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Creatives Meet Business

Listen in on what industry experts had to say at the latest Creatives Meet Business event. Host Ashland Viscosi curates and shares the best content and tips from the live events to help creatives and artists transition into creative entrepreneurs.
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Now displaying: 2018
Dec 20, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists, creatives, freelancers, and solopreneurs to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features Claire Siegel, Founder of The Petite Professional, who joined us in February during our roundtable event on Goal Planning. This episode includes SO much about self-care. From demystifying what self-care is to ways you can practice it without spending a dime, this episode is chock-full of self-care know-how. Without further ado, let's hop in and hear what Claire has to say!

Notes:

  • 0:00 to 1:36 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro of Claire Siegel
  • 1:39 to 4:50 - Introduction of Self and Topic
    • Self-care is an absolute necessity for your overall wellbeing
  • 4:51 to 7:03 - First Self-Care Concept Clarified: Self-Care Doesn't Always Mean Doing More
    • Drawing boundaries is an act of self-care, use them to allow you to say no without guilt
    • A personal example of having free time in her schedule (unscheduled time) as self-care
  • 7:04 to 9:27 - Second Self-Care Concept Clarified: Reframe the Way You Think About Self-Care
    • We don't manage emotional or spiritual pain in the same way we do with physical pain
    • Maintaining your emotional needs is self-care
    • Self-care is maintenance, should be part of your routine
    • Find what self-care is for you and build it into your routine
    • Treat yourself like a friend
  • 9:28 to 11:28 - Third Self-Care Concept Clarified: Self-Care Doesn't Always Feel Good in the Moment
    • Difference between immediate self-care (taking a walk, taking a bath) and self-care for your future self (paying off debt for future self)
    • Review relationships in your life and cut toxic ties
    • It doesn't always feel good, but that doesn't mean it's not self-care
  • 11:29 to 13:28 - Fourth Self-Care Concept Clarified: Self-Care Doesn't Have to Cost Money
    • It doesn't have to be a matcha latte or a designer cupcake, there's plenty of self-care opportunities that don't cost you money
    • An example about saying no to a dinner invitation because of lack of energy and a need to stay home 
    • Ways to self-care for free: bath, nap, walk, call someone, journal
  • 13:29 to 14:58 - Fifth Self-Care Concept Clarified: Self-Care is Unique to Each Person
    • Self-Care at its core is giving yourself permission to do whatever it is that you need to be OK
  • 14:59 to 17:06 - Exercise for Creating Self-Care Plan
    • Start writing and see what comes out (stresses, sadness, etc) and bubbles up.
    • Once you see one thing that you really want to dig into, list the ways you're currently coping with that.
    • Start figuring out how you can swap out negative coping mechanisms for acts of self-love that are ultimately in better service to you.
    • Keep checking in and being honest with yourself and making self-care a priority in your life
  • 17:11 to 19:32 - Ashland Closing Remarks
    • Like this podcast? Great! A rating and review is so helpful!
    • Stay in touch, email us (ashland@cmbatx.com) or connect with us on social (@createmeetbiz on Instagram and Twitter // Creatives Meet Business on Facebook). 
    • Big thanks to Jamal Knox (audio engineer) and Chris James (composer)!

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

Telling Your Brand Story is next, so stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

 

Nov 19, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists and creatives to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features Kara Perez, Founder of bravely, who joined us in February during our roundtable event on Goal Planning. This episode includes SO much about financial goal planning. From the "why" behind the goal to some tactical how-to info, this episode is chock-full of financial goal setting know-how. Without further ado, let's hop in and hear what Kara has to say!

Notes:

  • 0:00 to 1:41 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro of Kara Perez
  • 1:46 to 2:07 - Introduction of Self and Topic
  • 2:08 to 3:25 - Setting a Financial Why
    • Connect with a financial why
    • Personal story about setting a financial why
  • 3:26 to 5:00 - Set a SMART Goal
    • S = Specific
    • M = Measurable
    • A = Achieveable 
    • R = Realistic
    • T =  Timebound
    • Example =  I want to pay off $10,000 in student loan debt by the end of 2018
  • 5:02 to 10:59 - Organize Money
    • Check your accounts
    • Very easy in the digital age to be separate from our money and our cash
    • First thing to get organized = budgeting
    • Budgeting apps available, spreadsheets, downloadables 
    • Categorize by need and want
    • Understand your spending patterns
    • Review expenses and highlight the things that move you toward your goal
    • Separate accounts for separate goals
      • Kara has 6 savings accounts
      • Be mindful about interest rates
  • 11:00 to 17:34 - Having Conversations about Money with Loved Ones
    • Having money conversations with those you share your time with is critical.  Be sure to share your financial why
    • Be specific about the changes you want to make
    • Sharing about your goal helps keep you accountable toward achieving it
    • Use "I Statements"
    • Visual and consistent reminders to keep self on track
      • Vision board / picture on wall
      • Goals on phone screen
      • Setting reminders or alerts on Google Calendar 
        • Can be a sweet reminder to self like #debtpayoff
      • Sign up for daily alerts with your bank
    • Money fluctuates, be compassionate with yourself when looking at your money
  • 17:39 to 21:59 - Ashland Closing Remarks
    • Like this podcast? Great! A rating and review is so helpful!
    • Stay in touch, email us (ashland@cmbatx.com) or connect with us on social (@createmeetbiz on Instagram and Twitter // Creatives Meet Business on Facebook). 
    • Big thanks to Jamal Knox (audio engineer) and Chris James (composer)!

