Creative Ways Podcast

Leona Baker is a business mentor and coach in the creative industries, Leona is also the founder of Indie Roller.

Indie roller is a huge subscription hub for creatives who to be honest are the tightest gang I’ve known since high school days. Leona encourages entrepreneurs to play by their own rules to create the life they truly want.

Leona has been a real hustler through the 90’s cutting her teeth in the magazine world in London as a stylist then she spent years on her hugely popular jewellery and vintage stall in Portobello Market (these were the days when it wasn’t even called ‘vintage’ – more just ‘cool as’ in London)

Leona then created the hugely successful subscription box Lucky dip club, which looked like the dream business, she hired staff and saw large Revenue, only to find that it made Leona feel like a massive fraud. Yep that pesky imposter syndrome you hear many of us have gone through and sabotaged. This is when Leona dived deep into mindset work with both a therapist and a coach. Listen in to this hugely inspiring conversation.

Leonia takeaways -

1.If you’re curious in nature follow allow that fun side to you and trust yourself and follow that feeling.

2. Were you told to calm down or quietened down

3.Always try to laugh at yourself, it makes the tough days lighter

4.Press pause and share your wins each week

5.Let go of shiny perfection if it’s not you, it’s not serving you or helping others

6.However we emerge from this time, things will have shifted for the better

7.Humans are resourceful

8.What change are you seeking for your business right now? Try to clarify that.

9.Share your knowledge, there’s room for everyone

10.Simplify - So you can deliver the quality of work you want

11.You don’t have to say something 7 times in your business before people remember you did it, it’s more like 70 times in this noisy arena, keep saying it louder and louder for the people at the back. That email you spent all day writing, may not have even been opened!

12.I say this most weeks because it’s true and its why we all keep telling you; Your business is 95% mentality. You have to sort out your mindset and you will see your business fly

You can find Leona at

Indie roller.com

And on Instagram Indie_roller

Next chance to join the hub is 25th February for 48 hours so put a reminder on your phone!

Ebony Newton left the job she loved as a senior designer for Hallmark Ltd to go back to Northumberland to start freelancing after becoming a mother. The flexibility freelance life gave Ebony’s family, became more important as their son’s complex needs grew, especially as her husband works away 90% of the time.

After her second son was born, Ebony set up a second business, Dotty Black. An online paper based gorgeous gift shop for little people. Dotty Black brought products to the customer which couldn’t be found previously. After designing for In house studios and clients brands for so many years, Dotty Black became Ebony’s creative outlet, not only to explore her own personal style, but also the brand started to feel like it had a bigger purpose -  offering gifts with empowering messages for little and also big humans too who may be battling each day.

As time went on Ebony’s brand grew as she decided to work less on her client work due to the new chapter of being a parent to a child with complex disabilities

Ebony’s Takeaways

1. It’s ok to mourn your old pre-kids life when you’re transitioning into parenthood. It doesn’t happen overnight, the minute you hold your baby. We are sold such a Pinterest/ Disney idea of baking and baby signing dates at NCT classes, when actually it can be lonely and a real shock! That’s ok, it doesn’t mean you’re going to be like that forever, it’s a process of change and you and baby and family will work it all out together.

2.If you’ve made good connections and relationships throughout your career, contact them when you’re available for work, the word will get around.

3.You will get more work, you didn’t see the opportunity before, because you weren’t looking for it!

4.If you’re doing 90% of the parenting, make sure you do something for yourself in the 10% ‘time off’ because it’s all too easy to get other chores done.

5.If you want to create your own product brand, see what problems and gaps arise in your everyday life that you want solving? Maybe you could design that product

6.When you say no to work that doesn’t fit, you are actually making room for more yes projects.

7.Boundaries are huge and as we know currently through this pandemic, they change with time, so keep analysing where you’re at.

8.There’s always something to do with your business, so learn to schedule in all of the self-care as well as family admin.

