Navigating life's pivotal moments can be a tricky evaluation. Drawing from my personal experiences, including a recent break-up and caring a highly anxious pet, I explore the conundrum of choosing when it's time to stay or go. We discuss the importance of listening to our intuition, how our backgrounds influence our decision-making, and why sometimes rationalizing a decision doesn't always work in this scenario.

When faced with uncomfortable situations, we often wish for a guidebook to turn to. As creatives, the choices we make can significantly impact our lives artistically and personally. In the spirit of finding balance, I've compiled a list of 3 questions to ask yourself to help guide you towards making this penultimate choice for your life, career, business, or relationships.

(0:00:09) - Finding Confidence Between Hustle and Burnout

(0:08:21) - Stay or Go: 3 Questions to Ask

(0:21:04) - One Thing

Your One Thing This Week

Make a list of 10 tactics to try and make a current uncomfortable situation work. These can be realistic to outrageous. The point is to make the list and try it… alright try them if they aren’t too insane. 

Taylor Swift’s Time to Go

Connect with Victoria Hines

www.victoriahines.com OR on instagram @thevictoriahines

Feeling lost, stuck, or overwhelmed in your career? Grab my free Creative Career Audit to discover what's no longer working.

Host your own podcast or want to quickly turn your audio recordings into social media captions or blogs? I highly recommend checking out Podium for AI generated show notes, chapters, clips, transcripts, and more. Try it out today and get 3 free hours and 50% off your first month: https://hello.podium.page/?via=victoria

Keywords

Decision-Making, Intuition, Taylor Swift, Time to Go, Break-Up, Anxious Pet, Creative Life, Cost-Benefit Ratio, Stay or Go, Improve Uncomfortable Situation

Prepare yourself for an enlightening journey as we unearth the metaphorical 'monster' that might be lurking in your creative career, obstructing your path to success. We will equip you with the tools to identify this beast, confront it fearlessly, and ultimately, overcome it. By reflecting on your past experiences and conducting a self-assessment, we'll guide you in recognizing the signs and symptoms of this career challenge.

(0:00:10) - Identifying and Confronting Career Challenges

(0:10:22) - Enhancing Creativity and Identifying Problems

One Thing This Week

Grab my free creative career audit. The worksheet will walk you through additional questions to help you deep dive into what’s working versus what needs to be tweaked. It will help you identify the problems and hone in on the core issue and common threads.

Connect with Victoria Hines

www.victoriahines.com OR on instagram @thevictoriahines

Feeling lost, stuck, or overwhelmed in your career? Grab my free Creative Career Audit to discover what's no longer working.

Host your own podcast or want to quickly turn your audio recordings into social media captions or blogs? I highly recommend checking out Podium for AI generated show notes, chapters, clips, transcripts, and more. Try it out today and get 3 free hours and 50% off your first month: https://hello.podium.page/?via=victoria

Keywords

Creative Career, Career Challenges, Self-Assessment, Career Path, Creative Journey, Hurdles, Creative Career Audit, Identifying Problems, Common Threads, Confronting Challenges, Empowerment, Self-Awareness, Career Monster, Reflecting Experiences

Get set for a riveting ride with our special guest for the day, Jen Dove, or as she's popularly known, Tech Girl Jen. We're chatting with this social media powerhouse whose knack for making tech easy has won her over 200K followers on Instagram. Jen's journey is nothing short of fascinating, from teaching tech tips and tricks to nurturing her dream of opening a black box theatre - all while maintaining a full-time job. Her candid conversation about her social media origins, audience growth strategies, and overcoming obstacles is both insightful and inspiring.

(0:08:14) - Tech Girl Jen's Growth and Impact

(0:18:40) - Strategies for Building an Audience

(0:25:29) - Social Media Influencing Misconceptions and Challenges

(0:34:57) - Challenging Creatives to Embrace Failure

One Thing This Week

Fail forward this week. What’s one thing you’ve been scared of doing in your creative career? Maybe it’s reaching out to a dream collaborator, engaging your ideal audience in a candid conversation, doing a live on social media, or sharing your work in progress. Whatever it is, Jen and I want to challenge you to fail forward this week.

