In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener:

How do you handle navigating the grief of feeling like your chronic illness has held you back in so many ways - and yet know that there's nothing else you'd rather do? I have so many ideas, so many things I want to create, and yet with my health recently being so challenging at times, I've found myself feeling stuck in the grief of not getting to do everything I want to in the timeline that I want to, and feeling like people often pip me to the post when it comes to creating new things. To the outside world I look like I create & do a lot - but in my messy internal world I often feel like I'm playing catch up and people around me are creating similar ideas to my own far quicker than I'm able to.

In this episode we dig deep into this question, share our own lived experienced as chronically ill humans, and how we try and find peace, joy, and acceptance in taking our business journey slower and gentler along the way.

This episode is for anyone who feels like you have to take your business journey slower than you sometimes wish you had to - whether that’s because of chronic illness, caregiving responsibilities, or just not being a human being who thrives at a go-go-go pace.

Join us on Substack

Would you love some encouragement and support in your business? Submit your letter for an upcoming episode here.

More from Sara

More from Jen

Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener:

Like a lot of people, I’ve moved my newsletter from a more traditional email software product over to Substack. As a writer, I also host a lot of my work on my website in a blog. The intention was always for the blog to host SEO friendly pillar content and for the newsletter to speak to more distinct, current or personal topics.

I’m now unsure as to what my website is for. Should its focus be on paid offerings and directing people over to Substack? Should I keep my blogs on my website? How does SEO even work on Substack, especially when you’ve paywalled your archives. I guess my question is how does the content on your website and the content on your Substack intersect?

- Caroline

In today’s episode we dig into this question, explore the different ways we can balance writing for our Substack and our blog, and why there’s no right or wrong answer but just figuring out what works best for you and your business.

And Jen’s group coaching program to support you to bring more freedom, ease, and intentional growth into your work and life, Your Simple & Spacious Business, is now open for enrolment until Friday 9th February if you’d love to never do business alone again.

And Sara is currently taking on new 1:1 clients if you’d love deeper support with your Substack in this season.

Join us on Substack

Would you love some encouragement and support in your business? Submit your letter for an upcoming episode here.

More from Sara

More from Jen

Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe

In today’s episode Jen dives into twelve questions covering topics such as buiding your business in a way that honours your energetic needs, prioritising your goals with intention, routines and habits to work less and still get your important work done, simplifying marketing, recovering from burnout and more.

If you’d prefer to watch a video with timestamps of each question you can find that here.

And if you’d love to have guidance, encouragement, and support every step of the way in bringing more freedom, ease, and intentional growth into your business and never feel stuck or alone again in your journey you can join Jen inside her program Your Simple & Spacious Business before doors close soon on Friday 9th February and there’s also an awesome 1:1 coaching bonus if you join by Friday 2nd.

* Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack

* Submit your letter

Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe

To kickstart 2024 together we sat down for a business bestie chat where we asked each other:

What are your goals and desires for your business and creative life this year?

And where would you love to be five years from now and how do you want to work towards that vision in 2024?

We talk about how it feels to be a decade into our business journey, the growth we’re prioritising this year, new projects that we want to work on and so much more. If you’d love to tune into a really honest chat between two business besties, we recorded this episode for you.

Join us on Substack

Would you love some encouragement and support in your business? Submit your letter for an upcoming episode here.

More from Sara

More from Jen

And Jen’s group program, Your Simple & Spacious Business, is opening for enrolment again very soon on Wednesday 31st January and this will be the last time to join before the price increases too. If you’re ready to never do business alone again you can find out more this way.

Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe

In today’s episode, for our last episode of 2023, we’re diving into four listener questions covering stepping into a new arena in our work, feeling lonely in our business, structuring our days with intention, and the main challenges we’ve seen others and ourselves overcome in our business journey too.

And today is the last day to join The Substack Soirée for the Christmas class!

* Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack

* Submit your letter

* More from Sara

* Sara’s Substack

* More from Jen

* Jen’s Substack

* Get Jen’s Deep Dive Kit

Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe

Is selling something that you feel overwhelmed by and often shy away from in your business? If so this episode is for you.

In today’s episode Jen is sharing with you a sneak peak of one of the coaching sessions inside her group program, Your Simple & Spacious Business on Gentle & Joyful Sales Experiments To Generate Cashflow In Your Business.

I’ll be walking you through the five gentle guideposts for intentional selling, ten gentle and joyful sales experiments, and how to make a gentle plan for generating cashflow too.

