Hat Chats Helping Artists Thrive With Michelle Baker

Part Three of a Three-Part series, it's all about the "Evidence that Saves You." In this episode, Michelle Baker brings the 3-part series to a close by sharing what is was that helped her build a system to easily, painlessly track key metrics of her business by using methods put forth in the book "The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur" by Mike Michalowicz. If you're the type of creative entrepreneur who thinks a business plan is a waste of time, you're RIGHT! (Isn't that refreshing?) Keep it simple and keep it EFFECTIVE. Let OTHERS mind their own business while we take a look at how to evaluate the key factors in our own unique creative business.   • • • If you are a creative solopreneur-- a designer, illustrator, artist, or other type of independent, self-employed creative professional, HAT CHATS are created for you and designed to inspire, educate and "Help Artists Thrive." (HAT) Listen while you create! • • • 

In this episode we dive into actionable steps to help balance behaviors during times of overwhelm! Through tales of true Etsy selling experiences and tactical methods, we take the drama out of decisions and overly-emotional reactions that could affect your business! This segment is Part 2 in a 3-part series following up on the idea that “it is Emotions That Sink You” (E.T.S.Y) and it is “Evidence That Saves You.” (E.T.S.Y). Listen while you work and learn three ways to take back control over emotional situations that affect our actions using three methods ("Fly-Buy-Why"). • • • If you are a creative solopreneur— a designer, illustrator, artist, or other type of independent, self-employed creative professional—HAT CHATS are created for you and designed to inspire, educate and "Help Artists Thrive." (HAT) Listen while you create! • • •

My first $50,000 in sales on Etsy was a complete emotional roller coaster ride! Decisions that I made were based on emotions. I did not pay enough attention to real business metrics that I should have considered before taking over-reactive steps. In hindsight I have learned that it is “Emotions That Sink You” (E.T.S.Y) and it is “Evidence That Saves You.” (E.T.S.Y). This is Part 1 in a series designed to help you avoid emotional pitfalls while running an online shop. This episode is great for Etsy shop owners (or anybody thinking about opening an Etsy shop) to listen while you’re working and it's packed with takeaways you can immediately put into action! • • • If you are a creative solopreneur— a designer, illustrator, artist, or other type of independent, self-employed creative professional—HAT CHATS are created for you and designed to inspire, educate and "Help Artists Thrive." (HAT) Listen while you create! • • • 

This episode is not quite what you think. We're not talking about romance or dating. “Fall in love with a rich man” is a short podcast episode that presents pricing advice and a mindset shift. We creatives know that it takes a lot of energy to monetize our skills: planning, working, creating, marketing, promoting, customer service...but HOW lucrative are the returns on your products or services? Today, let's change how you think about your OWN offerings and re-evaluate where to SPEND your precious time and energy. Tune in and shift your sales perspective.  • • • If you are a creative solopreneur-- a designer, illustrator, artist, or other type of independent, self-employed creative professional, HAT CHATS are created for you and designed to inspire, educate and "Help Artists Thrive." (HAT) Listen while you create! • • • 

It's contagious. It's an epidemic. It's INSIDIOUS! But there IS a cure for... COMPARISONITIS. In this HAT Chat with Michelle Baker, we take a quick but powerful look at the every day demon that lurks in the shadows, waiting to pounce on our sense of success. With three key actions, this brief episode aims to keep you on your chartered journey, armed with tools to save you from falling prey to the distracting, self-defeating effects of "comparisonitis."  • • • If you are a creative solopreneur-- a designer, illustrator, artist, or other type of independent, self-employed creative professional, HAT CHATS are created for you and designed to inspire, educate and "Help Artists Thrive." (HAT) Listen while you create! • • • 

Living the dream as a freelancing creative? It's all good until... the nightmare client strikes! Special guest, graphic designer Stacy Scarlett Martin speaks candidly about what to do when a project has reached the point of going down a wrong path. Preventive measures, red flags, and exit strategies come into play in this type of scenario as we learn about professional ways to deal with decisions to keep your sanity and your bottom line in tact.  • • • If you are a creative solopreneur-- a designer, illustrator, artist, or other type of independent, self-employed creative professional, HAT CHATS are created for you and designed to inspire, educate and "Help Artists Thrive." (HAT) Listen while you create! • • • 

Ever dreamed of being featured in a national magazine? Don't just sit there dreaming about it; here's a story about how one motivated artist made it happen! In this episode of Hat Chats, we discuss the struggles and triumphs that go along with achieving goals we have our heart set on. Tracy Hines, a hair and makeup artist by trade, is also a multi-disciplined creative artist who brings a fabulous mix of art, fashion and craftsmanship to all of her endeavors. Tracy shares tips on how to build supportive, goal-attaining systems for yourself that create results. We also talk about how to handle those times when all the things that "should be happening" don't seem like they're happening at all.  From big visions and day today demands, balancing our work-life goals and self-care all come into play in this inspiring Hat Chat. • • • If you are a creative solopreneur-- a designer, illustrator, artist, or other type of independent, self-employed creative professional, HAT CHATS are created for you and designed to insp

Does the idea of crowd-sourcing funds for a project make your blood curdle? Fear not! Comic book creator/author/artist Joseph Schmalke takes us on a tour of a Kickstarter project that funded his $3500 goal on the first day for a Coffee Table Art Book Of Horror Themed illustrations! We discuss tips and insights that Joe has learned (after running four Kickstarters) and more details about comic book publishing and Comicon involvement. customers.   • • • If you are a creative solopreneur-- a designer, illustrator, artist, or other type of independent, self-employed creative professional, HAT CHATS are created for you and designed to inspire, educate and "Help Artists Thrive." (HAT) Listen while you create! • • • If you are a creative solopreneur— a designer, illustrator, artist, or other type of independent, self-employed creative professional—HAT CHATS are created for you and designed to inspire, educate and "Help Artists Thrive." (HAT) Listen while you create! • • • 

It takes a lot to make it work in a handmade business... a lot of work, a lot of dedication and a lot of courage! Ellen Braley, watercolor artist and calligrapher of El's Cards shares her inspiring journey with us, from waiting tables to running the Boston Marathon and shifting into the mindset that from there, anything could be possible! As we celebrate 20 years of success in her handmade stationery business, we hear from El all about the challenges of meeting customer expectations and timelines to the value of networking and putting ourselves out there, even when that means doing things beyond our comfort zone. Sticking to a consistent style, knowing what and when to delegate to keep the quality of your creative work at a maximum and how to balance a mostly seasonal wedding-niche business with ways to keep retailing all year long are just a few things we discuss in this HAT chat.  • • • If you are a creative solopreneur— a designer, illustrator, artist, or other type of independent, self-employed creative p

Do you work alone in your nice, quiet studio? In this episode, we explore some of the benefits along with the drawbacks of working in an isolated environment. Not only will you find ways to combat negative effects of isolation, you'll be armed with more insight and awareness that will help you head off bad patterns and become more inclined and inspired to take action against them!  • • • If you are a creative solopreneur— a designer, illustrator, artist, or other type of independent, self-employed creative professional—HAT CHATS are created for you and designed to inspire, educate and "Help Artists Thrive." (HAT) Listen while you create! • • •