Did you know that the wildly popular Right-Brainers in Business Video Summit is back for it’s 4th year?

If you’ve been with us before, you know how much learning and action happens during this innovative virtual event. If you’re new ’round these parts, I do hope you’ll join us live April 7th-18th. It’s FREE and it’s an amazing way to connect with thousands of creative entrepreneurs from around the world.

PLUS this year we’re celebrating the launch of my 2nd book, Building Your Business the Right-Brain Way. Wooohooo! I can’t wait to share inside peeks into the book with you and highlight some of the latest teachings to help you grow your creative business.

And even before it all begins in a few days I’ve got a special somethin’ for ya!

When you grab your no-cost video summit ticket, you’ll instantly receive an audio download of a conversation with my business mentor Andrea J. Lee and me.

This exclusive info-packed interview is almost like eavesdropping in on one of our private coaching calls! Plus you’ll get healthy doses of expert teachings and case-studies, plus lots of laughs.

We cover the following and so much more in this 30-min audio:

• We explore the 3 different phases of business growth and give you tips to identify where you are.
• Andrea even puts me in the hot seat a bit to look at my growth from 6-figures to multiple 6-figures.
• I ask Andrea about her latest venture into the non-profit foundation arm of her enterprise. You’ll be inspired by how her successful business has helped to free her up to contribute to a cause that has a special place in her heart. We right-brainers want to be making a difference in the world, right?
• Why it’s important to have strong pillars (a.k.a. moola-making methods) to support growth over the long-term.
• Some of our top secrets to sustainable success.

Want to win a prize??

Listen to our interview and then tweet your takeaways using the hashtags #rbbiz AND #jennandrea now through Sunday, April 6th. And you’ll be entered to win a bundle of Right-Brain Business goodies including a personally signed copy each of Building Your Business the Right-Brain Way and The Right-Brain Business Plan, plus my RBBP Kit, AND a Booster Pass to the Summit.

I’d love to hear what our discussion sparked for you as we head into the summit! Tweet out your learnings to me at @artizencoaching and Andrea at @andreajlee with hashtag #rbbiz

Even before we dive into the creative feast that is the 10-day summit, you can whet your entrepreneurial appetite with this inspiring and informative interview. It’s yours to listen to again and again, no matter if you’re able to make it to the live event or not.

So, make sure to grab your no-cost ticket today and get a head start on the summit wisdom by listening to your special instant bonus audio.

I can’t wait to see you LIVE in a next week!

Name: Lauren Brownstein
Company Name: PITCH: Fundraising and Philanthropy Consulting
Website: www.pitchconsulting.com
Blog: Blog
Twitter handle: @LJBrownstein

Note from Jenn:Pretty much every year since 2009, I get a note from Lauren Brownstein with fun pics of her latest RBBP. And they always bring a smile to my face. Since my first little e-book came out Lauren’s been using this process for her annual goal-setting. I just love how committed she is to the RBBP approach, how creative she gets each time, and that she is so passionate about helping others. Go, Lauren! Plus, I’m grateful that I to got to finally meet her in person a few years ago when I led a dream box workshop in D.C. at Kimberly Wilson’s place. Read on to get inspired and to see links to some of Lauren’s past RBBPs (one of which is featured in my first book).

What is your business and what makes your business unique?

As a philanthropy consultant, I help nonprofits raise funds more effectively, and I help make matches between donors and great causes.

I provide nonprofits with top-notch fundraising services (focused on grant writing and related activities) that let the nonprofits focus on their mission-driven work. At the same time, by helping my nonprofit clients clarify their thinking about their goals and implementation plans, I help them work smarter, deeper, and better.

I also work with individual donors and with groups of donors ensure that they are giving in a way that reflects their interests, passions, and values. Ultimately, I want to make philanthropy part of our everyday conversation, and I want everyone to feel like a philanthropist, whether they are giving $50, $500, or $50,000.

What sets me apart? I infuse my work, and work products, with a sense of creativity and FUN!

How has the Right-Brain Business Plan® helped you? What is different for you and your business after approaching planning in a creative, visual way?

The RBBP has guided me towards asking myself some questions about my business that I would not otherwise ask. The creative approach has made business planning something I look forward to! It has refreshed my thinking and sparked new ideas and insights.

