Smart Creative Women

I had great fun interviewing Elle Luna about her work and her book The Crossroads of Should and Must. Elle really hits home as she talks about what led her to quit her job and risk everything all in response to a recurring dream. (What?) This practical Virgo freaked out and got it at the same time. Elle is a prolific artist and now successful writer and speaker leading a movement to discover and follow your passion. She is no stranger to the practical aspects of life, she has a background in tech start ups and she lives in the Bay area where rents are not to be taken lightly!

This book is SUCH a great gift to ANYONE making a life transition, graduate, career changes and to any artist girlfriend that needs some LOVE. I chimed in and suggested you buy 2 one for yourself and one for a friend!

Tune in to this interview and she what see is all about! Follow her on instagram @elleluna along with 124K fans and see her beautiful sprit shine.

I ran across Katie's words of encouragement at just the right moment. She was at the Alt Summit conference on a panel of entrepreneurial women where she was telling the PUJ baby start up story and she said there was a pint where she had to "commit and make the leap." I sat in the audience and got teary eyed. I had to have her on the show. I was experiencing the "waver" I felt like I had been spinning in my own circles with very little results. I knew in my heart I was still "dating" other options in my own mind. Katie's words, commitment and wisdom are profoundly helpful. You are simply going to love her story and if you think you know her story-tune in, because she shares a side of her design story that she does not normally share.

I mean just look at the brilliance of the Puj baby products, I knew that those ideas came from a pretty clever cookie. her Puj Tub folds flat and can be assembled with one hand (why, because Mom is holding a baby in the other hand!) The Puj Hug towel wraps around Mom's neck during bath time, keeping her day and then wraps around the baby. The Phillup is something every family needs to eliminate all the stray glasses hanging out in the kitchen. I am sold, sold, sold. If you know a new mother, she needs all these things, trust me!!

You are going to love this interview, so what are you waiting for? Get started!

It was so much fun to chat with author Jon Acuff. Jon is the author of five books, including Quitter and the New York Times bestseller Start. For sixteen years he’s helped companies like the Home Depot, Bose, Staples, and AutoTrader.com tell their stories. He’s a well-known public speaker, and his blogs have been read by millions of fans. (shiny official bio) I found him to be an all around great human on the planet (and we need more people like that!) He has a legion of followers whom he delights on a daily basis with self deprecating humor but when you tune in you will see he has loads of wisdom and heart to make your life better. In his most recent book, he tackles you and your career. Actually, he tackles himself first (nice of him) which makes it easier to digest the nuggets that you can apply to yourself in this book.

With eye opening suggestions and straight out exercises, this is a great book to shake up yourself and your career in a good way. Great read, great fun, great wisdom!

One of my favorite quotes! Click to tweet! "You don't learn something new and end up somewhere old." @JonAcuff

You just have to meet my guest today! Carrie Schmitt has such story of triumph. She was diagnosed with a rare disease that made her allergic to heat that stopped her in her tracks, it even became life threatening. She had to completely alter her lifestyle and had to combat her way out of her depression about her situation. A voice inside her told her to learn to paint! Pretty amazing, right? Now, look at her go! What beautiful results! You simply have to listening to this interview. Carrie's determination is remarkable! She has turned into quite a savvy business woman, with a new book, and an interactive yoga/creativity e course. It was fun to hear give some tips on how she sets out to get press ;) You'll like it too!

Fun! Today I am chatting with Meredith Mahoney founder of Birch Lane, one of Wayfair's newest brands. Birch Lane is a fabulous lifestyle/home decor brand specializing in what I consider the "new classic" look. You have to tune into today's episode to find out how Meredith put together this brand and what she thinks about the type of woman who shops at Birch Lane. Their customer is NOT old school traditional, she is "new school traditional" buying furniture to last and then layering in her space because SHE wants her environment to look and feel a certain way.

I loved hearing how Birch Lane "thinks" about their customer!

This view point can be applied to YOUR business no matter what the size. She and her team get it and the proof of that is the fast growth of Birch Lane this past year. Meredith and I also discuss the real life juggle of being a mom and an executive (always good to hear how woman are doing it!)

Fine artist and daily painter, Lisa Daria is my guest today! I love having these types of conversations with women like Lisa, who really have great insight into the creative process. Lisa is a daily painter producing a Daily Painting for the last 5 years! Roughly 1,500 paintings, crazy impressive! Even on holidays and when she travels daily paintings are a part of her. That is just a part of her practice, she does commission work, has her art in galleries and she also teaches illustration at Mass College of Art. Her insight to getting the best work out of her students will help draw out the best work in YOU! I loved this chat and have been applying the tips she mentions in the interview to my own drawing. We also tackle the big elephant in the room, TIME. Lisa gave me some really interesting perspective on the ever elusive time management. Tune in to this episode! I appreciated her wisdom and so will you!

I can't decide what I like more, Lisa Congdon's diverseness as an artist or the perspective she has on making art. She is practical (and all that practical advice takes form in her new book Art Inc.) and she is wise. This is a great interview with good insight and I know you will like it. Lisa isn't quite the overnight success some people might think she is, she has been showing up for herself and her career since for some time now. She really has a heart for other artists success as she shares encouragement in this interview. I found her book Art, Inc down to earth. If you have questions about anything regarding how to set yourself up as an art professional, this book touches on it. She cracked me up when she told me she had to edit out 20k words!! Tune into today's episode, whether you are just starting out or a seasoned professional, I think it will offer you some perspective that just may help you on your own journey.

I wanted to share something with you that I recently caught myself doing! I was letting awful words come out of my mouth about my situation and my future! Yikes! That's not like me! But it can happen to a-n-y-o-n-e. What you speak over your life, your health, your career all have a powerful impact. Tune into to this important episode as I talk about how when I changed my words, things began changing in my mind and then in real life.

I talk about this scholarship that I am up for! (Thank you so much for voting and believing in me!! Voting closes midnight Sunday Mar 1st) and chandeliers, yup! All in one video/podcast because that's how I roll.

Here is my challenge for you-do you think you might be speaking death/bad words/wrong things over you or your business? Have you been saying something is so hard business, motherhood, making money being creative, that now that's all you see the HARD parts not the joyful parts? Are you speaking out failure, frustration and then waiting to see it happen?! Ouch, right? It is time for you to say something positive, good healthy about you and your life!! In the comments below here is your chance. Commit to changing your words around a subject that you are speaking poorly about!

I'll go first:

"I have all the resources I need cash, wisdom, and connections for my life, and this includes paying for my sons college!"

Are you ready to change your game, your outlook and find your business and creative style and voice? Are you ready to explore how you see light, color, texture, craftsmanship that is just some of the fun we have in this e-course. Check out Smart Creative Style, it starts March 9th 2015!

I have one of my very favorite girly girls on the show today! It is always so much fun to talk to the sweet, Bella Pilar. You might recognize her work , it has been on everything from greeting cards to puzzles, phone cases and now it is on large canvas prints. You will enjoy hearing how she works (still hand paints!) and about the great relationships that she has with her clients. It's great to hear about an artist who genuinely loves what she is doing and Bella is a perfect example of just that! Tune in to today's real life girlfriend chat