Today is an important day for me. Not only is it the launch of Season 3 of Creative Freedom (cue the confetti!), it's also National Freedom Day. It's the day we commemorate the freeing of the slaves in our country. Were it not for this day, my father would never have been born and my family wouldn't exist. Most Americans are familiar with Black History Month, but this day was the very first day that paved the way for it.
Yes, it's sad that we need to set aside a special month to honor the achievements of blacks in the history of our country. Yes, more needs to be done to address the systemic problems that persist in our nation, but that's not what this episode is about. This episode is about the young boy who grew into the creative entrepreneur that would ultimately make this day possible. You may not know his name, but after today, you will.
Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments and let's rise together! If you're looking for a community of support and encouragement to help you bring your vision into being, join us in the Accountability Club, where I teach you how to build your dreams in a as little as an hour each day.
[Note: This is an excerpt from my book "Creative Freedom: A comprehensive guide to personal and financial freedom as a creative entrepreneur". If you'd like to be the first to get updates and excerpts, make sure you're on my mailing list, so you don't miss a beat!]
Suppose you saw this "advertisement" on social media. You'd no doubt roll your eyes, scratch your head, and maybe even wonder aloud "Who do they think they are? Beyonce is like The Highlander... there can be only one!"
The Highlander franchise might belie that notion, but I digress.
Regardless, you'd likely consider this ad complete nonsense and skip right on past - no matter how badly you'd like to be the next Queen Bey.
And yet, how many times have you been lured by other similar, yet equally absurd promises?
Depending on the circles in which you travel, you may have mixed emotions about the phrase "earn six-figures a year." After all, earning six or seven figures is the holy grail of many online business coaches and so-called internet marketing gurus.
The phrase "earn six-figures" is often followed by such deceptive codswallop as "in your sleep" or "in your pajamas" or "part time from anywhere".
These inflated promises are often found co-mingling with sentences like "all you need is a laptop and a dream."
Puh-lease.
While it's true that some people have done those things, the reality is that very few people can replicate their success - and when they do, success doesn't happen overnight. There's no "blueprint" or "formula" that's going to give you those kinds of results overnight.
I regularly write about the fact that those kinds of results take time. Jeff Walker, developer of Product Launch Formula, said he got fewer than 10 buyers the first time he launched. He had to launch more than once before he hit seven figures. Beyonce only became Beyonce after years of focused effort, a few heartaches, and more focused effort.
The same is true about building your own Noble Empire. You have to keep showing up consistently, iterating, focusing on what works and discarding the rest. That's how you build a reputation and make a good living doing what you love.
But too many creatives settle for subsistence-level income in their so-called business. It's time to stop the madness. (Tweet this)
That's why I am a firm believer that every creative entrepreneur needs (yes, I said needs) to build a six-figure company. I call it the Six-Figure Imperative.
At its core, The Six-Figure Imperative is both a mathematical equation and psychological illustration (Fusion creatives, rejoice!). In most casts, a healthy company needs to make at least six figures in order to pay the owner a living wage and still be able to cover the business expenses. Sure, there are places in the world where you can live on less (or might need more), but that's a fair baseline for most creatives, and I don't know many people aiming to live closer to the poverty level - which, in the US, is just over $20,400 for a family of 3 (higher in Alaska & Hawaii).
All you Chaotics out there, breathe a minute and let's explore these numbers. If you want to pay yourself $50,000 per year (before taxes), your company needs to bring in at least $100,000. That's based on the Profit First approach that I use with all my clients. Developed by Mike Michalowicz, the Profit First approach recommends that owner's pay be half of the company income.
So, $50,000 x 2 = $100,000 business revenue
Special notes: Once your business revenue is over $250,000, your owner pay percentage will shrink, and your profit sharing percentage will grow. If you want your take home pay to be $50,000, you'll need to add your taxes on top of that number before you multiply. I'm no tax pro, so you'll have to do that math on your own, but this gives you a baseline idea of how it works.
Now, all you Linears can sit back for a minute while we cover the psychological illustration. Most creatives see the six figure mark in one of two ways:
The Six Figure Imperative works to break that psychological block by showing you that six figures is not only reasonable, it's important to the long-term health of any full-fledged business.