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

More Goal Planning to come, so stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

 

Nov 5, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists and creatives to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features Maggie Gentry Miller, Founder of MaggieGentry.com, who joined us in February during our roundtable event on Goal Planning. This episode uncovers the values behind goal planning and how you can create more meaningful goals for yourself. Without further ado, let's hop in and hear what she has to say!

Notes:

  • 0:00 to 1:06 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro of Maggie Miller
  • 1:11 to 2:42 - Introduction of Self and Topic
  • 2:43 to 9:12 - David DeSteno Research - Power of Gratitude
    • Delaying gratification study in the 1970s with a marshmallow and children
    • Kids who could wait for second marshmallow had "grit" 
    • Further studies of those same children who waited for a second marshmallow hit every success marker (good grades, good colleges, good work), but they weren't living as long.
    • Deprivation of what we want now and the pleasure of the present moment increases our stress hormones. A prolonged period of that shaves off years of life.
    • David DeSteno says the problem is that our goals are self-serving, it doesn't rely on strengthening social bonds and community (historically what we've done) 
    • Three values that allows us to work as a collective to achieve goals:
      1. Gratitude - Look at what you're grateful for on a daily basis. 
        1. Gratitude increases our threshold for patience which then increases our self control
      2. Compassion - Giving ourselves a healthy perspective of what the overall environment is
      3. Pride - Take an honest pride in your work, in your strengths, and in what you do really well
        1. Enjoy the process
  • 9:13 to 10:30 - Danielle LaPorte - Desire Map - Create goals with soul
    • Creating goals that make you feel the way you want to feel
    • Looking at values (gratitude, compassion, pride) and understanding how you want to feel in pursuit of that goal, then you're finally ready to create a vision board
  • 10:31 to 14:11 - Vision boarding
    • Maggie does her board once a year
    • How do I want to feel? - that's the question she uses when creating a board.
    • Start with a central image (start in the very middle) - that's the focal point and everything builds around it
    • After creation, post it in a place that's visible every day 
    • Gratitude journal / journaling - create a gratitude practice
    • To accommodate pride and the process in pursuit of the goal, Maggie has a piece of paper on the wall with blank slots for the number of client spaces she has available. It's about physically creating space.
  • 14:12 to 15:48 - Visualization 
    • Two kinds of visualization - Guided Meditation and Visualization (Power of Habit / Michael Phelps example)
    • Michael Phelps strategy with visualization
  • 15:51 to 20:01 - Ashland Closing Remarks
    • Mindset by Carol Dweck // Carol Dweck TedTalk
    • Like this podcast? Great! A rating and review is so helpful!
    • Stay in touch, email us (ashland@cmbatx.com) or connect with us on social (@createmeetbiz on Instagram and Twitter // Creatives Meet Business on Facebook). 
    • Big thanks to Jamal Knox (audio engineer) and Chris James (composer)!

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

More Goal Planning to come, so stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

 

Oct 23, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists and creatives to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features Pei Sim, Founder of The Paper + Craft Pantry, who joined us in February during our roundtable event on Goal Planning. This episode covers measuring success for yourself and ways to goal plan with you AND your business in mind. Without further ado, let's hop in and hear what she has to say!

Notes:

  • 0:00 to 2:32 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro of Pei Sim
  • 2:36 to 4:02 - Introduction of Self and Topic
    • Write goals in pen!
  • 4:03 to 8:58 - Define Success for Yourself and for Your Business
    • Set goals for yourself, not based on what you think is expected of you
    • Be careful to not get caught in the cycle of wanting more
    • GIF example that shows you can't have perfect balance
    • Pei doesn't believe in perfect balance, it's a series of ebbs and flows
  • 8:59 to 13:22 - Setting Goals
    • Start 10 years out and work back in
    • Separated by category (family, career, health and wellness)
    • What are you doing in 5 years to get to your 10 year goals
    • Separate your business goals from your personal goals
    • Pivots aren't failures
    • Include by / when dates (accountability tool)
    • Personal story about a bed and breakfast abroad
    • Goal setting allows you to say yes and no to opportunities
  • 13:26 to 14:55 - Tips for Feeling Separate from Your Business
    • Leave your computer charger in an inaccessible place until the next day
    • Boundary setting (example with not responding to an email until the next day)
  • 15:00 to 18:24 - Ashland Closing Remarks
    • Derek Redmond Story
    • Like this podcast? Great! A rating and review is so helpful!
    • Stay in touch, email us (ashland@cmbatx.com) or connect with us on social (@createmeetbiz on Instagram and Twitter // Creatives Meet Business on Facebook). 
    • Big thanks to Jamal Knox (audio engineer) and Chris James (composer)!

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

More Goal Planning to come, so stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

 

Aug 6, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists and creatives to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features Neelan Choksi who joined us in November during our roundtable event on Bootstrap. This episode outlines the Growth Stage of Bootstrap Entrepreneurship and includes so much amazing info on how to GROW. Without further ado, let's hop in and hear what he has to say!

