Plan projects in your brain, not only on your table.
The more time you take for planning, inspiration collection, planning your paintjob colorwise and light situation wise, the more your brain works before you actual start the work the easier your paintjob will flow and you will not get lost in a labyrinth of painting by numbers. Learn to see your vision in all aspects and figure projects will paint themselves.

Know the music that inspires you.
One day I want to hear this live
- bucket list entry added :)