Letters From A Hopeful Creative

By This is a podcast for small business owners ready to feel encouraged, inspired, and less alone in your entrepreneurial journey

Business Careers

What's Letters From A Hopeful Creative about?

Letters From A Hopeful Creative is a fortnightly podcast brought to you by Sara Tasker and Jen Carrington. In each episode they answer a letter from a hopeful creative who is looking for some guidance, support, and encouragement in their journey, and share some of the lessons they have learned along the way as creative coaches and online business owners. Each episode is like a mini coaching session and pep talk all rolled into one - tune in every other Monday morning for brand new episodes.

www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

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Letters From A Hopeful Creative episodes:

03.20.2024
How do you handle the grief of limitations holding you back in your business?
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: How do you handle navigating the grief of feeling like your chronic illness has held you back in so many ways - and yet know that there's nothing else...
02.04.2024
How do my Substack and website intersect?
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: Like a lot of people, I’ve moved my newsletter from a more traditional email software product over to Substack. As a writer, I also host a lot of my...
01.30.2024
Let’s talk about burnout, marketing, routines + more
In today’s episode Jen dives into twelve questions covering topics such as buiding your business in a way that honours your energetic needs, prioritising your goals with intention, routines and habits to work less and still get your important work...
01.21.2024
A business bestie chat for 2024
To kickstart 2024 together we sat down for a business bestie chat where we asked each other: What are your goals and desires for your business and creative life this year? And where would you love to be five years...
11.27.2023
An end of year Q&A
In today’s episode, for our last episode of 2023, we’re diving into four listener questions covering stepping into a new arena in our work, feeling lonely in our business, structuring our days with intention, and the main challenges we’ve seen...
10.19.2023
Ten gentle & joyful sales experiments to generate cashflow in your business
Is selling something that you feel overwhelmed by and often shy away from in your business? If so this episode is for you. In today’s episode Jen is sharing with you a sneak peak of one of the coaching sessions...
10.09.2023
How can I make space for my needs in my business?
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: Despite having a chronic illness, I show up fully to my clients - so how can I explain that I am 100% there for my clients at the times...
09.20.2023
Join Jen for her behind the scenes launch diary…
As I gear up for the next enrolment of my flagship group program, Your Simple & Spacious Business, I’m sharing a behind the scenes launch diary over on my solo podcast so that I can bring you along the journey...
09.18.2023
I’m running out of stamina in my business - what should I do?
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: I am writing you from probably the lowest point I have encountered in my creative journey. This year has been hard for me. I feel a bit lost in...
08.07.2023
Is Substack right for me and my business?
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: I am hanging on your every word about Substack. I just can't seem to shake this question: Is Substack really right for my business? And if so, am I...
07.10.2023
How can I expand my income potential as a service based business?
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: I'm an artist and graphic designer and I run a one-woman creative studio. Like Jen, I'm very intentional about not hiring staff. If/when I get to a certain stage...
06.26.2023
How could I grow and nurture my audience without using Instagram?
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: Over the last year, I’ve found myself becoming less and less engaged and connected to Instagram as a form of marketing. I don’t enjoy creating videos. I don’t like...
06.12.2023
How can I build a welcoming and engaged community?
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: I'm building a supportive platform on Substack for therapists in private practice called 'Therapists Corner'. Therapists often work alone and I hope to create a space where they can...
05.29.2023
Let’s talk about outsourcing and building a team
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: Right now I’m taking a good hard look at what I can outsource in my business so that I can be free to do the stuff that I really...
05.15.2023
Where should I focus my energy if I have limited time for marketing?
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: I’m so happy you two are back! I listened to your podcast a few years ago when I was dreaming about creating a business, and now I’m actually starting...
05.01.2023
What do I do when it feels like my audience have lost interest?
In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: I am 6 years into running my business and I feel like I’m running out of steam. The beginning was hard, but then came the “Instagram high” with dozens...
04.17.2023
We’re Back! Do You Have a Letter You’d Love Us to Dive Into?
After a three year hiatus we are so excited to be coming back into your podcast feed today. In today’s episode we re-introduce this show after our 3 year break, share why we’re hosting this podcast on Substack this time...
05.11.2020
Finding the courage and confidence to build the business you want to build
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to feel confident in their new business. Together they dive into the different ways we can all find courage and confidence in our own journeys, and...
04.27.2020
How can I steer my business into something more joyful and stress-free?
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is finding more joy, ease, and freedom in their business and life during this time of forced lockdown and is wondering how they can bring this into their...
04.13.2020
Should I focus on creating products or building a community first?
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to decide whether to focus on creating products or building a community first. Today’s letter writer also shares a whole lot of fears that are holding...
03.30.2020
How do I refocus and adjust in my business during a crisis?
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is wondering how best they can refocus and adjust in their business during this world health crisis. Sara and Jen explore how we can feel grounded in this...
03.30.2020
Should I keep selling in a crisis?
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is wondering how (and if) they should sell in this time while we all navigate this world health crisis. Together they explore how to make business decisions from...
12.02.2019
How do I decide where to focus next in my business?
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to decide where to focus next in their business. Together they dive into the lessons they’ve learned about finding focus in their own businesses and explore...
11.18.2019
How can I go from freelancer to business owner?