Connect with Victoria Hines

www.victoriahines.com OR on instagram @thevictoriahines

Feeling lost, stuck, or overwhelmed in your career? Grab my free Creative Career Audit to discover what's no longer working.

Connect with Jen Dove

Check out her website at www.techgirljen.com or follow her awesome videos and advice on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.

Take 20% off a techgirljen service or online course by using code IG20

Keywords: Social Media, Tech Girl Jen, Influencing, Audience Growth, Consistency, Burnout, Trolls, Live Host, Failure, Risks, Opportunities, Full-Time Job, Passion Project, Engaging Audience, Balancing Time, Creative Career

Get ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about success in a creative career. Today, we promise to smash the age-old misconception that you need to have your entire life figured out in your 20s, and instead, we'll travel down the many creative paths that are waiting to be discovered. We take a deep look at the daring decisions of one of my clients who found joy and success in working with children, despite facing judgement from their community. This episode comes packed with practical methods to help you design your unique version of success and navigate your journey with more confidence and clarity.

In a world that often defines success by societal norms, we empower you to redefine it on your own terms. We'll unravel the fear and uncertainty that can accompany unconventional career choices and provide a fresh perspective on how to craft your personal success vision. By the end of this episode, you'll realize there's no one-size-fits-all formula for success. So, whether you're a budding creative or feeling stuck in your career, get ready to redefine your success story and embrace the beauty of your unique journey.

And if you're enjoying the show, remember to rate, review and subscribe!

(0:00:10) - Creating Your Own Success for Creatives

(0:14:28) - Defining Success in Your Career

One Thing This Week

What’s your current metric for success in your career? Why? On a scale of 1-10, how much does this path light you up?

Recommended free visualization on Insight Timer.

Connect with Victoria Hines

www.victoriahines.com OR on instagram @thevictoriahines

Feeling lost, stuck, or overwhelmed in your career? Grab my free Creative Career Audit to discover what's no longer working.

Host your own podcast or want to quickly turn your audio recordings into social media captions or blogs? I highly recommend checking out Podium for AI generated show notes, chapters, clips, transcripts, and more. Try it out today and get 3 free hours and 50% off your first month: https://hello.podium.page/?via=victoria

Keywords: Creativity, Career Paths, Success, Fear, Judgment, Working with Kids, Redefining Success, Unique Journey, Unconventional Career Choices, Measuring Success, Rating, Reviewing, Subscribing

Uncover the world of hand-cut artwork with our guest, Rachael Ashe, a maker known for her unique installations and creative prowess. Rachael, who has her roots in both the art and tech world, opens up about her journey, sharing how her creativity transcends into all aspects of her life. From her experience at the Textile Museum of Canada to her current role as an operations coordinator for a tech co-op, she paints a vivid picture of how art and career can beautifully intertwine.

Rachael gets candid about the administrative side of the art world, a territory many artists dread. She shares her approach to balancing creativity with administrative tasks, and her strategies for securing fair compensation for her work. The conversation takes a fascinating turn as we explore the influence of social media, open-source projects, and AI on the art community. From the challenges artists face on social media to the implications AI-generated images have on artists, we delve into the intricate dance between art, technology, and community. Join us for this riveting exploration that is sure to inspire your creative senses!

(0:00:09) - Artist's Creativity and Career Exploration

(0:14:06) - Balancing Artistic Creativity and Administrative Tasks

(0:24:41) - Exploring Social Media, AI, and Community

Nurture your community. What’s one area that you are currently feeling challenged with in your business or art? Who in your community can you ask for advice or wisdom? Reach out to them this week. Better yet - see if they can meet you for lunch or coffee to really get back in touch.

Connect with Victoria Hines

www.victoriahines.com OR on instagram @thevictoriahines

Feeling lost, stuck, or overwhelmed in your career? Grab my free Creative Career Audit to discover what's no longer working.

