Growing a creative business can feel like you can't catch up with a toddler who is running away from you. You feel like you don't quite have control of the situation which is both scary and in the long run: tiring.

So I have spent a lot of time thinking about how we can make sense of our businesses to create an experience for ourselves where we feel in control most of the time and more calm.

I asked myself: What core areas can we pay attention to? And how do those areas fit together?

Creative business is a jumbo jigsaw. We can see what it looks like on the outside of the box and we have all the pieces inside the box. It's now time to put it together.

Join our list for easy and doable strategies to create success in your business: 

We rarely pause to consider the relationship we have with ourselves as a creative business owner. Our relationship with ourself is created by how we think about ourselves and the quality of those thoughts. The quality of those thoughts will impact the businesses we create.

In this first of 8 solo episodes Leona will be exploring mindset work in the creative business world.

If this sparks your curiosity, pop your email address here and Leona will send you simple, clear and doable ways to apply this work.

Sarah is a digital designer who in 2020, wanted to start taking small steps in

Launched in April 2021, the small indie business has made many small

This young business run by a one-woman show has now worked with

On the podcast today Sarah and Leona discuss content creation burnout and how to deal with it.

Jo, a Surrey based freelance illustrator and designer, got going with her business despite knowing absolutely nothing about running a small business. She went ahead and set up her own design studio in 2017 after the birth of her third daughter when she realised that she owed it to herself and her family to try and create a life that I was truly passionate about. It took learning how to overcome imposter syndrome and her fear of getting things wrong, to create a business that she can now say she's so proud of.

Inspiration comes from all kinds of places...vintage textiles and prints, funky cocktail bars and spirit bottles as well as my vast collection of cookbooks! Jo's work always begins life as a hand-drawn pencil sketch on a piece of paper and what started with a single tea towel design has grown into a brand that is recognised for its bright, colourful graphic motifs and illustrations which can be found across a range of homeware and stationery, all made here in the UK.

Today we talk email marketing in amongst many other gems that will encourage you to keep rocking your creative business!

Website: www.joannedepace.com

The Wild and the Tame began when Chantelle became a mum and noticed that blankets and baby accessories in the very specific style she was looking for were few and far between on the high street. Delicate, nature inspired designs that aren’t too garish or childish, yet not bland either. Items that I could fall head over heels in love with!

Chantelle thought there must be other parents looking for one-of-a-kind pieces too and with a long-time dream to start her own creative business, she realised this would be the perfect opportunity. So, while pregnant with her second son, she launched The Wild and the Tame.

Chantelle now spends her days handmaking luxury baby and children’s clothing, accessories and cot bedding from my home studio in Kent. All the pieces are made in small batches using limited edition fabrics, with the pattern placement differing from one products to the next, making each piece unique.

Today we discuss how Chantelle is utilising email marketing.

Marc, a former Cbeebies animator, turned illustrator creates prints designed

Instagram @marcolooks

Today’s episode focus is email marketing with Indie Roller member

Claire has always been creative, but due to challenges in life, took a

Vivid Wire began when Claire was on maternity leave after having her son

The work Claire does, the images she creates, the words she brings to

Website: www.vividwire.co.uk

Sophie Greenwood is an artist and screen printer and the chief organiser of Super Seconds Saturday, a bi-annual event that brings 275 indie makers together to sell their seconds, samples and end of line stock all on one day.

Sophie set up Ink & Bear in 2017 to sell prints and cards and since the beginning of the pandemic has been experimenting with different styles and materials. This led to lots of samples and seconds which prompted Sophie to set up Super Seconds Saturday. In her day job Sophie organises events so Super Seconds Saturday is the perfect combination of events planning and creativity!

The amazing support from the maker community sees the third Super Seconds Saturday happening on 2nd October 2021.

Today we discuss taking that seed of an idea and running with it to make it happen.

Fastest Fingers First: 

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Fran Hennessy runs two independent businesses from her home in Leeds. Shimmy Shimmy Yay is a fun and happy jewellery and homewares brand that inspires people to live in the moment and not take life too seriously! Fran has now put her many years in the creative and marketing industries into helping other independent business owner's level up their branding, marketing and social media by setting up as a Creative Virtual Assistant.

However, today Fran is here to talk about something a lot more personal that has been rumbling away in her private life for the last couple of years. In March 2021, at 41 ½ years young Fran was formally diagnosed with ADHD. It's fair to say she has been on quite a journey and now wants to celebrate her diagnosis whilst raising awareness of the positives of ADHD and trying to detach some of the stigma surrounding the condition.

After Fran's diagnosis inspired several friends to reach out on DM's and start the same process, she decided to set up the wonderfully named 'OMG it's ADHD' Facebook group to share tips, articles and book recommendations and offer a safe support space. If you think you might be ADHD too here's the link: 

Check out Fran's Creative VA website here and fill in the form if you'd like a free discovery call: 

You can find her sparkly creations here: https://www.instagram.com/shimmyshimmy.yay/?hl=en

Letitia, aka Mrs Bertimus, paints, draws, collages and stitches characters, which have been inspired by the North Lincolnshire landscape, everyday

Letitia says that it wasn't until she started sharing the stories about her characters that she found people began to comment and connect with her work. And today she reveals the process of stepping out of her comfort zone to share those stories and the incredible impact it's had on her business ever since. Which most recently involves writing a book.

So if you struggle with telling your story and not wanting to label yourself listen along to today's episode to see a way through the vulneranility of putting yourself out there.

Connect and read Mrs Bertimus' stories here: 

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