Building Your Creative Income: 7 Practical Steps for Financial Freedom with a Portfolio Career.

Even though the days of job security and one job for life are long gone, the idea of it being replaced by a career solely focused on one area of expertise is also becoming outdated. Especially with the rise of the gig economy, more and more people are turning to portfolio careers to build their creative income. A portfolio career means having multiple sources of income, often in different industries or areas of work, rather than relying on one full-time job.

For many creatives, especially generalists, this type of career may already be familiar - working on freelance projects while having a part-time job or taking on various side gigs. But with careful planning and deliberate action, a portfolio career can be a sustainable and fulfilling way to build your creative income and achieve financial freedom while doing work you love!

In this article, I share insights from working with creatives (for a decade now!) on how to create a portfolio career that works for you. I hope it will inspire you to follow your career dreams and embrace the opportunities that come from having a portfolio career.

Embrace your unique generalist nature

As a creative generalist or someone with many interests and passions, the traditional linear career path with a single job and source of income often leads to bore-out, especially if your talents are being underutilized (which they usually are). Instead, a portfolio career combines multiple income streams aligned with your passions, interests, talents, and skills. That's the amazing part! But, however exciting this approach can be, it often feels financially precarious.

Many of my clients have expressed concerns about financial stability while pursuing their creative endeavors, a recurring theme when onboarding new coaching clients. They might feel like they don't have their "shit together." Or they might have innovative business ideas they're unsure how to market, like this wonderful creative who has been in wine and restaurant management before having a child and who came to me while working on a nut-free energy bar recipe geared towards new mothers, also considering an app focused on mother care. A typical way for a creative generalist to connect seemingly unconnected dots or, as I like to say it, discover their unique "glue."

7 Practical steps for financial freedom with a portfolio career

As a creative (generalist) and entrepreneur, building a multi-source income stream is crucial for long-term financial sustainability while allowing you the freedom to do work that truly fills you up. Here are some practical steps that worked for me and many of my clients to help you create your own thriving financial foundation:

#1 Map your talents and skills, and learn to appreciate them

As someone with a creative and entrepreneurial mind, you have many skills, talents, and interests. That's a given. But being clear about what you're good at and enjoy doing isn't always straightforward. Make a comprehensive list of everything you can do, from your professional experience to your hobbies and creative pursuits.

Consider how each of these can potentially generate income or how you could combine a few into a career. Don't underestimate the value of seemingly unrelated skills or interests; they can often be combined in unique and profitable ways.

#2 Diversify your income streams strategically

Multiple income streams are the cornerstone of a portfolio career and decide its financial sustainability. This can include freelance work, a part-time job (or "good enough job," as Barbara Sher calls it in her book Wishcraft), selling creative or online products, teaching workshops, consulting and coaching, or developing online courses.

The goal is to create a mix that provides both a stable base and opportunities for growth. Consider how you can use your different skills, talents, and interests to create a mix of income streams for your portfolio career.

#3 Understand that fear is the dreamkiller

As you start building a portfolio career, or if you've been thinking about what you could do for a long time but haven't taken any substantial action toward one or more ideas yet (hello, unfinished projects on the shelf, I see you!), it's important to acknowledge and understand that fear can be a major roadblock. Fear of failure, rejection, and not being good enough are all common fears that can hold us back from pursuing our dreams. The insidious thing is that fear often doesn't show up as fear. It disguises itself in very well-packaged excuses, such as "I don't have enough time" or "I'm not ready yet," or as perfectionism, people-pleasing, or procrastination.

It's important to remember that fear is just a feeling, and feelings can be managed and overcome. It's about shifting your perspective and learning to work through your fears.

#4 Price your services and products high enough

Many creatives struggle with pricing their work. Remember that your unique mix of skills and perspective brings significant value. Research industry rates, but also consider the value you bring to each project. As mentioned in my book "Get Unstuck!," building a business that feels right and using marketing practices aligned with your values is important.

Don't undervalue your expertise out of fear of not being good enough. Instead, price your services and products high enough to reflect the value you bring to the table. It is important for you to get fair compensation for your work and to help you build a sustainable business model.

#5 Collaborate and network with other creatives

Collaboration and networking are key components to any business or career, but as a creative generalist, I find it's more important than ever. We are still living in a world of specialists, and that can erode our self-worth and talk us out of our portfolio career dreams. By connecting with other creatives, you can expand your skills and knowledge through learning from others. Additionally, collaborating with others allows you to work on projects that may have been too large or complex to take on alone or that you were too scared to even start with!

My exclusive community, "Gen Spark," is here to do just that: facilitate collaboration and connection among creative generalists. Click here to discover more and become a member.

#6 Manage your finances mindfully

Financial management is key to making your portfolio career work - or any career or business for that matter. After working with creative entrepreneurs and generalists for a decade, I know that the admin and financial side of their careers and business are often not their strong suit. However, this doesn't have to stop you from being successful. With mindful and intentional financial management, you can stay on top of your finances and make good decisions about your career and business.

To start, it's important to understand the basics of personal finance, such as budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt. This will give you a solid foundation for making financial decisions that align with your goals and values. I know it sounds scary, but you can do it!