Connect with Rachael Ashe

Check out her work at: http://rachaelashe.com or https://artterra.ca/collections/rachael-asheVirtual Gallery show 

Follow or reach out to Rachael on Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter

It's so easy for criticism to almost shatter your dreams. This episode navigates through the rough waters of criticism and provide you with empowering strategies to help you become unsinkable. From learning the value of constructive feedback to understanding that criticism often tells more about the critics than your work, we offer you a new lens to view criticism and use it to fuel your creativity.

Remember, you are the director of your life's show, and it's your privilege to choose who takes the VIP box seats. We dive into this concept, exploring how to sift through the noise and identify those individuals who truly add value to your creative journey.

(0:00:10) - Navigating Criticism as an Artist

(0:13:28) - VIP Box Seats and Ignoring Critics

TOPICS: Criticism, Constructive Feedback, Creative Journey, VIP Box Seats, Noise, Ignoring Critics

Your One Thing This Week

Let’s create your baseball stadium of critiques. ( I love baseball but feel free to change the sport.) 

Whose in the box? Who did you invite and has specialty admission into your box seats?

Whose in the cheap seats? Who do you need to ignore right now because frankly their words aren’t helping you be the best possible version of you?

Connect with Victoria Hines

www.victoriahines.com OR on instagram @thevictoriahines

Feeling lost, stuck, or overwhelmed in your career? Grab my free Creative Career Audit to discover what's no longer working.

Host your own podcast or want to quickly turn your audio recordings into social media captions or blogs? I highly recommend checking out Podium for AI generated show notes, chapters, clips, transcripts, and more. Try it out today and get 3 free hours and 50% off your first month: https://hello.podium.page/?via=victoria

Aly, a Black, biracial, Mad acrylic painter and visual artist, opens up about the journey of finding a community that harmonizes with their art and personal values. A conversation that drifts through complex feelings tied to bodily autonomy, integrity, and acceptance, we share a moment with Aly that emphasizes the importance of knowing that you can find a community that resonates with your artistry and individuality. Aly’s powerful narrative of body acceptance and positivity sends a compelling message to creatives across all hues - your body is yours, unfiltered, even at its most vulnerable.

Journeying down the road of the art business with Aly, we share the crests and troughs, and how critical self-belief and self-love are in that expedition. Aly’s narrative is not just about their art, but about finding and owning your voice, your people, your individuality. It’s about the redemptive power of art, the moments of beauty and recognition it offers on our darkest days. Aly candidly delves into their personal encounters with body acceptance, the perception of nudity, and how they challenge societal norms with their art to promote body positivity. This episode is about more than just art—it’s about finding your voice, your community, and your unique way of expressing yourself.

(0:00:10) - Navigating Nudity and Body Acceptance

(0:15:10) - Success and Critics in Art Business

TOPICS: Art, Artist, Body Acceptance, Body Positivity, Acrylic Painting, Mad Acrylic Painting, Visual Art, Art Business, Self-Belief, Self-Love, Community, Journey, Healing Force, Recognition, Beauty, Artistry, Individuality, Voice, Nudity, Society Norms

Your One Thing This Week

Connect with Victoria Hines

⁠⁠www.victoriahines.com⁠⁠ OR on instagram⁠⁠ @thevictoriahines⁠⁠

Connect with Aly McDonald

Find Aly on Instagram @a.j.l.y.artistry , on their website, or check out their art print store.

I can recall standing before a group of new employees, anxiety gnawing at me as I led an onboarding program. I was paralyzed by the thought of making a mistake, my perfectionist nature dictating every move. After realizing the limiting nature of this mindset, I've chosen to share my personal journey in overcoming perfectionism and stepping into my most empowered self.

Join me as I reveal how I conquered my fear of failure and embraced the beauty of imperfection. In this conversation, we'll uncover practical steps to challenging perfectionism and unshackling from our self-imposed limitations. We take a deep dive into setting process goals, navigating the gray area between perfection and failure, and the liberating power of creating without boundaries. So, let's celebrate our perfectly imperfect lives together on this transformative journey.