Notes:

  • 0:00 to 2:12 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro of Neelan Choksi 
  • 2:13 to 6:32 - Introduction of Self and Topic - Growth
    • Product Market Fit - your service / product matches a need in the market and you have demand
    • It's all about rinsing and repeating
    • Stages 1 through 4 are addictive, but not the growth stage
    • Now you worry about making ends meet, inventory, etc
    • Be honest with yourself, what's the ceiling of the business? That'll determine the funding / business route you select and opt for.
    • This stage is all about rinsing and repeating
    • You know you're in the growth phase when you start to stay "No"
  • 6:33 to 9:26 - 3 C's and 4 P's of Marketing
    • C's: Customer, company structure, competition
    • P's: Pricing, Product, Place and Promotion
      • Pricing = Jacksonville Jaguars example
    • Distribution -  until now you're the sales person and wear all the hats. Now you're thinking about scaling - hiring a sales person, for example
  • 9:27 to - Scaling / Growth Example - Girls Will Be
    • Neelan's daughter wanted to shop for clothes in the boys section, which prompted Neelan's wife to develop a line of clothes that were active and had a different fit
    • PR and Social Media help you look bigger than you are
    • Speaking engagements and books help you in the growth phase
    • Questions you start asking in the growth phase
      • How much cash flow do you have to put into inventory?
      • As a services business, I don't quite have the demand, can I hire someone?
  • 14:16 to 16:07 - Benefits of Partnership
    • Human Fabric by Bijoy Goswami addresses the power of two (2)
    • Valley of Death is typically something you do alone, the partner comes in the Growth stage
    • The things that make you successful in the early stage will kill you in the Growth stage
  • 16:12 to 18:49 - Ashland Closing Remarks
    • Want to come to CMBXP (9/20 to 9/22)? Great, get your badge today!
    • Like this podcast? Great! A rating and review is so helpful!
    • Stay in touch, email us (ashland@cmbatx.com) or connect with us on social (@createmeetbiz on Instagram and Twitter // Creatives Meet Business on Facebook)
    • Big thanks to Jamal Knox (audio engineer) and Chris James (composer)!

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

Next up - Goal Planning, so stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

Jul 9, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists and creatives to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features Lou Ellman who joined us in November during our roundtable event on Bootstrap. This episode outlines the Valley of Death Stage of Bootstrap Entrepreneurship and includes so much amazing info on how to SELL your way out. This episode is chock full of sales tips, tricks, tactics, and much much more. Without further ado, let's hop in and hear what he has to say!

Notes:

  • 0:00 to 1:42 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro of Lou Ellman, Founder of RoyaltyZone
    • Like what you hear? Join us for CMBXP (9/20 to 9/22 in Austin, TX) for Lou's workshop on "Sales Skills to Grow Your Business"
  • 1:48 to 2:39 - Introduction of Topic - Valley of Death
    • Only way out is to sell your way out
    • No outside funding in bootstrapping, the only way to get funding is through sales
  • 2:40 to 6:06 - Three Concepts for Selling
    • Hunting - traditional sales prospecting, finding targets and closing deals
      • Cold calling, emailing, events, trade shows, networking, social media - identify your ideal prospect and engage with them
      • Ideal prospect - intersection of two circles; the people who want to buy your product and the people that you want to sell to
    • Fishing - marketing
      • Content is king
      • Partnerships - a way to really move the needle for bootstrappers
    • Farming - once you have a client, keep them happy to be a referral source and to stay a client
      • Service your clients as best as you can
      • Keep educating them
    • Lou's original business plan:
      1. Get a customer
      2. Make that customer ridiculously happy
      3. Repeat
  • 6:07 to 8:38 - Techniques for Selling to your Ideal Prospect
    • Qualifying - early and often
    • Two ways you win: by losing early and winning
    • Qualified prospect = willing AND able to buy your product / service
    • BANT (IBM acronym) = Budget, Authority, Needs and Timeline
    • How do you learn this info? Through a conversation!
  • 8:39 to 10:47 - Navigating the Sales Cycle
    • Actually a Buying Cycle, not Sales Cycle
    • Important to overcome objections, uncover their needs and concerns
    • Find out what and who the competition is and differentiate yourself
    • You have to drive the process forward
    • Negotiating and closing are key for bootstrappers!
    • As the person who sold the product, be part of the delivery process!
  • 10:48 to 14:47 - Tips and Tricks
    • No one cares what you think about the status of the deal. What you really want to know is what THEY think about the status of the deal
    • Listen more than you talk. Work questions in at every phase of the proposal / pitch
    • Always ask for next steps, never leave a conversation without understanding the next steps in the process from their perspective 
    • Get before you give 
    • Work backwards from the end to establish a calendar of events
    • Save the proposal / contract until the very end (discuss pricing and budget early on). Once you send this, you've lost all your leverage.
  • 14:50 to 16:48 - Ashland Closing Remarks
    • Want to come to CMBXP (9/20 to 9/22)? Great, get your badge today!
    • Like this podcast? Great! A rating and review is so helpful!
    • Stay in touch, email us (ashland@cmbatx.com) or connect with us on social (@createmeetbiz on Instagram and Twitter // Creatives Meet Business on Facebook)
    • Big thanks to Jamal Knox (audio engineer) and Chris James (composer)!