#7 Never stop learning and growing

Continuously learning and developing your skills is important for a successful portfolio career. But one thing that is more important than any other is learning how your creative brain works. That is why psychoeducation into the uniqueness of your creative brain is part of my work with my clients.

How good is it to know how you should do something if you are unaware of how your brain actually operates? Understanding your strengths and weaknesses and how to work with them can be a game changer in your portfolio career.

Building your creative income as a creative generalist takes time, intention, strategic planning, and an unwavering belief in the value and uniqueness of your multifaceted self. But once you have laid the foundation and established a solid portfolio career, the possibilities are endless.

Ready to take real steps towards building your own thriving portfolio career?

Are you done with being confined to just one career path and ready to embrace your multi-passionate nature? Are you tired of feeling like you have to choose between your different passions and skills?

I can help! In fact, liberating creative generalists from the 9 to 5 is what I do best. Let's discuss your unique skills, passions, and financial goals and start mapping out a strategy for your portfolio career.

Schedule your free session!

Manifesting Your Dreams: How Your Thoughts Can Shape Your Life as a Creative Generalist (I know it's woo-woo, but it works!)

As I set out to launch a new start-up project (check out CoachMila™.ai and let me know what you think!), I can't help but reflect on the incredible journey of being a creative generalist. This term has become an anchor for many of us drawn to a diverse and multi-faceted range of passions and interests.

Have you ever felt like your curiosity includes (but isn't limited to!) writing, technology, wellness, art, or even human connection and personal growth? If so, you’re in good company! How your brain is wired is a gift, and your interests are pulling at you, offering a unique perspective and endless potential. But let’s be honest - it can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Navigating the maze of possibilities can leave us feeling stuck, unsure which path to follow or how to combine our many interests. Add to that the stories we tell ourselves about who we should be and the comparison traps we fall into, and it's no wonder creative generalists often feel paralyzed.

Here's the good news: your creative thoughts can transform your life. By rewiring your mindset and intentionally aligning your thoughts with your dreams, you can manifest a life that reflects your unique gifts as a generalist.

The Power of Manifestation: Creative Thoughts Become Things

Over the past decade, I've explored and experimented more with the concept of manifestation - not as magic (although it sure does feel like it!) but as a process rooted in the science of neuroplasticity and the power of intentional thinking. Rewiring how we think - shifting from limiting beliefs to empowering ones - can transform how we see ourselves and build our dreams. Neuroplasticity teaches us that our brains are malleable; by intentionally shifting our thought patterns over time, we can create new neural pathways that align with our goals and values.

One of my favorite ways to put it is this: “The magic is not in the wand, but rather in the thoughts of the one holding it.”

For creative generalists like you and I - who often juggle multiple passions and ideas - this process is especially powerful. It allows us to embrace our multifaceted nature while creating clarity and focusing on what truly matters.

But let’s not sugarcoat it: rewiring your brain isn’t always easy. Your sheer number of interests can lead to scattered thinking, choice overload, fear of missing out, or even analysis paralysis. Comparison might creep in as we measure ourselves against other people's external metrics, like follower counts or career milestones. When this happens, it’s important to remember that change starts within you - by deliberately shifting your thoughts (over and over again, months on end) so you can create new mental patterns that align with what you actually want.

Practices for Rewiring Your Thoughts and Manifesting Your Dreams as a Creative Generalist

So, how do we begin rewiring our brains and changing our thoughts to manifest the lives we envision? Here are a few practices I've tried in recent years that have worked really well for me:

• Mantra recitation with brain frequency music
  I've been doing this for two years daily for twenty, and it has changed my life! Start your day by reciting empowering mantras on flashcards while listening to brain-frequency music, such as 417 Hz or other healing frequencies. This practice combines the cognitive benefits of NLP and repetition with the neural alignment provided by specific sound frequencies, promoting clarity, focus, emotional balance, and even lowering anxiety. P.S. If you want my Spotify playlist, DM me, and I'll share it!

• Create space for reflection
  Spend time in solitude and stillness through meditation, journaling, or quiet walks in nature to notice recurring thought patterns and identify those that no longer serve you. This helps bring subconscious beliefs into conscious awareness, making it easier to reframe them.

• Reframe limiting beliefs
  Challenge negative self-talk by replacing it with affirmations or empowering alternatives that support growth and possibility. Since last year, I've decided to treat every negative thought as false, and again, it has transformed my life! Honestly, is the negative chatter in our heads true? And, if not, does it deserve any of our time?

• Experiment
  Try small projects related to your passions and observe what brings joy and flow. Remind yourself you're not making a decision or writing anything in stone; you're just trying something out. The benefit? These activities engage the brain's reward system, strengthening neural connections associated with creativity and fulfillment.

• Trust the process
  Rewiring takes time; trust that even setbacks are part of building new neural pathways - and thoughts. But once the new thoughts take hold, you'll see the world in a whole new light. One day, you'll wake up and realize your life is entirely different, your habits have changed, and you feel more fulfilled. And that's the true power of neuroplasticity - the ability to shape our minds and lives through intentional thoughts and actions.

