Creative Business Real Talk

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN A CLIENT REFUSES TO PAY YOU? “Looking back, the money was not that big a deal. It was the mental anguish that was the most painful part.” - Shinah Today, I’m telling the dramatic story of how I worked my butt off as a new calligraphy business owner… and an unscrupulous client took advantage of my naïveté and REFUSED TO PAY ME.  The FOUR CRUCIAL LESSONS I learned from the whole,...

Calligraphy Business Model Options “Most beginner creative business owners spend all their time trying to increase followers without understanding WHY” - Shinah Come get an inside peek at the overall STRATEGY I’m thinking through for my calligraphy business. If you’re a new or growing calligraphy business owner, and you’re not sure if you’re spending your time in the right way… this will help you...

“I’m thrilled with our sales results, even though they're lower than we're used to... and here' s why” - Shinah If you’re interested in the true behind-the-scenes of “big” business results… this episode is for you.  I chat openly and honestly about:  The RESULTS (in real dollars) of our recent sale of calligraphy courses - the first real launch we’ve done in over a year.  The big le...

“YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS NEEDS TO SEE THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING IT… BEFORE YOU CAN GO FOR IT!” - SHINAH Today, I’m bringing you something different.  FOUR SUPER-RELATABLE STORIES of women who started as calligraphy beginners, and are now Calligraphy Professionals.  All four purchased the Pro Calligrapher Bundle in April 2022 and have already booked their first clients and are actively growing their bu...

“Focus on these two core things, and don’t let the rest of the business details bog you down” - Shinah In today’s episode, I’m breaking down exactly how to launch your CALLIGRAPHY STARTER BUSINESS.  It’s easier than you think, and will get you crucial learning and skills to continue building.  First, I bust the MYTH that you have to have everything figured out and polished-up before launching your...

“You can sell your calligraphy without having an official business - but you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons” - Shinah If you’ve ever dreamed of selling your calligraphy to make some extra cash, but you don’t want the hassle of a full-on, official business, this super practical episode will help you weigh the pros and cons.  How the IRS defines hobby v. business for tax purposes The PROs and CO...

“The goal is not to get a place where everything is zen. But, to reach acceptance that life is hard and that is beautifully ok.” - Shinah It’s been TWO MONTHS since I came back to my calligraphy business, determined to run it with more freedom and experimentation and joy.  Many of you might have been  (rightly) wondering, “But don’t you still have to make money somehow?” And that, my friends, has...

As a creative entrepreneur, what do you do when you launch a product or offering... and the SALES DON'T COME IN?? After 7 years of entrepreneurship, as a professional calligrapher then as a calligraphy teacher, I've run into this situation once or twice... and it just happened AGAIN, with a new training I recently launched.  I share three important lessons that helped me keep going, and...

The demand for calligraphy workshops (and people to teach them!) is alive and well.  I’ve heard from SO many of you that you’re itching to host your own workshops- but paralyzed at the laundry list of to do’s that forms even before signing up your first attendee. I want more of you to feel EMPOWERED to teach your own classes!! So in this week’s episode, I’m breaking down my own experience teaching...

“Who do you need to be in order to make a million dollars?” When you’re starting a creative business, it’s the latter part that’s the real hang up. You’ve found your creative passion, but then you get stuck on the actual business part of it… I recently offered 12 creative entrepreneurs a free coaching session to help them work through their business hang ups. Through each session, I found a common...

“If you’re curious if someone can totally disappear from their business for 9 months, and then come back and still sell stuff right out of the gate… here’s your answer...” It’s been a little over a month since I’ve made my official return to social media and my calligraphy business. There’s been a whole lot of good, a little bad, and even some ugly moments during this ‘Radical Biz Experiment’ I la...

Join me in part 2 of "My Major F*Up", where I share one of my BIGGEST f*ups in my creative business to date 🤦🏻‍♀️ I posted Crooked Calligraphy's "worst review of all time" that one of our calligraphy students left in our “Student Survey” that we ask all our students to complete at the end of the course. I thought that if I blurred out the reviewer’s name enough to make i...

