Limitless Funds

I have been struggling with my business this month. I am finding it challenging to get my day started, get motivated to work on any of my projects, and investing the time needed to finish up my everyday work.

There are so many things in my business that I wish I did not have to do. If I could get up each day and do a little blogging, creative projects, and design jewelry, I would be one happy lady.

What if you had limitless funds, how would you change your business?

I know I would hire people to do all those things I don't really enjoy, such as accounting, social media updates, and general business projects. This will leave me time to do what I enjoy, and knowing that my business will still keep growing and profiting.

For now I just have to keep myself motivated and put in the time necessary for my business to grow. I have decided to use this idea as motivation to get myself back on track. Tomorrow is a new month and its time to put my plan into action!

What about you, what would you do for your business with limitless funds?

Creative Gatherings

There are times when you need an inspirational boost. Being around other creative people is a great way to get motivated and inspired.

A couple of years ago I met with a group of friends that were fellow artists on a regular basis. We tried to meet at least once a month to do an art project and just sit and talk about our current projects.

I created this during one of our gatherings

I miss meeting with them, but I got really busy and it was harder to make the commitment to meet. This year I am going to try to get us all together again and get creative.

Do you ever create with other artists or work in different art mediums?

The best part of meeting as a group is trying different techniques, learning a new medium, and just making the time to do something new.

A paint and paper project

It is easy to start up a group:

• Get together people who are excited about the idea of working in different mediums and creating.

 • Choose the size of your group. It can be as few as 2 - 3 people or a group as large as you have space for.

• Everyone needs to be willing to host a gathering and share an art project.

I was lucky, in my group we had a couple of art teachers and they always had enough supplies for everyone to use. I know that is not the case for everyone. To make it easier for the hostess maybe after each gathering you collect a few dollars for the hostess to get supplies for the next gathering.

This is a paint and chalk project I created

There are so many benefits to participating in this type of group:

~ It stretches your creative muscle
~ Talking with like minded people
~ Motivation to stay creative
~ Help with ideas for a projects you are working on

We can all benefit from working with other artist, and working in different art mediums. As creative business owners we spend a lot of time alone working, and it can be lonely sometimes. Taking a break to meet with fellow artist can be very inspiring and motivating.

Put together a group today!

Do you meet with fellow artist in you area?

Motivation Monday

Think about 12 months from now.

What do you want to boast about then 

that you can start working on now?

Great Work Provocations by Michael Bungay Stanier

Do Something Special For Yourself

Last month I had a big birthday, I turned 50. As a treat to myself I did a spa day with a facial, a manicure, and a hot stone massage. It was wonderful, and I felt so good at the end of the day.

I enjoyed my massage so much that I added getting a massage on my master goal list list for this year, so I can get one every quarter. Now I have a plan on how I can work getting a massage into my budget.

When was the last time you enjoyed a relaxing massage? 

Having a massage is a wonderful way to de-stress and relax, and worth every penny it cost to get one.  What do you have to do so you can budget in a relaxing massage? You may just have to sell three more piece a month, or work it into your budget.

Making time to get a massage will help you get more work done. The more relaxed you are, the easier it will be to work a little harder to achieve your goals.

Is It Time for an Update?

It's a new year, and the perfect time to update your marketing materials.

Last year I changed the look of my business, by using new fonts and colors. After a careful study of my target market I knew my branding needed an update.

This was my first logo

This was what it was updated to in 2009

This is my current logo

This change in my logo and all other marketing materials, really gave my business a fresh new look and now is definitely geared more toward the customers that are buying my designs.

There are so many easy changes you can make to update the look of your business. Start with your fonts and colors these are the two easiest ways to make quick updates.

Here are some resources to get you started on planning out your new look.

Click here for more info on this years choices of Pantones 2014 Spring collection

interesting color combination ideas

Font pairing inspiration

Click here for more info

Click here

Click here 

Pull out all your marketing materials (business cards, tags, notes, brochures, catalogs, sales sheets, etc...) and see what simple changes you can make to update your look. Don't forget to make those changes online (shop, social media banners, blog, etc...) you want your brand to look consistent with fonts and colors across the board.

This is the perfect project for the beginning of the year. Once you have completed your new look, start telling people about it via social media. This is a great way to generate some buzz around your business and encourage new people to check out your brand.

When was the last time you updated your brand?

7 Simple Steps to Become More Disciplined

Achieving our goals requires many factors, but one really important factor, that we don't talk about much, is discipline.

I struggle with this often. Lately it has been challenging to get my day started and to stay on track. I am good about creating a plan and using my to-do list, but once I get ready to start my day I get distracted and deviate from my plan.

Having discipline and sticking to your plan is important to reaching your goals, but can be the difficult to do consistently.

If you struggle with discipline as well, here are 7 ways to develop discipline into your work life.

• Make a personal commitment. Become a do-it now person, doing the things you know you should be doing. 

• Focus on your goals. Review your goals every morning before you start working, this will inspire you to take action.

• Do what you don't want to do first. Block out time in your day for those things you don't enjoy, such as accounting. Getting them out of the way will make the rest of your work, the work you really want to do, more enjoyable.

• Make the decision to get things done in advance. If you have a big project plan it out even before you get out of bed. When you get up add your action steps to your to-do list and start your day with a plan.

• Make it a Routine. For those things you have to take care of daily, weekly, or monthly schedule them for the same day of the week and same time of the day. Knowing they are already on you calendar will make it easier to get them done.

• Get an accountability partner. Do you have someone in your life with a common goal? If so hold each other accountable to get things done.

• Reward yourself. When you do things that require discipline reward yourself for getting them done and for sticking to your plan.

Having discipline in all areas of your life yields many rewards, such as increased productivity, more confidence, and motivation to reach your goals. 

