Sunday ☕ : Noise and Silence

The rhythmic hum of Manhattan traffic invaded my dreams before I even opened my eyes. Construction jackhammers pounded in perfect disharmony with taxi horns and the constant murmur of 8 million souls moving through their day. The smell of street vendor pretzels and coffee wafted through my cracked hotel window, along with that distinct perfume that is uniquely New York — a blend of ambition, exhaust, and possibility. My brain struggled to reconcile these sensations with my expectations of birdsong and Hill Country morning dew. Then reality crystallized: I wasn’t in Texas anymore. I was smack in the middle of Manhattan, having flown in for a quick speech at the American Watercolor Society Banquet.

Business Trip Transformation

Before having kids, business trips were personal adventures. I’d add extra days to explore, discover, and soak in new experiences. But somewhere along the way, I developed the habit of treating trips like surgical strikes — get in, do the job, get out. This time, though, I managed a small victory: visiting the new Sargent exhibition at the Met before rushing to the airport. And I even allowed myself the luxury of an afternoon flight rather than my usual pre-dawn scramble.

Time Management Magic

People often apologize for “taking my time,” assuming I’m perpetually overwhelmed by my hectic schedule. The truth? I don't feel busy. There's wisdom in that old saying about giving tasks to busy people if you want them completed efficiently. I’ve learned that work expands to fill available time —- give me an hour for a task, I’ll finish in an hour; give me four days, and somehow it takes all four days.

Deadline-Driven Success

Before this New York trip, I had several projects with looming deadlines that I’d postponed until the final day. Then came the inevitable minor emergencies, leaving just three hours to complete everything. Somehow, magically, it all got done. The principle about filling available time truly holds water.

Goals Require Speed

As a young businessman, I once heard billionaire W. Clement Stone speak about goal-setting. Instead of placing targets years into the future, his mantra was simple: “Do it now.” Most goals can be accomplished rapidly if you engage your brain. The busiest person I know, Elon Musk, runs several companies as an active CEO — not just an investor, but the person setting agendas and driving execution. He recently noted that any project with a long timeline is fundamentally flawed. His approach? Shorten everything.

Question Your Timelines

What are you currently dragging out that could be completed now? I know, you’re convinced you need all that time. So am I ... until I ask myself: “If I had to get this done in 10 days instead of 10 months, what would I do differently? What would need to happen?”

Speed Creates Success

Most of us take too long to accomplish things. When you set audacious goals with compressed timelines, people get uncomfortable and list all the reasons it can’t happen. Yet impossible achievements occur every day. The key lies in eliminating unnecessary steps, dreaming big, and embracing speed.

Acceleration Beats Stagnation

There used to be a driving-safety campaign called “Speed Kills,” but in life and business, slowness is the real killer. Recently, when AI program DeepSeek suddenly surpassed competitors, Elon Musk didn't accept second place. He gathered his team and gave them two weeks to make Grok 3 demonstrably superior. Sleep became optional. The result? A breakthrough that catapulted them ahead. Sometimes speed truly matters.

Life's Ticking Clock

One day, you’ll wake up after a long career, having believed time was abundant, only to realize the countdown is accelerating. All those things you wanted to accomplish might never happen. You face two choices: accept defeat or shift into overdrive.

Thirty-Year Vision

Imagine you’re 30, with potentially 60 more years ahead. If you adopt speed as a principle, you could accomplish 10 times more and magnify your impact on the world exponentially.
Balance Requires Contrast
Not everything benefits from acceleration. Some experiences deserve slowness — savoring fine wine, celebrating birthdays with your children, enjoying unrushed conversations with friends amid nature's beauty.
Age Versus Mindset
I visited a friend yesterday and met his parents — a very elderly couple confined to rocking chairs, seemingly just waiting for life’s conclusion. I caught myself thinking I hoped never to become so sedentary — then discovered we were the same age. Here I am, planning for 30 more dynamic years, moving quickly, leading teams, launching new ventures, while they’ve chosen a different pace. The leisure-focused life works for some, but not for me.

Purpose Drives Energy

My paramount goal? Extract every drop of juice from life while blessed with good health. It’s not about money — it’s about discovering my limits and maximizing my positive impact. For me, speed matters. What about you?

PS: Slowing Down Strategically. I confess — I do slow down. The secret to sustained speed is shifting into low gear periodically. I work incredibly hard and fast for months, then carve out specific times for deliberate slowness. Let me share what “slow” looks like in my world (and maybe you'd like to join me).

Life-Changing Adventures. After surviving a near-death experience 20 years ago, I promised myself an annual painting excursion to Europe or somewhere equally magnificent. I’ve missed only a couple due to COVID restrictions.

Elite Travel Experience. Each year, I lead a select group to extraordinary destinations — either touring museums or painting outdoors (sometimes both). We embrace luxury, savor exceptional cuisine, stay in remarkable accommodations, and indulge because we've earned it through our high-velocity lives. The money we’ve saved should fund these memorable experiences.

An Exceptional Switzerland Painting Experience Awaits You.
During last year’s Japan painting trip, I asked travelers about their bucket-list painting destinations. Switzerland dominated the responses — everyone dreamed of capturing the Alps and the quaint storybook villages, and experiencing authentic Switzerland away from tourist centers.