What goals (big or small) on your business plan have you already accomplished or have made progress on?

This quarter, I’m working on growing my client base and further establishing my thought leadership in my field. Ramping up my networking activities and my social media presence are some of the goals I’ve articulated in my RBBP, and I’m making progress!

How do you use your creative intuition in your work?

As a grant writer, creativity is absolutely CRITICAL! If a foundation’s program officer is comparing a stack of 25 grant proposals, how can I make mine stand out from the pack, while still adhering to the strict structural guidelines that many foundation’s require? I do it by telling the organization’s story in a compelling, memorable, creative way. Fresh language, unexpected narratives, and personal stories of lives that have been changed through the nonprofit’s work all can help the reader to remember my proposal and my organization.

I’ve created a product called Grant Writing for Creative Souls that blends grant writing tips, creative writing exercises, and fun music to unleash grant writers’ creative flow. It’s a great example of my creative approach to my work. http://www.pitchconsulting.com/PITCH_LLC/Tips_and_Resources.html

Is there anything you’d like to share about your Right-Brain Business Plan® in terms of what it’s made out of or how you made it?

Creating a RBBP has become an annual tradition for me. I’ve made accordion books, mobiles, and more. This year, I wanted to do something more modular, where I’d be able to add in new info and ideas, update old info, remove stuff as needed, etc. as the year went on.

I found this little mini file folder for index cards, and I combined that with my love of lettering to create a series of cards that address many of the questions in the RBBP book. I’m putting my specific action list for each quarter on the back side of the translucent file folder, so I can easily see it. The front side of the file folder has a pocket on it, so I decided to use that for a mini-collage that expresses my major goals for each quarter (growing my client base and establishing my thought leadership in my field).

What’s your big vision for your business?

Nonprofits work more effectively.

People are educated, housed, fed, inspired, etc. due, in part, to my work with nonprofits.

I help other fundraisers to do their jobs better.

I inspire people to live generously.

What advice do you have for other creative entrepreneurs?

Take breaks a few times per year to review your goals and vision.

Find a support team of other entrepreneurs who can be your sounding boards, critics, and cheerleaders.

Don’t be afraid to try new things and fail.

Ask for more money – if nobody ever turns you down, you’re not charging enough.

Invest in a good computer, a good accountant, and good health insurance. You need and deserve it.

If things feel “rote,” take a break and shake things up. Go to a museum. Listen to new music. Doodle. Just do something to get your creative mojo back!

Want to create your own Right-Brain Business Plan®? The Right-Brain Business Plan® Kit includes supplies to make your own accordion book style visual business plan.

Name: Nevada McPherson
Company Name: Noisy Muse
Website: www.nevada-mcpherson.squarespace.com/

Note from Jenn: Note from Jenn: When I spoke at the Emerging Women Live conference in Boulder last fall, I had the pleasure of meeting this gentle creative soul, Nevada McPherson. I was so delighted when she came and introduced herself and let me know how the RBBP has helped her. How cool that she has created her own graphic novel! Read on to find out more about this lovely artist and her creative business.

What is your business and what makes your business unique?

My business is telling stories, whether through my screenplays, hand-illustrated graphic novels, or my handmade crafts. My graphic novels and craft items are unique in that they are visual representations of my voice in whatever quirky shape that takes, and so I formed Noisy Muse as a way to bring my books and other visual arts together. Also, my rescue Chihuahua, Mitzi, is a muse for me and is usually with me when I’m working. Sometimes she can be noisy, but mostly she reminds me to have fun and be myself.

How has the Right-Brain Business Plan® helped you? What is different for you and your business after approaching planning in a creative, visual way?

I named my business Noisy Muse because I have several creative interests. The RBBP has helped me to focus on each of my offerings so that I’m not overwhelmed by left brain details but can handle them in an effective way that works for me as a right-brainer. I’ve been writing, drawing and creating art for years but it was the RBBP that finally helped me to see how my overall style and vision could become integrated and work as a business. I have gone through the parts of the RBBP once for my graphic novels and again for my crafts and now I am able to tailor my marketing and getting-the-word-out goals for my perfect customers in each area. Also, I’ve learned the importance of setting SMART goals, which are helping me to stay focused and to move past the places where I used to get stuck.

