LA | Freckled Nest | LAfromFN

LAdvice: "...a creative soul wanting a creative future" (winner #1 is Tanis)

Tanis asked... "My question is for my 16 year old daughter....do you have any advice for a creative soul who wants to head into a future of designing and creating in some way, shape or form? What were your first steps into creating the life you love?"

LA: At 16, your daughter can prepare so much and there are no obstacles that can't be overcome! Reflecting on my own experience, I didn't know that I wanted a creative career till I was 26 and I had a fair amount of obstacles (no post-secondary education, lack of confidence, creative instinct but no specific skills or training and no start-up savings. Plus, I didn't have a clear career choice, I just knew I wanted to do "something useful I can be good at and enjoy"). At 26, ten years later than your daughter, I still made it work for me and so have a lot of others-- so she's got a great head start and she has lots of time to learn and explore before settling into the career she aims for (or eventually discovers).

Based on my personal experience, I'd like to suggest four main ways she can continuously grow towards the future she desires, in both career and lifestyle.:) Note: These tips apply to anyone wanting to expand their creative side, at any age.

A) Build your Toolbelt - I often use the analogy of a "toolbelt" with our Freckled Nest team and the creative people I've mentored... your creative toolbelt carries a collection of your skills & experiences along with the character & qualities you have in you-- it's your personal idea machine and solution center. Ideally, your toolbelt is ready and equipped to take on and remedy any task that comes along!

The best way to build your own toolbelt is to 1) be a student and 2) reflect. You can invest in yourself and your toolbelt the most by living as a student or apprentice in the encounters and experiences presented through your life. Try lots of new things and become your best at each. By observing beyond the surface and reflecting on the process of each encounter and experience, you will gain skills and strategies that will be useful in your toolbelt, for life. For example, if you plant and harvest a garden, studying, observing and reflecting along the way, you will learn applicable strategies for how to lead a nourished and fruitful team of people that is strong and successful. 

B) Develop your Personal Style - A creative career calls upon a person's instincts and ideas like crazy! If you are an individual who knows them-self, with developed preferences, approach, perspective and passion, you will have a mega-tool in your toolbelt-- personal style! It's a quality that adds your character & personality to each task, presentation, project, team, and/or company and your personal style is invaluable!

To develop your Personal Style, I recommend a) diving into everything you love or feel drawn to and b) studying or spending time with creative people you admire! Follow your passions, ignore the rules, and be lead by things that make your soul happy, giving you a quality feeling that's personal! Get obsessed! Make new recipes in everything you do-- mixing, matching, inventing, following, dreaming, seeking, collaborating, exploring, questioning, practicing, loving, quiting, starting, evolving. As you start to see pieces of your personal style surface, use them repeatedly in every area of your life! As you do, you'll see new aspects that compliment that style piece and you can play with it! After a long while, you won't even notice your personal style, it will "just be the way you do things" and it will feel really natural :) Your personal style is not aesthetic or technique alone, it's an instinct and awareness of what you stand behind, gravitate to, value, represent, and crave.

C) Practice your 3 PS's - Practice using your Personal Style, Problem Solving and People Skills! As you develop your personal style, practice using it! If you're not comfortable looking different or outside of the norm, start by applying your Personal Style to your notebooks, accessories, home decor and techniques in the things you do. Once you feel more comfortable, push it further.

Problem Solving is closely linked with creativity, and it's needed regularly! Creative careers bring some of the most unpredictable situations and problems to solve, because each project is usually unique. However, it's rarely a negative-type "problem" to solve; it's a positive discovery stage along the journey to your end goal. Gaining everyday problem solving skills now will translate into effective ways to overcome obstacles in creative projects and careers. Don't give up when you find yourself at a fork in the road or in a pickle, make a solution using what you have around you and in your toolbelt and move forward. With practice and confidence (and with others help when needed), you can find or create a solution to anything!

