Have you ever seen a client, family member, or friend make heavy weather out of something and wonder why on earth they’re making things so darn complicated? I mean, from where you’re sitting, things look pretty straightforward! Now, let me ask you this. Have you been that person? I know I have! For me, making things more complicated than they need to be manifests in a few ways. It often presents as a sense of urgency (entirely of my own…
At the beginning of this month – aka lifetime ago – March’s content calendar theme was sales. It’s a topic I love to talk about (because I know so many people feel weird about it….so much opportunity for transformation!). But as the news worsened, I felt a blog about sales would be tone deaf, so I wrote a post on staying positive during uncertain times. But just as the crisis shifts every day, so does my instinct about the support…
I was at a BBQ the other day when the host, a wonderful woman who’s the same age as me, jokingly said, “Oh, it’s all just downhill for us now.” She was talking to the wrong person! (The person who, by the way, had her second baby at 44 years old). “Not me!” I said. “I’ve decided I’m peaking, and things are just getting better from here on in.” She laughed and agreed that was a much better plan. Have…
Do you remember the moment you decided to go out on your own? I do. And it was terrifying. I was 35 years old, in a relationship that, instead of heading towards marriage and babies, was in its final death-spiral and coming to the realization that I’d gone as far as I could in my job as a creative rep. I was settling for a small life that I didn’t want and knew I had to do something drastic; to…
Do you remember the days when clients paid top-dollar for branding and design services? I do! Wasn’t it great? We all knew the rules of engagement and it was simply a matter of connecting the right client with the qualified creative professional or team and boom. Problem solved. But things have changed, right? With new technologies developing at a dizzying rate and clients having options that are faster and cheaper than ever before, the new landscape can feel confounding, challenging,…
I’ve always loved September. There’s a new energy in the air and everything feels creative and active after the more mellow days of summer. But with that new energy comes a call to take action. A call to stop ignoring the things you hoped might get better (or magically go away), to finally get that big idea out of your head and into the world, or start a new chapter in your life or business I know I’m feeling that…
If you’re in business, there’s always one thing that’s top of mind: Whether you’re starting out and need to get your first few clients, or are re-positioning your existing business to attract higher-quality, better paying clients, the goal of keeping your pipeline full is always the same. So, how do you find and keep great clients? After 15+ years getting new clients as a rep for independent creative professionals, and 7 years building my coaching practice, I’ve learned that business…
Over the course of a 20-year career working with creative professionals and business owners, I’ve learned there are two things you gorgeous people absolutely need to feel fulfilled and successful: Doing work that has meaning, with clients who share your values and pay what you’re worth Building a business or career that supports the life you want for yourself and your family Does that sound about right? I’ve yet to meet a creative who doesn’t want these things, but I’ve…
This month’s theme is Emotion, and boy, is it delivering! Following my last newsletter, I heard that many of you have been experiencing some ups and downs. Hang in there, you’ll hit a whole new wave soon! Which got me to thinking about strategies I use to keep uncertainty (and its trusty companion, fear) at bay. I came up with 3 antidotes: Curiosity Learning Community Here’s why; when I feel engaged and excited, the pesky ups and downs of business…
Have you ever seen this illustration? It makes me laugh every time because it’s SO true. Just this week I had lunch with my friend Prescott Perez Fox, designer and founder of The Busy Creator podcast. During our chat about all things business, he summed the ups and downs of freelancing perfectly; when you’re on top, you can work for hours with laser-like focus, happily in your creative zone, and all is well with the world. But when you’re down,…
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