9.If you have that feeling of empowerment, or a big nudge feeling, that’s the thing, there it is, that's the magic, double down on that. Remember a message straight from the heart goes straight to the heart.

10.When you’re on Instagram or Etsy and you have that horrid comparisonitis feeling, that monster on your shoulder, remember everyone is fighting a battle you have no idea about. Just know that, and know that you can keep going too! Not in spite of what’s going on in your life, but because if what’s going on!

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/dottyblack

https://www.instagram.com/dottyblackgifts/?hl=en

Books

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hype-Yourself-no-nonsense-toolkit-businesses/dp/1788601238#ace-g0979249316

Attention all fashion designers out there! This week we are joined by the successful award-winning bridal designer Charlotte Balbier.

For more than 15 years Charlotte designed and grew an extremely successful brand into an award-winning label. In 2013 she was named British Designer of the year at British wedding awards.

Her gown 'Tabitha’ was the first lace gown that offered a sexy vibe, it certainly rustled feathers in the industry and the whole trend was born. It wasn’t just the designs Charlotte created but the styling too! Charlotte hired Vogue fashion photographers and sets which was very Avant- Garde at that time!

Entrepreneur Charlotte is an inspiration to any woman, she is now a highly sought-after business coach, Charlotte studied the world of wellbeing with her role as Mentor, Breakthrough Coach and an NLP Practitioner.

Charlotte opens up and talks about vulnerability and how to be intuitive too.

Listen in to hear Charlotte's powerful tips and advice around charging your worth, getting of your comfort zone and stepping into your zone of genius

Charlotte’s Takeaways

1.It took 4 years for Charlotte to find her feet in her brand- so don’t worry give yourself permission 

2.If You want to have success and stand out if you want to step outside your comfort zone 

3.If you no see a gap act on it! 

4.If you have a clear vision - don’t stray from that keep on that path. Break down those barriers.

5.Trust the process, if you know what you Have is special and a big deal you have to keep sharing to the world.

6.Ruffle Everyone’s feathers! 

7.If you’ve got a team, strive to include them s they can be fully involved in the vision.

8.If you’re outgoing and you have to feed that part of your personality, look for an open plan shared studio space, and there's mentor accountability groups online during lock down to start now. 

9.Allow yourself to be vulnerable 

10.Work out what your zone of genus is and double down on that 

11.People can learn the business information, but if your mindset isn’t right it's pointless 

12.Don't put your own poor money 

Mindset onto others. 

13.Your product or service solves a problem! Charge your worth and add tax! 

14.If that product brings you joy you can’t put a price on that. Don’t judge people on what sparks their joy!

Artist Matthew Burrows MBE started the #Artist Support Pledge initiative when the pandemic first hit in March 2020, he and his family hoped it would reach 1,000 participants, he didn’t imagine it would generate 70 million pounds! Matthew has won lots of awards last year but I’m sure his proudest moment was receiving an MBE at the Queens Honours.

The concept of the artists pledge is straightforward: artist are invited to post pictures of their work for sale for £200 or less on Instagram using hashtag #artistsupportpledge. Every time an artist makes £1,000 in sales, they in turn pledge to spend £200 on work by another participating artist. There are no third parties, payments are made directly from artists to artists.

Listen in to hear Matthews true core values, motivations and beliefs on philosophy's and community's.

Mathews Takeaways

1.Everyone should feel they have access to creativity and the arts.

2.Intellect, Feelings and spirit shouldn’t be taken apart and seen as separate entities.

3.It’s about how we live our lives and what kind of world we create as individuals, it’s no one else’s job, take ownership of how you’re showing up each day and if it matches your core values.

4.Write down what you can offer and bring to the table and refer to it daily

5.Give yourself permission to do it messy and make mistakes

6.Having a mentor group, a safe space to sound out your ideas is vital for your creative business

7.A supportive community helps feed and develop your creative business. Give people the opportunity to support each other and the means and system they will use it. As humans we thrive in villages.