Join me for this 2-part saga where I do something new and bold and scary and vulnerable.... and find out I royally f*cked up while doing it and hurt a couple people. In PART 1 I talk about how I shared the WORST (but most valuable), 1-Star review our Modern Calligraphy 101 course has ever gotten in 6 years and 4,500 students. And the three reasons why I did it: 1) To be more TRANSPARENT in my mark...

After 8 years of working with a life coach, quitting a lucrative law job to build up a million-dollar calligraphy business, and then taking a huge, risky break from that business…  I think I’ve finally figured out the BEST WAY to make DECISIONS for myself.   …And it’s not “trust your feelings” or “what does your body tell you?” Because here’s something I’ve learned: a decision that is absolutely r...

Today I answer YOUR questions about the 9 month break that I took from my business, Crooked Calligraphy.  What did the day-to-day look like? What creative projects did I do? How was my wedding? Was it hard to actually relax and do nothing? How did I prepare myself financially? Listen in for my honest, unscripted answers. PLUS - I'm opening up my calligraphy courses one last time with personal...

An impromptu start to Season 2 of the Shinah Show. I'm back from a 9-month break from my calligraphy business... and I want to do things differently this time around. More informal, organic and off-the-cuff. Tune in to hear more about my Radical Business Experiment of 2023 and how I'm approaching Instagram differently these days. I also explain why I'm giving myself a 5 out of 10 fo...

“I need to take some time to really get clear and think through how I want my life to look, because I don’t want it to look like just another version of that law job that I left.” - Shinah I have a big announcement and I’m just going to come right out and say it: the second season of The Shinah Show will be postponed until further notice. After the finale of Season 1, I’ve done some reevaluating…...

“Even if you don’t think you’re good at networking… you can do it in a more genuine way, and that is by really sincerely wanting to help.” - Shinah This is the final remix episode of 2021 — and this remix is all about how to land your first clients in your creative business, whether this is your side hustle or your dream career. If you’re ready to start selling, I recommend you grab a pen! I’ve be...

“To actually launch your creative business… this is a process. It takes small steps. You have to take really tiny steps in order to get anywhere and do anything big.” - Shinah Remix month marches on! In the first two remix episodes of 2021, I covered how to identify and overcome the things that hold you back from chasing your dreams. In Remix #3, I dig into some practical tips for launching your o...

“If you’re looking to make a change in your life or start to build something, it’s okay if you don’t have the exact ‘how’ or if you don’t know the exact way that you’re going to get there.” - Shinah December is the month of the remix! As I take some time to recharge for Season 2, I’m releasing a 4-episode remix series with the most impactful insights, stories, and tips from the last 35 episodes! I...

“How do you get over all of the doubts and all of the objections and just do the d*mn thing?” - Shinah You might be a little surprised to see this episode — yes, last week’s episode WAS the season finale of Season 1 of The Shinah Show. I’ve had such an amazing time creating this first season and am so grateful for all of the subscribers, reviews, five-star ratings, and support that I’ve received o...

“This illusion that we have time… that is what keeps us stuck in the safe place, when really we want to step into the brave place.” - Shinah This is the final episode of the first season of The Shinah Show. What better time to share the #1 most important lesson that I’ve learned in my life? This is a valuable and devastating lesson that I had to learn through lived experience — an experience that...

“If new calligraphers are entering the market all the time, and thousands have come in and succeeded in various ways... why can’t you?” - Shinah This episode of The Shinah Show was inspired by a real conversation in my Instagram DMs. In it, I debunk one of the biggest myths out there about selling calligraphy services and products. Through my classes, I’ve helped many people fall in love with the...

“You put good things out into the world, true, honest, beautiful things… and you’re not exactly sure what the return will be. And a lot of times, things beyond your wildest imagination can happen!” - Shinah What if one single, solitary thank you card could change the course of your ENTIRE business? Sounds like a creative writing prompt, right? Well, it happened to me. If you’ve listened for a whil...

“The more you put yourself out there… the more you’re going to get some negativity back.” - Shinah This episode of The Shinah Show is dedicated to all the haters. Yes, really. Because even if it isn’t their intention, their negativity can actually have some pretty amazing benefits! Here’s the thing: your creativity isn’t for everyone — and it shouldn’t be! The truth is that you will need to repel...