The world might make us think creative entrepreneurs are all overnight successes, but authors Joy E. Rancatore and Mea Smith set the record straight in Episode 38 of QWERTY Writing Life. With the inspiration of some entrepreneurs—including the one and only Dolly Parton—Joy and Mea discuss common themes in successful business owners and the little steps striving entrepreneurs can take every day.

If you’re a creative entrepreneur who struggles with taking those little steps every day and wonders if you should keep going—or get started—here are questions for your reflection as you work on this week’s QWERTY Challenge:

• Are you not capitalizing on the experiences you’ve had or considering ways to use what you know to do what you want?

Visit the links mentioned in this episode:

Dolly Parton’s Q&A with Squarespace: https://www.squarespace.com/5to9

A look at entrepreneurial success: https://www.squarespace.com/blog/from-side-hustle-to-success

Two brothers’ oyster bar empire story: https://www.squarespace.com/blog/how-two-brothers-turned-an-oyster-bar-into-an-empire

Interview with Creative Chloe Rouse Armstrong: https://qwertywritinglife.podbean.com/e/interview-with-a-creative-chloe-rouse-on-finding-the-story-in-creative-projects/

Jocko Willink’s leadership book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250183863

Jocko Willink’s “Good” video: https://youtu.be/IdTMDpizis8

Kid entrepreneurs: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5051-young-entrepreneurs.html

Mea’s cover designer, Rachael Ritchey: https://rrbookdesign.com

This Good Thing by Joy E. Rancatore: https://www.logosandmythospress.com/this-good-thing

Snail on the Wall pop-up bookseller in Huntsville, AL: https://www.snailonthewall.com

Forged in Fire TV show: https://www.history.com/shows/forged-in-fire

Little Coffee Camper, mobile coffee shop in Slidell, LA (and surrounding areas): https://www.facebook.com/LittleCoffeeCamper1/

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: https://imaginationlibrary.com

Castle TV show: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1219024

Alex and Emma movie: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0318283

Lauren DeStefano, author: https://laurendestefano.com

Rachel Hollis, author: https://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Hollis/e/B00J237V5I

Thanks for using our affiliate link to check out the 2021 Women in Publishing Summit:  https://joyerancatore--writepublishsell.thrivecart.com/2021-wip-conference/

Intro music created and performed by Brent Smith.

Continue this week’s chat via email at [email protected]. Subscribe in your favorite podcast portal or ring the bell on the QWERTY YouTube channel. For more information about the show and the QWERTY Writing Life author resource book series, head over to https://www.logosandmythospress.com/qwerty-writing-life. Meet the authors at https://www.logosandmythospress.com/authors.