Unlocking Your Hidden Creativity …

(Snippits from our oh so popular Digital Glue Podcast!)

A few years back, I was talking with a co-worker at my old 9 to 5 job, about different books to read involving creativity. And she strongly suggested Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. It piqued my interest as we deepened in the conversation because this book was about creative living beyond fear. Something I was honestly struggling with at that very moment — both personally with my artwork and professionally at my dead-end job. So, during my lunch hour I immediately ran to the bookstore to grab a copy and to my surprise it was on the shelf labelled “staff picks”. So that means it must be good, right?!

It was one of those books that you just couldn’t put down. A real page turner as Elizabeth talked about how creativity is sacred, yet not sacred. And that what we make matters enormously yet doesn’t matter at all. And how in a way, we’re alone in our thoughts as we create, because art is a crushing chore and a wonderful privilege. She clearly stated that “the world wants to be made, and it wants to be made through you.”

That got me thinking … Why are all creatives so afraid about unpacking their creativity?

And Elizabeth put it like this …

The real reason we don’t move creatively ahead is always and only fear.

I honestly do not know one creative person who isn’t doing multiple things or aspiring to do yet another. This is the true path to being a creative individual. Our minds never stop, even when we’re sleeping (or trying to fall asleep).

For me, it all started when I was a young girl … I was always doodling, colouring and interested in any DIY project I could get my hands on. That lead to art in school for me then tech and design school right after graduation.

Yet during my many years of schooling, I was always told by my teachers, mentors, and others around me that I needed to buckle down, focus and “find my artistic style”. Find my style … what the heck did that even mean?!

Being told I had to find one single artistic style to bundle up my entire being seemed utterly impossible and I truly did not like that idea.

I struggled with that for many years … trying to “find my style”. Moving from one art style to the next and trying every possible medium out there. Then one day it came to me … Being a creative individual shouldn’t just stop at one medium, one type of project or one DIY skillset. To me, being a creative individual meant that I should be able to dive into whatever artist ways tickled my fancy at that time and just work to perfect the inspiration I was working on at THAT MOMENT — then see where that took me next.

Creativity allows us to stretch our minds, do new and exciting things, and engage ourselves in a way that takes us one step closer to reaching our full potential.

During all those years of creative style struggle, I learned that I was better at some creative outlets than others and that’s what brought me to becoming a graphic and web designer. I worked for years to perfect my skills in this niche and never stopped to wonder if another career choice would have been better suited for my personality and lifestyle. I knew, in my gut that being a designer was the path I was supposed to be on. So, every single day, I keep creating and never stop learning as technology grows as quickly as we age.

As a creative individual I find I have a great deal of energy, both mental and physical. I can spend hours working on a single project, whether it be designing, painting, or DIYing. Doing these things holds my attention at a very deep level that nothing else truly does, while remaining enthusiastic about the next step, next brush stroke, and of course … next big idea!

No, I’m not hyperactive but yes, maybe a bit OCD, LoL!

During my downtime, my mind constantly races. I am always quietly thinking and reflecting on the things I just created and other things that hold my creative interest. I’m always hunting down that next BIG IDEA. So, I guess you can call it what it is … I am a realistic daydreamer!

I like to daydream and imagine all the possibilities and wonders of the world around me. I tend to immerse myself in imagination and fantasy, yet due to my design background, remain grounded in that which is real. And that’s how I found my style! And those around me tend to agree. I tend to be BOLD or ITALIC but never regular (haha, bit of graphic design humor).

Most artists who don’t have a design background tend to be less organized and create art while flying by the seat of their pants. However, I am quite different. I plan every stage, colour and angle all the way until I can envision the end before I’ve even begun my project. When it comes to the artist inside me, I like to joke that I’m an organized creative. My graphic and web design brain somehow meets in the middle with my artist brain and creates a magical combination of the two. And vice versa when it comes to my virtually creative projects. I cannot seem to separate the two. But to me, that’s what makes my creative abilities so special. I’ve learned to merge what I have knowledge on from all angles and create masterpieces in all areas of my creative lifestyle.

Usually, some people see things as they are and say “why”. While I dream of things that never were and say, “why the heck not!”

I hope you enjoyed this short little story about what I’ve learned about myself as a creative individual and how I managed to beat past that struggle to not let one art form bound and limit me to who I am and who I want to continue to be as an artist. It’s okay to love to do more than one thing or style and be proud of all the craziness that comes with the passion. I feel that is what sets one apart from the rest of the world and makes every one of us in the world of creativity original. Before we dive into a special edition conversation for creative business owners, I will leave you with this short quote to ponder upon …

If you walk in the footprints of others, you won’t make any of your own.

Okay, so now that you know a bit more about me in the land of creativity, I thought I’d end off with a shout out to all you creatives out there who want to migrate your special skills into the land of business. Thus, ending off today’s “untangling” podcast with how to write a business plan if your business revolves around creative services. And of course, why you need one so that you will actually follow to achieve your goals!

