What practices do you implement into your everyday business to make things run more smoothly and successfully? Here are 6 practices to keep you feeling optimistic, while setting you on the right track for running a smooth and successful biz: 1. Try to do something today to make your life tomorrow a little easier!2. When customers share that they've received compliments of your products, encourage them to share your name and website address with whoever is doing the complimenting.3. Smile at customers…if the product they buy from you is coupled with a smile, then you're more likely to get repeat sales!4. Attitude is everything, focus on the positive!5. Tap into your old resources. Open those old books collecting dust on your shelf and notes from business classes and seminars. They're full of great, applicable info and tips, give yourself a refresher course and put them to use. 6. Encourage those in your community. A little support goes a long way!What constructive practices have you adopted to make your business run more smoothly?Main image courtesy of Helena.

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You have found the journal program you've been searching for: Award winning personal journal software for you to write, reflect, and review securely and privately. Download free trial. More...

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May is Artist's Soul Retreat month at Creativity Portal, a tradition that emerged in 2009 to help raise awareness of the physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional needs of artists (of all kinds) who, because of their unique sensitivities and passions are especially prone to overworking, illness, depression, and burnout if they do not take regular time off to refill, renew, refresh, and restore themselves. More...

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I’m thrilled to have the lovely Dani from Oh Sweet Sadie & Goldilocks Bike Ride here with us for a 5 part Basic Crochet Series. For the next 5 weeks we’ll be learning how to crochet a Granny Square from start to finish. I too will be joining in, as my scarves and squares never [...]

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How do you handle situations when your ego has been bruised? Maybe you’re vending at a show and you overhear a customer walking by saying something along the lines of “I could make that…and for way less” or “I just don’t like that style.” If we all sat in a room and brainstormed, I’m sure we could come up with a laundry list of comments that people make that are either insensitive or insulting. But, I’d much rather sit in a room and talk about all the amazing compliments others have made about your work, your style, and the way you run your business.It’s human nature to fixate on the negative remarks people make rather than the positive. I’ve come realize that being self-conscious about your business or your creations is a waste of time! It’s very common for sellers to take things personally - interpreting peoples’ reactions to their products as slights again them as individuals. So with that said, developing thick skin and the ability to accept criticism as constructive advice is a major asset! If you’re listening to what people are saying, whether it’s good or bad, it’s important to take the nuggets of valuable input and use those insights to elevate your business to the next level. At the end of the day, running a business is tough stuff. Your ego may get a little bruised and battered along with way, but keep your head up, find someone who supports and encourages you, always believe in yourself, and combat those remarks or tough times through your raw determination and ultimately, your success!Main image courtesy of D Sharon Pruitt.

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My kids are always itching to do something fun. I don’t blame them, so am I. Bike rides, theme parks, bowling, laser tag, you name it. Fun is great. But, sometimes Mom and Dad are lacking in the energy department. One of the easiest, most non-energy-needing ways to perk up my gloomy kids is to [...]

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Recently, we got in touch with Michele Leifer of Funky Felt Flowers on the description of an artist and the how it makes one feel to create. We wanted to share her thoughts with you today. “I believe that everyone is an Artist. Maybe not by popular definition, but all people have tapped or untapped creativity. For example: hobbies such as knitting, sewing, painting, drawing, and doodling require creativity. To me, people who engage in these activities are Artists. Whether they sell their work or not is inconsequential - they still create. Some people are such good Artists that they don't even know it. Some people could probably even sell their work. It's all relative. And another thing; I believe that creating makes you feel good and gives you a sense of accomplishment. It even gives me endorphins, or a rush in layman's terms. Art Therapy is a well-known form of therapy because it really does work - mostly for the reasons I just mentioned. That's why it's provided in psychiatric wards and nursing homes. Art can be cathartic as well. It can be a way of releasing all sorts of emotions. It also can relieve boredom and pass time. Everyone should tap into their creativity. It should be mandatory! Go on and try something you always wanted to, but didn't think you could. Who knows, you might be the next Picasso or Michelangelo! You may even be sitting on a bundle of cash. People could very well want to purchase your work. So there. I encourage everyone to at least try. We've all got something special in us. I'm certain of it.” Thank you Michele for your encouragement and the reminder for all of us to tap into our creativity! What's comes to your mind when you think of an artist? How do you feel when you're releasing your creativity?

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On May 6 the President's Committee on The Arts and Humanities released a report at the Art Education Partnership (AEP) Conference, called Reinvesting in Arts Education: Winning America's Future Through Creative Schools. This is the strongest argument ever made about the vital role of the arts and education. More...

