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 them back at the moment too, so Sara and Jen dive into how today’s letter writer can feel confident and courageous in the pursuit of their business goals while also exploring how best to approach balancing product creation and community building too. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-45 You can write us a letter at our website
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Should I focus on creating products or building a community first?

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. 

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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 you'd rather do?  I have so many ideas, so many things I want to create, and yet with my health recently being so challenging at times, I've found myself feeling stuck in the grief of not getting to do everything I want to in the timeline that I want to, and feeling like people often pip me to the post when it comes to creating new things. To the outside world I look like I create & do a lot - but in my messy internal world I often feel like I'm playing catch up and people around me are creating similar ideas to my own far quicker than I'm able to. In this episode we dig deep into this question, share our own lived experienced as chronically ill humans, and how we try and find peace, joy, and acceptance in taking our business journey slower and gentler along the way. This episode is for anyone who feels like you have to take your business journey slower than you sometimes wish you had to - whether that’s because of chronic illness, caregiving responsibilities, or just not being a human being who thrives at a go-go-go pace. Join us on Substack Would you love some encouragement and support in your business? Submit your letter for an upcoming episode here. More from Sara More from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts 

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe

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: 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 work on my website in a blog. The intention was always for the blog to host SEO friendly pillar content and for the newsletter to speak to more distinct, current or personal topics.    I’m now unsure as to what my website is for. Should its focus be on paid offerings and directing people over to Substack?  Should I keep my blogs on my website? How does SEO even work on Substack, especially when you’ve paywalled your archives. I guess my question is how does the content on your website and the content on your Substack intersect?  - Caroline In today’s episode we dig into this question, explore the different ways we can balance writing for our Substack and our blog, and why there’s no right or wrong answer but just figuring out what works best for you and your business.  And Jen’s group coaching program to support you to bring more freedom, ease, and intentional growth into your work and life, Your Simple & Spacious Business, is now open for enrolment until Friday 9th February if you’d love to never do business alone again. And Sara is currently taking on new 1:1 clients if you’d love deeper support with your Substack in this season. Join us on Substack Would you love some encouragement and support in your business? Submit your letter for an upcoming episode here. More from Sara More from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts   

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe

How do my Substack and website intersect?

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 done, simplifying marketing, recovering from burnout and more.  If you’d prefer to watch a video with timestamps of each question you can find that here.  And if you’d love to have guidance, encouragement, and support every step of the way in bringing more freedom, ease, and intentional growth into your business and never feel stuck or alone again in your journey you can join Jen inside her program Your Simple & Spacious Business before doors close soon on Friday 9th February and there’s also an awesome 1:1 coaching bonus if you join by Friday 2nd. * Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack * Submit your letter Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts 

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe

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

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 from now and how do you want to work towards that vision in 2024? We talk about how it feels to be a decade into our business journey, the growth we’re prioritising this year, new projects that we want to work on and so much more. If you’d love to tune into a really honest chat between two business besties, we recorded this episode for you. Join us on Substack Would you love some encouragement and support in your business? Submit your letter for an upcoming episode here. More from Sara More from Jen And Jen’s group program, Your Simple & Spacious Business, is opening for enrolment again very soon on Wednesday 31st January and this will be the last time to join before the price increases too. If you’re ready to never do business alone again you can find out more this way. Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts 

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe

A business bestie chat for 2024

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 others and ourselves overcome in our business journey too.  And today is the last day to join The Substack Soirée for the Christmas class! * Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack * Submit your letter * More from Sara * Sara’s Substack * More from Jen * Jen’s Substack * Get Jen’s Deep Dive Kit Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts   

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe

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

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