People Skills are g-o-o-d. They will get you far. Cultivate and value them. Don't be mean or unfair, communicate and think of others needs just as much as your own. At FN, we always want our client's experience to be just as good as the finished project, and that depends on our teams people skills and the way they lead and roll with the process. If an amazing designer applies but they don't have kindness, communication and respect at their core, we pass. People skills are more important than ever in creative business, so practice and pride yourself on the way you can make others feel comfortable and confident in you, with just one conversation!

D) Document your Life - The journey towards your creative career is a lot of work and you will encounter a lot of fantastic, eye-opening, stretching and exciting experiences, thoughts, new skills, challenges and victories each year. Make it a habit to regularly journal your journey, for reference and celebration! You can do it any way you want-- photo journal, sketching, notebook, blog, diary or journal, video or a combination of methods! Just try to record your journey somehow, you'll be amazed at how useful and exciting it is down the road :)

All in all Tanis, I'd recommend that your daughter just enjoy this time in her life, exploring her interests and developing her creative side with the four ideas above. When she's ready for post-secondary education or a creative job down the road, she'll bring a strong creative instinct and passion to the table and feel really confident going into that field :)

I hope your daughter follows her heart! You're such a good Mom for supporting her like you do Tanis, that will mean a lot along the way :)

xo!! Leigh-Ann

** Check out the post below for another Q&A and Winner!

ETA: From the four prize options, Tanis picked this necklace for her daughter Emma :)

Broadway Ave >> Osborne St

Last week we moved our studio/office to a new space, 806 Osborne St. I've only moved 1.5 times in my life and it was just a minivan of stuff from my childhood home to my current home when I was 22 (the .5 was when I lived in dorm for 1 year but I hardly had any stuff). Last week I learned that moving is a lot of work! So many unexpected steps, boxes, labels, backaches and purging! Luckily, almost everything fit (sold a few things that didn't) and we're really happy with the new place so far!

We're just about set-up, just need to get rid of the boxes & bags floating around, set-up the kitchenette and hang stuff on the walls. We're back to work mode now though; I didn't expect the packing/move/set-up to take the whole week and it was hard to lose those workdays. Lesson learned for future moves, I need to schedule it off! Moving is intense!

This is my desk, with Lola trying to sniff out paper or treats and Kyla working hard at her desk. Lots of clutter in the room still, but the end is in sight!!

Indie: Compass e-course [Registration Open]

Hi everyone! Jill, Kyla and I are beyond excited to let you in on the details of our new eCourse, Indie Business: Compass. We’ve been dreaming, scheming and writing our hearts out since the fall, and are so proud of the finished product! The Compass achieves what the annual Indie course was missing, by offering a thorough, engaging work at your own pace approach to setting up a successful and strong foundation for new businesses and giving existing business owners a chance to perfect and grow what’s working for them. It’s all new, completely original content and a fresh perspective on how you can approach your creative business!

 

 

 

What is Indie: Compass?

Indie: Compass is an e-course built by the creators of the widely-loved and successful Indie Business online class. The Compass is the perfect starting point for your small business journey. The Compass will guide you through eight chapters of teaching and prompts for action and examination that have been specifically developed for people starting, growing or fine tuning a creative independent business. The Compass is a foundation for understanding yourself, your motivation and how what you bring to the marketplace can make your business irresistible!

At the conclusion of each chapter in this e-course, you'll find a section called "Calibrate Your Compass" with an image of that chapter's puzzle piece. Using the printable Compass chart made available in the course, you can track your discoveries and progress and use the your 'Calibrated Compass' to guide decisions in your future.

We believe that your business should be perfectly designed for you. We've written the Compass to help you a) explore your options, motivation and interests b) develop your focus, style, ideas, brand, name and to c) ultimately help you establish a foundation that will guide your entire business' future.

 

Our Course Outline

1. Your Core Motivation:  Different types of people open business for different reasons, impacting everything that lies ahead. This chapter explores the variety of motivations people have for going into business and the unique strengths each brings to the table. Identifying what drives you will help calibrate your business compass.

2. Open Your Sails:  A lasting business keeps its options open. It’s important to consider versatility and range when building your foundation. Open Your Sails explores how you can structure your business to carry you farther and serve your customers for the long term. Shifting trends and interests don’t have to rattle your business, with your sails open you can surf the winds of change.