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

More on Bootstrap, so stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

Jun 11, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists and creatives to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features Danny Gutknecht who joined us in November during our roundtable event on Bootstrap. This episode outlines the Quest(ion) Stage of Bootstrap Entrepreneurship and includes so much amazing info on Danny's Essence Mining model. Without further ado, let's hop in and hear what he has to say!

Helpful Links!

Notes:

  • 0:00 to 2:37 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro of Danny Gutknecht, Author of Meaning at Work
  • 2:40 to 3:44 - Introduction of Topic - Question Stage 
    • Struggle in entrepreneurship is important, it's helping you learn about what you really want to do
  • 3:45 to 13:00 - Essence Mining
    • Way to understand self and business
    • Example - how siblings are different from each other
    • Resonance - how trust is established through chemicals in the brain
    • Early interest in self discovery and philosophy
    • Personal journey with creating companies and finding personal fulfillment
      • Created essence mining process from his work in recruiting and combining it with philosophies he'd been studying
    • Essence Mining steps:
      • Past 
        • Where did you grow up, what did you enjoy doing as a child, what happened next. Examine narratives about how interests grew. How did those interests move to the next step in school, etc.
      • Present 
        • What am I doing now that I really care about? Where does time melt away? What am I doing when nothing matters anymore? Whatever that is, do more of it.
      • Future
    • We focus our attention on the tension
    • When you mine your narrative, it helps you be present. If you perform this process regularly, you start learning things. You realize that nothing is ever settled, it's a constant learning process.
  • 13:06 to 16:30 - Self Deception - Answer to Attendee Question
    • Caps lock / Caps off technique: argument on paper or on computer, argue both sides (one side caps lock, one side caps off). Argue until the argument is done, come back to it when emotions aren't running as high. 
    • Cultural ratcheting
  • 16:31 to 19:20 - Ashland Closing Remarks

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

More on Bootstrap, so stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

May 29, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists and creatives to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features Bijoy Goswami who joined us in November during our roundtable event on Bootstrap. This episode outlines the You Stage of Bootstrap Entrepreneurship and includes so much amazing info on Bijoy's MRE model. Without further ado, let's hop in and hear what he has to say!

In other cool news, listen all the way through the episode for a special gift-away... 

Helpful Links!

Notes:

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

More on Bootstrap, so stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

May 14, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists and creatives to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features Bijoy Goswami who joined us in November during our roundtable event on Bootstrap. You'll actually hear from him again in two weeks! This episode is the overview of the bootstrap business model and an outstanding overview of the other forms of business models out there. Let's hop in and hear what he has to say!

  • 0:00 to 1:20 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro of Bijoy Goswami, Founder of Bootstrap Austin
  • 1:21 to 4:12 - Musical Fugue and Human Fugue
    • Definition of Fugue and Framework of Human Fugue Model
    • Watch a Fugue!
    • Four (4) Basic Houses of Human Fugue 
      1. Phenomena
      2. Rights 
      3. Resources
      4. Meaning
    • Processes inside of houses to deal with each house
      1. Phenomena -- scientific methord
      2. Rights -- democracy // Produces laws
      3. Resources -- observe a problem, create a solution, sell to a customer // Produces business models
      4. Meaning
  • 4:13 to 10:42 - Paths of Entrepreneurship
    • Three different paths of entrepreneurship
      1. Craft Entrepreneurship
        • Cookie cutter business - franchise
        • Easy to enter businesses, hard to differentiate
        • Present everywhere
      2. Funding-Driven
        • VCs, Silicon Valley
        • Investor is driving the whole story
        • Invests in multiple endeavors expecting very few to succeed
        • Creation of novel business models
        • Most fail
        • Hollywood Example
        • Constrained by time, unconstrained in resources
      3. Bootstrap
        • In-between these models
        • Low cost, but not implementing a cookie cutter model
        • Discovery of new business model, but using process of bootstrapping to discover the model
        • Least understood because it's the least studied
        • Term comes from Baron Munchausen pulling himself out of a swamp by his bootstraps
        • Constrained in resources, unconstrained in time
        • Austin examples - Tito's, Kendra Scott 
  • 10:43 to 13:15 - Steps in the Bootstrap Map
    1. You Stage - key action is discover // get to know yourself
    2. Question Stage - key action is awaken // embark on hero's journey
    3. Ideation Stage - key action is demo // create something
    4. Valley of Death Stage - key action is sell // find customers
    5. Growth Stage
    6. Rebootstrap, no model lasts forever
  • 13:20 to 16:28 - Ashland Closing Remarks
    • Book I'm reading - Originals by Adam Grant
      • Tempered radicalism concept from book
    • Like this podcast? Great! A rating and review is so helpful!
    • Stay in touch, email us (ashland@cmbatx.com) or connect with us on social (@createmeetbiz on Instagram and Twitter // Creatives Meet Business on Facebook)
    • Big thanks to Jamal Knox (audio engineer) and Chris James (composer)!