Try a few of these steps for a week and see the difference a little discipline will make in your work life.

Do you feel you are disciplined when it comes to your business?

Motivation Monday

Read For Relaxation

When life starts to get a little crazy, it's important to find time for yourself. Try taking 30 minutes out of your day to relax and enjoy reading a book.

We spend so much time on our computers, pads, and phones, I think people have forgotten all about how it feels to read a book.

I love books, as I have told you before, I am a big fan of the library and the bookstore. Some of my best dates have ended at the bookstore over a cup of tea and a stack of books.

I have a ritual of reading each night before I go to bed. It's my time to just sit and enjoy some peace and quite at the end of my day.

If you take a little time each day for reading you will find that you are more relaxed as you move to your next project. 

If its hard to get some reading in everyday, on your next rainy or snowy weekend pullout one of your favorite books and indulge in an afternoon of lounging and reading.

How often do you get to enjoy reading a good book?

Why are Your Letting Self-Doubt Get in the Way?

Last week I told you that anything is possible if you Believe in yourself. This week we are going to take that one step further and commit to letting go of unhealthy attachments that are holding us back.

For years I never applied to juried shows because I kept telling myself that my photos were not good enough. All I did was take pictures and more pictures, then I realized that I was not getting into shows because I was not applying to any.

One day I just sent in my photos and got in a juried show.  Besides being trilled to be in the show, I finally let go of my unhealthy attachment of not believing in my photos. I kept on working on my photos, and they got better and better, but I also kept applying to shows and getting into most of the shows I applies too.

I realized I was what was holding myself back from my own success.

Are you getting in the way of your own success with self-doubt?

You can't move forward because of the unhealthy attachment to self-doubt, and your need to stay comfortable, safe, and in control. In some cases your attachments to your self-doubt get in the way of making good decisions.

Check our these three links for ideas and suggestions to help you let go of your self-doubt

20 Ways to Overcome Doubts
How to Let Go of Doubt
5 Ways To Overcome Self-Doubt

Once you are willing to let go, in my case the need for everything to be perfect, you will be able to do the things you always dreamed about.

Share this post with your social network.

Why Should Your Customers Buy From YOU?

Without our customers we would not be in business. The people who use their hard earned money to purchase what we create are our ideal customer. When was the last time you thought about why they should buy from you?

Today I have 4 key questions for you to answer about why your customers should be buying from you. You will need to give at least 10 answers to each question, and when your done you will have 40 selling points you can use to market your creative business.

Why should they buy your product / service?

Why should they buy from you?

Why should they buy at your price point?

Why should they buy it now?

When answering the questions, take your time, really think about your customer and why they should not be buying from anyone else, and list everything you can think of. The more you have the better.

Once your list is complete you will have a list of words, phrases, and important points about your business that you can use on your marketing materials (business cards, sales sheets, tags...), websites, in e-mails, and at shows.

We need to remember that good marketing is not about our business. How we present our business should be about what you can do for the customer.

When you channel your inner customer is your business meeting your needs?

Motivation Monday

Find the Edge

We set boundaries for safety.

From fear.

Because of habit.

Test them.

See why you drew them.

Push against them.

Break through them.

Feel the exhilaration.

It's Never Too Late... by Patrick Lindsay

Simplify for Less Stress

Make your home less stressful in 2014. The easiest way to to that is to simplify.

Start by going through each room, and making a list of all the things you do in that room. Next decide the functions of the room and how you could make it simpler and function better. Even if you can only do this in one or two rooms it will reduce your stress when you are in those spaces.

Create creative systems for doing your chores, meal planning, shopping, and dealing with everyday necessities. The easier it is to do those things you have to do everyday the calmer your life will be.

Simplifying is a great way to making your life less stressful, relaxing, and peaceful. 

Click here

Discover a New Talent

I have always enjoyed teaching. As an owner of an art school in my community I had the opportunity to teach kids and adults the fun of making jewelry and exploring their creativity.

Before I started teaching I would have never considered myself a teacher. I really surprised myself when I discovered teaching was really a natural part of who I am.


What talents do you have that you are dismissing?

As artists and creative business owners you already share your talents with your customers, but what other things have you wished you could do or thought about doing, but decide you were to busy or did not have the skill required. These are the things you should be exploring. Don't let limited time or skill hold you back from exploring new talents. 

Create a list of all the things you would like to do, even if they are not related to what you are doing right now. Then choose one of those items to explore this year.

With the start of the new year, it's the prefect time to add to your to-do list the steps necessary to incorporate a new project into your art and business.

Are you fully utilizing your talents?

Change is Possible

It's a new year, and we have new goals and resolutions that we set for ourselves. Did you know there is one key ingredient to achieving your goals and forming new habits.

That ingredient is believing change is possible.

Believing you can have a successful business, take on new tasks, or form a new habit is what will make the difference in starting something and giving up after a couple of months.

Once you envision what you want and start making steps toward achieving it, believing in yourself and your ability is what will make the changes you need for success a permeant part of your lifestyle.

Add in group accountability and your success level rises. Having that group support to help you stick with your goals, will also help new habits form.

The more positive reenforcement you incorporate into your life, the greater chance you have to reaching your goals.

Believe in yourself, and in no time you will be exactly where you want to be in your life.

Are you planning big changes in your business and life in 2014?

Monday Motivation

Embrace Criticism

Turn criticism into a positive.

Seek it out.

Turn it to your advantage:

Ask how you, or your work, can be improved.

View the criticisms dispassionately:

use the good ones,

ignore the poor ones.

Now is the time by Patrick Lindsay

Happy New Year

"Another fresh new year is here...

Another year to live
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest...
To daily grow and try to be
my highest and by best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
and sing more joyful songs!"

By: William Aruthur Ward