When I say "six figures" I mean it as a baseline. I hope you're able to make as much money as you desire with your Noble Empire. Eight figures? Go for it. Ten? Why not? More? That's okay by me, too. But for most of us, the low-end of six figures is a useful rule of thumb.
But there's a big gap between $100,000 and a million. Where should your personal baseline be?
If you're living in a major metropolitan area, where rent is obscene, the low end of six figures might not even cover your mortgage. I saw an apartment listed in Nashville for $8,000 per month. And a girl's gotta eat, right? So your six-figure baseline might be closer to $250,000. That puts you owner pay at $125,000 per year. $96k for rent and $31k for all your other living expenses.
Only you can discern what will really work for you. Maybe you have no kids, or maybe you have seven. Maybe you have no debt, or maybe you've got thousands of dollars in student loans that still need to be paid off. Once you determine your living wage, you'll be able to determine the baseline income goal for your personal Six-Figure Imperative (and also helps you make the six-figure distinction).
There's one last clarification I need to make. The Six-Figure Imperative applies to full-fledged businesses. If you're a creative entrepreneur with a "side hustle" or a hobby that happens to earn some income, this may not apply to you. Creative Freedom is focused on helping creative entrepreneurs build a full-fledged business that's healthy, profitable, and sustainable. The Six Figure Imperative is meant for any Noble Empire that's designed to pay you a living wage and stand on its own. That means you don't need to prop it up by pumping your own money into it all the time, and you're not running it down to zero to keep your personal bills paid. You don't need a job to keep it afloat because it swims on its own.
That doesn't mean that your hobby can't make six figures. It doesn't mean you have to quit your day job to do what you love. There are many stories of creatives that have a day job that pays the bills so that they can create on their own terms. Jim Henson started life that way. But at some point, he decided that being a creative entrepreneur was his path, and he built a company that paid him well - and was able to feed and clothe an army of employees to boot. You dream may not be as grand as Henson's was, but The Six-Figure Imperative can help set you on the path for healthy growth, whatever size your company may be.
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If you're ready to set your own Six-Figure Imperative, and grow your creative business in a sustainable way, the doors are open to my new Portable Coaching program. If you need start up money, we recommend qvcredit as our legal money lender Singapore. They are tuned in for tech and innovation start ups. Designed for creative entrepreneurs in the start-up phase of growth, Portable Coaching is an easy, affordable way to get the help you need to grow your business. Beyond early start-up? I also have two openings for one-on-one advising. These spots fill fast, so check it out today if you're curious!
A couple of years ago, I was hired on as the Marketing Director at Heart of Business. It didn't last long, and yet a whole bunch of great learning came out of it (for all of us!). Mark Silver, the founder, and I developed a stronger friendship and keep respect for what we each bring to the table. I was VERY fortunate to sit down with Mark this month and chat about all things money - from the evolution of Heart of Business (and Mark) to pay-what-you-can pricing models and taking on clients that aren't a good fit when you need the money. All that and much more in this short, 40-minute conversation. SO delicious. Enjoy!
I almost didn't post this episode.
Technology is always shifting and changing, and by the time this episode was ready to air, Blab announced they were closing (with a vision for their next evolution), and Google Hangouts On Air started making the transition to YouTube Live.
And I had mentioned both of them in this episode! Don't you just love technology?
These changes underscore the point that live video is just another tactic in your marketing arsenal. And it may or may not be right for you - especially if you don't like the idea of investing in a platform that goes the way of the dodo bird.
So we re-edited the show and now it's a little more "timeless." Hee hee.
The answer depends a lot on how you want to show up in the world - and how you want your business to show up in the world. Like any tactic, there are pros and cons to using live video, and this week's episode offers up three reasons why live video may (or may not) be a good fit for you (and a half-naked Rockwell - who doesn't like that?).
You probably already know about Periscope, but the other platform I mentioned this week is Gigee. They are my go-to platform for all my virtual concerts. I still use skype for client sessions and I'm also playing around with Zoom and Crowdcast right now. Who knows what platforms will be available in the weeks and months to come? I'm not afraid to try new things, and I love video, but I'm also (like you) a busy entrepreneur who doesn't have time for unreliable or flash-in-the-pan platforms. When it comes to promoting your creative endeavors, remember this:
Marketing tactics may come and go, but strategy is for the long haul. (Tweet this).
