It sounds super sexy to talk about running your own business, following your dreams, and doing art for a living but here is the dillio y'all-- there are sacrifices that need to be made. Maybe you need to live with a relative for a while, maybe you need to not go out so much with friends and work on your craft, or maybe you need to make less for a bit until you can get your business off the ground.

If you are looking for a no-BS conversation about building a creative business from the ground up you are going to love this conversation I had with Hannah Wilson. Hannah is an artist and designer based in the UK, and has built a following of 100k on Instagram and 10k on Twitter, in 10 months purely by sharing visuals. And for good reason.

Her work is simple, and direct, and speaks to the heart of what a lot of us as professional creatives struggle with. I had her on to talk about how she is building her creative career, the realities of following your passion, and trusting your instincts when you go the unbeaten path. 

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/066

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TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Taking your work seriously and why she is reluctant to refer to herself as an “over achiever”
• Recognizing your value and trusting your opinion 
• Get better or market? The balance between getting better at your craft and selling yourself

Connect with Hannah Wilson: https://www.quotedvisually.co.uk/ 

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• Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady
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Today we are hearing the story of Michael Kutcher. I wanted to start the year off with this conversation because what Michael shares here gets to the heart of what many of us struggle with. 

Michael says that the first obstacle that he had to face was being born. After many complications at birth, being diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy before hitting kindergarten, and being told he had only a few weeks to live at the age of 13, this man has been through a few things. BUT…

He says there is even a purpose in all of this. Now as an advocate, author, and public speaker, Michael has shared his story on Capital Hill, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the National Institute of Health. In this conversation, we dig into how to shift your perspective and shift any obstacle into an opportunity.

ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/065

ASK A QUESTION: www.heatherparady.com/ask

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• How to shift your perspective and see obstacles as opportunities 
• How do you really find purpose through pain?
• The decision to use his platform to be a voice for others

Connect with Michael Kutcher: https://www.michaelkutcher.com/ 

CONNECT WITH US!

• Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady
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In this quick episode, I connected with my friend comedian, and writer, Shay Dominguez to talk about working on your craft from a HEALTHY place vs. working hard to prove something and fill a void. Shay is the creator of @garyandmaryig. You can connect with her at https://www.instagram.com/shaydjokes/

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Taking your work seriously and approaching it with more curiosity
• How to break through limiting beliefs
• Operating from a place of LIFE and excitement vs. shame and comparison 

CONNECT WITH US!

• Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady
• Follow Heather on IG:https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/
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This is a quick chat with my acting coach about the mindset you have to have to switch from amateur to professional creative. Kelly is an acting coach and the host of The Kelly Talk Show in Atlanta. Connect with her at: https://www.instagram.com/kellytalkshow/

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Taking your work seriously and leveling up
• Becoming a professional and how to view competition
• Impatience and when we will finally see traction

CONNECT WITH US!

• Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady
• Follow Heather on IG:https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/
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If you are a creative you are not limited in the ways you can monetize your art. In this quick clip, you will hear from a muralist who travels full-time painting and tells us how he is able to land great-paying corporate gigs. 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• How to land corporate jobs as a creative
• Networking, Thumbtack, and proactively finding more gigs
• What are the biggest blocks that keep creatives from going full time?

Connect with Rich: https://www.instagram.com/rich.marks/

CONNECT WITH US!

• Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady
• Follow Heather on IG:https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/
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As a creative how do you prevent burnout? What is the difference between needing routine breaks and being on the verge of exhaustion? Today we are talking about the warning signs of burnout and why creatives need to get really serious about their non-serious work. 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• What is the difference between burnout vs. just needing a break?
• What causes burnout? What can we do to avoid it?
• Taking your non-serious work seriously

Connect with Elaine: https://www.instagram.com/_elainejohnston/

CONNECT WITH US!

• Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady
• Follow Heather on IG:https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/
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If you are just starting off in your creative business venture- we have three tips that will greatly help you save time and heartache. You need to be creative in what you offer, clear with your message, and confident in your delivery. This is a short clip from my conversation with Elroy Byam a consultant at @Metanarra where he helps businesses tailor more effective messages to their audience.

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• How to figure out what you uniquely bring to the marketplace
• Knowing what you are best at and leaning into that
• How to be more confident with what you bring to the table

Connect with Elroy: https://www.instagram.com/elroykbyam/

CONNECT WITH US!

• Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady
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Do you need to find more leads for your creative business? Want to travel with your camera and find opportunities to make money doing what you love? Te'Shawn Crenshaw is a cinematographer and works with brands who want to connect with their audience through storytelling. He is able to find incredible opportunities with three simple practices which he shares with us here. 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• How to find work out of state
• Selling and having convention in your product
• The difference between an intrapreneur an entrepreneur 
• “Dont worry about how fast you are going”

Te'Shawn Crenshaw is a cinematographer and the owner of @mcmpmedia. Connect with him at: https://www.instagram.com/teshawncrenshaw

CONNECT WITH US!

• Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady
• Follow Heather on IG:https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/
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Why does building an online community even matter? Why is everyone talking about it and Is it even possible? We have talked a lot on the show about building an online community but you still may wonder exactly what that means and WHY it matters so much. Today we have a short clip from Dan Candler, an artist in London, and hear about why he is building a community for creatives both in person and online and why it matters so much. 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• What does online community even mean? 
• The friction between online community and real community 
• Building community BEFORE launching something 

Dan Candler is a model, photographer and the Founder and creative director of @candlercreativecommunity. You can connect with him at @dan_candlercreative

CONNECT WITH US!

• Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady
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If you work in a creative industry and are worried about whether your skillset will be in demand in the future, this conversation is for you. I connected with my friend Marion Abrams who has been in film production for 30 years- she has some incredible wisdom (and good news) for anyone working in creative industries. 

TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE:

• Discovering the essential parts of creativity that cannot be automated 
• “What makes you valuable now is more human.”
• Rethinking what value means and identifying your goal
• “We are so fortunate to make stuff.”

Connect with Marion: https://www.madmotion.com/

CONNECT WITH US!

• Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady
• Follow Heather on IG:https://www.instagram.com/heatherparady/
• Follow Heather on Twitter: https://twitter.com/heatherparady
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