The Create & Thrive Podcast

 

  This week, I am away on my own digital sabbatical. I’ve booked 5 nights in a hotel at the beach, deleted all social media and email apps from my devices, and will avoid the internet as much as I can (my aim is to use it only for navigation as I go exploring the highlights of the local region I researched before I left). As a 37-year-old person, I remember what the world was like befor...

 

  Hey Thriver, Welcome to this month’s member-exclusive episode. In it, I’m getting a little philosophical with you. I want to introduce you to the concept of the  Circle of Control  (also known as the Sphere of Control). The diagram below gives you a basic idea.     In this episode I outline what the 3 circles are, and how spending too much time in the wrong ones can le...

   

  I’ve got an epic interview for you this week! My guest – Marina Darlow – is a systems expert & productivity geek. An engineer by training, she helps impact-driven entrepreneurs to get 10-20 more productive hours a week, stop leaking money, and prevent stress-fuel breakdowns. In this episode we discuss why systems matter, how they can help you become more creative, and...

 

  My guest today is the inspirational Erin Dollar. Erin is a textile and surface pattern designer who specialises in minimalist designs with an eco-friendly focus. She creates boldly patterned home decor for Cotton & Flax, which she founded in 2012. In this episode, we have an in-depth chat about her business journey, her thoughts on social media, time management, business direction, and...

       

  This month, to fit in with the Thriver Circle project ( #PinterestChallenge ), I’ve done an episode on the power of Pinterest. In it, I outline why Pinterest is an excellent choice of marketing tool – especially for handmade business – and share some stats for how much it is growing, and the reach it has. My goal was to inspire you to dive into the world of Pinterest, and...

     

  Today’s story is of a woman who has come full circle. Priyanka hails from a family of jewellers in Mumbai, but calls San Francisco home. After working in a corporate career, a certain life event made her realise how meaningful jewellery can be… and started her on a journey of creating her own jewellery design business. Her brand, AYVA, is now stocked in stores all over the USA,...

         

  In this month’s success story, I’m sharing the story of David Wright of Bare Hands Bracelets. David is an ex-tradie, and he has created a successful business by focussing on a niche – making leather bracelets for men and women with personalised silver beads. In this episode, I share the inside story of how David started and grew his handmade business.     Check o...

   

  In this episode I talk with the master of the Side Hustle – my friend Chris Guillebeau . Chris has been running one side hustle after the other his whole adult life. These days, amongst other things, he’s a well-known author, blogger, and the host of the Side Hustle podcast. I met Chris at a Problogger conference many years ago – and in fact, a conversation with him at tha...

  Handmade Biz Tip #10. Do you ever feel stressed because you’re never *done*? Like your to-do list is ever-expanding. You’re not alone, and it’s okay!        

  In this member-exclusive podcast episode, I outline a whole bunch of do’s and don’ts for goal setting. I hope this helps you think about the process of setting goals for your business, so that you can set goals that are actionable, achieveable, and realistic.   >>Become a member of the Thriver Circle and listen to the full episode right now.<<   Listen to t...

  Sell on Etsy      

  I’m so excited to share this episode with you! I invited today’s guest – Stacey Howard – on the show to share her business journey – because I’ve been watching her progress since she took my Set Up Shop course back in 2013. Since then, she’s built a 6-figure handmade business – all while having and raising her 2 kids. Stacey is a brilliant exa...

  Why you need to set up an order processing system – and how I do it.    

  “Grandma” and “Kitsch” are NOT the words you would use to describe Jody’s beautiful cross-stitch patterns from her online store  Satsuma Street . When I first saw her work, I was gobsmacked by the beautiful and unique patterns which are modern, bright and fun. Listen to this episode to hear more of Jody’s amazing career story and how she has sold over 40,000 patterns so far on Etsy.  ...

Use the Right Keywords in your Product Titles    

  Do you have a mailing list for your handmade business? Even if you haven’t started your business yet, you can start collecting email addresses to ensure that you start off with a bang. If you do have a business, then you need to be using email marketing to grow it. But how? I’ve created a number of resources to help you set up and grow a successful list in the past. (You can fin...

  5 Qualities of Successful Business Owners