Link to Bijoy's Slides

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

More on Bootstrap, so stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

May 1, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists and creatives to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features Ashley Thompson, Managing Director at the Blackbaud Institute for Philanthropic Impact, who joined us in August during our roundtable event on Fundraising. As you'll soon find out, she has so much to share about thought leadership and how to get yourself on the path toward that. Because there's so much magic in this episode - let's hop in and hear what Ashley has to say!

  • 0:00 to 1:15 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro of Ashley Thompson
  • 1:20 to 2:34 - Introduction of Self and Topic
    • How to Win Friends and Influence People - build authentic relationships.
      • Win the hearts and minds of people through listening, humility, and real authenticity 
  • 2:35 to 3:33 - Qualities of Thought Leadership
    • Authentic
    • Truthful
    • Based in real knowledge, awareness, and understanding
    • Vehicle to build a base and your audience
  • 3:34 to 4:52 - What is a Thought Leader
    • Overprescribed today in who is called a thought leader
    • Someone who has a keen sense of the scope in their area of focus
    • Humble, aware of how much they have to learn in the space
    • Someone who is driven to share knowledge (and often)
    • Builds up a perspective and thoughts
    • Takes years to achieve thought leader status
  • 4:53 to 10:13 - How to Be on the Path Toward Thought Leadership
    • Aligning where your passion meets your audience
    • Tips!
      1. Get specific and narrow in focus
      2. Do your research (every day, day in and day out)
      3. Build your audience / know your audience
      4. Connecting with and networking with the experts in the space
      5. Get published and speak as much as you can
      6. Be conscious about social profiles
      7. Create lists (roll up stuff / boil stuff down)
      8. Be focused on the future
    • Start thinking about your passion and your north star.
  • 10:19 to 13:22 - Ashland Closing Remarks

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

We're headed for Bootstrap, so stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

Apr 16, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists and creatives to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features Erica Ekwurzel, Founder and Owner of CivicAIM, who joined us in August during our roundtable event on Fundraising. As you'll soon find out, she has so much to share about how to get to know your donor and how to prospect (with specific examples!). Because there's so much magic in this episode - let's hop in and hear what Erica has to say!

  • 0:00 to 1:35 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro of Erica Ekwurzel
  • 1:40 to 2:33 - Introduction of Self and Topic
    • Founded CivicAIM - works with gift givers
    • What do we think of when we think of "fundraising"?
  • 2:34 to 3:46 - Why Do People Give?
    • Because they're asked
      • Because people that they trust ask them
    • Because they believe in your cause
    • Because they want to be recognized / because they want to be part of a larger purpose
    • Tax advantages
  • 3:47 to 6:18 - What Do Donors Expect and Want?
    • We've all donated before and have experienced either a response from the organization we donated to or no response until they make another ask
      • Think about how you'd want to be treated if you were the one making the donation
    • Acknowledgement and accountability 
      • Communication - share the narrative as well as the quantitative data. How has the donor contributed to that work?
      • A good rule of thumb - 7 touches with a donor before the next ask.
        • Touch can be a generic thank you or personalized. 
        • Handwritten thank you goes so far!
  • 6:19 to 7:18 - Doing Your Homework - Getting to Know Your Donor (Individual)
    • 80% of fundraising is doing your homework, it's not the ask. 10% is about the ask.
      • Know who your donors are and what motivates them. Position yourself to know this information and when it's the right time to ask them
    • How can you do this?
      • Ask your current donors (one-time or veteran) what it was that brought them in to make a donation to the organization. Ask why they're sticking with you.
  • 7:19 to 10:08 - Finding Grantmakers and Organizations
    • Regional Foundation Library (if you're in Austin)
      • Database that's open to the community
      • Clearinghouse for all sorts of grantmakers (corporation, foundations, etc)
    • After you have your list from this search, dig in a bit deeper and make sure it's a fit
      • Pull the organization's 990 and look at what organizations they gave to, what type of projects they funded, and the amount of funding given
      • Who serves on their board? 
        • Ask your donors or board if they have any connections to the organization's board
      • For organizations that don't have a website or annual report, the 990 is a great way to learn about their application process
  • 10:10 to 10:36 - Always Be Authentic
    • When you're fundraising, always be yourself!
    • Be proud of what you're representing. You aren't begging, you're asking donors to contribute to a larger cause.
  • 10:38 to 11:03 - Be Quiet and Listen
    • After you give your intro, be quiet and listen to prospective donors
    • See what their interests and concerns are
      • Be open to that!
      • They might have criticisms and thoughts that are valuable to making a better organization
  • 11:04 to 11:41 - Don't be Discouraged After a "No"
    • Sometimes it's the timing or it just wasn't in alignment
    • A "no" is only a "no" today, things can change tomorrow
  • 11:46 to 15:16 - Ashland Closing Remarks

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

Just one more on Fundraising, then we switch to Bootstrap, stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

Mar 19, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists and creatives to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features Aubrey Wilkerson, Executive Director of Out Youth, who joined us in August during our roundtable event on Fundraising. As you'll soon find out, he has so much to share about revenue streams and how to play to your strengths for funding sources. Because there's so much magic in this episode - let's hop in and hear what Aubrey has to say!