Did you try live video and give it a pass? Do you love it? What live video platforms are working for you? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments and be part of our Rising Tide!
"What does a fish know about the water in which he swims all his life?"
Einstein was talking about how the very things that are crucial to our existence are very often the things to which we're totally oblivious. They're everywhere around us, we're so entrenched in them, that they've become part of our life's scenery. We've assigned them to the pile of things we "don't know we don't know", without even realizing it.
But we'd miss them if they weren't there.
If that sounds a little convoluted, bear with me while I untangle this mess.
See, each of us has blind spots. Things in our lives and work that we take for granted, or assume that anyone can do just as well as us.
These erroneous assumptions (because that's really what they are) can come in a variety of forms, and we don't even realize the ways they shape how we show up in the world.
I admit that I have blind spots like these in my life and work - though I'm getting better at them. These assumptions are your "water". You swim around in them every day, and if they were suddenly taken from you, the world would be strange and painful.
Not so fast, my "fishy" friend!
There are blind spots unique to your work, they way you were raised, and also your creative entrepreneur type. This week's episode of Creative Freedom reveals the top blind spot of each of the three primary creative types. Which type are you? Take the quiz, then check out the episode and tell me if it resonates with you.
Some of our assumptions help us be better people and do better work. Assuming that you're great at planning and strategy helps Linear creatives get impressive results. But assuming that planning and strategy are all you need keeps Linears from enjoying the results they get. Likewise, Chaotics can walk away from planning and strategy without losing sleep - something that's important to see the bigger picture of life, but assuming that plans and strategies aren't necessary keeps Chaotics from seeing some of the results they most desire.
Assuming that every creative is just like you is another death knell for your business. Linears and Chaotics don't often understand each other because they're swimming in different "water". Fusions have a better time of understanding and "translating" because they have tendencies on both ends of the spectrum, but that can often make them appear wishy-washy, or like a Jack-of-all-trades that is good at a lot of things, but not GREAT at anything (which isn't true).
Until you understand your creative blind spots, you'll just keep treading water. (Tweet This)
Take a moment to reflect on how the things you take for granted (and the assumptions you make in your life) might be coloring the work you do - or how you show up in the world. What are some of the benefits? What are some of the downsides? Share your thoughts in the comments and let's be a rising tide for everyone!
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UPDATE: Great news about the Creative Freedom Incubator! Applications are now being reviewed and accepted through August 31 for an October start date. If you're ready to get help working in and on your creative business, download the application today.
We're slowly recovering from the rollover last week. My son's doing better this week, but we're still not out of the woods. Thanks for all the kind thoughts and well-wishes. It really did make the whole week seem better.
Through it all, thankfully, I still managed to get the important things in my life and work done. How? I learned a very simple way to prioritize my day so that what's really important gets handled. No. Matter. What.
About a year ago, I shared a brief overview of The PEACE System in one of the first season episodes. The one hurdle that people keep bringing to me is the never-ending to-do list. Despite prioritizing everything, there's a LOT of to-do's that still aren't getting done.
This week, we're digging into why.
Warning: you may be stepping on a few toes when you do, but never fear! The Spice Girls are here to help you!
Inside The PEACE System, I talk about three different kinds of to-do's. By paying attention to the different kinds of to-do's on your list, you can get a better handle on what is keeping you from getting more of the right things done.
Must-Do's are activities that must be done AND must be done by YOU, in order to reap the benefit. Generally, these are what I consider IPA - Important Personal Activities, or Income-Producing Activities. The definitions of those terms (like so many of the terms I use) are loose, and open to your interpretation. Brushing your teeth is a must-do. It's not likely you're going to get someone else to do it for you, and if you don't do it, well, there are consequences. Within the Must-Do category, there are a couple of types of Must-Do's - Routine/preventative (like brushing your teeth, seeing your kid's class play, or doing client work, for example), and Emergency (car roll-over, in-laws decided to drop in, that kind of thing).
The irony of many Emergency Must-Do's is that they are often (but not always) the result of NOT doing the Routine Must-Do's. If you don't get your tires checked on schedule, you could end up with a blowout on the freeway which causes the car to roll over - and the subsequent trip to the Emergency room. Do not skip the Routine stuff just because it's unsexy, or doesn't seem urgent. Preventative maintenance is crucial in your life and business!
