Long time no see!!

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I was hard launching my Pins & Pulp offer for Pinterest support for the past 2 weeks. I had fun showcasing the progress that I’ve made with one of my Pins & Pulp management clients, but I’m ready to give back to my peeps in a different way.

This week we’re focusing on balancing business and creativity.

Balancing a creative brain, life, and a small business will truly have you ready to set your business on fire. From the 15 different side projects, to trying not to be late for hot yoga (because they WILL lock the door and charge you a missed class fee), life can feel like a constant countdown. Too many small business owners forget that the beauty of being an entrepreneur and a creative, is that you get to call the shots. So…

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Here are 3 things you can do to stay centered as a creative business owner.

#1 Business realignment and operations updates every 6 months

Your business is the vehicle that takes you from dreams to reality. It supports you through highs and lows and helps you maintain a lifestyle worth living, which means you need to do routine check-ins to make sure your business operates smoothly.

• Check your back – end operations to ensure you aren’t wasting time with outdated work flows. This can look like
  • Updating your CRM
  • Refining your project management system
  • Clarifying your templates
  • Updating your contract + welcome guide
  • Cleaning up your website offers

• Team check-ins to get insight into client experiences and spark fresh ideas from within your team
  • Get feedback from your team on what is or isn’t working
  • What takes the most time
  • Adjusting hours
  • Unique approaches to time consuming challenges

• Update public facing media to keep your brand in sync
  • Update marketing templates like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest
  • Update long form content templates like newsletters and blogs
  • Podcast intro updates
  • Podcast imaging updates
  • New branding photos

I’m sure this list made you think of something you put on your to-do list 3 months ago and haven’t thought about until this exact moment, but that’s what I’m here for! Doing a 6 month check in is an excellent way to look at your intentions from January, see how far you’ve come, and if necessary get back on track. You still have 6 months to make huge strides towards the goals you set!

#2 Use Your free will

Don’t be afraid to try something new in your process or marketing. If you feel that a method you are using simply isn’t working, then its time to change it. You may be using a system that you learned from a peer in your industry, and they may have told you that THIER way is THE way. Here’s the thing, that’s the way for THEM. Get serious about picking apart methods and even mindsets that don’t serve you anymore. This can be things like,

• Being more real on socials rather than trying to operate like an agency
• Changing your office hours and days
• Removing access to your phone number for clients
• Getting rid of discovery calls all together
• Setting boundaries in your contracts

Take control. Simply put. Which leads to my final point…

#3 Pour into yourself

Before you roll your eyes, hear me out. I’m not saying you should feel the itch of chaos and go run to the spa and ignore all responsibilities. What I am saying is, be strategic about managing your full plate but also making room for yourself. Here’s what I mean.

• Take a REAL lunch break, no phone and absolutely no work.
• Take at least one day out of the week (not on the weekend) to focus on everything that is “etc”
• Hire out for services that make your life easier, book a cleaning service if that means you have more time to spend resetting your nervous system
• Take a tripppppp, just do it for the weekend, no computer, no nothing, just vibes.

Honorable mention goes to the Grove Suite, for business owners who are ready to step into their role as CEO with confidence. No more struggling to balance being the admin, marketing manager, and creative director all at the same time. Self care IS knowing when to let someone step in and support you. We work together to help you smoothly balance business and creativity. With weekly check-in’s to map out your plan, monthly calls to track big-picture goals, and a built-in business bestie to help you brainstorm your boldest ideas.

The bottom line is, being a creative can be a challenge, but I’m holding your hand when I say this, that’s a choice. Be all you can be today, not tomorrow.

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-Your Ride or Die, Sheri