  • 0:00 to 3:41 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro of Aubrey Wilkerson
  • 3:46 to 4:52 - Introduction of Self and Topic
  • 4:53 to 7:10 - Sources of Funding
    • Grants
      • Researching and finding grantors
      • Writing Letter of Intent 
      • Writing Grant
      • Interviews / Site Visits
      • Executing the Grant
      • Reporting and Deliverables
    • Corporate Gifts
    • Individual Giving // Employee Giving
      • Find Prospective Funders
      • Meeting 
      • Emailing / Direct Mailing 
      • UT model was 12 contacts a year with only one ask a year for money
    • Event Fundraising (Gala, Luncheons, etc)
    • Each category has a lot of work associated with them
    • Think about your capacity and how much you can take on and execute when thinking about diversifying your revenue streams (and whether or not you can)
  • 7:11 to 8:23 - Should You Diversify Your Funding Streams?
    • Depends! It depends where you are with the project and much more
    • Out Youth annually reviews its revenue streams to see how to better diversify for coming years
    • If all your funding is from one source (all your eggs are in one basket), you better watch that basket closely
  • 8:24 to 9:49 - Downside to Isolated Funding Streams
    • Individual Giving
      • Responsive to things outside your control (like the economy, election cycles)
    • Grants
      • High reward
      • Grantors can change funding models and not renew the full grant, might mean releasing employees if the grant is lost
  • 9:50 to 11:00 - Diversified Revenue Streams as Future Goal 
    • At some point, the goal should be to have diversified income streams
    • Start with your best and natural fits first, the lowest hanging fruit first
    • Have future goals for improvement in areas that aren't your speciality
  • 11:01 to 11:46 - Making a Case for Supporting the Arts
    • Learn how to message the importance of investing in all forms of art
  • 11:47 to 13:07 - Beyonce Story!
    • Included because it's heart warming and lovely!
  • 13:11 to 15:07 - What Aubrey Learned from Years in Fundraising
    • The value of stewardship and building a relationship with donors
    • Fundraising jobs at first are technical, it wasn't till he was actually asking for money that he learned how it all worked together
    • If someone is actually connected to the project, asking money for it is easier
  • 15:08 to 16:28 - Donor Circles / Donor Societies
    • How they work
    • Host a low impact event (wine and cheese) that's an update about the organization or project and then don't ask for money
  • 16:32 to 17:38 - Ashland Closing Remarks

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

More on Fundraising, stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

Mar 7, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists and creatives to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features Meghan Wells, Cultural Arts Division Manager at the City of Austin Economic Development Department, who joined us in August during our roundtable event on Fundraising. As you'll soon find out, she has so much to share about how to be a better collaborator. Because there's so much magic in this episode - let's hop in and hear what Meghan has to say!

  • 0:00 to 1:06 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro of Meghan Wells
  • 1:10 to 1:49 - Introduction of Topic (Public / Private Partnerships)
    • Public sector = government
    • Private sector = community members that want to partner
  • 1:50 to 3:44 - Be Authentic
    • Tell your authentic story
    • Be committed to making good work and to your craft
    • Be invested in yourself
    • Make good work, then get it out into the world
    • Document it - take pictures, record things, build a portfolio, create a budget history, list of references (partners / clients / funders / collaborators)
    • Build a world
  • 3:45 to 4:53 - Partnership is an Art, Not a Science
    • This is one way to do it, there are others. Forge your own path.
    • Talk to someone who has already done it, find a mentor
    • Fiscal sponsor - "big brother" entity to give feedback, best practices
    • City of Austin staff is a resource
  • 4:54 to 5:26 - Know What Your Goal Is
    • What is your goal?
    • How will support help you reach your goal?
    • What will your project or work contribute back to the funder? 
    • How will you provide a public benefit?
    • Do your thing
  • 5:27 to 6:12 - Work Within Established Funding Frameworks
    • Know the deadline
      • Start WAY before the deadline
    • Read the guidelines (make sure you understand them)
  • 6:13 to 8:46 - Build Relationships
    • Build trust, help make them understand that their investment in you is a smart one
    • Half of this is luck (and timing)
    • Example about how outreach can turn into more and build a relationship
    • Don't be shy, share your information
    • Ways to network
    • Just start talking to people
  • 8:48 to 9:16 - Get Feedback
    • Ask for critique
    • Helps your work improve
  • 9:17 to 10:00 - Think Like a Business
    • Figure out a long-term plan and transfer it into a business plan
    • You need to make money
    • Think about how your income and expenses are part of the picture
    • Small Business Program at City of Austin has resources
  • 10:01 to 10:43 - Don't Be Afraid of Testing Your Assumptions
    • Reshaping your identity and exploring new areas of creative work is healthy, but don't have too many that you aren't focused
    • Keep everything under an umbrella, but taking risks is good
    • Funders like innovation, think about that in the context of your work
  • 10:44 to 11:25 - Biggest Piece of Advice
    • Plan ahead
    • Start Early
    • Ask a lot of questions
    • Don't give up, if at first you don't succeed, try again
    • Timing can help you or hurt you
    • Build relationships
  • 11:30 to 16:36 - Ashland Closing Remarks

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

More on Fundraising, stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

Feb 26, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists and creatives to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features Sally Blue, fundraising coach and consultant, who joined us in August during our roundtable event on Fundraising. As you'll soon find out, she has so much to share about how your vision should be what's driving your fundraising. Because there's so much magic in this episode - let's hop in and hear what Sally has to say!

