Try to create win-win situations. Make helping you a rewarding, appealing experience. Be generous with your support and your praise, but not your time. Everyone is the center of their own universe. The star of their own movie. They have their own agendas, no matter how altruistic you may believe them to be. You must…

The ability to give a talk about your art can help set you up as an authority, which increases your value in the marketplace as well as your visibility. Here are some options to help you become a better speaker: Set a clock in plain view. (to you, not the audience) People remember the first…

Right brainers have assets which are important when it comes to working for yourself. Things like intuition, imagination and innovation are exactly the things needed. Don’t fault yourself for not fitting into the nine to five world. Be glad that you have what it takes to work ‘outside the box’. Most creatives in business for…

There are several misconceptions about creative people that may keep you from going into business for yourself. Although there may be very good reasons you should not attempt it, these MYTHS are NOT among them. Artists are like children. Wrong.  You may have a childlike quality, but you are not childish. You’d be happy playing…

When I  began my writing career, I sold my house. I lived the life of a monk and a traveler. A monk because I deprived myself of many earthly pleasures while pursuing my business. A traveler because i would explore further, i would not give up, no matter how hard it got. I did everything…

Every book I have ever read on being in business for yourself includes a chapter on business plans. Do you need one? Yes and no. How do you like that answer. Many people say that lack of a business plan is the number one cause of startup failure. It is required if you want to…

The following is my short course on do’s and don’t s for starting up a business: Don’t waste your time (and money) making everything perfect before you begin. You are as ready as you’ll ever be. Your idea of what you are and what you need will change with experience, so don’t lock yourself in…

Having to do everything yourself limits your growth and your career. Control freaks struggle. If you plan to write, direct, produce, act in, edit and publicize everything you miss out and burn out. Even the most creative person can only be in so many places at once. More important, you can only be an expert…

The difference between successful creatives and unsuccessful creatives comes down to this: a healthy support system. It is wonderful, intoxicating and addicting to find people who believe in you and want to see you do well. It is the antidote for your inner critic. Sometimes you can’t see how special your work and your talents…

Do unto others before they do for you. That’s my motto when it comes to networking. I believe you have to give to get. It ‘s like a checking account. As you help and support others, you start to build up an account with them. You now have a balance you can write checks against….

Mentors have been there, done that. Their experience can take years off your learning curve. They can teach. Point out the pitfalls. Attach you to their own network. They encourage and support you when things are tough. A mentor will not only point you in the right direction; they can help you see the light…

Whom do you most admire?  What do they have that you don’t? How did they get it? What steps did they take? Can you contact them? (You’d be surprised at how accesible many people are, and how receptive they can be).  What would you ask them if you could? If you can’t reach them, you…

The latest rage for people stuck in a rut is to hire a personal coach.  (Not a personal trainer, but a personal coach – to help them with their bottom line, not their bottoms). These trainers can help you focus your goals, shift careers, and unleash your creativity. They bring you a new perspective, a…

In order to have the freedom to create, you must build a successful business. To build a successful business, you must build some sort of buzz with your PR and promotion.  You may have to go to extreme measures to get people to pay attention to you. This is a weak area for many talented…

To focus your self promotion ideas, answer the following questions: Who is my audience? How much should I spend?  (time, money) Where do I start? If I were looking to hire me and I was new to town, where would I look first? How would I found me? Be seen, read and heard.  What sets…

I have found that having no money makes me more agressive and creative when it comes to self promotion. In fact, some of my best and most succesful self promotion stories were done on a very limited budget. Never let a lack of funds be an excuse to stop you from doing creative self promotion….

  Sometimes you are your own worst enemy. Nobody can sabotage your career as well as you can. Why do creative people often become career kamikazes who crash and burn? The right brainer is more suspectible to some of the pitfalls and problems that befall many people in business for themselves. It is important to…

There are several reasons why the right brainer is suspectible to this disease. These include fear of success, fear of failure and fear that it won’t be perfect. There are many more reasons, but the bottom line in most of them is fear. There are ways to deal with fear. You don’t always have to…

How much money would it take to make you feel as though you had enough? Five hundred thousand euro or dollar? A million? What would you do if you had that kind of money? Would you still work? Would all problems be gone? Actually, having money will not solve all your problems. It will make…

If you don feel you deserve the money you make, you will find a way to sabotage your own success. If you don’t feel as though you’re making as much as you deserve, you’re just like all the rest of us. Ask for a raise. Increase your rates. Setting a value on your work is…

How is your financial health? Is it in critical condition (bankruptcy)? Intensive care (moving back in with Mom?? Burn unit (loaned money, ripped off).  Cancer (bad debt)? Just a common cold (too many payments)? Clean bill of health (savings are growing)? If you want to be wealthy (healthy), study self made wealthy people and the…

Negotiation is an area you’re likely to be very good at. At the same time you are likely to be very uncomfortable with it. Many creatives can use a professional to do the negotiating for them and in most cases that is a good idea. But if you are a freelancer, or a wage earner,…

Don’t decide you’re too good now to do the things that made you a success in the first place. How many opportunities could you be missing out on.  You don’t always have to be the star. You just have to make the most of the opportunities you have. Be nice to people on the way…

I admire people who always knew what they wanted to be when they grew up.  Not everybody knows exactly what is the best thing to do at any given time. Concentrate on what brings you the highest reward both financially and emotionally. You will have to make some tough choices, many times between better and…