team members, and then we get glowing reviews from the way they serve others. They truly have the spirit of serving, and they do it with grace, with love, joyfully and with excellence. In moments like this, when they have worked a year or more on planning and a couple of solid weeks on execution, including 12-hour days, long nights, and weekends, I realize just how blessed I am to have them.
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Thank you Eric. WCL23 was, and will continue to be very beneficial! And thank you for your honest, uplifting and wise personal perspective in your Sunday Coffee post.
I’m working in the studio today….so excited to use my new skills.
I am very aware of the blessing you and your staff have been to me and
I thank you with very deep appreciation!
Your Sunday Coffee posts reveal the real Eric. The servant, philisopher, theologian one. I Love it. WCL23 was my first time. I intended to paint along but was mesmerized by the demos. What a variety of styles and techniques! I learn best by observing. We spoke at the last Paint Along Saturday evening. You asked if I had signed up for next year. I said no. It is only because I am a caregiver and I don’t know what the future holds. Only God does. Meanwhile I am inspired by my WCL23 experience, thanks to you. I am a retired OG graphic designer now painting what watercolor I want to paint, when I want to paint it.
Thank you.
when my daughter graduated from music school (opera masters) the speaker was a fascinating, Juliard, headmaster. He told the graduates that, of course, they were good at their specific musical endeavors, but that’s not what should be the most important: ” the importance of knowledge is that you pass it on the the person standing behind you.”
Now, 50 or so years later, I’m still remembering. My goal is to teach youngsters about painting and help them express themselves . If they do a “good” painting, that’s terrific, but if their painting is “new” they’re still artists. they can always be pleased with their time with me!
( My original students are now in college! both are studying graphic design!). My newer children are having a ball painting, dancing and learning about artists…as one child put it; “the dead guys”. the children inspire me, too!
BLESSS YOU FOR YOUR GOOD THOUGHTS ERIC,…….THIS MESSAGE IS JUST WHAT I NEEDED TO START 2023 OFF IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
Just wow. I have been learning so much about you and other artists lately from all the online content. I had the PACL on my vision board last year and for this year. I will have to wait for the next one because we had already booked a trip to visit my son while he’s stationed at Eielson AFB in Alaska. We leave June 5. I like Colorado and nature and painting outdoors in God’s creation, and was even more disappointed when I heard Ms. Seymour was attending. I have a lot to learn in all areas of life, but God. 😉 I was at my first exhibition last night. I had no idea what to expect. I met some amazing artists, listened and just soaked in the experience.
Today’s coffee moment reminds me of my mission/vision…for God’s spirit to reach, help, heal others through my paintings, copying the Master’s creation to share His glory. I have so many seeds, ideas percolating, just not enough time to work on them as I still work full-time. Taking baby steps on the bridge of transition.
Thank you for sharing and for all you do.
THANK YOU! for your words of wisdom and advice.
I would have loved to take part in Watercolour Live, but with the difference between the Canadian and US dollars, it was impossible for me… I’m so glad it worked out well and I enjoy watching your Artschool and YouTube videos. They are really helpful. Thank you for your service, Eric.
So, how about omitting the last bit of your newsletters: “Who is this guy… “
…..forgot to mention in my post, above, that the most amazing thing about going to Church, this morning, Eric, was that our pastor’s sermon was on…….humility……and having a servant’s heart!! HOLY TAMALE!! Your message and his mirrored each other’s!! A sign for you that you are on the right track, as I take it.
P.S. Please excuse any grammar goofs or typos. My head is still whirling with wonderfulness from WCL 23!! Wahoo……what a ride!!
There are no words, Eric, that can possibly tell you how this coffee message has impacted me. It started with praying for direction as an artist and I kept getting “be still”. This past week I have been getting direction and today was the icing on the cake. Thank you, thank you. I never thought of myself being a servant being an artist but I guess that I am bent that way organizing events ( much smaller scale than you 🙂 ) but still your words have also opened my eyes.
Thank you Eric and staff, I was blown away with this conference! I had debated for 3 years and took the leap as my 79th Birthday Present.
Loved every minute. I don’t think I followed directions correctly, I have lost my code to get back in. My registration e-mail and password don’t get me replay of demos only cocktail nights. plus 2023 sign up video. I need 2023 replays so I can paint and the 2024 videos for signing up within 1hr of sign up.