Embrace Your Inner Rebel and Activist as a Creative Generalist

As a creative generalist, you're not just someone with many interests, passions, and talents. You're also likely to possess a powerful inner rebel and activist. These traits are part of what makes you unique. Your inner rebel thrives on freedom and resists being boxed into rigid structures or routines, even when those constraints come from yourself (hello promises to me I keep breaking!). Meanwhile, your inner activist has a strong sense of justice and an innate drive to stand up for what's right, whether in your personal life or the world around you (aka, you hate following directions from someone who doesn't know what they are talking about).

These qualities can be incredible assets. They nurture your creativity and push you to innovate in ways others might not. However, they can also create challenges, such as procrastination, self-sabotage, or frustration when your work or life feels misaligned with your values. Recognizing these inner forces is a big first step toward working with them effectively so they don't stand in the way of your dreams.

How Psycho-Education Can Help You Manifest Your Dreams as a Creative Generalist

Understanding how your creative brain works - and why you think and act the way you do - can be the most reality-bending thing you'll ever do. This is where psycho-education comes in. By learning about the unique wiring of your brain as a creative generalist, you can develop strategies to work with your natural tendencies rather than against them. That's why it's an important part of what I do with my clients. For example:

• Learn to collaborate with your inner rebel by giving yourself more freedom in how you approach creative projects. This might mean allowing for flexibility in your schedule or experimenting with different methods of working that feel more aligned with your energy and interests. My Freedom Planner is a great way to get started. Get your free copy here.

• Empower your inner activist by channeling your passion for justice into meaningful projects that align with your values. Whether through art, entrepreneurship, or community work, finding ways for this natural drive to express itself can bring so much joy and fulfillment.

Manifestation begins with the belief that your thoughts shape your reality. As Gandhi wisely said: "Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions…" This quote reminds me that by intentionally shaping my beliefs and thoughts, I can create an outer reality that reflects my inner transformation.

If you've ever felt like the world wasn't designed for someone like you, know there's nothing wrong with how you're wired. You're not an "ugly duckling" trying to fit into a world of specialists - you're a swan among swans in the world of creative generalists. Now spread those beautiful wings and show the world who you truly are!

No more burning out, people-pleasing, or picking just one thing.

Through my coaching, I provide psycho-education tailored specifically to creative generalists like you. Together, we'll explore how to embrace the unique way your brain is wired while building a career and life that reflects your passions, talents, and interests.

By understanding the science behind how your brain works - including its need for variety, freedom, and purpose - you'll gain tools for greater creativity, resilience, and clarity in everything you do.

Schedule your free session!

The Paralysis of Perfectionism: Why "Good Enough" is Actually Perfect

Many people find themselves stuck, unable to move forward in their personal or professional lives. I know because I see a lot of them in my coaching practice. They feel held back not by a lack of ability or opportunity, but by an internal struggle: perfectionism. While seemingly a virtue and a very helpful quality to achieve your goals, the quest for perfection and flawlessness often becomes an obstacle to your goal, leading to procrastination, self-doubt, and, ultimately, getting and staying stuck.

After a decade of supporting creative generalists and entrepreneurs to get unstuck, I know how perfectionism impacts our drive and productivity. So before even trying once again to "just do the thing," look inward. Are you setting yourself up for failure by creating unrealistic expectations? Are you holding yourself back through negative and destructive inner chatter? If that is the case, trying harder won't make you finally move forward. Instead, you must shift your mindset and mentally recalibrate: you must transform how you see perfection and understand it's an illusion created by fear to keep you safe.

What is Perfectionism, Really?

Perfectionism is often misunderstood as simply striving for excellence or having high standards. However, again, after doing this work for a decade, I can tell you it goes way beyond that. At its core, perfectionism is an all-or-nothing approach to life. It's the belief that anything less than perfect is unacceptable and dangerous. This mindset is paralyzing, as it sets an unattainable standard - a mountain, as I often tell my clients, that we expect to climb in one step!

The High Cost of Chasing Perfection

Perfectionism may manifest differently in different people, but it always comes with a heavy cost:

• Procrastination: The fear of not meeting impossibly high standards leads to delaying tasks. First, you create the mountain in your mind. Then, you procrastinate because it's too big of a task to climb it all at once.

• Analysis Paralysis: Relentless overthinking and analysis prevent taking action. You're always thinking, trying to figure out how to reach the top of the mountain, but never actually taking the first step.

• Self-Sabotage: The inner critic undermines confidence, fostering a belief that you are simply not good enough. If you were, you'd be on that mountain top already!

• Lack of Creativity: The pressure to create something perfect will damage your capacity for innovation and experimentation. Instead of figuring out how to make it to the top, you'll be stuck in a rut, coming up with underwhelming ideas, not knowing how to begin.

• Burnout: Always creating mountains for yourself, aka unattainable goals, leads to exhaustion and a loss of passion. How could you not get tired, always giving yourself impossibly high climbing levels?

These are only a few of the many negative effects or causes of perfectionism. One that is particularly powerful in keeping us stuck is what we say to ourselves. Let's take a closer look at that inner voice and how it keeps us from achieving our goals.