My hope is that this coaching session can support you to take intentional action to generate sales in your business without burning out and without compromising your magic and your values in the process too.

You can also dive into the video and workbook of this coaching session this way.

And if you’d love to have guidance, encouragement, and support every step of the way in bringing more freedom, ease, and intentional growth into your business and never feel stuck or alone again in your journey you can join Jen inside her program Your Simple & Spacious Business before doors close soon on Monday 23rd October.

* Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack

* Submit your letter

Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener:

Despite having a chronic illness, I show up fully to my clients - so how can I explain that I am 100% there for my clients at the times I make for them - but also be real about the reality of days where I can't even muster to have a shower? How can I share, in my communications - that I can be both of these things, all at once?

- Bo

In today’s episode we dive into this question, share the lessons we’ve learned about putting our needs on the table in our business, and our encouragement for anyone who fears their humanness is an inconvenience in their work.

And Jen’s group coaching program to support you to bring more freedom, ease, and intentional growth into your work and life, Your Simple & Spacious Business, is now open for enrolment if you’d love to never do business alone again.

And there’s also an awesome 1:1 coaching bonus available if you join by Wednesday 11th October - you can find out more this way.

And Sara’s The Substack Soirée will be opening again very soon too.

* Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack

* Submit your letter

* More from Sara

* Sara’s Substack

* More from Jen

* Jen’s Substack

* Get Jen’s Deep Dive Kit

Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe

As I gear up for the next enrolment of my flagship group program, Your Simple & Spacious Business, I’m sharing a behind the scenes launch diary over on my solo podcast so that I can bring you along the journey with me and share all of the messy middle that comes with embarking on a launch in our business.

I’m sharing the first episode of this launch diary with you today on the LFAHC feed if it can be supportive and encouraging for you in your business journey right now too.

In this episode I share:

* Why I’m doing this launch diary

* Some behind the scenes on what I’m launching, how I’ve launched it in the past, and how it usually sells too

* The gap between traditional launch advice and our capacity for that workload

* How a 5th launch of a program feels very different to the first

* How and why this is going to be a very simple and low-key launch

* How I’m feeling as I’m about to embark on this launch

* The things I will be prioritising most

* What you can expect from this launch diary

A new episode of this launch diary will go live every week over on my solo podcast for the next six weeks where I’ll take you with me as I prepare for this launch and then real-time behind the scenes and updates as I navigate this enrolment too.

You can find out more about YS&SB this way.

And you can subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts to have new episodes sent straight to your podcast feed too!

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener:

I am writing you from probably the lowest point I have encountered in my creative journey.

This year has been hard for me. I feel a bit lost in my business and so so tired. I have been making pottery for over a decade, selling for about 6 years and working full time as an artist for 2. And the struggle just never ends. I feel like I am pushing a rock up a hill and I keep waiting for the incline to level out so I can coast a little. I keep waiting for that break: for that post or feature that brings thousands of new people to my page, for the grant to be approved, for the gallery show to happen, for my community to establish… I am just desperately needing some ease from the grind. I am so grateful for the growth I have had. I am grateful to be selling my work after years and years of building that confidence, I so grateful for the kind words and support from my customers. I am also very privileged that I am partnered with a wonderful supportive husband who has a secure job and salary that we can rely on when sales have been dropping the past year due to inflation and economic anxiety. I am so lucky… but I am also starting to really lose confidence in myself.

I am simply running out of stamina.

As I see other businesses and accounts pop up around me and grow with such ease (of course I know I am only seeing the surface of these experiences) I can’t help but wonder if I just am not good enough as an artist… or if I am just too idealist. Or really I am just complete s**t at the marketing? My vision isn’t what sells quickly and I don’t want to stray from my aesthetic. I don’t want to play the trending social media games, I am too tired and those honestly aren’t the least bit inspiring to me. I know I need to shift what I am doing because social media based sales just aren’t working for me anymore, Instagram is no longer a place I feel inspired by and want to be spending my time. I just feel so lost and am not sure what my next steps should be.

There is an other aspect to this too I need to throw in and would love to get your advice on: last year I was diagnosed with ADHD. I started using a light medical dose to help with this condition and it did wonders for my executive function. I felt like for the first time I was really getting my business, finances, schedule, all the little pieces that slip through the cracks under control! As I am writing this I am newly pregnant and desperately struggling with fatigue. Because I can no longer take medication it has thrown me for a loop and I feel more disoriented than ever before. I catch myself wasting hours of the day distracted from tasks. I am trying to study more information on ADHD and develop new strategies for coping. The more I study, the more “ah-ha” moments I have. I believe my ADHD has been a much bigger barrier in operating a business and managing a social media account than I was aware of.