Thank you, can’t wait till 2024. in mean time painting painting.
Sorry for my typos having trouble with eyes from all the screen time and our bright snow.
So beautiful what you said about the Bible and everything about having a servant’s heart. When you get glowing praise from us, Eric, it is our joy bouncing and reflecting back to you!! I praise God all the more for you and your mission because your “YES!”, committed, and without holding back, has truly changed my life……within this wonderful Art tribe that you have enabled and inspired to amass, but also personally – knowing you and benefitting from that beyond measure!! Now, let me tell you about my totally amazing morning, please! Went to church and was talking to a new friend and somehow it came up that I am an artist. She looked at me, dazed, and she asked, “You don’t do watercolors, do you?” Why yes, I do and just finished this incredible 4-0ay event called Watercolor Live!! She immediately blurted out, “There’s something I need you to paint for me – Lemons!!” Now, she is in the middle of a family loss and the way she talked about these lemons was like they mean something special to her. She is very involved in our church and I suspect that there is some kind of message in yes, lemons, for her. They represent life to her, she said, wonderful, glowing, sunshine-filled LIFE! I immediately felt that I can help her to help others by painting her some lemons! Something felt……not explained in the usual vocabulary of the world. So I already have a commission, just that fast!! Our Creator works in the most AMAZING ways, does He not?? God bless you, your remarkable team, and all of us artists who go out into the world to bring beauty and grace as is given to us. Love……
I liked really enjoyed this post, Eric. Thank you. I live alone and sometimes get very much in my own head about what is important, what I should be doing with my spare time, etc. It can feel really self indulgent and sometimes it’s easy to sit on the sofa and watch ridiculous TV or get lost in the “ cesspool” of social media. However, that’s where I found you so don’t k ow it too much! I’ve been an artist all my life but am newish to Plein air. I traveled to England last summer with Suzie Baker having no real idea who she was ( lucky me.. I figured it out!) . My point is, what started as a “hey, wouldn’t it be cool to go to the Costswolds with this woman since I don’t really have anyone to travel with” turned into a new passion for Plein air and has stepped up my painting game in a big way. I also discovered a local Plein air group (I live near Seattle), attended a class they offered with Aaron Shuerr ( amazing!) and honestly think I have found my peeps! I have already signed up for scheduled paint outs and hope to participate and even maybe lead some events. My profession is marketing so maybe I can even help them in that way. Wish I had time for convention in Denver but already have a trip to France planned with another painting group. Will for sure do the online thing in March. Anyway..all this to say, thanks for what you do and your commitment to serve. You inspired another one!
You truly are an inspiration. I teach one day a week in my studio and I am so gratified to see the growth in my students. I share my struggles with them too and they have told how they appreciate it to see my mistakes or struggles and how I overcome them. I have taken bits and pieces from many of the artists you promote and used that information to inform or illustrate to my students what I am talking about.Thank you so much for all you do.
I enjoy the article…it stirs and encourages oneself!
Beautiful Eric, you not only serve but you minister to those who listen. Thank you for your inspiration!😘😘
Wonderful Article… heart warming! I look forward to your post every Sunday. Only GOOD news!
Thank you, Eric, I look forward to seeing your new articles every Sunday. I am in FL. for the winter, and I am looking forward to going back to Maine for 5 months in the Spring and Summer to show my watercolors of Maine scenery. I have been painting and doing artwork for 30 years, showing in many Art Festivals and Galleries. I spent many hours working in my art studio and also enjoy doing creative artwork in mixed media. It is Patience, Practice, and Persistence. It is a wonderful way you relate to others around you. Ellie Carbone My website is www. artspam.com elliecarbone.com
Excellent. Yes … we need to live for
J esus
O thers
Y ou
THAT is where JOY is. 🙂
Oh Wow! You hit the nail on the head with this one. I also teach art (drawing, painting and mixed media classes) in my community. I don’t’ do it for the money, but for the love of sharing my expertise and encouraging those that want to learn but don’t know how to do it on their own. Many of my students are retired seniors, looking for enrichment, a creative outlet, and social interaction in their lives. Recently I had a student who never painted before, but dreamed that he completed a beautiful painting. The next morning he told his wife that he wanted to sign up for a painting class. They came to my class together, and his first painting was actually pretty good and he was very proud of his success. (Actually both of them did really well). It’s moments like these when I realize my true calling as an artist and a teacher. My own art is my passion, and it’s great when I sell something, but for me, that’s not what it’s all about. It’s my ability to pass on what I’ve learned to others. Thanks Eric, for sharing your personal story. Congratulations to you and your team on a successful event.