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Over the past four days you’ve hopefully been inspired to nix the marketing and promotion blah-blah you dislike doing in exchange for telling your unique story. The one in which you’ve been the hero. But there’s another kind of story you can benefit from telling… If you’ve moved beyond simply reading this blog post series to weave a story around your own creative hero’s journey, you should now be able to populate your Meylah storefront as well as any of your other websites, blogs, or promotional materials with compelling copy. Another kind of copy that can benefit from storytelling is the case study: your opportunity to tell prospective customers a story about a happy and satisfied existing customer. Here’s an example of one case study that I helped the owner of BlogAid articulate for her website. Look at the number of time the client’s name (Connie) is mentioned. Yet, typical case studies tend to be more about you! Everyone wants to be seen as a hero. If you focus your story on the change your client or customer experienced through their interaction with you and take on the role of “mentor” instead, you’re more likely to engage and win people over. The traditional three-paragraph structure of case studies maps onto the story structure as follows:The traditional four-paragraph structure of case studies (CS) maps onto the story structure (SS) as follows:Introductory Paragraph (CS) = Ordinary World (the time before the hero needs you - SS)Challenge (CS) = Inciting Incident/Call to Adventure (SS)Challenges/Obstacles/Impediments (SS only)Solutions (CS) = Revelation (SS)Results (CS) = Reward (SS)The key omission for typical case studies, written in the old, boring way are the challenges or apprehensions your client faced when first deciding to buy from or work with you. For example, in the BlogAid case study, we discover that Connie wasn’t convinced she needed a website, given all the passers by the store was attracting. Plus, the idea of online technology seemed overwhelming to her. The path from challenge to solution is rarely straightforward, as is appears to be in typical case studies. That’s neither truthful nor interesting. What story can you tell that highlights how a client “came around” after some initial skepticism? Keep the focus on them—how they changed their attitude or opinions—and you’ll still shine a light on the value of your product or service. By crafting this new kind of case study, you’ll develop more meaningful stories that honestly address the obstacles and apprehensions clients often have about engaging with you. So – there you are. Some fresh ideas for communicating with your audience in a way that feels more natural and less manipulative and phony than the “marketing” we all know we need to do, but often dislike or find challenging. Let us know what you thought of this blog series and share some of your own stories in which you (and your customers) are heroes. Please also visit my website for ongoing blog posts on how enhanced storytelling abilities can boost your business. Happy writing!Main image courtesy of Fuyoh!Dr Liz, The Book Doula, helps people access their inner storyteller to bring their art to life.

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Part 3 of this series encouraged you to write the middle of your story: the hurdles and challenges you faced as a creative in aligning your talent with a business. If you’ve done that then you might be wondering how to craft “the end.” Which is what we’re covering today. How do you end a story that’s still unfolding? Hollywood screenwriters and novelists do it all the time. As one story ends, another begins (literally, in the case of sequels), but what gives satisfaction to the viewer or reader at the end of any movie or book is our knowing that the hero has changed. For example, schoolboy Harry Potter grows up, gains greater confidence in his wizardly abilities and potential to defeat his nemesis, Voldemort. Former Marine Jake Sully, at first willing to betray the Na’vi to placate the ambitions of twin evils Big Business and The Military, even looks completely different at the conclusion of Avatar, when he becomes the Na’vi’s champion. And in a romantic comedy the hero and heroine change in ways that ensure they will live happily ever after, which was seriously in question when the film began! Here are some questions to ask yourself before crafting the end of this particular story; one you can use to engage readers of your blog, hold the attention of prospective customers on your website, and make you come alive in your promotional materials:What reward or “elixir” resulted from your creative hero’s journey?What did you discover about yourself, your passion and your talent that has informed your work as an artisan?How have your products or services changed over time as a result? When I began writing books almost 25 years ago I was pretty clueless. That some of these books are as good as they are, and have continued to sell, was more luck than judgment. Today, the learning I’ve accrued around writing, publishing, and marketing books, has led me to develop tools and processes that help my Book Doula clients achieve their goals, quicker and easier than they would by themselves. Creative services change over time – but so do products. What design, financial, or challenges have you faced that may have led to you using a different photographic process, or a different kind of wool for knitting, or a whole new set of recipes for making fudge or toffee? For inspiration, check out the Terry’s Toffee story and how quitting an unfulfilling job, reading Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, and his grandmother’s toffee recipes were the catalysts that contributed to the “ending” that is now a world-famous gourmet toffee store! In this story you are the hero. Tomorrow, in the final part of this 5-part blog series, I’ll share with you how to highlight another hero—the client or customer—and how that can help boost your business.Main image courtesy of Mi Pah.Dr Liz, The Book Doula, helps people access their inner storyteller to bring their art to life.

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