8.It's a good sign if you feel slightly nervous about putting your art out into the World-  it means it’s a new uncertain territory new! Trust that uncomfortable feeling

9.you need to change your money mindset to one that’s more comfortable asking for money, get your art, shift it by saying it’s not an exchange for time, it’s a gift you’re putting out into the world which then gives back and the energy goes on!

(Photos credited to Jonathan Bassett)

(Images of Matthew drawings on ASP credited to Matthew Burrows Studio)

https://artistsupportpledge.com/

https://www.instagram.com/artistsupportpledge/

https://matthewburrows.org/

https://www.instagram.com/matthewburrowsstudio/

What does confidence really look like? How do we change the beliefs we were told growing up?

Susie Moore chats this week about how to be ok with not being liked by everyone. And that people just aren’t even thinking about you as much as you think they are.

Susie was earning half a million dollars a year for Silicon Valley at just age 30! hello? Susie is queen of media she's an author, her first book ‘what if it doesn’t work out’ was named by Entrepreneur as one of the 8 must reads to dominate your industry! She's now a columnist, and life coach. Susie has been featured on the Today Show, published by Oprah, Business Insider, Forbes, The Huffington post, Marie Claire and she’s a resident life columnist for Greatest. Susie's work has been shared by Ariana Huffinton, Paulo Coelho, Kris Jenner!

Oh and if you think ‘oh it’s ok for her, this beautiful young lady in Miami, then think again, Susie's childhood growing up in the UK was filled With family addiction, growing up as a little girl living in women’s refuges and on social government funding from school to school with vouchers from church’s. Susie created her life literally from the ground up! I think it’s safe to say She knows what she’s talking about with a mindset and living in the best Truest part of yourself. Susie is a true hustler! 

Susie’s Takeaways

1.Don’t keep on to Shame and your hiding truth. Hiding your truth is a disservice to others.

2.We hold on to Inner beliefs because one person told us it’s that way? Investigate them!

3. Reality is just one interpretation.

4.The best thing we can do is be the example and to forget other people’s opinions .

5.It’s important to create and live in your bubble.

6.Manage your focus.

7.You can’t spot something that’s not within you.

8.A confident person is willing to experience bad things and do it anyway.

9.Whatever we need to adapt to, we get used too quickly, of course we want reach further, watch out it’s not more and more with reminding yourself of your core values.

10.Find appreciation, every single day! 

11.Imposter syndrome is a sign of growth. Always seek to level up and to be a little uncomfortable.

12.Keep doing the work on yourself daily!

13.You’re in charge of your mindset.

You can find Susie’s Moore’s books on Amazon, Indie bound and Barnes& Nobel

And Check her fantastic courses and work out at

susie-Moore.com

In this episode we dive into how to get back up and staying on the path when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

I share with you the daily practices I have been using for of 15 years which always leads to getting back to the inspired, motivated mind set.

If you’re feeling like you need to get some joy back into your creative practice then don’t miss this show.

This was an emotional episode from my heart, make sure you stay till the end for a surprise!!

www.emmaisaacs.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/creativewayspodcast/

Subscribe to the show

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-ways-podcast/id1501003193

Kat Williams is a writer, editor and of course the face behind the successful wedding blog and magazine Rock N Roll Bride.

Started In 2007 Kat noticed a gap in the market for advice on how to plan and create a wedding that wasn’t the big white day, but in fact the small alternative, colourful, accepting and more importantly unique party!

Rock N Roll Bride is one of the biggest wedding blogs in the world! When Kat launched her bi-monthly Rock N Roll Bride magazine in 2015 it was reported as being the fastest debut selling issue of a magazine ever! It sold out within 72 hours and sold over 1,000 copies within the first day alone.

In 2019 Kat published her book, Rock N Roll Bride: The Ultimate Guide for Rock N Roll Brides, which instantly went to #1 in Amazon’s wedding category.