3. Discovering Your Business Style:  Style isn’t just about your favorite colors and how you dress- it’s the way you do things and how you transport customers to a world of your making! This chapter offers written and visual cues to help you identify the direction of your business’ style, equipping you to infuse personality and identity into your brand.

4. Creating a Business that Breaks the Mould:  Whether you’re a handmade seller, life coach or photographer, at their core, all creative businesses are connected in their ability to enhance the lives of their customers. Through exploring this chapter and "Your Core Motivation" from Chapter One, you can fuse your unique strengths with your chosen field to ignite your passion and build a unique platform for success in your industry.

5. Connected Products & Services:  Products and services are opportunities to reach customers & engage in their lives. This chapter redefines how you approach creating products and services, and breaks down the walls between them. Connecting and expanding what your business offers will allow you to create new opportunities, revealing a versatile business that thrives.

6. Your Message, Your Story, Your Brand:  Strong branding creates a memorable identity for your business that helps customers believe in you and feel confident about what you offer. Your Message, Your Story, Your Brand helps you discover your story and create a message that partners perfectly with your businesses style from Chapter 3. Through this process your brand will emerge and will reinforce your compass so no matter what the situation, your brand and its true purpose will direct you

7. Elements for a Lasting Name:  Choosing a business name is one of the most exciting (and intimidating) defining moments of your new venture! Elements for a Lasting Name helps you make an educated decision through guided brainstorm and fire-tested tips. Using our litmus test, you will feel confident about choosing a name that has the strength to grow with you!

8. Looking Through Your Customers Eyes:  With the confidence of Chapters 1-7 behind you, we turn your focus outward. Looking Through Your Customer’s Eyes explores who your ideal customer is, what their needs are and examines what their experience of your business will be. This final part of our journey helps you discover the most impactful ways to engage with your target market so they’ll make a connection and support your business for the long run

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I access and read the course?

A. The Indie Business: Compass is a privately hosted online e-course and you will receive access by email as soon as payment is complete. Your e-course purchase will also include a digital copy of the Compass so that you can read it on any device that reads a pdf (tablet, iPhone, eReader, etc). This is a great option for those who do not always have Internet access and want to learn as they go.

Q. What's taking an e-course like?

A.  An e-course is a stand alone, self paced experience where students work through the chapters on a timeline that works for them. The entire course is made available to students and they can take advantage of it as soon as they like. An e-course is a little like a blog, so the navigation will be easy and familiar for students, but there are no comments on the chapters.

Q. I'd like to purchase the Compass for a friend, is that possible?

A. How thoughtful of you! Yes, you can purchase the Compass for a friend by using our special Buy Now button here. The course is the same price but this purchase button gathers your friends name so that we can help him or her redeem their gift.

Q. I've taken one of the annual Indie Business classes before-- will the Compass be useful for me?

A.  Hey Mogul! The Compass achieves what our annual Indie Business course was missing and we've created completely original content that will set you up with a foundation for success! We'd love to see you benefit from the Compass too!

Feel free to email us if you have a question, Hello@FreckledNest.com

 

Meet the Teachers

Indie Business courses are created and taught by owners Jill Munro, Leigh-Ann Keffer and Kyla Roma. Get to know us better here:) With over 27 years of combined small business experience, our teaching team has seen it all and we want to help you make your dreams come true! 

Hear from Previous Indie Students

Jennifer of Lucky Jackson “The Indie Business course is essential to anyone starting a creative business venture. I have read books upon books on starting and running a small business but they did not offer the clear guidance, resources and support that this course provides. For those looking to start or improve upon their new ventures look no further than Indie Business.”

Dianne Knight of Simply Design  “Indie 3.0 helped me re-evaluate and take a fresh look at my business. Even though I’ve been working on my own for a few years, it was valuable to see experiences from other classmates, and learn from the amazing teachers. Owning a business is a journey, it is constantly evolving and never ending and it’s important to keep a fresh outlook. Indie helped me do just that!”