What goals (big or small) on your business plan have you already accomplished or have made progress on?

I still have several goals that I’m working toward, but one I’m proud to say I’ve accomplished is that I’ve started my business rolling and am learning day by day how to play big. As a true introvert, it’s not always easy for me to put myself out there but I’m learning how to do that and find that the more actions I take to move forward, the more I want to take. I’ve published one graphic novel and am about to publish another, and I’ve opened up a shop called Noisy Muse on Etsy. One of my screenplays recently placed in the Austin Film Festival Screenwriting Competition. Thanks to Jenn’s advice from the RBBP book I’m learning to reach out more for help and feedback, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with other creative entrepreneurs, forming strategic alliances, and becoming more involved in a larger creative community.

How do you use your creative intuition in your work?

When I find myself overthinking how to accomplish a goal or solve a problem, I step back and try to get a fresh perspective on what’s going right and how I can amplify the positive and minimize the negative. Getting back to the nuts and bolts of the work itself and finding a way to make it better are places where I use my creative intuition to bring clarity where there was confusion and confidence where there was doubt. I trust my creative self, and bringing that out into the world is helping me to find my way forward in my business.

Is there anything you’d like to share about your Right-Brain Business Plan® in terms of what it’s made out of or how you made it?

My Big Vision collage board keeps me focused, and constantly taking steps forward. The center is for my feelings about who I am as an artist/ storyteller and around that are pictures representing themes from my graphic novels and screenplays.

My business self-portrait is on poster board, folded like a book, with a picture of a vintage suitcase on the front to symbolize my journey as a creative entrepreneur and the journey my readers and perfect customers can take when they purchase one of my books or items that contains or tells a story. The cover reads, “The train is leaving the station–are you coming with us?” The interior features images of my characters, words and pictures that evoke emotional elements my stories deal with, and how I’m taking steps to market my work, face challenges, and successfully develop my business.

What’s your big vision for your business?

To tell stories that resonate, entertain and inspire, and to make a positive impact in the world. I will also continue to draw on my years of teaching to help others develop their voices and story-telling skills through a set of workshops designed to foster creativity and provide an effective framework for self-expression. I’ll continue developing my own creative voice and vision, and plan to publish all the graphic novels I’ve represented on my Big Vision collage, and see them made into successful movies!

What advice do you have for other creative entrepreneurs?

Stay true to your creative vision and seek out people who are supportive and encouraging and can offer constructive feedback. Having a network of positive, like-minded folks is helpful when you’re doing the heavy lifting of bringing your creative efforts out into the world.

Also, if you tend to get nervous (like I do sometimes) about putting yourself out there in a big way, realize that probably means you’re stretching your comfort zone, which is a good thing! I find that if I channel that nervousness into enthusiasm for my project, it really helps.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

My second graphic novel, Piano Lessons, a gay teen romance set in the rural south of the 1950’s, will be available soon, and I’ll be adding new sections to my Etsy shop, including book-related art & crafts.

I’m so grateful for this opportunity to share with other right-brainers, and for the opportunity I had to meet with other entrepreneurial and creative women last fall at the Emerging Women Live Conference in Boulder, CO. That’s where I met Jenn and was able to tell her in person how much her book and newsletter have helped me!
Thanks, Jenn!

Want to create your own Right-Brain Business Plan®? The Right-Brain Business Plan® Kit includes supplies to make your own accordion book style visual business plan.

Name: Sarah Deragon
Company Name: Portraits to the People
Website: www.portraitstothepeople.com
Blog: Blog
Twitter handle: @sarahderagon
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PortraitsToThePeople
Instagram:@sarahderagon
Pinterest:www.pinterest.com/sarahderagon

Note from Jenn: At the start of the year, I had the pleasure of doing a photoshoot with the super talented Sarah Deragon of Portraits to the People. I first met Sarah a few years ago at a creative gathering and was delighted to hear from her how reading the Right-Brain Business Plan helped her take the leap into full-time entrepreneurship. And wow, has her photography business totally taken off! Check out some of her fabulous and colorful “not so corporate” headshots (including one of mine!) below and learn about how creativity and intuition have helped Sarah grow her business. Plus Sarah shares a bit about her new personal photography project that is all sorts of awesome!

What is your business and what makes your business unique?