The Inner Critic's Sabotage

A common theme among my clients is the destructive voice of the inner critic. This voice whispers nothing but doubts, focuses on flaws, and convinces us that our efforts will invariably fail. Some examples of how this inner critic keeps us stuck include:

• "No one will buy that; don't waste your time."

• "This has been done before. It’s not original."

• "There is nothing special about this."

• "I don’t deserve that because I am not good enough."

• "I will fail, lose money, and everyone will hate me."

• "Making it is hard, and I will suffer."

One of my clients described his inner critic as saying, "Look, the mountain is beautiful but too high for you to climb it." Another client's inner voice was even more brutal, declaring, "You’re not going to be good at expressing your ideas...nothing you do will ever matter." This relentless negativity chips away at self-worth and destroys the courage to pursue a life worth living.

The Antidote: Embracing "Good Enough"

The key to breaking free from the paralysis of perfectionism lies in embracing the concept of "good enough." This doesn't mean settling for mediocrity. Instead, it's about recognizing that striving for excellence is valuable, but demanding perfection is self-defeating. "Good enough" acknowledges that limitations exist - of course they do! But it allows you to progress, learn, and grow without the crippling weight of impossible expectations (and imaginary mountains to climb).

Here are some strategies to help shift your perfectionist mindset to one that embraces "good enough:"

• Challenge the Inner Critic: Actively question the negative thoughts and beliefs that cause your perfectionism. Are these thoughts realistic and helpful? Are they really true? Or are they based on fear and unrealistic expectations?

• Set Realistic Goals: Break down large tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Make them so small that you can't even make a mountain out of them anymore. Celebrate small victories along the way to build momentum and confidence.

• Focus on Progress, Not Perfection: Shift the focus from the end result (the top of the mountain) to the process of learning and growing (climbing your way up slowly). Accept that mistakes are part of the journey and valuable growth opportunities.

• Practice Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer a friend. If you wouldn't wish this pressure on someone else, don't put it on yourself.

• Embrace Imperfection: Actively look for opportunities to be imperfect. Share your work even if it's not flawless, leave things unfinished (by your standards), and let others see the process rather than the result. It will be freeing, I promise!

• Set Time Limits: Instead of striving for endless improvement, set a realistic deadline and commit to finishing the task within that timeframe (hello, I see you; I know it's hard!). This prevents projects from dragging on indefinitely and allows you to move forward.

• Celebrate "Done": Acknowledge and celebrate the completion of a task, regardless of whether it meets every expectation. With your high standards, things will never be "done," so you might as well just let them be what they are.

• Redefine Success: Change your definition of success from doing everything perfectly and at the highest level to your personal growth journey, finding meaning in your work, and focusing on your well-being first.

Some Case Studies in "Good Enough"

• The Entrepreneur: Savannah started and stopped many entrepreneurial projects because they "didn’t quite feel right." After having her daughter, she realized she was working on interesting things, but they "didn’t truly come from my heart." She found her purpose by shifting her focus to postpartum care and wellness and coaching for new mothers.

• The Creative: Connie feels she has "the soul of an artist, even if I don’t have the skill (yet)." Rather than waiting until she has the perfect skills, Connie can embrace her creativity by experimenting, learning, and sharing her work. By cultivating a growth mindset, she knows growth comes through practice, not innate talent.

• The Career Changer: Kathryn wants personalized, results-oriented help with a career transition. By making the most of her existing skills and experience, she can create a solid plan that focuses on progress today rather than an unattainable ideal in the future.

Conclusion

As I have witnessed in my life and through working with many gifted and talented people, you think being perfect will be gratifying, but it only causes frustration and stagnation: you get stuck and stay stuck.

By aiming for "good enough" instead, you can free yourself from unattainable expectations, move closer to your innate potential, and experience the joy of progress, creativity, and meaningful achievement instead of the pain of never reaching the top of the mountain. You can Get Unstuck!

Take the first step toward progress and Getting Unstuck

Perfectionism can keep you trapped in a cycle of frustration and inaction. Constantly striving for an unattainable goal leads to self-doubt, procrastination, and a sense of failure, preventing you from reaching your goals and experiencing true fulfillment.

Are you ready to break free from the chains of perfectionism and start achieving your goals? Are you ready to finally get unstuck? Take the first step now - sign up for a free coaching session with me today!

Schedule your free session!

7 Tips for Successful Career Change for People with Creative Brains who Feel Stuck

Feeling stuck in your career is a common experience, especially for creatives and entrepreneurs. The unique wiring of your creative brain, with its hunger for novelty, variety, and self-expression, can actually make career stagnation even more frustrating. Boredom, burnout, underutilization of your skills, and lack of diverse challenges can quickly kill your creative spark. If you're a creative feeling stuck and yearning for a career change, read on.

Have you been daydreaming about a different path? Questioning whether you should leave your current role altogether? Perhaps you've considered taking on a new role in that other department, but you hesitate. You've heard the manager there is stiff and very structured, and you're afraid the work will be boring, and you'll quickly tire of it. Or maybe you want more and crave a deeper sense of meaning and purpose in your work.