Want To-Do's are all those activities related to the fun things we really want to do - like taking a trip (or planning it), visiting friends, working on a hobby, reading, watching a movie, etc. These aren't things that move the needle on our business, and they're not necessarily Must Do's, but we really want to do them. Chaotic and Fusion creatives tend to have a long list of Want To-Do's, which can lead to resentment, anger, frustration, and other disempowering emotions when you can't find the time to do those things. This typically results in an "all or nothing" rampage where work on everything else stops until you can clear some of the Want To-Do's off your list. Like the day I refused to do any work and just binge-watched my favorite show on Netflix all day. Not productive, but I sure did enjoy myself - until I started feeling guilty about not getting any work done.
Should-Do's are the bane of humanity. And I don't say that lightly. Everything from the well-meaning insinuations of your friends and family ("you should really finish packing for your trip, sweetie!"), to the more overt accusations we throw at ourselves ("I should really get to the gym this week!"), Should-Do's are the things that we throw into our day without making them a real priority. In the end, you may find yourself accomplishing a lot of Should-Do's, but not moving forward on your most important priorities at all. You sure are busy, but you're spinning your wheels on unimportant tasks - or worse, waffling from "should" to "should" - like bouncing back and forth between email and facebook messages for ten or fifteen minutes, just to be "sure" you're not missing anything important - and not getting anything accomplished at all.
Not that I speak from experience, or anything (sigh).
It's easy to get stuck in a "should-do" loop, and the only way to break the cycle is to make a decision. If it's a real priority, put it in your calendar and act on it appropriately. If you're not sure if it's a priority or not, try using the Eisenhower Matrix to help you get clarity. If it's not a priority, don't pretend like it is - even to appease your family or friends. In reality, you're doing a disservice to yourself and those well-meaning loved ones. Instead, set and enforce clear boundaries around your priorities and your time. And...
Be willing to accept the consequences of the priorities you set. (Tweet This)
Some people will balk at your new-found decisiveness. After all, you've been training them to give you all this well-meaning advice for a while now. It may take time to get them on board with this new direction. Your biggest fans, however, will understand that this is something you've got to do to take control of your calendar and start gaining momentum toward that Noble Empire and inspired life you're creating.
Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments, and let's be a rising tide fo everyone. If you're interested in learning more about The PEACE System, be sure to get on the wait list, as enrollment re-opens this fall.
So this happened Tuesday:
Essentially, my son (pictured) was driving on the freeway when the car rolled 8 times and came to a stop about a quarter mile down the road. If you're one of those types who are fascinated by car crashes, I posted the photos on facebook to make it easy for everyone. I am grateful for all the prayers and well wishes for me, my kid, my family, and my car.
Much like my own "car incident" a few years ago (same road, by the way), he came out of it with a preliminary diagnosis of minor injuries: a broken finger, sprained shoulder, and various cuts, scrapes, and bruises). We're watching for potential delayed brain trauma, but otherwise seems to be relatively unscathed. We asked advice from a trusted law firm similar to mike morse injury law firm of what we can do to file for an injury compensation.
The car is obviously totaled. That was why employing the legal expertise of a professional, such as the personal injury lawyer in lafayette, is definitely essential. I also lost my cell phone in the accident. But by some miracle, we found his shoe in the car, and the phone he lost at the scene.
So I'll be looking for a new car and a new phone, but otherwise I'm a pretty happy mom, all things considered.
Needless today, I've got relatively little time this week for pithy intros and fancy stories that segue into this week's episode. So, without further ado, here it is (and if you look closely, you'll see Olivia Wilde, too)!
REMINDER: Only a couple of weeks remain to apply for my new business Incubator. If you're looking for help working in your business and ON your business, I'm your gal. Download the application and let's talk!
With all the tragedies and depressing headlines of recent weeks, it would be easy to close up shop, dig a hole, and hide yourself away for the rest of your life.
There's a lot of hurt in the world, and marketing your creative business might seem a bit - shall we say frivolous? - during these uncertain times. It doesn't even have to be a national tragedy. Sometimes personal tragedy strikes, too, and that can make it even more difficult to keep things "business as usual". Although, it might not actually be "business a usual" anymore.
Yet, it is precisely because of these times that we need you to keep showing up and keep sharing your Great Work with your world.
But how can you be a person of integrity and run a profitable, sustainable business at the same time?
