What’s the secret to building a million-dollar creative business? It’s not hustle…it’s focus.

In this episode of Creative Business Real Talk, I break down the real numbers behind my million-dollar course sales - and the sneaky way I kept sabotaging my own success. If you’ve ever felt pulled in a million directions, this is your permission to simplify, focus, and finally scale so you can start making profits!

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• (1:07) The math behind the $1 million - how many did I actually have to sell?
• (6:12) The growth lesson - how sitting with the uncomfortable grows your business
• (8:25) What’s actually going to move the needle in your business?
• (9:20) Simple roadmap for calligraphers to succeed in their business - what skills really bring in revenue
• (17:32) How to score deep discounts on my calligraphy courses (up to 50% off)

This episode is a must-listen if you’re a creative entrepreneur who’s ready to stop dragging their feet and start doubling down on what works.

💡 Bonus: Stay till the end to hear all the details about my upcoming Five Days of Deals event starting Nov 24, 2025 - featuring up to 50% off some of my signature courses!

FREE WORKSHOP:

• “How to Become a Calligraphy Pro” Educational Workshop

FOLLOW SHINAH:

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram: @crookedcalligraphy

SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

In this episode, I share how I was able to scale my small calligraphy business... because I had a mentor who believed I could do it.

You’ll hear:

(1:30) The three things that allowed me to scale my business successfully

(5:30) The pandemic - being prepared at the right time for your moment of opportunity

(6:50) Why believing  it’s possible is a MANDATORY step in going after your passion

(8:40) How much money I'm making now in my business

Stop looking at the reasons why you CAN’T. Start looking for evidence that you CAN. And surround yourself with like-minded people.

Perfect for: creatives, career changers, overachievers, and anyone craving freedom over “success."

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 **CALLIGRAPHY RESOURCES**

"45 Ways to Make Money with Calligraphy" PDF: https://crookedcalligraphy.lpages.co/money/

FREE WORKSHOP:

• “How to Become a Calligraphy Pro” Educational Workshop

FOLLOW SHINAH:

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram: @crookedcalligraphy

SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

From Corporate to Creative: a 10-Year Journey

What if the career you worked so hard to build… turned out to be a giant soul-suck? 

In this episode, I share my real journey from miserable Ivy League lawyer to building a wildly successful $900K/year calligraphy business to scaling down to a leaner "enough" business. 

I’m breaking down my revenue, year by year, from 2016 to 2025!

Inside you’ll hear: 

• (1:00) Personal updates from the last 5 months
• (7:54) The unexpected moment that made me quit law with zero plan 
• (9:49) How $5 greeting cards at a craft fair eventually led to a six-figure course 
• (15:00) Why perfectionism KILLS creative momentum (and what to do instead) 

This isn’t just a business story. It’s proof that you CAN chase your creative curiosity - even if you’re currently stuck in a glass office you hate. 

Perfect for: creatives, career changers, overachievers, and anyone craving freedom over “success." 

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ABOUT CROOKED CALLIGRAPHY 

Hey - I'm Shinah! A former miserable corporate lawyer turned sassy calligrapher and teacher. Ten years ago, I was WISHING I could create beautiful calligraphy but feeling really un-creative and LOST about how to achieve that... and now I truly believe that ANYONE can learn this beautiful craft - because I've already taught it to THOUSANDS of people, from all different backgrounds. 

Calligraphy has given me a gorgeous life. It's helped my students find PASSION, PURPOSE, and a reason to JUMP OUT OF BED each morning. What could it do for you? =) 

FREE WORKSHOP:

• “How to Become a Calligraphy Pro” Educational Workshop

FOLLOW SHINAH:

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram: @crookedcalligraphy

SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Direct links to the most popular, valuable and impactful episodes of the show right here: crookedcalligraphy.com/bestof

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Why I'm taking a little break from the weekly podcast and how it might be changing next season!

Including:

• A quick business lesson on lead, nurture & sales content (and which one Podcasts are best for)
• Why I started this podcast and kept it going for 145 episode
• What I'm thinking of changing for the next season

FREE WORKSHOP:

• “How to Become a Calligraphy Pro” Educational Workshop

FOLLOW SHINAH:

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram: @crookedcalligraphy

SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

This inspiring interview with student Lisa Doty will fire you up! Lisa didn’t learn calligraphy from me (she studied under a traditional master calligrapher) but she still found herself stuck and scared to start her business.

Then she joined our Calligraphy Biz Starter Course, and in under a year, everything shifted. She went from hiding her calligraphy in her room to confidently demoing in front of crowds and landing big gigs, like a department store grand opening. 

Lisa shares what helped her break through her fear, the “ask for trash” strategy she uses to connect with clients, and how this journey has transformed her confidence—not just as an artist, but as a person.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to break out of fear and take the first brave steps to grow your business
• Why investing in yourself wisely can fast-track your success
• How small, consistent action can snowball into huge results

✨ Ready to launch your calligraphy business this year?
Join the Pro Calligrapher Bundle before enrollment closes on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, and get the skills + strategy you need to book clients this holiday season.
👉 crookedcalligraphy.com/courses

Find Lisa Doty:

On Instagram @fancybeecalligraphy

Website: https://www.fancybeecalligraphy.com/

FREE WORKSHOP:

• “How to Become a Calligraphy Pro” Educational Workshop

FOLLOW SHINAH:

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram: @crookedcalligraphy

SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Rome wasn’t built in a day – and neither was any (decent) business.

It was built over thousands of tiny micro-decisions, leading to compounding effects that eventually became BIG. Gorgeous buildings, architecture that has inspired masses, and historical significance spanning centuries.