If you think about it, a business plan is somewhat like a roadmap. It is a plan that maps out how you and your business will get from where you are to where you want to be. I have talked about setting goals in previous blog posts and podcast episodes, and your business plan should dovetail with the goals you have set for your business and, ideally, for your life.

So, grab your notebook or Otter this next part as we get into the WHY portion of needing a business plan …

We are creatives. We create! We tend to be right-brain thinkers — although I have recently read that newer research indicates the left brain/right brain dichotomy is a myth. So, let’s just say that some creative folks resist the idea of plotting a linear path and then being expected to follow it. Such a plan can seem entirely too confining – especially for creative individuals. If it is against your nature to make long-term plans, then you are probably not going to write or follow a business plan unless circumstances require you to do so.

I am the unicorn of the artistic crowd. While I am artistic and creative driven, I also love planning and keeping track of things and using systems to help with all of that. I feel I am so lucky to have such talent and drive in both areas even though they’re quite opposites.

Have you heard the expression, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else”? Well, it’s a book title, and I have also seen these words attributed to people other than the author of that book. The point is … what a true statement! It is all about setting goals, planning how to accomplish them, and staying focused. Writing a business plan will help you focus like nothing else.

Designers, artists, writers, and other creatives running a business must decide for themselves if they have a specific business goal they want or need to reach. Meaning, a destination in mind, someplace you want your business to take you — even if it’s just into the next year or two. That’s where meeting that goal requires a plan. A business plan that is.

Without mapping out your path to reach your desired goal, it will take heck of a lot longer to reach it, if you reach it at all. Here is another expression you may have heard: “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” That sounds a bit harsh, but it is simply another way of saying you need a business plan.

Here are some possible reasons you, a creative professional running your own business, need a business plan:

#1: YOUR WANT TO REACH SPECIFIC FINANCIAL GOALS.

Perhaps you are saving to buy a home or rent a studio. How much money do you need for that? Add up the costs of everything you might need, and that will give you your financial goal, above and beyond what you require for basic living expenses. Do not forget to include related business expenses like the cost of insurance.

#2: YOU WANT A LOAN FROM THE BANK, OR ARE SEEKING INVESTORS.

Even if you have a great credit rating, banks and investors will always want to see a business plan. They want to be sure you succeed so you can repay them. Their term for this process is due diligence, part of their risk management function. They are managing their risks. A business plan will help you manage your risks.

#3: YOU WANT TO REACH A CERTAIN MILESTONE.

Perhaps you have a goal that is not based on amassing a specific amount of money. Write a best-selling novel within the next five years. Have your photographs published by a calendar company. Have one of your designs selected by an apparel company. Not all goals have financial end points. Your business plan will help you determine how you reach that milestone, and how you can support yourself financially while you work towards that. If you have strong, realistic, and meaningful goals that provide you with enough motivation, your business plan has a better chance of seeing you all the way to your goals. The business plan will help you stay focused on the end game.

Next up …

HOW TO WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN FOR A CREATIVE SERVICES BUSINESS.

Not quite sure where to start?

Well, why not start by writing down everything you think of in relation to the following prompts. This is not the time to perfect and polish your plan. You want to first collect any ideas that come during this process, basically you are starting in brainstorming mode. If the document becomes too lengthy, you can always trim it later.

MISSION STATEMENT / ARTISTS STAEMENT:

Most business plans start with the business’ mission statement. In a case like this where you are the business, you may call it an artist statement. Whatever you call it, describe what makes you and your art, product, or service unique and what you hope to accomplish through your creative business.

BUSINESS DESCRIPTION:

What will your business do? Will you create and sell? Publish? Teach?

Describe the products or services you will offer and what your goals for the business are. What time frame will this business plan cover — 6 months, 1 year, 5 years? If your goals are long-term, you may need to break them down into shorter-range goals, so you can assess your progress over time.

MARKETING PLAN:

This is where it gets fun, at least for me, because I’m a total nerd!
The marketing plan should be multi-faceted.

Your brand – Here is where you can get even more creative, right? Yes! You will need a visual representation of your brand as well to express it in words, which ties back to your mission statement or artist statement.
Target markets – You need to think very concretely about your target markets. To whom will you be marketing and how will you reach them? Whom do you need to reach in order to be successful? If your goal is to teach, where will you find your students?
Pricing – Whether you are selling songs you have written, poetry books or services such as graphic design, this is the time to think through how much you are going to charge. To some extent this will be based on how much money you need to make, but it is also dependent on what price the marketplace will support. Research your competition and what they are charging.
Marketing strategy – How will you get the word out? How will you find customers or clients? Not sure? Well, here’s some ideas:
- Website – If you are not familiar with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) you will need to enroll someone who is … a virtual assistant, perhaps?
- Blogging – Even if you do not like to write, blogging can build an audience for your work overtime. Also, you can use blogging to build a network of like-minded souls. I can attest that blogging has contributed more to my business than I ever thought possible.
- Emails to your mailing list, likely in the form of a newsletter. Set your publication schedule and stick to it consistently.
- Social media – Which platforms will you use? It is better to start with one or two and branch out later. You need to maintain a consistent presence on each platform you launch another.
- Referrals – Can you get people to recommend your work? If you are providing a service instead of producing art, can you ask for reviews or referrals?
- Advertising – Can you afford to pay for ads? Where will you place them? Only use advertising if you have reason to believe your target markets respond to it.

