The Self-Employed Life

Social media is a necessity for every business. What started out as a tool for personal expression is now an important way to gain brand recognition. As Facebook usership declines, Instagram is leading the charge- it's recently hit one billion active monthly users. If you're dragging your feet on taking your brand to Instagram, you're missing out on some massive opportunities. Hashtags, stories, b...

Many of us grew up thinking that if you work hard and you don't give your boss any trouble, you'll you have a nice future. There was a clear hierarchy, and you had to stay in your lane. But as the world is changing, the definition of leadership is changing, too. When we talk about leadership, no longer are we talking just about the heads of companies- anyone can be a leader. You have the responsib...

For many entrepreneurs and small businesses, the upcoming holiday season can be the busiest time of year. While hopefully, that's a good thing, it can also take its toll on your health and mental state. Having been a portrait photographer for so many years and doing 60-70% of my business in the last 3 months, I know this feeling very well. I offer some practical advice on how to avoid and recover...

One of the biggest challenges creatives face is the onslaught of advice. So many of us are running around chasing our tails because there is so much information available. Best practices can feel like spokes on a wheel that are endlessly turning, and it can be difficult to break the cycle. You can't shut off advice in today's world, but you need a filter of discernment. Figure out what works for y...

Why is it we are often encouraged to get out of our comfort zones but rarely encouraged to get IN our comfort zones? Well, that's what I'm encouraging you to do during this holiday season. Get IN your comfort zone. Shouldn't it be about balance? If you're going to stretch outside your comfort zone, which you will as a Warrior, then it needs to be balanced with being in your comfort zone. What bett...

So many creative professionals get frustrated with the idea that they need to have a "niche." We don't like to feel like we're being painted in a corner. It can feel paralyzing. We think to ourselves, "Why do I need to choose just one thing!" Most of us are driven by feeling fulfilled by the creative work that we do. We don't want to sacrifice it for the sake of the business. So how can we find th...

Not doubt, creating an About page is one of the hardest parts of a website. I share what the objective of your About page should be, what a visitor to your site should be saying in their head as they read it, and some really good tips from a colleague of mine who is helping me with my About page. Be creative, be vulnerable, create a connection, build a relationship and create a killer About page!...

So often, we rush into giving advice to others. We don't see the people around us as creative and whole so we don't believe they have the tools or knowledge to achieve their goals. In an effort to help, we can actually stunt others' growth. However, if we stay curious and ask the right questions, we can help the people around us realize they already have all the answers. We can learn how to bring...

As has become an annual tradition here on Creative Warriors, it's time to think about your theme for 2019. Your theme is different than a goal, intention, or vision. Your theme is the intersection of what you want and what feels like the right time. Your theme is your guiding star for the year ahead. With just a couple of months left in the year, the time is now to think about it so there's time f...

I'm as guilty as anyone for saying "good isn't good enough." Our society encourages people to be the best they can be; even capitalism is based on the idea that everything has to be exceptional. But perfectionism can stop us from even beginning. The acceptance that we are good enough now is critical to success in our work. We're all made up of incongruences, but that doesn't mean that we're not go...

As a prelude to the next episode on Creative Warriors with Jessica Pettitt, I share my thoughts on acceptance and being good enough now. We can often get so critical of ourselves and down about where we're at in our lives, I find the idea of "good enough now" really refreshing. It makes me think about how freeing acceptance is. It is through acceptance and the peace it offers that you are free to...

So often we can feel sorry for ourselves because we're not given the opportunities we think we deserve. We feel overlooked and unappreciated. When we take this attitude, we are avoiding taking responsibility for our relationships. You can't complain about the results you're getting if you're hiding in the corner. I've never been comfortable networking, and it took a mindset shift for me to realize...

For a lot of entrepreneurs, our businesses are much more technologically driven, forcing us to spend more time sitting in front of a computer. The negative effects of sitting are serious, including restricted blood flow and pressure on the spine. As I've said many times, Warriors have to take care of themselves because, without us, it's likely our businesses would not go on. That's why I have this...

Businesses need to pay close attention to how society is changing. Due to technology, things are moving at a faster rate than ever. Customers previously had to choose between convenience and lesser quality or less convenience and higher quality. Now, they expect both. If your business is not able to adapt to current demands, it won't survive. Today's customers expect great customer service, speed,...

What if I said doing business in the selfie age is a good thing? Well, I think it is. But not in the way you might be thinking. Listen and learn how your customer's "selfishness" is an opportunity for your business. How customers are empowered today like they never have been before. Why you want to understand this concept to build a business that speaks to your ideal customers, allows them to crea...

Pricing for creative services has always been a difficult topic. As creative entrepreneurs, we often feel embarrassed about charging a high amount for our work. We'll set rate based on time spent or put a fixed package rate up on our website. As a result, we often undervalue our services. The prices you set shouldn't be based on the cost of the input or the market value of the deliverables. They s...

Pricing for creative services has always been a difficult topic. As creative entrepreneurs, we often feel embarrassed about charging a high amount for our work. We'll set rate based on time spent or put a fixed package rate up on our website. As a result, we often undervalue our services. The prices you set shouldn't be based on the cost of the input or the market value of the deliverables. They s...

In the worlds of personal development, motivation, and positive thinking, were are usually encouraged to move forward. While that is likely the goal, maybe we have to first get frustrated enough about what we want to move away from in order to fully commit to where we want to go. A compelling topic and I look forward to hearing your perspective! The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear...

Entrepreneurs know the power of word of mouth, but not many of us put strategies in place to utilize it. We use the same, tired strategies of discount codes for referring friends or a BOGO sale to bring in new customers. Research shows that one out of two products are purchased because of word of mouth, but still we leave it up to hope or the chance that something will go viral. Instead, you can l...

Are there things you've always wanted to do, but you keep making excuses not to? Well, there's only one thing holding you back. It's a four letter word that starts with an "f": fear. A lot of times, this fear keeps us from ever truly knowing what we will enjoy. It stops us from even attempting certain things. For example, I used to be terrified of heights. If I would look down from a high place, m...

Usually on Talking Stick, we talk about business quests. Our guest today, David Galaudet, shares the story of a very different quest. A personal quest that led him on a 10,000 mile journey with his dead father's ashes. As you might imagine, there are plenty of life lessons to be learned here. All shared with a touch of humor. One highlight is our conversation about what keeps us on a quest when we...

Have you ever noticed that there are times you feel more productive during the day? Ever felt like there are certain hours when your brain just doesn't work? Well, it's not all in your head. We all have internal clocks that dictate our body's functions - and your brain is no exception. We all go through three phases in a day. We have a peak phase, a trough phase, and a recovery phase. You might th...

I absolutely love this conversation with Anne Gordon! Anne is founder of WhaleWatchingPanama.com. After years of whale watching tours, interactions with dolphins and guiding her guests to interact with these magnificent creatures, she has compiled a wealth of wisdom from whales and dolphins that we can all learn from. Consider this- whales have been on earth for 30 million years! We humans are tod...

In today's world companies have to be transparent - whether they like it or not. If you try to hide things, consumers will find it and use any avenue they can to exploit it. Most recently you've seen this from Facebook and Uber. Luckily, there's a lot you can do to protect yourself. The first thing you need to understand is that every business will face a crisis at some point. Sometimes it's becau...

What really is self-love? Is it different than self-worth? I think many of us, myself included, think we don't have an issue with self-love. Why then do we speak to ourselves, judging and criticizing ourselves, in ways that we would never speak to a friend? Joie Cheng shares her journey through suicidal thoughts to finding self-love. A journey she tells in her book, Naked Truth.  The Talking Stick...