I am in the throes of writing a business plan. Even though I knew this was coming, I still feel overwhelmed by the process. Clarity. Refinement. Strategy. Financials. Subject-verb agreement. Oh, sigh! Some nights I find myself laying in bed at 2am rearranging strategy sections in my mind. Other nights, my brain is so tired all I can do is hum toddler songs until I fall back to sleep. Baby Shark…do.doo.do. do.dedo. This is from a person who loves to write, loves ideas, loves to organize. I cannot imagine how this process would be for someone who loves none of these things!

I imagine myself standing (naked of course, because it’s a scary dream) in front of an investor talking the “talk” and then, if they decide to support my dream I have to do all the things I promised in my business plan.

Perhaps the underlying stress of it all is knowing that I might one day pitch my plan for Worthwhile Studio to a potential investor. It gives new meaning to the phrase, The Art of the Deal. I imagine myself standing (naked of course, because it’s a scary dream) in front of an investor talking the “talk” and then, if they decide to support my dream I have to do all the things I promised in my business plan. I want what I’ve written to actually be achievable. I want to be able to fulfill those promises, not only for an investor but for the artists I hope to inspire in the future.

I recently took a part time job as a content writer for my alma mater. I write pages every day. Although I think I was a bit crazy to take a job at the start of my final semester in grad school, I do think the job has re-attuned my senses to the art of writing. Goodness knows I use too many commas, and that active vs. passive voice stuff still confuses me, but I find myself writing faster each day. My ideas come more clearly with practice. My daily task of writing at work is helping me write a better business plan. And perhaps creating a few more 2 am Baby Shark moments than before!

My hope is that I learning how to write a business plan, the entire research process, the whittling away at the unnecessary bits, will help me empathize with future clients. Writing a business plan is difficult, but I have a feeling the promises I want to keep in the future will come a little easier because I persevered.

My husband is an audiophile and he is very particular about sound quality, sound harmony, and the wide variety of sounds objects make. I often catch him testing how unusual scales fit over the hum of his electric toothbrush. (Some other interesting audio tidbits: our vaccuum cleaner is in A, and when the ice-maker went on the fritz, the horrible grinding sound it made was in B flat.)

As a jazz trombonist and director of jazz bands, he is often transcribing music for his student band. He takes his headphones seriously. It is difficult to transcribe when you can’t hear all the parts. Careful and intentional listening is imperative.

My sweet husband recently gave me a pair of headphones as a gift for accepting a new job. As a creative Content Writer, I record interviews and other audio tasks within a busy communications office on campus. Headphones make these tasks easier. And, as you can imagine…he bought me niiiice headphones. (Not too expensive, but great sound quality.)

Of course my new headphones will accompany me to work, but I’ve recently discovered a list of podcasts I’d like to share with you.

Art podcasts! I mean, we all think of looking at art in galleries and museums. We copy drawings for practice and work from life. We read magazines and books about art. (I am a sucker for art books!) I never really considered listening to podcasts about art until my fancy new headphones and a random email put the two ideas together.

They recently sent me an email with a link to this selection of podcasts for artists

Skillshare is a recent joy I’ve discovered to take short little art-technique snacks, catch up on the world of content writing, and learn a little more about financial reports. They recently sent me an email with a link to this selection of podcasts for artists. There is literally something for everyone, and Skillshare loves to train new teachers. (Yes, you can offer a little art-technique snack to the World Wide Web and get paid for it!)

On a side note, I am not paid to say any of this. I just like the variety and afforability of Skillshare for my personal learning needs.

I wanted to share this list with my Worthwhile Studio mates as a way to learn more about your profession and your craft! Go on then! Put on your headphones! Remember to listen carefully and with intention.

I made this screencast a few courses ago, but I feel like the information is evergreen. There is often confusion around the differences between copyrights and trademarks. Branding sets the stage for these tools. Artists, writers, musicians, and other creative entrepreneurs should take notes on how to protect intellectual property.

Joy Poe, “Key Lime Pie” Graphite, Encaustic and Acrylic on Panel, 2015

My mom always tells me that every new skill learned is a specialized tool for my toolbox. For a long time I lamented that my art degree didn’t help me do the things I had dreamed. I drew nudes for goodness sake! (My dad still doesn’t quite get it!) How does a visual understanding of the human form translate into a useful tool in the “real world?” Well, for ten years that understanding helped me build a thriving massage therapy practice. My knowledge of the body was informed by years of drawing, long before I ever sat through an anatomy class for my licensure.

Massage therapy helped me develop my natural curiosity as I researched how to help my clients with injuries and discomfort. Perhaps more importantly, massage created a strong sense of empathy for others, which in my humble opinion, is so important to just being a good human.  In the dark, over hours, years and two presidential elections, I learned how to talk comfortably with people from all walks of life. I can see, now,  how art and massage mixed to grow a strong business. I hardly knew what I was doing, and I succeeded (for the most part)!

Supremely pregnant with my second child at the Transylvania Farmers Market, Brevard

After some bucket-list level things happened in my life, (think marriage and children)  I found myself yearning to return to my first love: art-making. I had never really stopped making art, but I had never really pursued it with intention.

I started making felt flowers as a way to cope with post-partum anxiety, and discovered the world of creative entrepreneurship. Esty stores, pop-up shops, farmers markets, and festivals became testing grounds for business skills I never knew I possessed. I recall thinking, “If I can find success making felt flowers, I wonder what could happen if I pursued the art I am passionate about?”

When Heartfelt Flowers began to have scaling issues, I knew I needed some new tools. I began the Masters of Entrepreneurship at Western Carolina University with the dream of finding out what I could do if I followed my passion for making art and supporting others.

Now, the time has come to combine my ideas for Worthwhile Studio into a strong business plan. The excitement of finishing school is outweighed only by my hope to launch Worthwhile Studio. It will be small at first, to allow me to learn how to use these new entrepreneurial tools. What has continually surprised me throughout this program is seeing how much creativity and innovation go in to starting a business. I guess my mom was right. You never know what tools you might need in the future.