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who wants to take the freelance career they’ve built and turn it into a thriving business instead. Sara and Jen explore the difference between being a freelancer and a...
11.04.2019
Let’s talk about business burnout
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is battling with burnout in their business and is struggling to show up and run her business in this season. Sara and Jen share their own experiences with...
10.21.2019
Can I still build a business on Instagram?
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to find focus in their work and is curious as to whether or not they can still build a business on Instagram. Sara and Jen encourage...
10.21.2019
Ask Us Anything: Part 3
We’re coming back from our break with another ask us anything episode, diving into topics like how to deal with a bad client experience, how to prepare for starting a family when you’re self employed, whether or not to put...
06.24.2019
Automation, elimination, and delegation
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to decide what to automate, eliminate, and delegate in their business. Sara and Jen share their own approach to this in their business, the lessons they’ve...
06.10.2019
Let's talk about copycats
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling with their work being copied online. Copycats is such a tricky subject that so many of us have to navigate along the way, and in this...
05.20.2019
Ask Us Anything: Part 2
In today’s episode Sara and Jen are diving into more listener questions, from our thoughts on Instagram potentially hiding like counts, our advice for being organised, how we motivate ourselves when we don’t feel like doing the work, navigating trolls...
05.06.2019
Ask Us Anything: Part 1
In today’s episode Sara and Jen are answering listener questions, from our advice for starting something new, navigating quiet seasons in business, how we approach setting short and long term goals, how to deal with people who don’t understand your...
03.25.2019
What does it actually look like to build community online?
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is curious about what it actually looks like to build a community online. Together they explore the biggest lessons they’ve learned about building community online, why they don’t...
03.18.2019
Mailing List Q&A
In today’s episode Sara and Jen are talking all things mailing lists and newsletters. Together they dive into building a mailing list, opt-in incentives, subject lines, how to decide what content belongs on your newsletter and more. If you’re thinking...
03.11.2019
Should I invest in my business when it isn’t making any money yet?
In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is unsure as to whether or not to invest any money into their business before it makes a profit. They share their own experience of choosing when and...
03.04.2019
Building your creative business during maternity leave
In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is hoping to build her creative business during her upcoming maternity leave. Sara shares her own experience of starting her business while on maternity leave, and Jen shares...
02.25.2019
Let’s talk about financial uncertainty when you’re self employed
In this episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is feeling anxious about becoming self employed because of the financial uncertainty that comes with this path. Sara and Jen share their own experiences of navigating financial uncertainty...
02.18.2019
Instagram Rapid Fire Q&A
In today's episode Sara and Jen are celebrating the launch of Sara's first book, Hashtag Authentic, by diving into listener questions all about Instagram. Together they explore topics such as losing followers, the new rules for sharing ads and gifted...
02.04.2019
When your dreams aren’t aligned with your everyday necessities
In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to build their dream business because they're so busy doing the work that currently pays the bills and provides for their family. Sara and Jen explore...
01.28.2019
Do I have to be authentic and deep on Instagram to succeed?
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is asking whether or not they have to be authentic and deep on Instagram if they want to grow their community and achieve their goals online. They share...
01.21.2019
When you're not sure what you want to do next
In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is feeling burned out with blogging and is unsure of what they want to next. Together they explore how to deal with losing followers when you start to...
01.14.2019
To niche or not to niche?
In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to decide whether or not their business should be more niche. Together they explore why they don't believe in forcing yourself to find a niche, and...
01.07.2019
When you’re afraid that you’re never going to make it happen
In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is afraid that they'll never actually make their business happen. Sara and Jen explore why so many of us can get stuck in that fear, why embracing being...
11.19.2018
How can I make working from home more enjoyable?
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who isn’t enjoying working from home as much as they first thought that they would. Sara and Jen share what they’ve learned over the years about how to make...
11.12.2018
Let's talk about comparison
In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling with comparing herself to other people in her industry, even though her business is thriving. Sara and Jen share their own relationship with comparison, why they...
11.05.2018
Should I leave behind my business for a new and exciting opportunity?
In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who has been offered an exciting in-house role and now has to decide between that and her thriving business. Sara and Jen share their thoughts on how they would...
10.29.2018
Let’s talk about podcasting
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who has dreams of starting a podcast but fears that there is no place for her in the podcasting world anymore. Sara and Jen explore why there is always...
10.22.2018
When your course doesn’t sell like you hoped it would
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is feeling disappointed after launching their first e-course and making less than 10 sales. Sara and Jen break down the myths around creating courses, what they’ve learned from...
10.15.2018
How can I discover new dreams after building a successful business?
In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who asks, once we have established a business how do we stay devoted to it? Sara and Jen explore their own experience with reaching their business goals and discovering...
10.08.2018
Let's talk about money mindset
In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to two letter writers who are struggling with their money mindset in their business. Sara and Jen dive into their own relationship with money and how it has evolved over the years, their...
10.01.2018
Building your creative business alongside a day job
In today's episode Sara and Jen respond to two letter writers who are struggling to find the time for their side hustle alongside their day job. Sara shares her own experience of building her business alongside a day job, and...