These are common dilemmas for creatives. I know because I've been supporting creatives in getting unstuck from unfulfilling careers for the past decade, and this guide will help you navigate these questions and create a fulfilling career change for yourself.

1. Understand Why You Feel Stuck:

• Acknowledge the unique challenges: It's important to recognize that the needs of your creative brain might not be met in a traditional work environment. Repetitive tasks, rigid structures, and limited opportunities for innovation can lead to feelings of frustration and underwhelm – what I call the "creative bore-out." This is particularly true for creative generalists who thrive on variety and the ability to apply their diverse skills.

• Ask yourself:

  1. Am I experiencing burnout from overwork or bore-out from under-stimulation?

  2. Is my broad skillset fully utilized, or am I pigeonholed into a narrow role?

  3. Do I have enough autonomy and flexibility to express my creativity?

Take my client Sarah. A talented graphic designer with a wide range of creative interests who felt stuck in her role at a large agency. The work was repetitive: even though she has a masters in graphic design, the only thing she was asked to do was typesetting commercial brochures and posting about them on social media. She wasn't given the autonomy to truly express her creative vision. Through self-reflection, she realized she needed more variety and ownership over her projects to be happy. This led her to launch a successful freelance design business, where she now enjoys the freedom and flexibility to pursue projects inspiring projects she can be passionate about.

2. Envision Your Creative Career Ideal:

• Clarify your creative vision: Go beyond simply identifying your passions and interests and how they could serve you at work. Imagine your ideal creative ecosystem. What kind of projects excite you? What impact do you want to make? What level of autonomy and flexibility do you need to thrive? For creative generalists, this might involve a portfolio career or a role that allows cross-disciplinary collaboration, which, luckily, is more and more in demand today!

Consider Mark, an entrepreneur who felt trapped in his own business. While he had built a successful company, the day-to-day operations had become monotonous and sucked up all of his time, and he longed to return to his true passion: computers and bringing knowledge about them to the world. By clarifying his creative vision, he was able to restructure his business, delegate routine tasks, and reclaim his time to work on the new chapter in his entrepreneurial life. Watch out, world, something incredible is coming!

3. Explore Paths to a Fulfilling Career Change:

Sometimes, career change means staying in your job but redefining it or transitioning to a different role within the same company or structure. If you're feeling stuck or unfulfilled in your current job, consider talking to your manager about taking on new projects or responsibilities that align with the needs of your creative brain. You could also look for courses and training opportunities to expand your skillset and open new career paths.

• Reimagine your current role: Can you be more creative in your current job? Explore opportunities to craft a new job, propose new initiatives, or look for projects that align with your passions.

• Embrace the entrepreneurial spirit: If your current environment can't accommodate your creative needs, consider alternative paths. Freelancing, consulting, or launching your own business might offer the freedom and flexibility you crave. This can be especially appealing for creative generalists like many of my clients, who thrive on variety and autonomy.

• Ask yourself:

  1. Can I negotiate more autonomy or variety within my current role?

  2. Is it time to explore alternative career paths or entrepreneurial ideas?

4. Cultivate Your Creative Community:

• Connect with other creatives: Surround yourself with a supportive network of creatives who understand the unique challenges and joys of the creative journey and living with a creative brain. Share ideas, collaborate on projects, and find inspiration in each other's work.

5. Invest in Creative Growth:

I've witnessed the power of creative investment many times. My client Maria, a writer and poet, felt stuck in her career as a communications manager for a big soda brand. She decided to invest in a writing workshop focused on a new genre and to attend slam poetry contests. This changed everything for her. Her passion for writing led to a successful career change as a full-time freelance writer and published poet.

6. Take Action to Get Unstuck:

• Break free from fear, worry, and "just thinking about it": Creatives often struggle with self-doubt and perfectionism, which create difficult-to-escape cycles of overthinking and worry. Don't let these fears hold you back. Take the leap, experiment, and embrace the messy, imperfect uniqueness of the creative process.

• Ask yourself:

  1. What small step can I take to move closer to my creative goals today? Once you have it, DM me on Instagram or LinkedIn and let me know!

  2. How can I overcome my fear of failure and embrace creative risk-taking?

7. Embrace Unconventional (Creative!) Strategies for Career Change:

• Side Hustle Exploration: A side hustle can be a playground for your creativity, allowing you to experiment with new ideas and build a portfolio while maintaining financial stability from your day job. Nothing is set in stone, so as long as you keep costs low and have fun while developing your idea, you have nothing to lose. And remember, you can always change your mind!

• Creative Sabbatical: Take a break from your routine to recharge your creative batteries, travel, explore new interests, and return to work with a fresh perspective. It doesn't need to be a month or a year. Even a few hours or a long walk can be enough! I've had one-day sabbaticals that gave me the best ideas for my business.

For creatives, entrepreneurs, and creative generalists in particular, feeling stuck in your career can be exactly what you need to finally get up and change.

By understanding and focusing on the unique needs of your creative brain, embracing self-reflection, and taking bold action, you can get unstuck and unlock new levels of fulfillment, purpose, and creative expression. Now, get off the couch and take that first step!

