MORE time, space and tools...
šŖ āØ+ new monthly GROWTH sessions for members at Creatively Conscious
Hi if youāre new here. Iām Claire. Iām an Engagement Consultant and Mentor. Iāve run my own business since 2008. My clients include lots of individual artists and creative plus international charities and incredible arts and heritage venues like Tate Modern and National Trust. The majority of my work is focussed on making creativity more accessible and leaning into how it impacts our wellbeing. Iām super passionate about sustainable, joyful growth here on Substack and I teach more about that over at
āØGood morning everyone,
In your business and creative work, do you ever say;
Oh Iāll get round to that whenā¦
Oh yes on my list!
Should I be putting energy there? Maybe I shouldā¦
Yep me too!
Last Spring, I started an experiment where I mixed up how I was growing my business, cut the noise and leant into what felt really good to grow. It was part of a move to āownā the title of entrepreneur which has always felt slightly alien to me having starting my career freelancingā¦ I used to watch peopleās instagram accounts blow up and think wow if I do that Iāll finally have a profitable business. Reader - I was putting energy in the WRONG place and none of the right places.
Now Iām not dissing instagram I like it as a creative tool but it wasnāt the right āfunnelā to build my business dreams.
As part of this year long (slow grow) experiment, in part time hours this last 10 months, I have really shifted my focus and SO much good stuff has happened since I;
Learnt to delegate!
Launched a Linked IN group for creatives who also like to write with almost 300 members
Started a YouTube channel which now has 350 subscribers. Some videos with over 1k views.
Started two podcasts and looking forward to season 2 on both this year (over 14k downloads).
Grown my Substack profile to over 6000+ subs.
Grown my sales and marketing email list to 1000 customers.
Grown pinterest and my presence there with the help of a wonderful VA. In some ways I think Pinterest is my nemesis but what I do see is direct clicks through to my other spaces which is perhaps the most important of all the actions there!
Left instagram alone for l o n g periods of timeā¦ š¤« it still grows when youāre not thereā¦
Listened to 100+ hours of trainings and podcasts that felt relevant, inspiring and exciting.
Made over Ā£1k in affiliate income
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This has all happened slowly, over time and in focussed and not so focussed ways. IE - sometimes things grow in the background and add unexpected fuel to your business and those are the days I really feel like an entrepreneur. š¤
Letās MEET and DO some work!!! Introducing GROW workshops and co-working
I wanted to introduce a new strand in service to you and to celebrate my Substack birthday next month.
I was introduced to a self coaching model that has served me so well around 7 years ago. Itās called the Grow model 1and in this acronym Grow stands for;
Goals
Reality
Opportunity
Will
Using this model for project work changed everything in my business.
MEMBERS - as well as your four annual workshops focussed in on Visual Journalling for your BIG dreams, you also have the option to meet the community every other month to hone in on āgrowthā for your creative business using this model of coaching with me.
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I started my āGrow one Thingā experiment this time last year and as I look at closing the loop on it Iām ready to share more of what I learnt chipping away at growth and managing my energy in the processā¦
The topics for our GROW co-working calls until the this time next year hone in on what we can self seed in our business and are as follows;
Strategy for one online space (e.g YouTube, Pinterest, Linked in)
Organisation of money, finance, accountancy and more
Pitches and positioning
Tools to streamline, organise and help your business
Canva organisation
Using Notion as a second brain
Mailing list growth and segmentation
Creating āever greenā income
SEO
Calendar organisation
Weāll vote together on the order.
I am not an āexpertā on any of these topics but I have a strategy for them all that works and I want to help you focus in on doing the same so you can move them off your āto doā list and just create!
We will meet as colleagues, Iāll share my experience and then weāll DO the work for an hourā¦. settling in and ticking it off our list! Replays will be available of course.
Any of those topics excite you or are they things youād like to tick off your list, develop, work onā¦ let me know in the comments?
Canāt wait to meet some of you in the calls. Iāll send more updates soon - we start in May!
Sending sparkles from the office with a sea view,
Claire
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PS - I wanted to give a shout out to four tools that have helped me in my business incase they are of interest to you as you grow yours; Pro Canva - where would I be without it? Cast Magic - sophisticated ai transcription software. This software has changed my life especially for my commissioned projects and recording zoom conversations to pull out key points and notes, Podia - my online course, email and webinar software, Xero - magical accountancy software.
PPS - The dates will all be the last working day of the month in the afternoon - Iām thinking around 2pm UK time. Calendar coming soon! You can upgrade here with 20% off.
More on the Grow coaching model
So much to take away here, thank you. I know I need to make some changes and give some real thought into what and where Iād like to grow, so I appreciate all the nuggets of advice. I always appreciate your emphasis on slow growth too. Itās so easy to think the world is full of overnight successes and you just arenāt good enough! X
Oooh thank you for linking to your YouTube, looking forward to watching those! I love the idea of a slow grow experiment too š