PS. Yesterday I gave my 4 year old grand-daughter her first painting lesson. She loved it, and went home with 3 paintings, all smiles and telling her parents she was going to grow up to be an artist like her Nana. Now that’s what teaching is all about!!!
Good morning Eric,
I am about speechless after reading this Sunday Coffee. Everything you wrote is filled with truth and wisdom. To serve Is the highest honor we can enjoy as humans. Many have this backwards. I am ever so thankful to the Lord that you did change your perspective, which in turn changed your actions. My life is changing for the best, due in part by your shifted perspective. I only hope I can also shift others perspectives to help them live their best lives ever.
Many thanks always,
Frances
Thanks Eric….this was a timely Sunday boost. I have not painted watercolor probably since I was a child and one of you seminar/artist spotlights was so exciting that I joined Watercolor Live….I am a traditional oil painter who is just dipping my toe in the Plein Air scene and now can not wait to dive into watercolor. So yes your selling is very important! I look forward to playing around with the watercolors buried in those art subscription boxes I have unopened…lol
DEAR MR. RHOADS,
Thank you for your service to others and this encouraging message. I have always painted positive landscapes with nature’s beauty all around. I was doing it because, Like the pioneer masters in art, who painted to show people the beautiful places all over the world, I want to share that instead of sad, depressing, paintings( Although there are times that I have wanted to show the scream in my head over wrong doings in the world) I want to lift the viewer of my paintings up. I have not painted anything substantial in over 3 years, since we had 3 great losses in our family. Your encouragement is truly helping me. I may donate a painting to the new cancer center that is being built in our town. I also have a friend who is going through chemo as well. See my mind is already going a mile a minute because u ou planted this seed.
Thank you again and may you be blessed the way you bless so many others,
Sincerely Lori Collins
EXCELLENT ARTICLE…THANKS FOR SHARING THIS ALL WITH US…. GLAD IT WAS SUCH A SUCCESS.
I thought this was about art. Religion is private. I’d no more share this with you than remove my pants on stage. Aspects of christianity belong to all of humanity. Giving, serving, and meditation can be discussed w/out bringing our gods into it.
Thank you for your encouragement and enlightenment for the people undecided through selling=serving efforts.
I sometimes wish I lived in the States, because the artists overthere have so much offered to them.
They have stores with everthing you need to buy for your art, like watercolour paper, paints, brushes, dvd’s, books etc. Then they also have so many instructors across the country to teach and present workshops etc. What a privilege!!!
I live in the very south of South Africa. our country is much smaller than the States and we dont have what we were used to…. For instance our Postal Service has fallen apart . We have a few art suppliers but almost everthing is imported which results in VERY high prices etc etc.
Reading your Bible in the morning before everything else is a great way to start your day! I agree!
Hey Eric! Servent Leadership is the only.path! Keep up the good work and enjoy your success.
Thank you, Eric, for the splendid Watercolor Alive online conference! I deeply appreciate the care and hard work you and your team put into to it.
I will study and utilize much new information that I’ve gleaned from the outstanding instructors. You are a gift to the world and you’re making a difference in many lives.
All the best to you,
Mary
An acquaintance recently said: “I believe in eating the donut, since I might not be alive tomorrow.” to which I replied “Maybe only eat half the donut, in case you are alive tomorrow.” I suggest things don’t always have to be All or Nothing. I agree with you 100% regarding selfless acts, I wonder sometimes how many charitable contributions are negated in the Karma pool by folks making sure they are ‘tax deductible’ – another small savings that ends up being a big loss. xoxo Viktoria Sikora
Tip top Team. I enjoyed this read today. Life into light metamorphosis.
Thank you, Eric. Every Sunday morning I look forward to your posts. They are cathartic, inspiring and so often bring on that “aha!” moment.
Thank you Eric-you inspire us not just to paint-but to be better humans.🙏🏻