Let’s cut straight to the point, because I’m not in the mood for introductions: I’m taking a break from social media. Again. This time for longer than usual, and I can’t tell you how ecstatic I am. It feels like going for a trip to a foreign land, except this foreign land is in my own home, and I get to bring all my art supplies with me, not just one (okay, two) sketchbooks. If that piqued your curiosity, I’m glad to share the why and the how in the rest of this post. Read more...
Your core values are a compass that guides you throughout your life, and they’ve been lurking in the background of all the decisions you’ve been making, no matter how big or small. In this post, I explain the role of our personal values in our business, and give you a process to discover your core values. Read more...
Today I’m sharing a video of my art creating process in my sketchbook using ink and watercolor, from sketch to finish. This drawing is one of the series of mermaid-themed sketches I did during the summer. Read more...
You know which blogs I mean. You’ve probably read them, too. Those blogs that feature a new post every day of the week – a post that looks and feels exactly the same like the post from the day before, and if you've read one, you've read them all. Those blogs that seem to talk a lot, yet say very little. Those blogs that are listed on every life coach’s sidebar under the title “As seen in”.
I wanted to like them. I truly tried to enjoy them, but I just couldn’t. One by one, I unsubscribed from those blogs, and continued my search for meaning without them. And what a great decision that was.
What triggered me so much that I want to dedicate 2000+ words to this now?
An epiphany. Read more...
Every time you pull off an extended period of working like a crazy person, you’re bound to be left in a state of complete devastation. Or at the very least, a state of “I’m not sure if this is even worth it, will it always have to be like this?” which is just as scary because it makes you question your career choices. I already gave you some tips on how to prevent burnout, and now we'll talk about what to do when you’re already suffering from burnout. Read more...
The Process. The growth period. The transformation. We all love being at the end of it. It’s a badge of honor to be through with the Process. To be a survivor. A winner, even.
Being in the middle of the Process? Not so much.
I am in this Process right now, and I want to collect my thoughts on this and share it with you, if it’s something you need to hear. Read more...
If you’re any type of creator, there are going to be times in your life when you’ll be required to “launch” something. We think of launches in terms of websites, courses, books, retreats etc. but the same things apply when you organize an art show or prepare for a crafts fair, a big show, speaking engagement etc.
My experience with launching comes mostly from organizing live events in the past 5 years. Here are some tips on what you can do to prepare for and survive an extended period of time when nothing is normal. Read more...
September 1st was the second anniversary of me going out on my own and becoming a full time freelancer. On occasions like this, bloggers usually write recap posts where they share about how their business has grown, the goals they've achieved, how much money they’ve made and what their newsletter list growth was like... If you've been paying attention, you know that's not the real focus of this blog. I'm not living a six figure dream working 4 hours a day. I don't have an Amazon bestseller, or a course hundreds of people have gone through. But there are other things I value, that have improved so much in the past 2 years, and that's what I want to talk about. Read more...
Have you ever stopped to analyze your brand objectively? And if so, what have you found?
Most business owners have no idea what their brand actually means for their bottom line. Nobody told them how people respond to design, and about the power of the first impression. In this article I wrote what I want business owners to know, and hope that with this knowledge, you will be equipped to make a decision that's best for you and your business (whether that means working with a brand designer or not). Read more...
This is the part two of the post “When your passion becomes a chore” - the practical part on what to do if you feel like you've lost your passion. I believe there are certain conditions that our work has to meet so it can give us creative fulfillment. Here are these 5 key conditions, and what each of them means for a creative professional. Read more...