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What’s Your True Creative Calling?

- November 22, 2010 | by April -

Have you ever created something, because you thought it would sell—not because you were creatively inspired?

I have. I think all artists, jewelry designers, photographers, writers, and other creative entrepreneurs come across ideas that could make them money but don’t light them up.

This can happen early in your career when you’re trying to figure out what to make and sell. This could happen when you get stuck creatively. This could happen after you’ve been making jewelry for years, and you’re fed up with trying to sell stuff that people don’t seem to want.

Creating Businesses that Suck Your Energy

Every once in a while I’ll chat with a creative entrepreneur who’s miserable with the business that she’s created for herself. She wishes that she could go back in time, and go down the path that creatively inspired her. She wonders where she would be if she had listened to her gut—not to her not-so-encouraging mother who insisted that no one would buy her whimsical jewelry.

Do you spend most of your time photographing weddings when you’re actually inspired by wild life? Do you write only non-fiction articles when your main passion is fiction?

There are a few reasons why you might build a creative business around something you don’t actually enjoy:

1. You need to pay the bills. You get paid to write nonfiction articles, and the last novel you tried to publish didn’t even get picked up by an agent.

2. You’ve gotten comfortable. It can be scary to break away from your routine, even if you are financially stable.

3. You didn’t realize how much you despised the business you’ve built until you’re in over your head, and now you feel like you can’t change it.

Getting Back to Your True Creative Calling

Do you struggle with finding your true creative calling? Do you lie in bed at night wishing you could follow your true passion? Do you daydream while you’re supposed to be working at your 9-5 about the life you really want?

Follow your gut. That’s my best piece of advice when someone asks me how they can figure out what decisions to make regarding their creative businesses. Stop thinking—stop talking—just stop. And pay attention to what your body is telling you.

When you think about designing an eco-friendly jewelry line, does your heart beat a little faster? Do you feel energized? When you think about filling custom orders, does your stomach clinch, leaving you feeling nauseated? Your body tells you want your mind can’t.

Want More?

I can’t recommend The Fire Starter Sessions enough. If you want a program to creatively inspire you and get you back to your creative calling, this is the one. For real. Ask yourself these questions:

How’s your cashflow and your mojo?
Does your vision match your reality?
Does your brand match your soul?

THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS is: an e-book meets video transmission of acumen and love. You: are likely sitting on an empire of content, product, services, and prosperity that needs a spark — or blow torch — to take you to the next level. You: want to rock your revenue streams and do meaningful things in the world.

Worksheets that help you draw conclusions, quick videos with motivational punch, connections to current thinkers, practical smarts, and frank wisdom — THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS {affiliate link} is packed with inspiration that you will put to use.

Danielle has worked with 462+ entrepreneurs in her 1-on-1 Fire Starter consults (which are $500 and booked six weeks in advance.) For CEOs, coaches, artists, retailers, bestselling authors — from site design to big dreams — Danielle’s strategies combine passion with pragmatism to get to fulfillment and cash.

Each chapter is its own “Fire Starter Session” that includes: e-book components, video inspiration or interviews, and worksheets.

Some of the sessions are: True Strengths & The Metrics of Ease; Branding: Clarifying the Diamond of You; Products & Services: Making Stuff That Feels Good to Make; Money: More is More, Enough is Plenty; Web Design & SEO: Your Virtual Real-Estate…and dozens of tips and motivating perspectives.

In addition to getting Danielle’s deep and detailed knowledge, THE FIRE STARTER SESSIONS brings you contributions from some A-league marketing strategists, pro-bloggers, branding experts, and creativity coaches.

Whether you’re in the early idea phase or a well-established rut, Danielle’s thorough, witty, and experience-based advice will most certainly light a fire under your…aspirations.


9 Comments · Filed Under: Creative Business Development, Creativity, Success

Comments

  1. Marie Noelle says

    November 22, 2010 at 11:10 am

    “Follow your gut. That’s my best piece of advice when someone asks me how they can figure out what decisions to make regarding their creative businesses. ” This is so true. Following our guts is the best thing we can do as creator. That’s how we create and come up with something unique.

    Reply
    • April says

      November 22, 2010 at 11:16 am

      Hey Marie,

      Thanks for stopping by to comment.

      I whole-heartedly agree that following your gut often leads you to create something unique. Sometimes creative entrepreneurs {myself included} get caught up in doing things because others are doing them–instead of doing it our own way.

      Reply
  2. T Hoover says

    November 22, 2010 at 11:37 am

    Once again you are asking the great questions. I have been in business 20 years and it has only been in the last 5 years that I find myself really getting into sync with the path I need to be on. Thanks for letting me sit by your fire. Stay well and Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
    • April says

      November 22, 2010 at 7:38 pm

      Hey Teri. Thanks for stopping by to comment! I think it feels really good when you start to figure our your path and calling–I’m glad you’ve found it 🙂

      Reply
  3. Stephenie Zamora says

    November 22, 2010 at 1:03 pm

    I love this post!! I’ve spent a lot of time working to build a graphic design career/business only to one day realize that it’s not my calling, it’s just a tool to support my real passions and purpose. Following my instincts has lead me to the clarity and focus I have today!!

    Reply
    • April says

      November 22, 2010 at 7:42 pm

      Hey Stephenie,

      I’ve so been there. I started down the path of practicing family therapy to realize that it was way too emotionally draining for me. I spent a lot of time wishing that I would have figured that out before I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a degree and tons of time–but then I realized that it’s made me who I am today. I definitely wouldn’t be the same person if I hadn’t had that education and all of those experiences.

      Reply
  4. Mayi Carles @ Heartmade says

    November 23, 2010 at 6:46 pm

    i bought danielle’s fire starter session as you recommended i little while back (via your affiliate) + it has been on of the best decisions i’ve ever made for my biz. thank you sooo sooo much for the tip! it was fired me up + my business too 🙂

    Reply
  5. Annika says

    November 30, 2010 at 8:32 am

    Oh thank you for all the good stuff you whrite. . . right now I’m unemploed-stay at home mom, So it’s hard to make ends meet. but I guess I will find the way. . .

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Why You Need an "I Rock" Folder | Blacksburg Belle says:
    December 22, 2010 at 5:04 am

    […] What’s Your True Creative Calling? […]

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