Are you a people pleaser, a workhorse, a doer of all the things? You’re not alone. One of the biggest challenges I see creative business owners struggle with (and I put myself in this category too) is trying to do too many things for too many people. We want to help our clients. We tell ourselves that just because we can do the things they’re asking for, we should. We want to say Yes. Saying Yes to all the things…
As an entrepreneur you’ve most likely been advised to think big, go big or go home, or set BHAG’s, aka Big Audacious Hairy Goals (that one always sounds a bit gross to me!). I’m as guilty as the next person of falling for the allure of a big audacious goal. After all, outrageous goals, big ideas, and splashy action just sounds sexy and entrepreneurial, don’t they? Consistent action and incremental progress don’t have quite the same ring to them. And…
Hands up if you’ve ever believed your peers are further along/more organized/more successful/generally better than you. 🙋♀️ I’m willing to bet nearly all of you have your hand up. I know I do! Whether we’re talking about your perception of yourself as an entrepreneur, a creative, a parent, a friend, etc. we all have a tendency to believe everyone else has their act together, while we consistently flounder. “Don’t compare your insides to someone else’s outside.” -Rob Lowe Which is…
Do you have something you absolutely love and hate about yourself? I can think of a few things, but the one that creates a lot of dissonance for me is my tendency and ability to plan. It’s a blessing and a curse. On the positive side, I can be relied upon to be as prepared as possible in any given situation. From packing for a family vacation, to coaching a client, or giving a keynote talk, you can bet your…
If you’ve ever attended an inspiring conference, event, or talk, I’m willing to bet you’ve experienced the post-event paradox of feeling simultaneously inspired/raring to go and utterly overwhelmed/paralyzed. Am I right? On the one hand, you’ve had an incredible amount of top-level information poured into your brain. On the other, you’ve had an incredible amount of top-level information poured into your brain! You see the problem? It’s too much. This paradox was precisely what I wanted to talk about in…
Have you ever felt like building a profitable and purposeful creative business is a lonely, uphill struggle? I know I have. I’ve also known the joy of feeling fully seen, heard, and supported by peers, professionals, and community members as I navigate uncharted (and often scary) professional and personal territory. We ALL need people who – unencumbered by the personal baggage and demons we carry – are able to see our vision and are willing to hold space for it…
If you’ve been hanging out with me for a while, you’ll know I can pretty much tie any life experience to entrepreneurship. And this post is no different. 😂 This one was fun to write because it has ALL the elements of a messy human experience: ego, growth mindset, grit, and resilience. The (literal) vehicle for this experience? Roller skates! It all started a couple of months ago when I COVID-purchased (aka impulse bought in an attempt to reduce stress…
As a business owner, mum, and someone who likes to be liked, I have been known to say “yes” to things I don’t have the capacity for, I’m not the right person for, or just don’t want to do. Maybe you have too. Perhaps it’s offering to take on a project you know will mean burning the midnight oil. Perhaps it’s clients who regularly haggle on price or scope creep. Or maybe it’s agreeing to host the baby shower or…
Perhaps you have some great clients who agree to your fees, respect your time, and love the results you deliver (we love those ones!). Or, maybe you have clients you love, but can’t really afford you and consistently push back against your rates (that one’s a bit tougher). And you probably have had the awful clients that nickel and dime you, torture you every step of the way, and are never happy (I give you full permission to let those…
Have you ever had a project or client relationship careen off the tracks through no discernible fault of your own, leaving you feeling hurt, confused, and doubting yourself? I know I have. What I’ve learned from it all is relationships or projects only go sideways when an expectation goes unmet. That’s it! And guess what – boundaries are a great way to communicate and establish expectations – ensuring everyone knows where they stand, what’s expected of them, and how to…
free!
PROFITABLE BY DESIGN:
The 7-Part Actionable Framework to Help Creative Entrepreneurs & Freelancers Consistently Land High-Quality Clients
free guide!free guide!free guide!