  • 0:00 to 1:39 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro of Sally Blue
  • 1:43 to 2:44 - Introduction of Self
  • 2:45 to 6:12 - Misson, Vision, and Your Why (and how it connects to fundraising)
    • Your mission and vision should be the basis of your fundraising, should be the heart of what you're doing
    • Be clear on your mission / vision
    • Be sure your board knows them too!
    • Mission = what you do everyday, day to day activity of your organization.
    • Vision = big picture, where are you going. How is the world different because you exist?
      • This piece is fundamental to your fundraising. Makes people want to be involved with and a part of what you're doing
    • Fundraising should never be about begging. It's your opportunity to share something you're passionate about.
    • Why - where you can build in some of your more personal pieces. Knowing what they are helps you know when to say no.
  • 6:13 to 6:56 - Saying "No"
    • Having clarity around your why, mission, and vision will help you when you need to say "no"
    • Sometimes you have to walk away from money and opportunities
    • Learning to say no comes from seeing when an opportunity isn't in alignment with your vision, mission, why
  • 6:57 to 8:36 - Talking About Money
    • We all have a hard time talking about and asking people for money
    • It's important to remember that it's hard for anyone to talk about this when asking for money
    • Don't make assumptions or project your views about money onto your prospective donor
    • Make sure your prospective donor is a match for your mission / vision 
    • Decide if you want to live in scarcity or abundance
  • 8:37 to 10:55 - Traps You Can Fall Into When You Lose Sight of your Mission and Vision in Your Messaging
    • Becomes very easy to lead with the need
      • i.e. we need costumes, roof is caving in, etc.
    • This is fine for a little while, but causes fatigue relatively quickly
    • Causes anxiety and tension with your donors
    • Lead with vision / not need, helps donors be invested and not transactional
    • "Nobody wants to give money away, they want to invest in important causes"
  • 11:00 to 14:31 - Ashland Closing Remarks

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

More on Fundraising, stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

Feb 5, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists and creatives to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features Kyle Banahan, Brand Manager for SkinnyPop Popcorn at Amplify Snack Brands, who joined us in June during our roundtable event on Branding. As you'll soon find out, he has so much to share about positioning along with the other p's. Because there's so much magic in this episode - let's hop in and hear what Kyle has to say!

  • 0:00 to 2:28 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro o Banahan
  • 2:32 to 3:44 - Introduction of Self and Topic (Differentiating in a Crowded Market)
    • Former Brand Manager for Lean Cuisine and Hot Pockets
  • 3:45 to 5:47 - 4 P's of Differentiating - Low Hanging Fruit
    • Attended SXSW Panel "Why Marketing Hasn't Changed in 10,000 Years" and was reminded of fundamentals
    • 4 P's
      • Product - change the product slightly.
        • Example - a smaller popcorn (smaller kernel)
      • Price - be less expensive
      • Packaging - logo change or packaging
      • Promotion - market in a different medium than competitors
    • Short-term change as it's short-term value from consumers
    • The 4 P's are low hanging fruit
  • 5:50 to 9:26 - True Path to Differentiation - Positioning 
    • Define positioning and how you create value for consumers, that is going to be the way that you actually differentiate
    • Positioning is the what. What is your brand?
    • Positioning is the answer to this question: What does my brand have that consumers value that the competition can't deliver?
    • You will never differentiate on a long-term basis if you can't answer this question
    • Example with Bounty paper towels (**disclaimer - Kyle made up this positioning statement**)
      • To the person cleaning up the spill, Bounty is the paper towel that is the most absorbent. 
        • Differentiation here is "most absorbent"
        • Every piece of communication will reinforce their positioning of "most absorbent."
    • Use positioning to inform 4 P's
    • Every brand uses positioning as a framework to launch from
  • 9:27 to 10:45 - After Positioning Comes Personality
    • Further differentiation comes from personality
    • Example with Brawny and Bounty
      • Brawny might be adventurous and sexy
      • Bounty might be family friendly, incorporate family friendly designs and partner with Despicable Me
    • Personality communicates positioning
  • 10:47 to 16:07 - Ashland Closing Remarks

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

Get ready for Fundraising, stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

Jan 26, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for artists and creatives to learn the ropes of entrepreneurship.

This episode features James Lanyon, Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at T3, who joined us in June during our roundtable event on Branding. As you'll soon find out, he is a fount of knowledge on all things sales AND designing products for your audience. Because there's so much magic in this episode - let's hop in and hear what James has to say!