I run a portrait photography business in San Francisco with my wife. We have a lot of cool things that make us unique: we’re a woman owned and operated small business, we created the “not so corporate” headshot, we built our own website and have worked to find a bunch of interesting locations around San Francisco to take our clients for photoshoots. I also do studio work now too, yeah!

How has the Right-Brain Business Plan® helped you? What is different for you and your business after approaching planning in a creative, visual way?

The RBBP was the most wonderful road map for success that I could’ve ever imagined. As a photographer, I’m an extremely visual person and creating a visual representation for the goals I wanted to achieve was very inspiring. I read the RBBP when I was working at a full time day job and I can honestly say that it was the catalyst for me starting my own business. After reading the book, this overwhelming “starting my own business thing” was suddenly quite manageable and I was elated! I was also inspired to start a Success Squad after reading this book and this monthly meeting of creative ladies was instrumental to me quitting my job and becoming the successful business that we are today!

How do you use your creative intuition in your work?

I’m lucky that I get to tap into my creative intuition every day being a photographer. I’ve always considered myself a creative and intuitive person and now with running my own business, I see how much tapping into those two things have contributed to the success of our business. My intuition has taken me to crazy exciting places and using it on a daily basis has helped me get rid of fear in my business dealings. If I have an idea or come up with a new package – I push it out there because seriously, what’s the worst thing that can happen? You can learn a lot by something being a complete failure, ha!

What’s your big vision for your business?

My big vision for my business is that I continue to have the opportunity to work with other creative professionals like Jennifer Lee. I love photographing entrepreneurs, life coaches, makers, authors and other creative small business owners! They truly understand the importance of having a stellar photo that reflects who they are. Photoshoots with these folks are truly my favorite!

What advice do you have for other creative entrepreneurs?

Advice for other creative entrepreneurs:

1. Start your own Success Squad! I found this monthly meeting with other entrepreneurs one of the keys to my success the first year I ran my business. We cheered each other on, had conversations about pricing, figured out our own social media recipes and were there to push one another in a loving and supportive way.

2. Stop looking at what other people in your field are doing. I know it is hard, but to create your own brand/biz, you really have to focus.

3. Silence the inner critic. Yeah, this one is hard!

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

In January, I launched my first ever personal photography project called The Identity Project. It is a photo project for the LGBTQ community that seeks to explore the labels that we choose to identity with when defining our gender and sexuality. I’m currently accepting participants and folks can become part of the project by sending in a form through my website!

First photo – Photo Credit: Jessica Zollman
Rest of the images are: Photo by Portraits To The people

Want to create your own Right-Brain Business Plan®? The Right-Brain Business Plan® Kit includes supplies to make your own accordion book style visual business plan.

You can see more of the portraits from our Hayes Valley photo shoot here.

Name:  Kiala Givehand
Company Name: Giving Hands Creative
Website: www.kialagivehand.com
Blog: Blog
Twitter handle: @kialagivehand
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KialaGivehand
YouTube: givinghandscreative – Book-in-a-Day videos

Note from Jenn: I can’t say enough about how I adore this woman! Kiala Givehand and I met in person for the first time when she came to my Right-Brain Business Plan® facilitator training in 2012. I was struck by her grounded energy, wisdom, and creative spirit. She inspires me with all that she does in her creativity coaching business, with her literary magazine, and her amazing book arts. Over the past couple of years I’ve gotten to know Kiala better as I coached her at the Shining Star level in my Mentorship Program, leaned on her to be an early reviewer of my second book, and got to witness the birth of her first tangible product – her Mixed Media Inspiration Deck. I admire how Kiala takes what she learns and makes her big visions real.

Kiala is facilitating the upcoming 8-week RBBP e-Course which starts on Monday, February 3rd. There’s still time to grab a seat and get hands-on guidance from this incredible leader.

What is your business and what makes your business unique?

Giving Hands Creative is a creative ventures company dedicated to helping women and couples rediscover their innate creativity. Using a philosophy of self-empowerment through creative action, I work to provide various spaces for women to expand, grow, and live more fully. I plan, host, and facilitate creative workshops and retreats, provide one-on-one, short term creativity coaching, and guide women in small groups of collaborative creative sessions designed to nurture and support the creative process. And I create tools to inspire and promote creativity.