Kat took the world and the wedding industry by storm which of course comes with a lot of negativity to deal with. Kat talks about how she navigates all of the things, how she deals with the haters, and how she stays confident and true to her voice and vision.

Kat’s Takeaways 

1. Having a large online following means you will get a few people who don’t like what you’re doing and that can be hard to deal with sometimes, especially when people feel like they know you. That can be difficult, but understand it’s them not you. 

2. Wanting to help people Is one of the best ways to run a business and run your life! 

3. Getting married is more than a wedding, it’s many loved one’s feelings, family traditions and beliefs and hang ups you didn’t even know you all had, but there’s always a different way to do it and actually do it your way and enjoy it all! 

4. Happy people don’t spread hate and lies, so if that’s something you’re dealing with, just remember, it’s actually impossible for the brain to physically be nasty and be grateful or love at the same time. They are clearly in a miserable space in their life.

5. If you’ve had struggles around food, dieting and all of that body image, don’t worry if you stray off your path and struggle a few years later, it’s a constant journey and takes re grouping often. It’s like gardening, if we don’t keep pruning daily, the weeds will show up! Be kind to yourself! 

6. Owning your business is a mental game, morning routines can really help you feel in control, especially in this world right now where it feels there isn’t much of that.

7.Exercising actually changes your thoughts, also try tapping! 

8. Confidence is a skill; you can practice and cultivate. 

9. You can be bubbly and not confident. 

10. If you have self-belief you can be so powerful! 

11. You can be fearful and do the thing anyway! In fact, every successful entrepreneur is, they just make friends with their fear!

12. We don’t know what the world is going to throw at us next, but remember this, you have the power to make your life the way you want it to be and you are more capable than you give yourself credit for. 

*****GIVEAWAY *****

To celebrate Kat coming on the podcast, I’m giving away Kats amazing book ‘Rock N Rock Bride’ The Ultimate Guide for Alternative Brides!’ to you the listener, to be in with a chance to win all you have to do is write me a review on iTunes or if you haven’t got that, then share this episode on your stories and send me a screen shot of either or if you want a double entry! It’s free to do but it really does help. Winner is announced Wednesday 23rd December 2020. Good Luck!

You can find all of Kats amazing work, courses, mentoring, her Podcast ‘The Confidence Club Podcast’ and her book at

https://www.rocknrollbride.com/

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/episode-19-pivoting-your-business-power-self-confidence/id1512131664?i=1000501492444

So, imagine getting featured in Vogue when you’re just graduating your MA! Straight after this, your next collection is also showed at London Fashion week.

This week’s guest Helen Kirkum. Helen is a footwear artist and designer based in London. Helens studio creates bespoke handmade sneakers by reworking discarded components. Helen is so conscious about the cost of fashion in terms of carbon footprint She won’t even take a pair of used discarded trainers from the recycle centre! Nope she will only take that one dumped shoe, creating wearable couture collages from discarded sneakers. Helen is a pioneer of the hacking, re-worn and patchwork aesthetic within the sneaker Industry.

So of course, after graduating in 2016 Helen got snapped up to work in house for Adidas, but after a while the artist within Helen had to go back to London to pursue her vision further!

Helens clients include Nike, Ellese, Lacoste, Timberland, Murakami Takeshi to name a few! Helens exhibited all over the world, her MA collection of course started at RCA London Helen then went on to exhibit in Minnesota, Philadelphia, China, Bordeaux.

Helens Takeaways

1. Creating a path that no one else has built before you is scary, but remember this; the worlds needs what you have to offer, so keep on going!

2. You don’t have to know the end destination, in fact most entrepreneurs and artists don’t! You just have to follow that feeling and know the next few steps.