Following in the footsteps of masters like Ferdinand Hodler, whose dramatic Alpine landscapes revolutionized Swiss painting, or Alexandre Calame, who captured the sublime mountain terrain with breathtaking atmospheric effects. Even J.M.W. Turner, John Singer Sargent, the American Albert Bierstadt, and many others were seduced by Switzerland’s majestic vistas, making multiple trips to capture the ethereal qualities of light dancing across glaciers and misty valleys.

This artistic lineage continues with our carefully curated journey through locations that inspired these legends and remain largely undiscovered by typical tourists. Join us October 10-20, 2025 for this once-in-a-lifetime painting adventure that will transform both your art and your spirit. My galleries tell me they can sell scenes from the Swiss Alps all day long.

Lake Como: The Most Beautiful Lake in the World

And speaking of inspiration, we’re adding something extraordinary this year: an extension to Lake Como, widely regarded as the most beautiful lake in the world and playground to the stars. Yes, we’ll paint near George Clooney’s legendary Villa Oleandra (though I can’t promise a celebrity sighting, the landscapes themselves are celebrity enough). The sapphire waters framed by cypress-studded mountains have captivated artists for centuries, from Bellini to Corot. The elegant villas with their terraced gardens cascading to the water’s edge offer composition opportunities that will challenge and delight your artistic sensibilities.

Venetian Finale Option

For those truly seeking to immerse themselves in art history, we’ve arranged an optional finale in Venice (October 20-23, 2025) — the floating city that served as a muse to Canaletto, Turner, Monet, and Sargent. Imagine capturing the play of light across centuries-old facades as they reflect in the Grand Canal, or sketching the iconic gondolas gliding under the Bridge of Sighs. From dawn’s gossamer light to the golden hour when Venice truly becomes a city of amber, you'll understand why this magical place has held artists in its thrall for generations.

Extraordinary Experience Created

Thanks to our extensive research and deep local connections, we’ve crafted an experience that stands apart from ordinary tours. This isn’t about checking boxes or rushing through tourist traps and T-shirt shops — it’s about immersing yourself in locations that speak to your artistic soul. Everything is thoughtfully arranged; you simply arrive, and we handle the rest. From accommodations that celebrate local character to dining experiences at hidden gems known only to insiders, every detail is curated for those who appreciate the exceptional. We've scouted painting locations that capture the essence of these magnificent places — vistas that will challenge and inspire your creative spirit.

For Discerning Artists

Space is extremely limited and, candidly, this journey isn't for everyone. It’s designed for artists who value authentic experiences over tourist conveniences, who appreciate the difference between a generic tour and a thoughtfully crafted artistic pilgrimage. Artists who understand this is different from just taking the train to Switzerland and trying to figure out where to paint. This is for plein air painters (or those who want to be) who believe they deserve extraordinary experiences and seek the finest painting opportunities on earth.
Our Switzerland adventure is filling rapidly — we’ll close registration in less than a month. If this resonates with you, I invite you to apply at pleinairswitzerland.com and join our community of artists who understand that life's most meaningful moments often happen with a brush in hand.

Exclusive Retreat Opportunities.

My other deceleration periods center around three annual retreats — each offering a week of painting with friends. Daily creative sessions, carefully selected locations, and deep bonds formed. Here are the next three:

Paint Adirondacks Publisher’s Invitational – A week of painting in a protected New York state park that could fit the three largest national parks within its borders. www.paintadirondacks.com June 7-14, 2025

Fall Color Week Publisher’s Invitational in Door County, Wisconsin — Experience the spectacular autumn transformation in one of America’s most picturesque peninsulas, with stunning fall color. It’s the “Cape Cod of the Midwest” on Lake Michigan, and almost unknown to the rest of America. People are blown away when they see it. www.fallcolorweek.com Sept. 28-October 5, 2025

Winter Art Escape in Hilton Head — Escape the cold while creating coastal masterpieces in this stunning South Carolina paradise. While everyone is battling the winter snow, you and I will be painting in the sunshine. www.winterartescape.com February 6-13, 2026

Join our community of artists who understand that sometimes slowing down is the fastest way to grow.

Who Is This Guy Eric Rhoads?

Eric Rhoads is the founder and publisher of PleinAir Magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine (both on newsstands nationally), author and host of six Art Marketing instruction videos, writes a blog on Art Marketing, and is the author of the Amazon bestseller Make More Money Selling Your Art. Additionally, he produces the weekly e-newsletters American Watercolor, Fine Art Today, Inside Art, PaintTube ArtNotes, Pastel Today, Plein Air Today, and Realism Today. Eric hosts the in-person Plein Air Convention & Expo, the Fine Art Trip for art collectors, and painting retreats including Paint Adirondacks, Fall Color Week, and the Winter Art Escape, as well as online virtual events Acrylic Live, Pastel Live, PleinAir Live, Realism Live, and Watercolor Live. He is also the producer of the PleinAir Salon Online Art Competition and art instructional courses through PaintTube.tv. Each weekday Eric hosts Art School Live, a YouTube show featuring free demos from a variety of artists, and he is host of the PleinAir Podcast and Art Marketing Minute Podcast. Eric is a plein air, landscape, and portrait painter with works at Castle Gallery. He is heavily involved in the radio industry as founder of Radio Ink Magazine as well as Radio + Television Business Report, the Radio Forecast Conference, and the Hispanic Radio Conference. He is the author of the bestselling book Blast from the Past: A Pictorial History of Radio’s First 75 Years. Eric lives in Austin, Texas, with his bride, Laurie, and they are the parents of triplets. Learn more at EricRhoads.com, or see Everything We Do.