What's Letters From A Hopeful Creative about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Letters From A Hopeful Creative episodes:

How do you handle the grief of limitations holding you back in your business?

How do my Substack and website intersect?

Let’s talk about burnout, marketing, routines + more

A business bestie chat for 2024

An end of year Q&A

Ten gentle & joyful sales experiments to generate cashflow in your business

How can I make space for my needs in my business?

Join Jen for her behind the scenes launch diary…

I’m running out of stamina in my business - what should I do?

Is Substack right for me and my business?

How can I expand my income potential as a service based business?

How could I grow and nurture my audience without using Instagram?

How can I build a welcoming and engaged community?

Let’s talk about outsourcing and building a team

Where should I focus my energy if I have limited time for marketing?

What do I do when it feels like my audience have lost interest?

We’re Back! Do You Have a Letter You’d Love Us to Dive Into?

Finding the courage and confidence to build the business you want to build

How can I steer my business into something more joyful and stress-free?

Should I focus on creating products or building a community first?

How do I refocus and adjust in my business during a crisis?

Should I keep selling in a crisis?

How do I decide where to focus next in my business?

How can I go from freelancer to business owner?

Let’s talk about business burnout

Can I still build a business on Instagram?

Ask Us Anything: Part 3

Automation, elimination, and delegation

Let's talk about copycats

Ask Us Anything: Part 2

Ask Us Anything: Part 1

What does it actually look like to build community online?

Mailing List Q&A

Should I invest in my business when it isn’t making any money yet?

Building your creative business during maternity leave

Let’s talk about financial uncertainty when you’re self employed

Instagram Rapid Fire Q&A

When your dreams aren’t aligned with your everyday necessities

Do I have to be authentic and deep on Instagram to succeed?

When you're not sure what you want to do next

To niche or not to niche?

When you’re afraid that you’re never going to make it happen

How can I make working from home more enjoyable?

Let's talk about comparison

Should I leave behind my business for a new and exciting opportunity?

Let’s talk about podcasting

When your course doesn’t sell like you hoped it would

How can I discover new dreams after building a successful business?

Let's talk about money mindset

Building your creative business alongside a day job