During most of 2013, Whipup.net will hosting a monthly mini-series, each month edited by different crafters and designers. Enjoy!

Introducing Destri from The Mother Huddle :: The theme for this month is Advice For Starting and Growing a Creative Business :: Stop listening to the advice of those that say it can’t be done, and seek the advice of those who are successfully doing what you want to do.

Destri :: The Mother Huddle

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During most of 2013, Whipup.net will hosting a monthly mini-series, each month edited by different crafters and designers. Enjoy!

Introducing Destri from The Mother Huddle :: The theme for this month is Advice For Starting and Growing a Creative Business :: Stop listening to the advice of those that say it can’t be done, and seek the advice of those who are successfully doing what you want to do.

Destri :: The Mother Huddle

Throughout this series, you will hear me use the term “creative business” quite a bit. I wanted to talk about what that term encompasses to me. The last thing I want you to think is a pair of knitting needles or taking up sewing is required for a creative business. But I do think there is a difference between starting something with the simple goal of making money, and creating something that is fulfilling and supplies an income at the same time.

So for fun, I will share what defines a creative business to me, and then ask you to share your thoughts and how you define yours (or the one you hope to have) in the comments.

How I Define a Creative Business

A work that is born from a single idea that formed in your mind and stirs the imagination and plays to your strengths and talents. It is then fueled by a burning desire to achieve a certain feeling, and is motivated by love.

Pretty broad right? Notice I said nothing about hobbies or passions. I don’t believe ones work depends on these two things to be fulfilling.

• So if we break that down by how the creative business is formed and plays out it would look like this:
• We take an idea that strikes from an imaginative vision that instantly has us excited.
• Then as if like magic, ideas start coming from every direction in our mind.
• These ideas naturally pulls from our strengths and talents, because ideas from our Higher Self (imagination) always do.
• Then if we’re persistent and conquer the resistance (our ego) that inevitably comes when one starts a work one should do – we put plans into action. 
• This work then fulfills our feeling desires (helpful, innovative, artistic) giving us a sense of purpose. 
• It is our Love for this purpose that carries us through all the ups and downs, and offers hope when things get tough.
• Then ultimately, this business makes an income. Otherwise, it’s just a hobby. I can tell you from experience, it’s the most gratifying income you will ever make.

So there you have it, my definition of a creative business. Does yours look similar?

Have you ever had one of those ideas strike, and then by the next day, talk yourself out of it?

Are you currently working on one?

Please share I would love to hear!

Destri

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During most of 2013, Whipup.net will hosting a monthly mini-series, each month edited by different crafters and designers. Enjoy!

Introducing Destri from The Mother Huddle :: The theme for this month is Advice For Starting and Growing a Creative Business :: Stop listening to the advice of those that say it can’t be done, and seek the advice of those who are successfully doing what you want to do. Destri :: The Mother Huddle

Hello friends! Destri from The Mother Huddle here, I am so excited to spend May as your guest editor here on WhipUp. I love the creative energy WhipUp has, and the community that supports it — so any chance I have to be a part of it, I jump on.

A little about me: I am a bit of a gypsy. It started when I was 20 and packed what I could in the back of a 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse and moved to Denver Colorado chasing a dream. I found my husband there, and together with our two kids we have moved 10 times in 12 years. We’ve landed in Dallas Texas for the next two years, and from here we’ll be headed to Montana next. I’m a little nervous about that move — I’ve heard it’s cold. Really cold.

My days are filled with packing lunches, braiding hair, sweeping floors, and folding laundry. I love a good book, coffee with my creamer, and dark chocolate. I’m sure we share a few things in common.

{image credit: Hank, my six year old :)}

I also work from home, doing something I love. A lot of things actually, which brings me to the series we will be hosting. I say “we” because it will require your participation to ensure its success.

I wrote an essay here on WhipUp last year talking about how my business came about. After it’s publication I received dozens of emails from women wanting advice for creating a business from home using a blog as the primary platform. I was a little overwhelmed, and didn’t have a chance to answer them all that well. So when this opportunity came, I knew instantly what the series subject could be. Then the doubt set it. Do I really know enough about running a business? Nope. Do I have all the answers? Nope. Can I spell out the exact formula for success? Definitely not — I’m still making my own! But, I can share what I know.

When I was sixteen I went to cosmetology school and by the time I walked on to my high school graduation stage I had a license. One thing that industry taught me is everyone has a little something they can teach someone else. I used to love to ask instructors and fellow hair dressers what their favorite technique or trick was and have them show me. I asked everyone, wherever I worked for over 10 years — even the girls fresh out of school. I can attest, it was all those little tips accumulated that gave me an edge and enabled me to grow a large clientele time and time again. I could apply everyone’s best knowledge and education (not just my own) to each person that sat in my chair.

In that spirit, I thought the best way to go about this series, would be to share what I know on a specific topic in creative business, and then invite you to share what you know, and you can also meet fellow entrepreneurs just like you and me to learn what they know.  I can’t wait to learn from this community!

Sharing What We Know In Creative Business

Weekly Discussions

Here is how it’s going to work: I came up with four hot topics when it comes to starting and running a creative business that seem to always be the theme of emails I receive. I will present one each week with my advice on the matter to get the conversation going, and then in the comments I would love for you to share yours. Here are the four topics we will cover over the month of May on Mondays:

1. Finding Your Passion for a Creative Business – it is said that 80% of people don’t know what their passion is, so it’s no surprise that a common question is “how do I start a business about something I love, when I don’t even know what that is?”. I have a tip that can help with that!
2. How to Start and Stand Out in a Crowded Market – it can seem like anything that can be done, has been done and that the web is saturated with creative businesses. This can make many feel like there is nothing left for them, that it’s too late and they missed the boat. I have a theory on why that’s not true, and why now is as good a time as any to stand out and make money doing something you love.
3. How to Take Your Creative Business to the Next Level - most of the emails I receive are from women who already have a blog or shop, and are struggling to take it to the next level — making an income from it. I have a few ideas, and have learned a few things along the way that I can’t wait to share.
4. How to Make Your Life and Creative Business Work Together - again, another frequent question I get that is always associated with the word “balance”.  Of all the topics, this is where I feel like I am strongest. I could write a book on the topic, actually I started one — then took my own advice and set it aside for the time being.

Get to thinking about the advice you could offer and please come every Monday to share and talk shop.

Sharing Resources

Each Wednesday over the month of May we will have a “Sharing Time” (I know, so elementary school, but it’s all I could come up with!), to highlight our favorite books, resources, tools, and inspiration used for running our creative businesses. I love these types of posts and always find them very helpful.

Start making your list, I have a feeling the comments on these posts will be where all the value is!

Advice From Those who are Doing What it is You Want To Do

Some of the best advice I ever received when it comes to making your creative business dreams a reality was to stop listening to those who say it can’t be done, and start seeking the advice of those who are successfully doing it.

I rounded up five women who are successfully running their creative businesses and asked them to share the best advice they have been given, or have to share. We will hear from a Chocolate Maker, Clothing Line Designer, Blog and Content Creator, Clothing Pattern Designer, and Photographer and Familyness Expert.

They will pop in every Friday during May, you won’t want to miss them!

I can’t wait to get things going, and starting tomorrow I will define what a creative business means to me. The term is very broad, but really comes down to one thing. That we love our work. We all deserve that luxury, and together we can help each other get there.

Thanks for having me, and I do hope you join in!

Destri

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