Real Talk with Tian

So, a question that I've been having a lot. And this is a question and conversation that I have with myself… yes, I do talk to myself. And one that I talk to with my coach, my students, and coaching clients, and that is, "what is your purpose?" What are you here for? What are your goals? And the thing that comes up for a lot of is what does success actually means. Does it mean that I need to make a lot of money? Does it mean that I have the time and space to be with family? What does that actually mean? What does that actually look like for me? And that's something we'll talk about in this episode. Real talk starts now

Registration for Pattern Partnership is now open. Join today and get help with your goals. CLICK HERE

Learn more about PATTERN PARTNERSHIP HERE (for crochet and knitwear designers) and The SOCIETY HERE (for markers, creative, business owners)

SHOW SPONSORS:

Convertkit - I've been using ConvertKit to build new forms and landing pages to grow my email list as a creator. It's the easiest way to launch your next creative project! Sign up through the link below and you'll unlock 1,000 subscribers for free. CLICK HERE to sign up!

THINKIFIC - I've been using Thinkific to deliver my courses and membership training programs. This platform has been a pivotal part of the exponential growth of my business. Sign up through the link below to try for free. CLICK HERE to sign up!

SKILLSHARE - Explore your creativity. Join Skillshare to watch, play, learn, make, and discover. 2020 was a year when we dealt a lot and being able to zone out and learn something creative was exactly what I needed. And, I'm STILL learning and exploring my creativity with painting classing and making videos for Instagram. Sign up through the link below to join Skillshare today and get TWO WEEKS of Premium for Free! CLICK HERE to sign up!

In this episode, I'm talking all about why you're focusing on the wrong things and what to do instead. Stay tuned. Real Talk with Tian starts now.

Learn more about PATTERN PARTNERSHIP HERE (for crochet and knitwear designers) and The SOCIETY HERE (for markers, creative, business owners)

SHOW SPONSORS:

Convertkit - I've been using ConvertKit to build new forms and landing pages to grow my email list as a creator. It's the easiest way to launch your next creative project! Sign up through the link below and you'll unlock 1,000 subscribers for free. CLICK HERE to sign up!

THINKIFIC - I've been using Thinkific to deliver my courses and membership training programs. This platform has been a pivotal part of the exponential growth of my business. Sign up through the link below to try for free. CLICK HERE to sign up!

SKILLSHARE - Explore your creativity. Join Skillshare to watch, play, learn, make, and discover. 2020 was a year when we dealt a lot and being able to zone out and learn something creative was exactly what I needed. And, I'm STILL learning and exploring my creativity with painting classing and making videos for Instagram. Sign up through the link below to join Skillshare today and get TWO WEEKS of Premium for Free! CLICK HERE to sign up!

What are you focused on? Are you so focused on the making that you neglect doing money-generating activities? Chances are you are. So, we're going to get into focus and the 80/20 rule. Real talk with Tian starts now.

Learn more about PATTERN PARTNERSHIP HERE (for crochet and knitwear designers) and The SOCIETY HERE (for markers, creative, business owners)

SHOW SPONSORS:

Convertkit - I've been using ConvertKit to build new forms and landing pages to grow my email list as a creator. It's the easiest way to launch your next creative project! Sign up through the link below and you'll unlock 1,000 subscribers for free. CLICK HERE to sign up!

THINKIFIC - I've been using Thinkific to deliver my courses and membership training programs. This platform has been a pivotal part of the exponential growth of my business. Sign up through the link below to try for free. CLICK HERE to sign up!

SKILLSHARE - Explore your creativity. Join Skillshare to watch, play, learn, make, and discover. 2020 was a year when we dealt a lot and being able to zone out and learn something creative was exactly what I needed. And, I'm STILL learning and exploring my creativity with painting classing and making videos for Instagram. Sign up through the link below to join Skillshare today and get TWO WEEKS of Premium for Free! CLICK HERE to sign up!

It's the start of a new year. You have your goals set for the year. Your intention set. Your one word. Your color-coded calendars. You're ready to make those goals a reality. But there is one major thing missing that despite the intention and goals and all that stuff, you're going to fall short… again like last year. Ready to finally make your goals come true? Real talk starts now!

Registration for Pattern Partnership is now open. Join today and get help with your goals. CLICK HERE

SHOW SPONSORS:

Convertkit - I've been using ConvertKit to build new forms and landing pages to grow my email list as a creator. It's the easiest way to launch your next creative project! Sign up through the link below and you'll unlock 1,000 subscribers for free. CLICK HERE to sign up!

THINKIFIC - I've been using Thinkific to deliver my courses and membership training programs. This platform has been a pivotal part of the exponential growth of my business. Sign up through the link below to try for free. CLICK HERE to sign up!

SKILLSHARE - Explore your creativity. Join Skillshare to watch, play, learn, make, and discover. 2020 was a year when we dealt a lot and being able to zone out and learn something creative was exactly what I needed. And, I'm STILL learning and exploring my creativity with painting classing and making videos for Instagram. Sign up through the link below to join Skillshare today and get TWO WEEKS of Premium for Free! CLICK HERE to sign up!

Are you tired of trying everything to make your creative maker and design business grow? You have beautiful designs, amazing ideas, but you're not getting noticed or making sales.

Welcome back to the Real Talk with Tian Podcast. Hello, I'm Tian Connaughton of TianConnaughton.com and the creator behind The SOCIETY and Pattern Partnership. This is Season 3 and I am so thrilled to be back to talking with a whole new season of the real talk that gets to the heart of the matter.

We have an amazing season planned that I cannot wait to share with you… coming at you on Thursdays.