Ready to get unstuck and create a career that will keep your creative brain happy and engaged?

I can help. As a career and business coach for creatives, I am dedicated to helping you bring more joy, purpose, and success into your career while giving you the tools to understand your creative brain better.

You deserve fulfilling and sustainable work that allows you to thrive creatively and financially. Are you ready?

Schedule your free session!

Everything in Life is an Invitation to Grow: Everything is a Grindstone

For many clients and myself, life often feels like a rollercoaster ride, filled with unexpected challenges and overwhelming experiences. More than any other, recent years have been one of perseverance and growth in ways I never thought possible. And there's a reason for that...

Reflecting on the past can be overwhelming, but instead of focusing on the negatives, I want to challenge you to think about everything that happened to you, all your experiences, and the difficult path you may have walked as a grindstone. This is how I've looked at life for the past few years; it has been so empowering.

A grindstone is a tool used to sharpen blades and tools. It's made up of rough surfaces that rub against each other, slowly but surely creating a sharp edge.

Similarly, if we decide to see it that way, every challenge we face is like a rough surface on our journey, constantly rubbing against us and pushing us to grow and become stronger. And just like a blade that becomes sharper with each pass on the grindstone, we, too, become sharper and more resilient through our struggles.

This may sound cliche, but I believe everything happens for a reason. Every setback, obstacle, and disappointment in your life is an opportunity to sharpen yourself and become stronger.

Everything is an invitation to grow, learn, and become a more resilient, stronger, and more capable human being.

When an obstacle shows up, when someone is shitty towards you, when you are being misunderstood or mistreated, instead of getting angry and defensive, say "thank you" and go to work learning and growing from it.

• Your ex decided to be a jerk during divorce proceedings? Say "thank you," and use this setback to become a stronger person with better boundaries and communication skills, and leave this experience with more grace, empathy, and power.

• Your boss is micromanaging you? Say "thank you" because now you can see how not to manage people, how to stand up for yourself, and communicate your needs effectively.

• You made a bad financial decision? Say "thank you" and use that experience to become a better money manager, to be more mindful of your spending habits, and to prioritize your financial goals.

Every challenge can be an opportunity for growth if we choose to look at it that way. And the best part? No one can take away what you've learned and who you've become through these challenges. They are yours forever and will continue to serve you in the future.

How to see your grindstones as gifts

I know, I know. Looking at challenges as "gifts" and saying "thank you" when someone is a jerk to you might sound... annoying, to say the least, especially when you're in the middle of a challenging situation. But here’s the truth - it’s all about mindset. You have the power to turn any trial into triumph. You really do.

Here are five steps to get started with your grindstones:

1. Acknowledge the trigger.
   Notice when something or someone gets under your skin. That discomfort? That’s your grindstone saying, “Hey, there’s something here for you to learn. Here's your chance to grow.”

2. Ask, “What’s the lesson?”
   What skill, habit, or strength is this moment trying to teach you? Is it patience? Assertiveness? Boundaries? Courage? Self-Esteem?

3. Flip the script
   Instead of thinking, “Why is this happening to me?” ask, “How can this help me grow? What can I get out of this?” Reframing challenges as opportunities will completely shift your perspective and help you achieve happiness and success much faster!

4. Seek the gift
   This might not come right away, and that’s okay. Reflect on what you’ve learned once the dust settles. Write it down and own that growth. You've earned it!

5. Say "thank you"
   Gratitude is powerful - even for the hard stuff. It’s how you take control of your story and become the knife that needs sharpening, not the victim who wants pity.

What’s your grindstone?

I invite you to embrace this grindstone concept as you reflect on how far you've come (and perhaps how stuck you feel). From this day forward, let's welcome every obstacle with open arms and see them as opportunities to sharpen ourselves, grow, and become stronger.

Trust me; this mindset shift will change your life.

Are you ready to embrace the grindstones in your life?

Imagine a life where you fully embrace your inner strength, where challenges are no longer roadblocks but stepping stones to success. It's time to let go, grow and finally get unstuck.

Don't let your grindstones go to waste. Take the first step towards freedom and potential and sign up for a free coaching session today. Your transformation awaits!

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Five Ways to Manifest More Money in Your Life as a Creative Entrepreneur

As I do at the end of every year, I’m changing the prices of my coaching packages, so last week, I ran a few numbers with one of my mentors. (Hint: If you’ve been thinking about working with me, now might be the time to do so… prices go up at the end of the month!).

The conversation went great until I explained why I was increasing my prices. He looked at me, sighed (as if we’d been there before), and said: “No need to explain your worth to me.”

I knew right away he’d caught me in the middle of a desire-guilt-excuse trip so many creatives and entrepreneurs go on when it comes to money.

This made me think about money, my relationship to it (yes, life’s a journey, and we’re all on it), and everything I used to tell myself about money.

Many of us have a complicated relationship with money, right? Especially creatives and entrepreneurs. With statistics showing that small businesses and freelancers drive a significant portion of the economy (small businesses make up 90% of the economy), you’d think we’d be savvy, educated, and confident when it comes to finances. But… not always.

