What I’m Working On (Mid-Year Review)

Today I invite you behind-the-scenes of Marketing Creativity, so I can show you what I’m working on for the future of this blog and my creative career!

What I'm Working On - A behind-the-scenes look at Marketing Creativity

Every Day I’m Shufflin’

When the song, Party Rock Anthem came out, my children went berserk for it in the best way. There was a phase where they would sing that song and shuffle all over the house – a dance similar to the old-school “running man” move. They shuffled to the dinner table, they shuffled to their chores, and they shuffled their way out the door to school.

It’s my goal in creative business to refrain from frenzied hustling, and convert that frantic energy into a more productive and joyful shuffling. It’s an attitude I try to adopt to remind myself that I’m fortunate to do work that I love everyday. Rather than get lost in the obstacles and uncertainty, I regularly remind myself of the amazing big picture.

If left unchecked, my to-do list gets way too serious and anxious. It suffocates the creativity out of my creative business, and that’s a fine line I’ve been walking in the last month or two.

I Miss You (& Blogging)!

I manage the Facebook group, Female Creative Entrepreneurs by Marketing Creativity, and one of the member’s recently told me:

I literally check your blog every night to see if there’s anything new!

Her comment made my day, and I truly appreciate the readers who visit here. It makes my heart swell with appreciation + gratitude.

It also makes me sad and fretful when I can’t blog as much as I’d like. This quarter is unusual for me in that more is going on behind-the-scenes than ever before, and it looks like I’ll have to cut back to one post per week from now through September.

Illuminate: The Creative Business Course

This is where I live right now. It’s a lesson plan designed to help you shine the spotlight on your creative career – to reach your potential customers and convert them into repeat business. It’s administered exclusively to members of The Luminaries Club.

Illuminate is released in nine monthly modules, and Module IV has just gone live for the taking.

I knew the general bases I wanted to cover when I announced this in March, but I also wanted to include as much material as I possibly could.

The course outline became the starting line to a 9-month marathon. I don’t feel it ever got a proper launch; I’ve been too engrossed in building it to market it. I plan on giving it more of the fanfare it deserves next year, but if you’re eager to get started, it’s waiting for you inside the club!

I am currently spending more than two weeks per month building this beast, and it doesn’t wrap until December.

An Upcoming Live Appearance!

I’ll share all of the details as soon as it’s officially announced, but know this: you’ll get to take the course for *free* if you tune in for the live taping! Coming soon.

Software Upgrades

I’m not all that tech-savvy, so while technical upgrades are good for my business, they’re often a major setback in time management.

I’m in the process of switching my membership and marketing system over to a fabulous software, but it’s a slow-going process. I’m very impatient about this, but I try to keep myself in check. What I thought would take two weeks (with very little of my own involvement) has turned into two months (with my complete involvement). ugh.

Upgrading seems to be my theme for 2015, and I’ve had to learn new things about filming, video editing, web design, web development, and customer management that I’ve been trying to avoid knowing anything about for years. The idea of finally conquering the unknown by going straight through it is empowering and necessary.

I’ll see you on the other side.

Business Planning

You guys.

I’m almost embarrassed to admit how excited I am that the Erin Condren 2016 planners have been released. I ordered the ready-to-ship rose gold 18-month planner, and I didn’t even bat an eyelash at the expense this year! It’s already in the mail, headed into my open and loving arms.

Last year, I customized the standard $50 planner with my name – not realizing I’d be carrying it everywhere I went. I like to keep my private information private, so I found myself hiding the cover when I carried it to practices, games and events.

This year, I purchased the non-personalized cover and upgraded to the pretty metallic foil. I don’t mind telling you that, yes, I spent $80 on a planner and was eager to do so! Erin Condren planners are worth every penny. #lovemyplanner

Your Best Year 2016

This edition of Your Best Year is going to be epic. I’ve been writing and adding to it since January, during the annual review and reflection I host here on the blog. I am beyond excited to present Your Best Year 2016.

It doesn’t come out until next quarter (October), but it’s an open file on my computer and something I’m tinkering with behind-the-scenes. I look forward to delivering the finished product!

Until next time and all the best,

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7 comments

  • You are a busy, busy woman, Lisa!

    I just wanted to say thank you for all that you do!

    Your information is always so thorough and inspiring. I can’t even begin to tell you how grateful I am for all that you do to help your fellow creatives.

    I can’t wait to see what the rest of 2015 brings for you 🙂

  • I’m so excited to see what you have in store for this space, you are inspiring me to do bigger things with my blog as we blog about similar things. All these amazing life planner things are in the US! I’m now on a Google search to find beautiful life planners in the UK!

    Cat x

  • Hey, that was me who made that comment!

    I can’t fault you at all for not blogging as much. I myself, tends to get caught up in the “behind the scenes” of business. But I’m still a young business (opened in January of this year.) & I realized that I’m making my micro-business way harder than what it needs to be right now. I just need to focus on making more jewelry & making a name for myself.

    I must check out Erin Condren planners! I am a planner crazy gal too! Best of luck on all your new endeavors!

    Xo, Brittany

    • Yes, Brittany! I didn’t want to use your name without permission, but I remembered who said it 🙂 I was *just* saying the same thing in the Facebook group today: focus on content or product FIRST.

      Too often we start a business and think it’s all supposed to happen at the same time:
      CONTENT = MARKETING = TRAFFIC = SUBSCRIBERS = SALES

      But, it’s actually a step-by-step process. One step at a time!

      1. Product / Content
      2. Marketing
      3. Traffic, etc.

      Great add, Brittany! Thanks for sharing.

      • I realise that now! It’s like getting back to business basics. I’m now learning how to create better content. I need to create demand before anything else.

        Thanks for the reply Lisa!

        Xo, Brittany

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