Standout Creatives: Business, marketing, and creativity tips for solopreneurs launching their ideas

A recap of episode 77 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with David Smooke  where he talks about taking small incremental steps, the importance of community, and why you shouldn’t hold yourself back.

David Smooke studied economics and creative writing in university because he liked to write and felt economics had real world applications. He believed these two areas of study would be practical skills to have for his career. After graduating, David got a job as a journalist, but felt his creativity was being stifled. He was given assignments, and was given very little leeway in how he could appl...

A recap of episode 76 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Melissa Dinwiddie where she talks about being happy with your self and your work, making time for your goals and creativity, and sharing your work without expectations, among many other things.

Melissa Dinwiddie spent much of her life thinking she wasn't an artist. Even though she loved doing creative things, and her parents encouraged her to become an artist, she still chose to take a different path. She was intimidated by all the people who drew better than her, so she stopped making art for 15 years. Even a stint as a dance student at Julliard, a prestigious performing arts school, di...

A recap of episode 75 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Kerry Burki   where she talks about  letting your younger self guide you, learning to say no, and shifting your mindset, among many other things.

Kerry Burki had an idea simmering in her head ever since high school. She wanted to make all women feel beautiful. This idea sat in her head for years before she would finally unleash it. Kerry's story starts like a lot of our stories. We have a kernel of an idea that sits in our heads. Sometimes we act on it, but more often than not, we let it sit. Then, something pushes us to act on it. Kerry's...

This is a replay of episode 28 with Mike Roy. Mike Roy is an expert on the myths that hold artists back. He has explored, examined, and dissected these ideas, and explains how they hold us back from our true potential. There's a lot we can learn from Mike, so check out our great conversation. --- Mike Roy is the creator of Artist Myth , a site dedicated to helping artists overcome the things that...

A recap of episode 74 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Dave Conrey   where he talks about the importance of connecting with others, some of his keys to building a creative business, and getting started.

Dave Conrey ‘s path to becoming a full-time artist is not a simple one. Growing up, he wasn’t that passionate about art, but over time, and after a series of jobs and ventures, he has finally dedicated himself to the idea. After going to school for art and graphic design, Dave had two separate stints as an art director, but was laid off both times. He also spent time as a author, podcaster, and cr...

A recap of episode 73 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Logan Nickleson   where he why marketing has gotten such a bad rap, the most essential element for finding your audience, and how we can use psychology to our advantage.

Logan Nickleson  has always had an admiration for the arts. When he was a child he liked to draw and paint. When he was 15-16 years old he started getting into music. And for college, he went into journalism. While in college, Logan saw the changes that were happening in journalism. So he changed his major to advertising. This led to his internship at an advertising agency. His internship turned i...

This is a replay of episode 27 with Lee Moyer. If you want an idea of what it's like to build a successful career as an artist and illustrator, look no further than Lee. He has some great advice that's worth re-sharing for those of you who didn't catch it the first time or for those who want to re-listen to Lee's great wisdom. -- Lee Moyer is a polymath and illustrator who has been working for ove...

A recap of episode 72 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Amy Oestreicher  wheres she talks about being a detourist, being more capable than we think we are, and how our creativity benefits from taking small risks.

Amy Oestreicher  thought she had her life all figured out. Ever since she was young, she felt she was born to perform. She was all set to go to college for musical theater when medical complications derailed everything. During her senior year of high school Amy started having stomach pains. When she went into surgery to fix it, her stomach shot out of her body and she went into a coma for months....

This is a replay of episode 26 with Katy Walker and Joel Mejia. Life can sometimes overwhelm us. We get bogged down by all the negative things around us. That's why it was such a pleasure to do an interview with people like Katie and Joel. Their positivity, and inspirational work is something we should all aspire to follow. --- Katy Walker and Joel Mejia are the co-directors of the Time is Art doc...

A recap of episode 71 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Cassia Cogger wheres he talks about why we need to be open to new ideas, the importance of avoiding complacency and being consistent, and the art of simplification, among many other things.

Cassia Cogger has created art ever since she was young. In middle school she won a national contest for a laundry detergent brand. And unlike most artists, she began selling her art early in life. After college, Cassia abandoned her artistic pursuits and got a job as an editor at a trade magazine. It was during this time that Cassia realized she wanted to become a full-time artist. So she picked u...

A recap of episode 70 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Kent Sanders  where he talks about why breaks are important, some of the biggest things holding us back, and changing our mindsets about money.

Kent Sanders has lived a life full of creativity ever since he was young, but it never occurred to him that he could make a living from his creativity. When Kent was young, he separated his love of creativity from his love of religion. It never occurred to him that he could combine those two interests. After working in the ministry for a few years, he decided he wanted to go back to school to teac...

A recap of episode 68 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Bob Baker  where he talks about doing things that interest you, why you need to be persistent, and what separates successful artists from unsuccessful artists.

This is a replay of episode 23 with Tim Lawrence. With so many people going through adversity, it is important to remember that we can grow through even the most trying circumstances. --- Tim Lawrence is a copy editor, writer and adversity researcher. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Barclays Center, and Lincoln Center, and has copyedited for New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selli...

Bob Baker has always been determined to make a living from his creative career. He started off his career by creating a music publication from scratch, with no prior experience. He didn’t let his lack of experience prevent him from achieving his goals. He just experimented with different ideas until he made it work. Since that first publication he has expanded his interests well beyond a local mus...

A recap of episode 68 of the Cracking Creativity podcast. If you liked it, check out the full episode with Kym Dolcimascolo where she talks about creating plans, why you should know your audience, and how artists can change the world.

Kym Dolcimascolo got a degree in photography and film making but didn't follow that path once she graduated from school. Instead she became a computer engineer and worked her way up the career ladder. After working for a while in the corporate world, she decided she had had enough. So, she set herself up to leave her corporate job and started a web design company. This career move allowed her to w...

This is a replay of episode 44 with Sarah Jackson. In these trying times, it's good to remember that people like Sarah are making a huge difference in the world. Sarah Jackson is the founder of Casa de Paz , a hospitality home for families affected by immigrant detention. She is also the founder of Volleyball Latino , a year-round indoor volleyball league that raises money for Casa de Paz. In this...