I apologize this is a lot of different elements (and I realize this letter is probably now long enough to be disqualified from being answered!) but I know Sara has been so open with her ADHD and you both experience chronic conditions that make you experts in running a business with varying levels of energy. You seem like the perfect people ask for guidance in this time. How can I right this ship and get back on track while this pregnancy is wrecking havoc on my emotions and energy? Are there any resources for creatives with ADHD you recommend Sarah? I would love to know more about your experiences transitioning into motherhood especially as my transition is coming at a time where I was already struggling with so much self doubt in my identity as an artist. I am a bit frightened right now to be honest.

Thank you so so much for considering this letter.

- Insecure, distracted, AND expecting

In today’s episode we dive into this question, share our encouragement for when you find yourself running out of stamina in your business, why we believe honouring our humanness first is so important, and how we’ve both navigated seasons like this in our own business journey too.

* Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack

* Submit your letter

* More from Sara

* Sara’s Substack

* More from Jen

* Jen’s Substack

* Get Jen’s Deep Dive Kit

Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener:

I am hanging on your every word about Substack. I just can't seem to shake this question: Is Substack really right for my business? And if so, am I doing it right? How should I think about it and prioritize it among the many other things I could be doing with my limited time and energy?

But I keep getting tangled up in this question: is substack _marketing_ for my business, a _product_ for my business, or simply an on-the-side creative outlet?

If I'm being honest, I want it to be all three! I love the simplicity of it being everything at once. But let's get real. It seems like there's not much hope of Substack becoming a meaningful source of revenue, unless you've got a massive audience to begin with that you are transferring over from somewhere else. The typical price point is just too low to make the numbers make a real difference with a small audience.

I wonder if you could help put Substack into perspective, in the context of a service-based business that already includes regular writing and podcasting. A business that's ready to pivot into one-to-many offerings. For a person who's sort of hooked, but also worried the promise of Substack is too good to be true.

- Lisa

In today’s episode we dive into Lisa’s question and share how we’re using Substack in our business and why the platform is really just a playground to shape and use in whatever way feels aligned for us. If you’re curious about experimenting with Substack in your business this episode is here to help you explore what that could look like for you.

* Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack

* Submit your letter

* More from Sara

* Sara’s Substack

* More from Jen

* Jen’s Substack

* Dive into Sara’s The Substack Soirée

Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts

And our next monthly private behind the scenes episode is now live if you’d love to become a paying subscriber. Join us this way!

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener:

I'm an artist and graphic designer and I run a one-woman creative studio. Like Jen, I'm very intentional about not hiring staff. If/when I get to a certain stage I would like to hire a VA or studio manager, but for now it's just me. I've raised my rates over the last year, and I have a steady stream of work coming in, which is great and I'm very grateful for it. However being a service-based business, especially a one-woman show, there is a very clear cap on how much I'm able to earn providing services. I plan to keep raising my rates gradually, and I'm slowly starting to gain slightly higher-paying clients and am, getting better at saying no to low-paying jobs. But this feels like quite a slow strategy, at least just now when it's still just me. I also plan to set some time aside this year to make stock (vectors, illustrations and textures) to hopefully set up some passive income streams, although I know this can be tricky to get going.

Do you have any ideas, strategies or suggestions for expanding income potential for a service-based business? There are three reasons I'm asking this:   

1. I'd love to have more ease and breathing room around money. At the moment I'm able to pay my way each month but I still feel a lot of anxiety around my finances.

2. It's my partner and my 10th anniversary next year and I want to treat him to an amazing holiday as a surprise. We joked about going to the Maldives, but I would LOVE if that could become a reality!   

3. I want to help my parents, who after working hard their whole lives are still paying off their mortgage and aren't able to retire yet. I would love, love, LOVE to be able to help them pay off the mortgage so they can finally retire and enjoy life.

Any advice you can give would be massively appreciated!

- Laura

In today’s episode we share our own experiences of expanding our income streams in our business, why it’s also often impactful to prioritise simplifying our client business too, and our encouragement for creating 1-to-many income streams in your business in a way that works best for you.

* Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack

* Submit your letter

* More from Sara

* Sara’s Substack

* More from Jen

* Jen’s Substack

* Get Jen’s Deep Dive Kit

And our first monthly private behind the scenes episode is now live if you’d love to become a paying subscriber. Join us this way!

Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/subscribe