Unlike some people who seem to have a “natural” knack for money (read: grow up in systems that encourage financial literacy and ambition), creatives and entrepreneurs – often driven by passion over profit – can end up with a more “I love you, no I don’t” type of relationship with it.

This mindset can start us off with a financial disadvantage that’s hard to overcome. But it’s not impossible.

I believe creatives and entrepreneurs can be amazing with money. We just need better financial education and empowering beliefs to match our ambitions.

So here are five practical ways to help you manifest more money in your life right now (and maybe even improve your relationship with it, too):

Go on a scavenger hunt

My stomach twitches whenever a client tells me they can’t afford something or have no money. Of course, many people in the world have to come by with too little (and I believe it is our duty to help eradicate that inequality), but that is not the case for most of us writing or reading these words.

Often, a deeper issue is at play when we think we have no money or can’t afford something. Most of us have homes full of stuff, don’t we? In fact, most of us have too many things in the Western world.

So where’s this idea of lack of money coming from? It’s the result of a magic trick called consumerism. But the thing is, the money is not gone. It’s just transformed into something else and can return to being money.

So, my first tip is to go on a scavenger hunt around your house, office, and any other spaces you keep your stuff in. Look at your belongings (and I mean – really look at them, in a Marie Kondo way if you need to), and pick all the things you can do without, don’t like, don’t need, or didn’t even know you had. Now turn them back into money: sell them, exchange them for labor, give them away in exchange for a donation…

Understand what money really is

One of the turning points in my own money story was when I discovered what money really is: energy. This is HUGE. Because energy is everywhere, in everything, always. We are energy. The whole Universe is energy. Through what we call “work,” we transfer that energy from one thing to another. As I've explained above, we transform that energy into stuff when we buy things. What we call money, then, is the currency with which we give different types of energy (read: products or services) a specific value.

So, my second tip is for you to start thinking of money in terms of physical, emotional, and mental energy. Your energy goes in; money comes out. That money then goes into something you have wanted for a long time. And so on… it’s one big exchange of energy. Remember this: when you think about money, your relationship with it will forever be transformed: you are money (wink wink).

Learn to love money

Many of us grow up having all these mixed feelings about money: it’s icky, I shouldn’t like it, it’s not for me, I don’t need it… But worse, we grow up not fully trusting our ability to make money. So we give our power away and don’t control our finances, maybe to our partner, by getting in and out of debt or failing to put ourselves first. There are so many ways our twisted relationship with money shows up. But one way to fix it is learning to love money.

I’ve come to believe that learning to love money means learning to love yourself. You cannot fully separate your feelings of self-worth from what you think about money. Loving money is accepting that you have desires and being ready to give them to yourself. In my book, there’s (almost) no greater act of self-love than learning to love money.

Become a finance expert

It’s all good and well to learn to love money, figure out what it really is, and find you have more of it than you think. But how about making sure that what you have and earn is well taken care of? This is one area where many people lack, and for a very good reason.

We’re simply not taught how to take care of our money – and that’s if we’re taught to be financially independent in the first place (uneasy cough).

We believe so many stories about money (see next point for more on that), but believing that we’re capable of managing it well and prospering doesn’t seem to be one of them. That’s why we need to educate ourselves. Because knowledge is power, and in this case, with that power comes the ability to manifest more money for ourselves and make good decisions about it. And good decisions about money mean more money!

Update your beliefs about money

We’re raised hearing so much crap about money that it’s hardly a surprise we don’t know how to deal with it. Of course, money doesn’t grow on trees, and no, you cannot eat money, and I’m pretty sure pennies, dollars, or euros on their own won’t make you happy. But that’s not the point now, is it?

Almost all those beliefs are trying to make the point that we live in a world of lack. A world where you have to suffer to make money, where you’re supposed to be scared someone’s going to come and take all of it away from you (that was my father’s favorite and thus a belief I suffered with for a long time). One where it’s not OK to ask for money or to receive it without a lot of effort.

But what’s the validity of any of these claims?

We live in a hyper-connected world with instant access to information. Not in a village outside of London in the 1600s. Life must have been much harder back then, access to knowledge and education probably almost inexistent, and money… well, certainly not as available as it is today. Absolutely. But that was then, and this is now.

In a world where you have instant access to all the knowledge you need and a direct connection to almost everyone you could ever cater to, where’s the lack? It's pretty much gone and replaced by a world of possibilities.

That’s why my final tip is that it’s time for an major belief system upgrade. Give your money story the same care as your smartphone, laptop, or any other hardware you use for work, a.k.a. to make money (duh!). Because the same rule applies: the older the system you’re running, the worse it will perform. Precisely what an outdated belief system will do to your ability to make money.

I hope these tips will help you manifest a lot of money. You deserve it! :)

Are you ready to manifest more money in your life?

Discover the power of financial empowerment and take the first step towards a richer future.

Don't let your money story hold you back any longer. Schedule your free coaching session today and start a transformative journey towards financial independence.

