When I started this blog, I had just moved to a new town and was looking for a way to connect with creative people through art. I never saw it as anything more than a creative journal for me, an outlet for me to write about all the new experiences I was encountering and all the changes I was making. Although I wasn’t planning on working outside the home, I thought for sure that I could get a freelance writing gig from home and would just use this as a way to still embrace my creative writing side.
Much to my surprise, when you look for a work from home freelance writing gig, you’re basically looking for a scam. I’m sure there are some awesome jobs that fit that description out there, but I haven’t found them. I was working hours and hours on articles I would end up getting paid $10 or less for, and then there was that brief encounter with SEO writing – never again! I was never happy doing any of it, and I wasn’t making enough to justify my unhappiness. Since I was so ashamed of these articles, I never shared them, so all of this work wasn’t even going towards anything.
This is when I talked to my super understanding and patient boyfriend about my options, and decided that if I was going to work my patoot off for anything, it would be for what I wanted to do. I was given an amazing gift to stay at home with my baby and I should make the most of it. I can do all this work and have a lot to show for it. So, from here on out, I’m going to take my creative business journey more serious, and I have jotted down a plan of action to get the ball rolling on everything. This has proven to me even more now, that going to graphic design school was the right choice. Right now, we’re working on labels and flyers, which is…perfect.
I wanted to share my journey with you, since you may be going through the same thing. I will post every Wednesday and I urge you to share your journey with me. I’m really excited about this new chapter, and I can’t wait to see my vision come to fruition. I’m also going to start a new series of maker and designer profiles that I will also share on Wednesdays, for extra motivation and inspiration.
The first Maker Profile I will be sharing is Amanda Wright from Wit and Whistle! I am over the moon excited to share her story and journey with you, and she is nice enough to share a coupon for her shop with us! Her profile will be posted next week, so if you are not familiar with her site yet, get acquainted!
So, the first step on my creative business journey is: logo design. I need to create logos for Sweet Mariposa, Baby Burrito Collective and this blog. Luckily, we’re in the logo section in my classes right now, and I also signed up for the Logo Design class through Skillshare for some extra guidance.
I’m also starting to read The Handmade Marketplace, by Kari Chapin, a “marketing mentor and magnetic idea machine.” Magnetic idea machine might just be the best title I have ever seen, hands down. I got her book last year for Christmas, and I haven’t been able to read it yet. You can check out her blog and subscribe to her online community for more insight.
I will be sharing my process and inspiration on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, so feel free to join me there. You can also find more inspiration on my Pinterest. If you are serious about taking your creative business to the next level, please let me know so we can do this together.