How has the Right-Brain Business Plan® helped you? What is different for you and your business after approaching planning in a creative, visual way?

The RBBP gave me tools that were both creative and functional. After years of reading traditional business books on how to write a business plan, I finally found a book that spoke my language and provided the necessary steps to get started, move forward, and experience success along the way. Using the RBBP helped me lay the foundation for my business, focus on the products and services I want to offer, identify and reach my perfect customer, and actually see forward movement in a matter of months. I’ve always wanted to share my gifts and talents with the world, but I didn’t know where to begin. The RBBP gave me the guidance I needed to move my business from a dream to a reality. It’s the best business investment I’ve made.

What goals (big or small) on your business plan have you already accomplished or have made progress on?

I launched my first product, The Mixed Media Inspiration Deck™ in December 2013.

I launched online workshops in art journaling, bookmaking, and mixed media art.

I successfully planned and hosted my first live bookmaking workshop in May 2013.

I completed a year-long project called Book-in-a-Day where I created a handmade book each week and did it in one day while video taping the process. Then I shared it on YouTube. There are 52 one-of-a-kind books as a result of this project.

I revamped my website to include an online store and integrated blog.

I started an online creative community — givinghands.ning.com where other creatives can “hang out” and share their love for creating.

My list numbers more than tripled within a year.

In May 2014 I launch my first 4-month Empowerment Group for women who want to grow creatively.
and on and on…

How do you use your creative intuition in your work?

My work is all about creative intuition so I’ve learned to listen to my gut/muse when making both logistical and creative decisions. I’ve learned to trust myself more and to go with what feels right for the mission I am trying to fulfill. I pay attention to what I need as a creative and think about how other creatives might need the same things. That is how I was able to create the Mixed Media Inspiration Deck™ — I followed my intuition.

Is there anything you’d like to share about your Right-Brain Business Plan® in terms of what it’s made out of or how you made it?

Yes. The first RBBP I created was a hard cover accordion book (similar to the one Jennifer shares in her book). But because I am a bookmaker, I eventually created a RBBP that reflects the kind of interactive books I love making, so my 2014 RBBP is a foldout lapbook with multiple panels and pockets. It is hand painted to reflect the kind of work I do as a mixed media artist and includes several places for journaling (to appeal to the writer in me). This 2014 version is made from regular manila file folders and features acrylic paints and inks.

What’s your big vision for your business?

My big vision is two-fold. Vision 1 is to host writing and art retreats for women and/or creative couples where I teach alongside other artists who share my love for building community, inspiring creative action in others, and living a life full of growth and giving. These retreats will focus on self-empowerment through a variety of creative activities, like, writing, photography, drawing, painting, and of course, bookmaking, while also offering meditation, yoga and lots of laughter.

Vision 2 is where I coach/mentor small, collaborative groups of women who want to empower their lives with creative action. I will work with 8 – 10 women for 4-months at a time using the same approach I’ve been using for years to help keep me inspired to create and to live creatively in the midst of everyday life. The RBBP has helped me see how this big vision can become a reality.

What advice do you have for other creative entrepreneurs?

As creatives, we tend to live in our heart-centered spaces most of the time, so we often miss the mark when it comes to growing our businesses. Even if we create a traditional business plan, we typically stop there, thinking that is enough, but it’s not. At some point, we have to move our dreams of business success into an actual plan. Eventually we must work that plan into reality. The RBBP shows you how to take your dream from your heart to the paper. The playsheets and other tools go one step further and help make your dreams real.

For more support with developing your RBBP, join Kiala and me for the Right-Brain Business Plan® e-course starting on February 2nd. You’ll get 3 live group calls with Kiala, live group accountability chats, and more!

Want to create your own Right-Brain Business Plan®? The Right-Brain Business Plan® Kit includes supplies to make your own accordion book style visual business plan.

Name:  Julie Brown
Company Name:  Our Vintage Flair
Website: www.ourvintageflair.com
Blog: Blog

Note from Jenn: I love seeing a team of people using the Right-Brain Business Plan to get clear on what they want to accomplish in their business. And how cool that this creative team is a trio of family members with a flair for all things vintage and beautiful. Their gorgeous and unique RBBP definitely evokes their brand. Read on to get inspired about creating your own RBBP.