By the end of the season, I want you to feel confident in your business and have a plan to turn your creative hobby into a profitable business.

Stay tuned. Real Talk with Tian Season 3 starts now!

SHOW SPONSORS:

Convertkit - I've been using ConvertKit to build new forms and landing pages to grow my email list as a creator. It's the easiest way to launch your next creative project! Sign up through the link below and you'll unlock 1,000 subscribers for free. CLICK HERE to sign up!

THINKIFIC - I've been using Thinkific to deliver my courses and membership training programs. This platform has been a pivotal part of the exponential growth of my business. Sign up through the link below to try for free. CLICK HERE to sign up!

SKILLSHARE - Explore your creativity. Join Skillshare to watch, play, learn, make, and discover. 2020 was a year when we dealt a lot and being able to zone out and learn something creative was exactly what I needed. And, I'm STILL learning and exploring my creativity with painting classing and making videos for Instagram. Sign up through the link below to join Skillshare today and get TWO WEEKS of Premium for Free! CLICK HERE to sign up!

Welcome to episode 10, Season 2 finale of the Real Talk with Tian podcast. In this episode, I'm sharing 5 practical tips for maintaining and even scaling and growing your creative business during these uncertain times...and beyond.

We didn't see this coming. When I started planning season 2 of this podcast back in late 2019, I had planned to end the season another way, completely different. Maybe it will be a bonus episode later or in the next season. But with the pandemic and these stay at home orders, we are all facing uncertainties in our lives and in our business. In life, like you, we're all just doing the best we can. But in business, we can do so much. So, in this episode, I want to share with you some strategies for how you can navigate running your creative business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BOOKS:

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to tell your story in a noisy world by Gary Vaynerchuk

Unlock Your Inner Designer: How to start designing

Pattern Launch Plan: Sell more patterns consistently without being sleazy

COURSES

Tian Connaughton - Courses

Pattern Grading Made Easy: How to grade like a pro! (self-study) - Pattern Grading Made Easy (self-study)

One-on-one Coaching with Tian

Tian Connaughton - Coaching

Website: TianConnaughton.com

Instagram: @TianConnaughton

I have a pretty good idea of what it's like stitching and designing in the US. But what is it like around the world? I have questions! So, today I'm talking to Dom Trad, a knitwear designer located in Australia, about her journey.

This conversation gets really deep and touches on a lot of great topics. It's one to not miss.

Stay tuned. Real talk starts now.

Find Dominique Trad on:

Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/dominique-trad

Ravelry Group: https://www.ravelry.com/groups/domknit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dominiquetrad/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DominiqueTradDesigner

COURSES

Tian Connaughton - Courses

Pattern Grading Made Easy: How to grade like a pro! (self-study) - Pattern Grading Made Easy (self-study) bit.ly/patterngradingselfstudy

One-on-one Coaching with Tian

Tian Connaughton - Coaching

Website: TianConnaughton.com

Instagram: @TianConnaughton

So, how are you? Seriously, how are you? I wasn't sure if I was going to do an episode this week or skip it in light of all that's happening. There is so much uncertainty, I didn't want to add to the noise. But in the end, I decided to record this episode because maybe you're feeling unsure about your business and if it will survive. You're wondering if you should still be selling... is that even appropriate.

These are unprecedented times. There are so many uncertainties with full-time jobs, schools, let alone a fledgling business. But this is the perfect time to be of value to your community. This is the perfect time to go out and serve the heck out of your community. Now is the time to start focusing on what you can control and that is how you show up in the world for yourself, your family, your audience.

In this episode, I'm sharing some actionable steps you can take right now to reclaim control.

Stay tuned. Real talk starts now.

COURSES

Tian Connaughton - Courses

Pattern Grading Made Easy: How to grade like a pro! (self-study) - Pattern Grading Made Easy (self-study) bit.ly/patterngradingselfstudy

One-on-one Coaching with Tian

Tian Connaughton - Coaching

Website: TianConnaughton.com

Instagram: @TianConnaughton

For a lot of us, running a yarn store seems like glamour, right? And I'm raising my hands because I'm one of those people that as soon as I started crocheting and knitting, I was ready to open a yarn store where I'd play with yarn all day... but I have a feeling that that's not the reality of owning and running a yarn store.

Today, we're having a chat with Ana Campos of Circle of Stitches in Salem, MA and the dyer behind Toil of Trouble. Ana shares her behind the scene, the real tea of running a brick and mortar yarn store. Stay tuned. Real talk starts now!

Ana Campos

Circle of Stitches

Fiber-Retreat

BOOKS MENTIONED

Macunaima by Mario de Andrade

Power of the Witch by Laurie Cabot

COURSES

Tian Connaughton - Courses

Pattern Grading Made Easy: How to grade like a pro! (self-study) - Pattern Grading Made Easy (self-study)

One-on-one Coaching with Tian

Tian Connaughton - Coaching

Website: TianConnaughton.com

Instagram: @TianConnaughton

Folks want to get featured, get highlighted in magazines, podcasts, and social media. I get it!

This might be you, but are you ready? Do you have a strong foundation in place in your business to handle all the new traffic and eyeballs that will be coming at you?

In this episode, we're gonna break it all down about all the things you need in place before you get featured.

So grab your tea. Real talk starts now.

Get the resource:

BUILDING BLOCK METHOD 3-Easy Steps To Maximize Your Exposure

COURSES

Tian Connaughton - Courses

Pattern Grading Made Easy: How to grade like a pro! (self-study) - Pattern Grading Made Easy (self-study) bit.ly/patterngradingselfstudy

One-on-one Coaching with Tian

Tian Connaughton - Coaching

Website: TianConnaughton.com

Instagram: @TianConnaughton