3. Get a mentor or coach to keep you accountable or start an accountability group so you know you will keep on the path.

4. When pitching to companies or new clients, write a quirky or funny subject to grab their attention!

5. If you believe in your project, don’t be swayed by another people’s vision.

6. It’s ok to not know what to email or say, keep drafting. We all get uncomfortable and we should feel uncomfortable we that’s where we truly grow.

7. Get to know other designers in your space, collaborations are a great way to help push each other.

8. If projects had been cancelled or works quieter use this time, to work on the parts of your business you’ve been putting off, do you can start next year strong!

Helen Kirkum.com

https://www.instagram.com/helenkirkumstudio/?hl=en

Podcasts mentioned

Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People

Creative Rebels

The Imprint Podcast

Mati Rose is a successful intuitive artist, she listened to her inner voice before this though, Mati studied at art college later than her peers, aged 29 and started her painting career in her early 30’s after trying different paths, finally she listened to her gut and took the big leap of faith. Thank goodness for us she did!

Mati was one of the first creative bloggers 16 years ago. During this time, the fantastic world renowned art agent Lilla Rodgers became Mati’s agent.

Mati Rose is an adventure, a seeker, not just in self-discovery but her bravery shows through being one of the few artists to start online courses 12 years ago, not just painting but intuitive painting courses!

Matie has illustrated for brands Patagonia, Upsey Daisy, illustrated children’s books, written books, created online courses, and leads sell out retreats around the world.

Mati is an intuitive painter so we talk about how she’s navigated this during this pandemic.

Mati takeaways

1.Get your painting overalls on as your uniform to get into the right mindset for painting

2.Listen to your gut, if you want to redirect, your life can be wildly different!

3.Follow that feeling

4.Signing the contract with that famous agent or getting that book deal isn’t one big break, it’s many small actions - amending or sending more refined emails, reminding people about yourself.

5.Designing for a client is a different head space to designing for an agent.

6.The inspired state of mind different from the doing

7.Mental Covid fatigue is a real thing so listen to yourself, we have a Marathon to run not a race!

8.When painting, just start, have no expectations!

Find Mati Rose here

www.matirose.com

Books Mentioned

'Ninth Street Women'

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ninth-Street-Women-Hartigan-Frankenthaler/dp/0316226181

'Daring Adventures in Paint' by Mati Rose McDonough

'Painting the Sacred' Within Mati Rose

'How Do I love Thee?'

Mati Rose McDonough (artist), Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Josie May is a business and money mindset mentor. She coaches women at all stages in their business, many turning over 7 figures. Josie’s clients are across the globe and she tells us what we all have in common. Josie gets straight to the underlying point, telling us women’s common beliefs.

Josie shares how to be ok with asking for more money, she talks about how we need to stop the attitudes and values we grew up with that do not serve us!

Josie and her sister were both raised by their independent hardworking mum, who taught them to focus on their careers but most importantly their mindsets which was what got Josie from an extremely stressful high management role in social work, to the life she’s always dreamt of for herself and her family. Josie tells us the heart ache she experienced the year she decided to big leap of faith.

Josie talks about comparisonitis, the lack mentality, negativity and confidence issues we can all experience as business owners.

You won’t find a coach better to be honest! But that’s not why she’s on, I want you to understand how you can change your life, if you’re on the fence, feeling too stressed on the hamster wheel or wanting to ask for that pay rise.

Josie’s Take ways -

1.Value before you value money

2. The lack mentality needs to go! There’s enough for everyone!

3.Comparison and joy can’t live in the same space.

4. You don’t have to be a starving artists

5. I know we know this, but do we always actually truly watch our words and reactions so around children. They are always soaking everything in, that includes bad habits and reactions.

6. Take your business seriously, it's not a hobby, so don’t have a hobby mindset. You can have a wildly successful business that fulfils you.

7. Focus on one thing at a time. Multi tasking doesn’t work!

8. Stop people pleasing.

9.There’s so much power in creativity! Creativity is what makes the world beautiful. Remember, you give the world value with your talent!

Connect with Josie -May

https://josie-may.com