Likewise, when you’re establishing a business, you can’t just completely quit your job and start turning a profit if you haven’t already laid the groundwork. You have to consciously choose to show up every day and make those little movements that, over time, will set you up to take those big leaps of faith.

In this episode of “The Shinah Show”, I’m breaking down the real path to becoming a professional calligrapher – and I can assure you, it’s not glamorous, it’s not linear, and it’s not BIG and dramatic. I’m sharing with you:

• The surprising link between babies and businesses 👶
• “The Compound Effect” and why a thousand tiny, brave micro-decisions can move the needle more than one big decision
• The real behind the scenes of my own journey, and how I left law one small step at a time
• What actually gets you from hobbyist to pro

If you're a perfectionist stuck waiting for the "right time" or the "picture-perfect plan"… this episode will shake that mindset loose.

✨ Want to go pro this year?
 Join me June 3 or 4, 2025 for my live interactive workshop on how to go from hobbyist to professional calligrapher in six months. Stop waiting and start taking action!
  👉 Save your spot HERE

FREE WORKSHOP:

• “How to Become a Calligraphy Pro” Educational Workshop

FOLLOW SHINAH:

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram: @crookedcalligraphy

SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Looking for a confidence boost or wondering how creative hobbies like calligraphy can change your life?

Elisha took one of my very first in-person workshops back in 2016… and walked away with her entire life turned upside down. 

She joined that workshop in her early 20s, feeling like there was something wrong with her. But now, 8 years later, pursuing a calligraphy business has turned her into a completely different, more confident person.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The one comment from a fellow student that shook Elisha’s identity—and started a powerful transformation
• How picking up a calligraphy pen led to unexpected passions like surfing, archery, piano, and even DIY home renovations
• Why community and mentorship can be the rocket fuel for your creative confidence

Elisha’s story is raw, relatable, and full of inspiration. It’s a powerful reminder that following your creative spark (even if you’re scared)-can open up your entire world.

Perfect for: Aspiring artists, creative entrepreneurs, beginner calligraphers, and anyone wrestling with imposter syndrome or the fear of starting something new.

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✨ Want to go pro this year?
 Join me June 3 or 4, 2025 for my live interactive workshop on how to go from hobbyist to professional calligrapher in six months.
  👉 Save your spot at: crookedcalligraphy.com/training

FREE WORKSHOP:

• “How to Become a Calligraphy Pro” Educational Workshop

FOLLOW SHINAH:

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram: @crookedcalligraphy

SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

You finally hit the goal. You should feel proud, satisfied, even a little celebratory. But instead? Your brain whispers, “Okay, cool… what’s next?” 

In this episode, I unpack the arrival fallacy and why it keeps creative business owners stuck in a cycle of never-enough, even when we’re living the life we once dreamed of:

• What “arrival fallacy” is and how it steals your joy in a really sneaky way
• Concrete steps to free yourself from the cycle so you can finally enjoy exactly where you are right now
• What I did when I recently fell into this trap (and how the Japanese girlfriend from Karate Kid)

If you’re constantly running TOWARDS the next goal… are you really running AWAY from your current self? 

Let’s get you moving towards happiness instead. 

FREE WORKSHOP:

• “How to Become a Calligraphy Pro” Educational Workshop

FOLLOW SHINAH:

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram: @crookedcalligraphy

SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Think a brand partnership is just a one-time gig? Think again!

When you find the right brand partnership, it can be a win-win(win) for everyone involved! Early in my career, Apolis, a national retail brand, brought me in to customize their jute tote bags. When I started working with them, never could I have known the multi-beneficial aspects of our relationship.

In this episode, I’m diving into how long-term collaborations fueled my creative business in the beginning and how you, too, can turn natural, organic networking into tens of thousands in revenue for your business. I’ll share with you:

• Why your best business leads can come from the most unlikely of places (that have nothing to do with your industry!)
• How a single brand partnership can lead to consistent income, visibility, and opportunity
• The ways my partnership allowed me to pay it forward and fuel other creative businesses beyond mine
• Ways you can develop your own brand partnerships and where to look to find them

It’s an amazing feeling when all parties involved grow and profit from a single relationship!

And if you’re interested in learning more about tote bag customization, I’m teaching all the tips and tricks I learned custom-making thousands of bags during the Hobbyscool Art of Expression Creative Summit May 13-15! 

Over 28 speakers will be teaching their unique creative trades over 3 days - including ME – for FREE! To learn more about it and sign up, visit https://programs.hobbyscool.com/ Hope to see you there!

FREE WORKSHOP:

• “How to Become a Calligraphy Pro” Educational Workshop

FOLLOW SHINAH:

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram: @crookedcalligraphy

SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Advanced Calligraphy Skills Studio - 50% off sale ends May 5, 2025!

--Struggling to find enough clients for your calligraphy business? 

What if you didn’t need more clients—just better ways to serve the ones you already have?

In this episode, we explore how to increase your revenue without constantly hunting for new leads. Learn to think of each customer as a journey, not just a transaction, and discover simple ways to boost your average order value through smart, aligned upsells.

You’ll learn:

• Why upsells are your secret weapon for sustainable growth
• How to package your calligraphy services for weddings, corporate events, and workshops
• Real-life pricing examples and ideas for add-ons your clients will love

Find out what makes an upsell WORK, serve your clients, and get paid MORE… without doing more marketing ;)

FREE WORKSHOP:

• “How to Become a Calligraphy Pro” Educational Workshop

FOLLOW SHINAH:

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram: @crookedcalligraphy

SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!