Moorea of Moorea Seal  “When I took Indie Biz 2.0, I was still debating over whether I wanted to run my Etsy jewelry shop as a hobby or a business.  Taking the class confirmed that I wanted to turn my jewelry business into a full time job, and within a year after taking the class, I made my dream a reality!  I have been self employed for a year now and I absolutely love it!  Indie Biz gave me all of the tools to market my business well with a clear vision, taught me how to produce my work more effectively, and so much more.  My blog following, twitter following, and all of my social media sites began to really buzz after taking the class which is a really important thing in trying to promote your business online.  The skills I learned in Indie Biz are what have given me the opportunity to be featured on 50+ blogs and websites, featured in magazines, and interviewed by multiple websites and businesses that I absolutely adore.  And my jewelry is stocked in over 20 stores across the globe.  It’s all thanks to Indie Biz!”

 

 

We’re so excited to put this into the world, and hope that you absolutely love it. You can purchase the course using one of the secure Paypal buttons here or if you’d like to learn more, you can explore the Indie Business HQ :)

xo, Leigh-Ann, Jill and Kyla

Q&A: What unique personality traits are most present in the way you do business?

In celebration of our Indie Business: Compass e-Course launching next Thursday, we're doing Q & A Wednesdays! Me & my fellow teachers will talk about our experiences & challenges in our businesses and I'd would love for you to answer the weekly question in the comments below! Let's share :)

I love people and socializing but because I’m an introvert, I get shy, anxious and drained in large groups and I need retreat physically and mentally to recharge.  Aware of this, I built my business model focusing on individual experiences in the online marketplace and I work from my home or office.  I’ve found that one of the coolest luxuries of building your own business is that you can customize it to suit all of your strengths and work around your weaknesses!

Another personality trait I use in business is my keen intuition! My instincts are based upon past lessons & success and I use them to plan, design, make decisions, explore options, direct our business and determine how I treat others. I love that I have an internal compass that guides me and I nurture it by learning from everything around me and by trusting my gut.

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I am a Dreamer: Purposefully day dreaming all aspects of Lune is a powerful tool in keeping things fresh and innovative. It’s easy to do so, because I am a lifelong dreamer. This has gotten me into some trouble over the years, but hasn’t waned and I’m so thankful for that!  

The free form way I run Lune supports my tendency to constantly dream up different ways of doing things. There was a time that I felt this impulse to act on my list of new ideas was a negative, but I have come to embrace it. Because of that, I continue to have passion for my business. Taking Lune mobile two years ago is a good example of how I craft my business to suit my nature.  Lune is an organic, true reflection of me as an individual.

I am Devoted: I have been through my share of trial and heartbreak with Lune. There were times when I considered hanging up my keys and taking the more trodden path. But, I am devoted by nature. When I dedicate myself to someone or something, it is near impossible to break that bond.  It isn’t easy for me to form these solid connections, but when they are forged – to the end of the earth I will go! This attitude has allowed me to move forward past heartache and misstep without seemingly skipping a beat. It is what drives me to remain positive and forward thinking in my business, which turns 9 years old this winter!

 

The traits that best describe me, especially in business, are perceptive, determined & a little sassy. My perceptiveness means that I naturally want to explore all sides of any issues that present themselves so I can understand exactly what's happening & find a solution. I can easily see things from other people's perspectives, and can imagine how they're feeling based on their writing or how they're speaking, which makes me a good problem solver who can find solutions in hard situations- and I can usually get to the heart of the matter quickly. I really like to make sure that Freckled Nest's clients always feel heard and feel that someone understands them- and I love being one of those people.

My determined personality means that I love making plans and following through on them. Once I have an idea I want to get all the details figured out and then stick with the plan! Making decisions based on the information that's available and taking immediate action charges up my batteries and gets me excited! I'm adding sassy to the mix because I have a big personality and like making sure the people around me are having a good time. I have a nearly unshakable sense of humour and don't take myself too seriously, which I think is really helpful in making my clients feel comfortable and it makes the long days that go into having an indie business much easier to work through.

 

• What unique personality traits do you bring to YOUR business?
• Take a look at our first & second Q & A Wednesday!