FINANCIALS:

Looking back at your target markets and your pricing, what are your revenue sources? You need to predict your income and your expenses for the coming year and, theoretically, show a profit. If you predict it will take a few years to show a profit, you need to explain that. Your projected earnings should at least cover your business expenses and your living expenses unless you have another source of income. If you cannot earn enough from your art at first, and you will need a side job to pay the bills, include that here. If you have been in business for a year or more, you can include your prior year’s financials as evidence of what you can expect to earn.

ORGANIZATION:

Will you build a team, or do you already have one in place? Provide those details. If your business will be a one-woman/man show, will you hire virtual assistants to cover functions that you are weak on? Examples might be accounting or social media marketing.

ACTION PLAN:

Write out a series of “next steps” to take over time that will result in you reaching your short-term goals on the way to reaching longer-term goals. Literally, what do you need to do first once the business plan is completed? What do you need to do after that?

And that wraps up the basics.

So, you’re probably now wondering … Where do I go from here?

Well for starters, I certainly hope I have not overwhelmed you. And if I did, feel free to touch base with me by commenting on this episode, DMing me on social, or simply dropping me an email and I’d be happy to walk you through the process and answer any questions you have. No fees attached.

That being said, clearly a business plan needs to include a lot of detailed information. Just because you are an artiste does not mean you do not need to plan. Writing it out requires you to think through the specifics in a way that you might not have done before. It also helps you focus on exactly what steps you need to take to make your business successful. If you have a mentor or a business coach, ask them to look over your business plan to confirm whether it is realistic. If you are working solo and do not need any loans or investors, it is possible that your mentor or coach will be the only person other than yourself to see the document.

Are you sputtering right now? Wait, I’ve done all this work, and I may be the only person who will see it?! Trust me, it’s worth the work, every minute of it. A clear business plan will keep you focused and moving forward. Expect to look over it several times a year — even monthly, at first — to make sure you are staying on track. If you find you are spending a lot of time on actions that are not included in your business plan, take a step back. You will need to either revise your business plan to include these tasks, stop doing them or delegate them to a virtual assistant.

Expect to update or refresh your business plan at least once a year. Are you seeing that your pricing was off the mark, your target market includes demographics you had not anticipated, or new marketing techniques have come on the scene? It is much better to revise your written plan to include these unexpected developments rather than drift off and do whatever feels right creatively without documenting the shift in direction. To be meaningful, your business plan should reflect the realities of your business.

Now tell us … What’s your creative story?

——-

If you’re looking for some help getting started with some daily writing habits, I encourage you to reach out to me so we can chat. I’d be happy to go over some ideas with you that fit into your regular business routine. And it won’t cost you a penny, as we offer FREE no-obligation 30-minute consultations. Which just so happen to include short chit-chats about stuff just like this!

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Crystal Kordalchuk

Crystal is an artist, a writer, an organizer, a dreamer, a doer, and down-right proud of it NERD!.

Struck with a love for #AllThings creative at a very young age, Crystal dreamed of a life fueled by her passion for creating and bringing the stories and images in her mind into reality.

As she worked toward her dreams, she earned a diploma as a Computer Applications Specialist then another in Graphic Design and from there began to develop her extensive background in multimedia and the arts. She began her worked in the magazine industry as a layout designer and had a succession of design jobs thereafter. It was her role as a graphic/web designer that gave her the first real glimpse of her future. Soon she began a side job as a freelance designer while keeping one foot in the corporate world. A spark was lit! She turned her freelance gig into a full-time business combining design work with her other passion: creating organization from virtual chaos.

Crystal is one of the most organized individuals on the planet. She is by all means a Zen master of her crafts. She excels at helping others become “untangled” and provides her clients with tools to run their businesses smoothly while she takes care of the details behind the scenes. Thus Virtually Untangled was born. A successful business where her work as a top notch creative in graphic and web — with a twist of virtual assistant — married into one amazing place where clients can come with their virtual messes and become magically untangled. Crystal can always make sense of even the most unorganized chaos and offers a virtual detox of order and peace, so her clients can get busy doing the work that they love the most.

Unlocking Your Hidden Creativity …

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