I finally did it.
After more than ten years of talking about it...
I painted a giant palm tree mural on the side of my beach home.
The largest tree is over six feet tall, the wall is almost seven feet wide, and because it's painted on rough stucco, every brushstroke became its own little adventure.
It took me about sixteen hours of painting, not counting the many trips to the paint store.
And yes...there are apparently about 170 shades of white. Who knew?
As you can see from the photos, Angel faithfully supervised the entire project. I think she believed her primary responsibility was making sure I took enough breaks.
Why This Mattered So Much
Many years ago I owned a mural painting company.
We painted corporate offices, restaurants, dental offices, chiropractic clinics, and businesses all over the place.
I sold the projects, managed the clients, and quite often, ended up painting many of them myself because reliable artists were surprisingly difficult to find.
Eventually I decided that running the business and doing the artwork was simply too much for one person, so I moved on to other adventures but one dream quietly stayed with me.
Ever since I bought my beach house over ten years ago, I wanted palm trees painted on one particular wall.
Every year I'd think "One of these days..."
Sound familiar?
Finally, I decided there would be no more anniversaries of not doing something I truly wanted to do.
Here's What Surprised Me
I was rusty.
Really rusty.
The wall looked enormous. I wondered if I still remembered how to paint something that large.
I questioned whether I could get the proportions right.
In other words, I had exactly the same fears most of us have whenever we try something new.
Or something old that we haven't done in a long time.
Here's The Formula That Helped Me Get Started
1. I saw the finished picture first.
Before I picked up a paintbrush, I collected pictures of palm trees and visualized exactly how I wanted the finished mural to look.
Everything worthwhile begins with a vision.
2. I prepared before I performed.
I researched exterior paints that would work on rough stucco.
I tested colors.
I gathered every supply before I started. Preparation builds confidence.
3. I made it easy to experiment.
Instead of jumping straight to paint, I used colored chalk to sketch the trees.
If I didn't like something...
Out came the garden hose. No harm done.
Sometimes we forget that not every first draft has to be permanent.
4. I created an insurance policy.
This may have been my favorite strategy.
I bought enough paint to completely repaint the wall if the mural turned into a disaster.
Knowing I had a backup plan removed almost all of the pressure.
Sometimes courage isn't the absence of fear.
Sometimes courage is simply knowing you've prepared for the worst.
5. I asked for help.
Here's something new.
I actually partnered with ChatGPT.
I uploaded my ideas, explained the dimensions of the wall, the rough stucco surface, and the style I wanted.
Together we worked through proportions, placement, colors, and layout ideas.
Technology didn't replace my creativity, it expanded it!
That was a wonderful surprise.
6. I picked the right day.
I watched the weather.
Cleared my calendar.
Set up my ladders, stools, brushes, and paint.
Then, I simply started.
Waiting until you "feel ready" is often another form of procrastination.
7. I embraced imperfection.
Real palm trees don't have identical rings.
Every palm frond isn't perfectly symmetrical.
Nature isn't perfect. It's beautifully authentic.
The mural became far more interesting because I stopped trying to make everything identical.
8. I knew when to quit.
This may sound strange but I intentionally stopped before I thought I was completely finished.
Artists often ruin perfectly good work by trying to make it perfect.
Sometimes done really is better than perfect.
Here's What I Learned
Over the years whenever I complete a big creative project something shifts inside me.
My imagination wakes up.
New ideas begin showing up.
Writing becomes easier.
Book ideas start flowing.
It's as though creativity says:
"Oh...we're creating again. Wonderful. I've been waiting."
That's exactly why I often tackle a big art project before beginning a new book. It jump-starts my creative engine.
Maybe your version isn't painting.
Maybe it's gardening.
Photography.
Woodworking.
Cooking.
Playing the piano.
Learning pottery.
Writing poetry.
The activity doesn't matter!
What matters is giving your creative spirit permission to come back out and play.
Because creativity is like a muscle.
The more you use it the stronger it becomes.
My Challenge To You
What's something you've been saying you'll do for years?
Maybe it's time to stop talking about it.
Stop waiting.
Stop wondering if you're ready.
Start gathering your supplies.
Create a simple plan.
Take one small step.
Then another.
You might discover that the hardest part wasn't the project. It was simply beginning.
Life is short.
Paint the mural.
Write the book.
Plant the garden.
Learn the instrument.
Take the trip.
Your creative spirit has been patiently waiting for you.
Maybe today is the perfect day to invite it back.
Need A Little Help Finding Your Next Chapter?
Sometimes the biggest challenge isn't knowing how to move forward, it's getting clear on where you want to go.
If you're feeling stuck, going through a life or business transition, or simply know you're capable of something more, I'd love to help.
My private VIP Vision Quest Day gives us an uninterrupted day together to help you gain clarity, solve challenges, and create a practical roadmap for what's next.
If a full VIP day isn't the right fit, I also offer private one-on-one coaching designed around your specific goals and situation.
Sometimes one conversation can change the direction of your life.
I'd be honored to help you discover what's possible.
Success really is an inside job,
Lee Milteer
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