 

Indie Business: Compass eCourse is launching January 26th, and you can buy access now to be the first in line! Click here for a course outline, answers to Frequently Asked Questions & to register for only $32.

Q&A: What challenges did you encounter in the start-up of your Indie Business?

In support of the Indie Business: Compass e-Course launching on January 26th, we're doing Q & A Wednesdays! Me & my fellow teachers will talk about our experiences & challenges in our businesses and I'd would love for you to answer the weekly question in the comments below! Let's share :)

I jumped into small business with a lot of zeal but with very little information and footing. Looking back, I think what I needed most in the beginning was a mentor to help me find my way a little more smoothly. Overtime, everything worked and I learned a lot through trial and error but it would have been nice to talk with someone who shared the same drive and dream, understood the struggles and work behind every little thing, and someone whose wisdom and perspective I could learn from and be inspired by. When Jill and I met a year later, we became the perfect cheerleaders and support system for each other-- we’d go for coffee & cake with our notebooks and dream big, brainstorm possibilities, push our comfort zones, update each other on new things with each of our businesses, and through everything, we knew we could share anything and feel understood.

Around the time we met, I was struggling with finding the right marketplace for my handmade goods.  After renting tables at a few Christmas Craft Sales, I discovered that the local market wasn’t my scene. My handmade work was really well received but not often purchased, the craft sale season was short lived each year, and I wasn’t ready to open a local store or split profit with consignment. I wanted a different approach that I could manage alongside my day job and that would keep me in charge of my brand and sales. Jill encouraged me to keep going and we brainstormed options for my next move. Challenges will always flex my business muscles but I’ve been lucky to have both Jill and Kyla as the best cheerleaders around and love doing the same for them-- it’s so much better when you’re not alone!

 

The first challenge I faced as a young indie business owner was financial. I had a basic plan for how I would run my hobby vintage business, but didn’t have any savings or support to back it up.  Since I was young and had a very short credit history and no experience, a business loan was out of the question and my day job barely paid the bills as it was. My only option was to start from scratch, work with what tools I had, and to be very frugal with my earnings.

I know that if financial support was made available to me in the beginning, before I had a firm understanding of how and where to invest it, Lune would not be here today. I would likely be paying off debt from a long forgotten project, and have missed out on a world of experience. Working within my own budget allowed me to take small chances with little risk, and feel able to change direction at will without great financial waste or repercussion.  In hindsight, I’m positive that dedication to my Indie business was forged because of the struggle it took to keep believing in it.   It also gives me faith that anyone can make their business happen if they take it at their own pace and play it smart!

 

My indie business life has two parts: Before I became a partner in Freckled Nest & after, but for this question I'm going to focus on the before. When I was just starting, my focus was on my blog advertising program and my etsy shop, which meant that my business relied on selling lots of small products at low price points. I had a plan and I knew that it could work in time, but it meant that I needed to transition from having my blog as a personal space to being a place that I could also share the projects & products that I was working on. But when I tried to share what I was up to, I felt so lost!

My blog had been entirely personal up until that point, and while I had previously shared a few recipes and crafts here and there I was concerned about how my audience would react to hearing about this new part of my life. As a bit of an over-thinker I was also very aware of how sometimes blogs that have a selling component to them can feel less relatable than what I liked reading, so I knew I had to find a way to add this new part of my life and business into my blog in a way that was natural for me. The solution came as my confidence increased and I realized that my blog readers were curious about all kinds of things that I was interested in, and that as long as I was being genuine, choosing the times to talk about my business deliberately and letting my personality shine through I was still delivering what they wanted. It was a big weight off my shoulders & an exciting realization!

 

• If you've started a small business, what were your biggest challenges?
• Have you found ways to overcome them?
• Thank you to everyone who shared their story last week! I loved reading about what sparked your own business and I left a comment for everyone :)

Take a look at last week's Q&A!

Indie Business: Compass eCourse is launching January 26th, and you can buy access now to be the first in line! Click here for a course outline, answers to Frequently Asked Questions & to register for only $32.