  • 0:00 to 3:46 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro of James Lanyon
  • 3:51 to 6:53 - Introduction of Self and Topic (Designing for Sales)
    • Despite all the case studies and business books you read, the truth in product and service creation that generates more demand is really more fundamental and gets down to two key realities.
    • Personal story about graduate program
    • Background in sales over 18 years
      • Opportunity to control your own destiny from sales
  • 6:54 to 7:48 - Where You Need to Focus
    1. Pitch
    2. Product - does the product speak for itself and have value
      • Tendency is to err more toward one than the other
      • Spend too much time noodling what you'll put out there
  • 7:49 to 8:53 - CustomerCentric Selling
    • CustomerCentric Selling 
      • Sales isn't a sin
      • Most really great salespeople are more like therapists and consultants
        • Innate ability to get people to lower their guard and talk about real issues
  • 8:54 to 9:32 - Three (3) Need States Someone Will Transact With You For
    • Ultimately a person or company is going to give you money for one of three reasons:
      1. I need to achieve a goal, get from Point A to Point B
      2. Solve a problem, got stuck somewhere along the way
      3. Satisfy a need, I have a feeling Point B is out there, but I don't know how to get there
  • 9:33 to 12:37 - Don't Stop at the Sale, Create the Product
    • Sales and product creation are co-conspirators
    • Create a feedback loop with the honest conversations you have with clients and customers to create opportunities for business
    • You wear all of the hats as a business owner, but the two that should be worn at the same time are sales person and product creator
    • Don't just use it to hone your pitch, use it to hone and create your product
  • 12:38 to 14:07 - Pain Scale
    • Pain scale like you'd see at the doctor's office with a series of faces from 1 to 10 to showcase pain
    • Solution in search of a problem - when something is created that isn't a pain point for people
    • Most issues on the far right side of the scale (where they're hurting) aren't being addressed and that's what people need and will pay for
  • 14:08 to 15:00 - Test and Learn Processes
    • Instead of responding immediately to a good idea and shifting your business model and overhauling your website, send a test email to say 25 of the 500 people in your database with the new idea you have.
      • Keep repeating until you get 25 "no, I have no interest in this" and then check it off and move on.
  • 15:01 to 17:16 - Lean Business Model Canvas
    • Most start-ups are forced to do the exercise (if they get any funding)
    • Several options for the Lean Business Model Canvas: Link to Lean Business Model Canvas on Canvanizer , Link to LEANSTACK site, or do a google image search
    • Important for any business owner or entrepreneur to complete, not just start-ups seeking funding
    • The problem doesn't have to be profound, but it has to be problematic in some sense for it to be a solution 
    • You can write it over and over again, that's how businesses change over time
    • One of the greatest assets you can have is to create a metaphor: I'm the this of that
  • 17:20 to 19:07 - Ashland Closing Remarks

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

Get ready for one more on Branding then we move to Fundraising, stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

Jan 8, 2018

Hi there folks!

Creatives Meet Business is an event and podcast series based out of Austin, Texas for creatives of ALL disciplines to get from zero to one in thinking of themselves as business owners (in the creative sector).

This episode features Kaitlin Maud, Director of Strategy at T3 and independent consultant, who joined us in June during our roundtable event on Branding. As you'll soon find out, she has so much to share about branding overall, but more specifically about leveraging your personal brand for your business strategy. And, she does it in right at 15 minutes! Because there's so much magic in this episode - let's hop in and hear what Kaitlin has to say!

  • 0:00 to 2:13 - Ashland Opening Remarks and Intro of Kaitlin Maud
  • 2:19 to 3:30 - Introduction of Self
  • 3:31 to 8:27 - Introduction of Branding (relaying for purposes of sharing the same definition)
    • Brands exist in the eyes and mind of the consumer
      • Consumers perception of your brand, is your brand
    • You can create a visual representation of a brand (i.e. Nike ads)
    • Tone of voice, product and service offering all play into the brand (i.e. Tom's, 1 to 1 giving)
    • Intangibles -brand promise and who your company associates with
    • Brands are important in the world for two reasons
      1. They help you make decisions (need to make assumptions to be able to make quick decisions)
      2. It's important for us as humans to understand our place in the world and have a sense of self in relation to other people. Brands help us accomplish this by association. 
        1. Dunkin Donuts, Boston example
        2. SNL Sketch with Casey Affleck
  • 8:28 to 11:28 - Personal Branding 
    • Is your personal brand who you are (your authentic self) or is it a persona or an avatar of who you are that you control and put out into the world?
    • The answer is...it varies from person to person, it's a spectrum. It depends on your consumers (i.e. customers, prospective clients, hiring managers, recruiters)
      • Example with a spiritual advisor and an attorney
  • 11:29 to 15:51 - Three (3) ways to take the concept of personal branding and apply it to your business strategy
    1. Use your professional experience as a story
      1. Storytelling builds trust, helps you be more memorable
      2. Find ways to take bullets off the page and into a coherent story
    2. Use your personal interests and hobbies as an approach to target customers
      1. Example with social media marketing and applying that to your interests
      2. Assess your individual interests as a way to determine who your end customer can be
    3. Use your values as a decision making process
      1. Example with she / her pronouns Kaitlin uses in user journeys
  • 15:58 to 17:09 - Ashland Closing Remarks

If you like what you hear, share the podcast with your friends, and rate and review. To stay in the loop - follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook or subscribe to the newsletter.

Get ready for more on Branding, stay tuned!

Thanks!

Ashland, Creatives Meet Business

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