(0:00:09) - Why We Adopt Perfectionism as Armor

(0:11:48) - Actionable Steps

(0:16:35) - Embrace Imperfection and Create

TOPICS: Perfectionism, Fear of Failure, Process Goals, Gray Area, Empowered Self, Imperfection, Actionable Steps, Create Without Limits, Trusted Advisor, Celebrate Mistakes

Your One Thing This Week

Connect with Victoria Hines

⁠www.victoriahines.com⁠ OR on instagram⁠ @thevictoriahines⁠

Feeling lost, stuck, or overwhelmed in your career?⁠ Grab my free Creative Career Audit⁠ to discover what's no longer working.

Discover how to confidently navigate the ever-evolving world of technology as an artist in our engaging conversation with Quebec-based creator, Sandra Vallette. Embrace the potential of AI to connect with like-minded individuals and foster a sense of community around your artwork. Learn the importance of an open mind to seek out new opportunities, even when they push you outside of your comfort zone.

Join us as we explore Sandra's inspiring journey from makeup artist to crafting breathtaking sculptures from pieces of nature. Delight in the innovative ways she incorporates magnets to showcase the beauty of nature in her artwork, and how her passion was recognized by France Marcotte from Quebec Art. Gain valuable insight into the importance of listening to life's cues and recognizing when it's time to take a different route in your artistic endeavors.

Embark on the adventure of navigating the art industry with Sandra's invaluable advice on entering competitions and overcoming their challenges. Uncover the importance of finding a supportive community that believes in your work and encourages you to be confident in your own artistic journey. Plus, learn the power of manifesting your needs and asking for what you need in order to achieve your dreams. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to connect with Sandra Vallette and learn how to navigate technology, creativity, and the art industry with confidence.

(0:00:09) - Navigating Technology as an Artist

(0:10:36) - Nature, Creativity, and Artistry

(0:28:09) - Knowing When to Back Off

(0:32:52) - Navigating the Art Industry

(0:41:34) - Manifesting Your Needs

TOPICS: Technology, Artist, AI, Creativity, Sculptures, Nature, Magnets, Quebec Art, Life Cues, Competitions, Challenges, Community, Genuine, Passionate, Supportive, Manifesting, Dreams, Asking, Curiosity

Your One Thing This Week

Connect with Victoria Hines

www.victoriahines.com OR on instagram @thevictoriahines

Connect with Sandra Veillette

www.Sandraveillette.com

www.instagram.com/Sandraveilletteartiste

Ready to break free from the "shoulds" in your creative life?

I'll never forget the overwhelming pressure of "shoulds" as I stepped into the professional world after college: I should move to a specific place, I should get a certain job, I should attend every single audition. Sound familiar? Join me as I share my personal journey through this maze of expectations and reveal valuable insights on breaking free from them.

We'll dive into treating advice as an experiment rather than a rulebook, redefining your own version of success, and identifying subconscious beliefs that might be shaping your creative career. With simple exercises to regain control of your life and career decisions, this episode is your ticket to a more fulfilling and authentic creative journey.

(0:00:09) - Creative Career Shoulds Navigation

(0:15:38) - Identifying Subconscious Beliefs for Creative Careers

TOPICS: Creative Career, Professional World, Good Advice, Own Voice, Subconscious Beliefs, Acknowledging, Understanding, Identifying Thoughts, Holding Back, Exercise, Take Back Control, Life Decisions, Graduating College, Stepping Into Professional World, Moving, Getting Job, Attending Auditions, Flexible Job

Your One Thing This Week

What did you learn growing up about creative careers? This can be from your parents, people who raised you, teachers, professors, peers and friends.

This can be anything you remember them saying or it can also be things that you perceptively learned from their emotions or reactions. Write it down.

Now I want you to go back through that list you created and circle the things that you want to keep with you. What are those really good, powerful beliefs that are currently helping you. Now I want you to also cross out anything that you want to leave behind any story, any narrative, any should trap that you do not want to take forwards in your career.

These are deep seated beliefs and learnings, that whether you know it or not have been subconsciously guiding you in your own career. In order for you to take back control from the shoulds, you have to start by acknowledging what they are.

Connect with Victoria Hines

www.victoriahines.com OR on instagram @thevictoriahines