We know. This topic can be one to scoff at. Defining success for yourself sounds like a really fluffy, cliche topic. The truth, though, is this: defining what success really looks like for you impacts the choices you make as a creative entrepreneur every single day. And the other truth is this: we have to continue defining what success looks like for us all along the way.

With so much pressure coming at us through the lens of social media, and what perceived success looks like for others, we must find some kind of destination with places to stop and enjoy the view along the way. Considering what success looks like for you also means inviting in the responsibilities and downsides that might come in different phases of success. This week we’re chatting about the reasons we believe it is so important for us to define our own success and why it’s not cliche at all.

You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

The Creative Exponent podcast returns this week with a bang, great conversation, and an incredible guest. Heather Bullard is an Editorial Prop Stylist, Creative Director, Producer, and Business Coach - with more than a decade of experience, and on top of all of that, she believes deeply in pursuing your own creative path & creating a rich, fulfilling, career built around the things you care about. Yes, she’s our kind of woman.

We chat this week about styling and photography, creating classic looks and branding experiences that stand the test of time, as well as how to combat the “sea of sameness” on the internet and why it’s so, so important for us as creatives.

You can find Heather at www.heatherbullard.com and on Instagram @heatherbullard.

You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

How can we take care of ourselves creatively? Making time for it is a huge start. But how do we do that? How do we keep our creative time a priority and more importantly, how can we protect how we feel about our creative work?

How can we avoid burnout and the angsty feelings of “not getting enough done?” What kinds of things can we do to promote creative self-care? This week, we’re talking about what works for us, talking about how we approach our schedules and grace, and how we try to invest in ourselves to keep going.

You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

2.25 - Who Are You Creating For… by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

You’re a creative entrepreneur. You wear a million different hats. And chances are, because you are opportunistic and optimistic or financially motivated, you wind up saying yes to everything. And while sometimes we have to say yes to more than we’d like, the goal is to move into the place where we can become discerning, and say no to the good to make room for the best.

Saying no is golden. Saying no when something is not a “heck yes!” is essential to save room in our businesses and in our lives to GROW. We’ve both been there, and this week we talk about two or three instances where we have had to say no in big ways to pave the way for the better opportunities for our businesses or to provide more thriving in our lives.

You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

2.23 - Talent Vs. Creativity by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

Once you have determined what matters to you and your brand, THEN we can begin to build a vision. So often, as solo entrepreneurs, it feels a little lofty to create a vision. But knowing where we are going matters. The unearthing of your vision matters. Your decisions, your yes’s, your no’s...will all stem from here.

Dreams and ideas are singular, not necessarily tied to a holistic picture. A goal is trackable and actionable. A VISION is the picture of your true north. Where am I actually going, long term? Vision is an encompassing view of what you want to cultivate AS you accomplish your goals and dreams. The other truth about vision? It can be simple. It does not have to be a world conquering, consuming picture. Even in its simplest form, vision is impactful and empowers the way you and your business move in the world.

You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

Ahh, growth and social media. You rarely hear a conversation about Instagram, or any other social media channel, that is not synonymous with growth.

And while we know growth does matter as it relates to our creative businesses, this is not a “5 steps to grow your Instagram” podcast episode, but rather, a totally honest, exploratory conversation between friends, one with a large audience and one with a smaller audience. How it works for us, what the frustrations are, the good stuff...what matters and what really doesn't.

There are important questions to consider like: How does growing your Instagram account impact your business goals in the short term? Long term? What are you really reaching for? Growth for community? Growth for eventual financial stability? Could it be growth matters because there is pressure simply to have a large audience? Putting a name to why we want to grow matters as much as growth itself.

A Compiled List of Key Areas for Instagram Growth in 2020 Referenced in Today’s Episode:

IGTV series

Collaborate with brands and others

Longer captions

Post more videos

Post more selfies

Cross-promote IG to your other platforms

Use #s

Create memes

Develop & maintain a brand

Participate in trending topics/conversation

Run a contest/giveaway

Monitor people who tag you

Quality over quantity with grid posts

Use IG stories

Create your own #s

Geotag location

Tag friends & brands

Post pretty photos

Socialist and comment

Tools/apps

Planoly

Onlypult

Tailwind

Facebook Creator

Repost for Instagram

You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

Sometimes we launch a creative business by accident of sorts. Sometimes the business shifts drastically. Sometimes, as creative entrepreneurs, we long to change or further develop the vision of our business. This week, we talk through the first part of building your vision. Think of your vision as the “could’s and should’s.” We talk about setting up your core values, non-negotiables, and must-haves. Who are you? Where are you willing to go? What needs to be at the heart of your business?

You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

Additional Note: You can find the work of John and Ashely Marsh (mentioned in the episode) at www.marshcollective.com.

We would argue that everyone is creative, and we give you some more reasons to believe us this week. But just in case you’re still on the fence, we talk about practices for the “non-creatives” out there. What are some small, simple ways to shift your perspective or maybe open up the creative work or hobby you had to sideline some time ago? We chat about these this week, and talk about the ways we have used these exercises to stir up our creative juices again and again.

You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.