What is your business and what makes your business unique?

We assist women with beautifying their homes and and gifting in style via our elegant, vintage-inspired line of handmade cards, gifts and home decor. We believe that objects of beauty enrich everyone’s lives and that handmade items, in particular, offer a deeper meaning and uniqueness that can’t be found in mass-produced items. As a creative trio (three family members), our talent runs deep. We each bring our own interests and strengths to the mix which is what makes us (and our work) truly unique. Our current focus is on mixed media designs which allows us to incorporate various techniques into our work … the end result being items with an incredible amount of detail and style. And, since there’s always something new to learn and emerging trends that come along, we’re never at a loss for inspiration !!

How has the Right-Brain Business Plan® helped you? What is different for you and your business after approaching planning in a creative, visual way?

We knew that, in order to take this from a hobby to a full-time business, we needed a plan. Although there were many (valiant) attempts at creating a business plan, we could never quite pull it together and agonized over this until we stumbled upon the Right-Brain Business Plan. After reading the book’s summary via Amazon, we knew immediately that it addressed our ‘world view’. Meaning, it confirmed that there actually were alternative ways to form business plans (who knew?) and second that, even though ‘creatives’ don’t necessarily think in traditional business ways, they can still be successful in business. The process of creating the business plan was incredibly helpful; however, for us, the real benefit has been in surrounding ourselves with the visual inspiration boards. They serve as a daily reminder of where we’re at and where we want to go.

What goals (big or small) on your business plan have you already accomplished or have made progress on?

The SMART goals play sheet (included as part of this program) allowed us to focus on establishing some initial, short-term goals. These were ones that we wanted to accomplish within the first three months. These goals included reaching certain sales levels through a focused marketing effort (both a specific number of items sold and a dollar value for these items), securing a wholesale contract, and running an online or onsite class.

How do you use your creative intuition in your work?

We always allow our intuition to guide us through the creative process. We each have our own way of approaching the design of any given item and allow that process to unfold. We never follow a set pattern, rather we start with a canvas or base item (ie. a greeting card) and build it as we go. Design ideas will come to each of us individually (when we’re not working) that we always share. We’ll then often set them up as challenges to see who comes up with what !!

Is there anything you’d like to share about your Right-Brain Business Plan® in terms of what it’s made out of or how you made it?

We decided to use supplies that we had on hand; therefore, our first project was to map out our big vision using a cork board and magazines. We leafed through magazines and initially cut out anything that we thought we could use that catered to our vision. We then narrowed it down based on what we felt would be most important to use as daily visual inspiration. To display our values, we printed out and attached each value to a small, decorative envelope and then added them to a binder ring for convenience. We used a decorative wire wreath to display printed versions of other important notes. We loved the style/look of the play sheets provided with the program; therefore, we printed some of them onto sturdy cardstock, completed them and also displayed them as part of other boards that we created. Minimal cost with major impact !!

What’s your big vision for your business?

We’d like to continue to build the brand, Our Vintage Flair, such that we become known not only for the items we make and sell, but for sharing our talent (ie. catering to the DIY market). We envision running a series of both onsite and online classes that allow others to benefit from both our creative and business knowledge. We plan to blog more consistently so that our readers can follow our story and benefit via daily tips, ideas, updates, etc. We’d also like to explore wholesaling our items; however, only to a very select number of stores that cater to our style (ie. the type of store that we would open for ourselves).

What advice do you have for other creative entrepreneurs?

Like most artists, we struggled for a long time placing value on our work (both from a monetary standpoint and from a design perspective). We worked hard to find a niche market that would recognize and appreciate the quality inherent in our designs and be willing to pay for what we had to offer. We would encourage all artists to do the same. Create small goals, define the tasks that need to be done to accomplish these goals and then commit to working on them consistently every day. Consistency is the key !!

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

We read through the book several times initially and now refer back to it routinely for ideas and inspiration. Similar to the message it delivers, the book is laid out in a creative, easy-to-follow format. So happy to have found it and recommend it highly !!

For more support with developing your RBBP, check out the Right-Brain Business Plan® Home Study e-course happening all the time.

Want to create your own Right-Brain Business Plan®? The Right-Brain Business Plan® Kit includes supplies to make your own accordion book style visual business plan.