When you’re in business for yourself, wearing so many hats, doing everything yourself or delegating to a few reliable individuals, everything depends on your energy, your focus, your drive, and your ability to create.

Creative small businesses ask a lot of their creator.

Which is why we’re diving into one of the biggest contributors to distraction, lack of focus, underlying stress, and overstimulation according to many, many studies.

We’re talking about the clutter and distractions that are begging for your attention – demanding attention constantly. We’re also talking about the different types of junk drawers you can clean out in order to be ready for abundance.

Next Steps:

1. Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com.
2. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

Let’s say it’s Monday morning and you open your inbox to find not one, not two, but three emails from customers who want to hire you for a commission of original artwork. What do you do?

Do you know how to get those new customers from their commission inquiry email all the way through your process to the final product?

Is there a customer service or communication layer built into your creation process that keeps clients informed along the way? Are you keeping communication in mind to instill THEIR trust and confidence in the process? Do your clients have a sense of when their piece will be ready and available for them to take home?

Today, we’re talking about the client, customer, and commission communications that will set you apart from amateur to professional.

I’m sharing a model I use almost every day in the management of creative projects with my team. It’s a great model to use for your client communications, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

You’re in a creative field so chances are, you have many skills and talents that you’ve turned into income at one point or another. Freelance work doesn’t scare you. You’re up for the challenge. You’re a creative professional in a gig economy, and you’re not alone.

A few questions for you to consider:

• Do you ever find yourself so excited or overwhelmed with ideas for what you want to make or do NEXT that you’re just paralyzed?
• Are all of the options and possibilities for HOW you can put your creativity and talent to use making your head swirl?
• Do you start something new only to find yourself quitting or jumping to the next shiny thing?
• Are you planting seeds that you HOPE will grow but wonder how you’ll find time to water them all?
• Are you feeling anxious about everything that you need or want to do?
• Is your blood pressure higher than normal?
• Are you unsure of WHAT to do today? Tomorrow?
• Are you overwhelmed with balancing multiple projects and initiatives at the same time?
• Do you feel yourself in busy mode, but not sure what it ALL adds up to?

If you answered “YES” to any of these questions, then today’s episode is for you.

The truth is, bouncing from gig to project to new series to another gig and then a new project can be exhilarating.

But the unpredictable and inconsistent nature of some gig, freelance, and creative work can also feel like a feast or famine rollercoaster. One month you’re up, the next you’re down and worried what the future looks like.

If you were to look into a crystal ball, and let’s say you have one right in front of you, what would it tell you about your ROE? Your “return on effort.”

That's what we're talking about in this episode so get your Sharpie and spiral-bound notebook ready for your crystal ball ROE exercise.

Next Steps:

1. Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com.
2. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.