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Your #1 Mindset Hack for a Badass Life: Every Negative Thought is Wrong

Overthinking, worry, and anxious thoughts plagued my every day - my every minute and even my every second on some days. I couldn't escape them, no matter how hard I tried. The noise in my head, paired with the discomfort in my body from the perpetual stress, made it difficult to focus on anything else. It was like a constant battle that, for years, I couldn't win.

Those anxious days are long gone, thank goodness, but it was a journey to get to where I am now. And it's a journey that I continue on every day because let's be honest - anxiety isn't something that entirely disappears forever. Yes, you can make it smaller and smaller, but it is a daily practice and reprieve. Anxiety and worry are things that we learn to manage and cope with.

I used to think my constant worrying was just a part of who I was - it was just my personality, and I could do nothing about it. But I learned that wasn't true through therapy, self-reflection, cultivating many calming and grounding rituals, and a lot of trial-and-error. Anxiety is not our identity - it's simply an aspect of thinking and the nervous system that has gone into overdrive. And just like any other part of ourselves that isn't serving us, we can work on changing it.

The problem with anxiety and worry is that it keeps us stuck in a state of fear and doubt. We become so consumed with what could go wrong and what might happen that we forget to live in the present moment. In my practice, I support many people who suffer from anxiety, worry, and overthinking.

Often, the way it manifests in their life is as follows:

• Difficulty concentrating on tasks and making decisions 

• Procrastination due to fear of failure 

• Loss of performance and productivity 

• Strained relationships at work and with loved ones 

• Increased physical discomfort like headaches or fatigue 

• Disrupted sleep patterns 

• Constant self-doubt and negative self-talk

It's a never-ending cycle that can leave us feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and hopeless. But the good news is we have the power to break this cycle and take control of our thoughts and emotions. It starts with acknowledging that we have anxiety and understanding how it affects us. From there, we can begin implementing healthy coping strategies and seeking professional help if needed.

So, where do you start in this process of rewiring your brain so you can be freed from this crippling anxiety? How do you begin to quiet the noise and calm the storm inside your head? You can do many things, from therapy and medication to self-care practices like mindfulness, exercise, and journaling. It's about finding what works for you and creating a personalized plan to help you manage your anxiety.

One thing that has helped me tremendously in managing my anxiety is changing my mindset, aka the way I think about things.

Instead of constantly worrying and catastrophizing, I learned to challenge my thoughts, question their validity, and focus on the present moment. This shift in thinking has allowed me to let go of unnecessary stress and find peace within myself.

Life constantly changes and evolves, and people's reactions are beyond our control. Every day, something new, potentially stressful, and uncertain could happen. Instead of continually worrying about what might go wrong or trying to control everything, I have learned to focus on what I can control - my thoughts and my reactions.

I have done so much work learning to control my thinking this year, and this mindset thing is like magic! There are no two ways about it:

Our thoughts - our mindset - shape our reality; they are the lens through which we interpret the world.

Someone I consider very wise once told me, "We are what we focus on." This means that if our thoughts are consumed with worry and anxiety, then that is what we will manifest in our lives. But, if we focus on positivity, gratitude, and peace of mind, that is what we will attract.

So why not choose the latter? We can rewire our brains by changing our thought patterns and creating a more positive mindset. It's a challenging task but possible with practice and perseverance.

I used to believe that my anxiety was something I would always have to live with - it was just part of who I am. But now I know that I can manage it and even overcome it. It takes work every day, but the rewards are endless.

Since then, those words have become my truth. When we focus on positivity and possibility, we open ourselves to a world of opportunities and growth. When we pay attention to negative and limiting thoughts, we trap ourselves in a cycle of self-doubt and fear, often creating unnecessary anxiety and stress.

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought," said the Buddha.

With that in mind, I've been training myself to focus on thoughts that empower me rather than those that keep me small and stressed out. And let me tell you, it's like magic! It can be confusing to believe one negative thought but not another, as if some are true and we should listen to them! That's why I've created a simple rule for myself and my clients: 

Every negative thought is wrong!

As soon as one pops into my mind (as they will, thousands of times a day if you let them!), I choose to divert my focus to a positive thought instead. It takes practice (and a handy list of positive things to focus on helps), but the easier I do it, the easier it becomes.

Before I knew it, my mindset had shifted from one of limitation to one with ONLY possibility.  I have also seen amazing results in the creatives and entrepreneurs I support.

I'm constantly amazed at how much this simple shift in thinking has affected every aspect of my life - from relationships to my sense of well-being and happiness, overwork to personal growth. It's not about ignoring reality or pretending everything is perfect; it's about choosing to see things in a way that serves us and empowers us to live in the reality we dream about.

So, next time you feel overwhelmed or stuck, remember that you have control over how you think and perceive the world around you. Choose thoughts that empower you and open yourself up to the endless possibilities that await.

Are you ready to rewire your brain and let go of anxiety for good?

Transforming your mindset is a powerful way to create the life you want. None of your thoughts are fixed or part of who you are - they are just thoughts, and as such they can be changed.

I help my clients transform their mindsetso they can become the badass humans and professionals they know they are meant to be. Discover the power of coaching with me. Click below and let's chat!

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