This week's episode is my best attempt to answer that question with sincerity (and a dash of humor in the style of other Creative Freedom episodes). If you or someone you know is struggling to make sense of how to ethically build your business during these challenging times, this episode may help.
I've put myself in a potentially dangerous situation here by sharing from my heart like this. If you've ever thought about leaving a comment, please do it today, because this episode, more than any other I've created to date, needs your support. And frankly, I could use the encouragement, since this is a very sensitive topic. It's possible I've made a mess of trying to be helpful (it happens), but the only way I'll know is if you tell me.
I try to have fun in these episodes, so that, too, could be taken the wrong way. Again, your comments and ideas help open the discussion for everyone.
Just because others are in pain doesn't mean you can't share your joy. (Tweet This)
Share your struggles and solutions in the comments, and let's be a rising tide for everyone!
I am a sucker for procedural dramas. Criminal Minds and NCIS are staples in my late-night viewing. My husband and I have sort of a "silent bet" running on each episode. The first one of us to figure out "whodunnit" gets bragging rights for the night.
Usually, it's me. Sometimes I get it wrong, which is usually when my husband beats me to the punch.
I've spent years getting to know people: watching them, learning from them, and paying attention to behaviors, body language, and contexts. And I have two kids - who are walking laboratories of human behavior. Paying attention to all kinds of people gives me an insight into how they think and how they'll behave in a variety of circumstances.
You can't expect to consistently sell your Great Work if you don't know who will buy it (or why). You need to do something to get into your client's head and understand where they're coming from, where they're going, and why they'd choose you.
There are lots of ways to get into your customer's head, but a question I get asked a lot is "do I really need a customer avatar?"
Yes and no. It really depends on the kind of market you're trying to reach. This week's episode of Creative Freedom gives you some clarity on when an avatar is right for you - with a little help from Lionel Richie.
Ultimately, it's less about an avatar, and more about understanding your clients. Whatever method works for you is fine, just make sure you do the work.
You don't need a customer avatar. You just need to understand your customer. (Tweet this)
Need some suggestions on where to start? Here's another resource for getting to know your customers. I also teach more about this in the Creative Freedom Apprenticeship, which re-opens this fall.
Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments . Who knows? Someone reading this may need exactly what you have to offer!
[First, an announcement: Congratulations to Jill Stodola, who won the random drawing for a copy of Nely Galan's book, "Self Made". Now, on with the show.]
My Aunt Sue was a fixture in my childhood. She was also somewhat of a role model for me. She was a federal employee, she had a social life, and she was an entrepreneur. She and my mom started a DJ service when I was young. I remember helping to carry milk crates loaded with 45's and LP's from the van to the venue. I'd sit in the back of the room while Aunt Sue tested the sound equipment and we'd play my own private version of "name that tune". She'd spin a classic from an era well before my time. After hearing a song only a few times, I was usually able to guess the song and often the artist, but rarely the year. I'd get close, but Aunt Sue could almost always stump me if she asked me for the year of a song.
Thank God the Internet now helps me find the dates for all the songs in my 300 Songs project.
When I was lucky, she'd play Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" - a song I enjoy so much, me and The Damn Whippersnappers played it at our first "Front Row Sessions" online concert. The song doesn't really offer fifty options, but Paul's list of tactics was so catchy and repeatable that you could get all the guests at the wedding reception to start singing along. It was mesmerizing to watch a room of random conversations stop and transform into a singular chorus of voices when Paul offered up his 50 ways.
That or Margaritaville.
But it was Paul, not Jimmy, who gave me my first understanding of the difference between marketing tactics and marketing strategy. I've invited him back for a "guest appearance" in this week's episode of Creative Freedom - where one man's bad sales pitch turned into a teachable moment for us all.
Marketing strategy is more than just a single tactic. It has to be, or it's not a strategy. (Tweet This)
Incidentally, Des, the amazing keyboardist from The Damn Whippersnappers has enlisted, and will not return from boot camp until October, just about the time our bassist, Owen, relocates to Nashville... which is where I'm headed, too. So there's a lot of movement happening in the coming months for all of us. Say a prayer, wouldja?
Share your thoughts comments and questions about marketing strategies and tactics in the comments. What is working for you? What have you tried that didn't work? We'd love to hear from you!