Today we are living in a time when creatives of all types are choosing an entrepreneurial path. Yet, fear, loneliness, and overall emotional overwhelm keep creatives from building a successful brand. Moving beyond this fear requires education, the right support, and simply taking one step forward. Here are a number of strategies we have found to be crucial for entrepreneurial success.
Self-Care
We can not overstate this enough. Taking care of your physical and emotional wellbeing is the ultimate key to entrepreneurial success. This likely means healing old wounds, managing anxiety, and finding a system of self-care that simply works. This is one of the reasons why we love City Wellness Collective as much as we do. You have access to a network of healers from all different backgrounds to build the right support team.
The biggest mistake you can make is to not take care of yourself. If you think you don’t have time, that is an indication that work in this area is greatly needed! Your entrepreneurial journey will force you to rest and heal— so it is wise to start your journey here.
Take the Plunge— Market Yourself
Building your brand requires a long period of development. If you have taken care of your self-care needs, this process may flow more easily. Most entrepreneurs will tell you that it takes years for them to feel confident enough to know what content to put out there. We do, however, suggest that you simply begin to get out of your comfort zone and start a Facebook and Instagram profile. Without networking and building a following, your business will not have the momentum it needs to take off. Truly fake it until you make it with this one.
In addition, start interacting with profiles that you enjoy following. Liking and commenting is an easy way to get your name out in the open and to build the important relationships you will need for referrals to flow to you.
“Focus on identifying your target audience, communicating an authentic message that they want and need and project yourself as an “expert” within your niche.” —Kim Garst
We have found that social media feels easier for creatives than going out to networking events and talking about what he or she does.
Organization as a Business Strategy
Money and time are lost when organization goes out the window. Many creatives are great with idea generation but struggle to keep things organized. The benefits of staying organized include:
- Feeling more in control
- Enjoying the little wins
- Increased sense of clarity
- Heightened levels of confidence
We love applications like Awesome Note, an all-in-one calendar that allows you to keep your notes, schedule, photos, to-do-list, calendar, and much more at your fingertips.
If you have trouble with time-management, we recommend 30/30. It sets specific time limits and breaks the day into more manageable time frames that the user can set to do certain activities. The most successful entrepreneurs often schedule their days in 15-minute increments.
We also recommend speaking with your self-care support team to figure out how best to organize your time based on your natural energy levels throughout the day. Knowing the time of day that you write best versus the time of day that you’re better at connecting with people will help you commit to a schedule that truly works for you.
Maintain the Love of Learning
Our world is ever-changing. When creating a brand you need to keep in mind what you like to do may not be the best way of conveying information. Entrepreneurs who dedicate some part of their week to networking and talking about ideas with other entrepreneurs not only feel less lonely but are more likely to learn new techniques and strategies for their future success. It is best to keep an open mind and to use your learning time wisely. Consider attending events in your industry or industries that interest you, watching TED talks, or simply listening to a podcast. We really love NPR’s “How I Build This.”
“It’s easy to come up with new ideas; the hard part is letting go of what worked for you two years ago, but will soon be out of date.” —Roger von Oech
Find the Time to Play
Building your brand or company is hard work. As adults, we forget that when we are enjoying our life, the hard work doesn’t feel hard. If you feel like you are facing an uphill battle, simply stop and go do something fun. Moving your body (exercise or dance) can be great interventions to unblock the creativity needed to keep going.
Successful entrepreneurs have grit and self-compassion. These skills allow them to deal with the inevitable highs and lows of business. Whenever you are stressed and feel like you can’t move forward because of these challenges, remind yourself that there is always a solution but you may have to choose to go play rather than punish yourself for failing.
“Play is the exultation of the possible.”—Martin Buber
Believe in Your Capabilities
Starting an entrepreneurial business can be overwhelming for young creatives. By marketing yourself wisely, utilizing curated organization skills, and self-care techniques, you can build the mindset needed in starting a business. Entrepreneurs have creative thought processes, confidence, self-assurance, and determination. Take a step outside of your comfort zone and you can find out your true potential.
