Many creative people believe they are "not good at business" or they are "not business minded", is this you? Well artists and other creatives actually make fantastic entrepreneurs and business people!
A large majority of creatives actually run their own businesses or work freelance, so business skills are very important for creatives! Yet many creatives suffer with mindset hangups surrounding money and business.
So if you want to build your business brain, develop your eye for business and work through any money mindset hangups you might have, then creating a "money making journal" is perfect for you!
Keeping a money making journal can help you develop your instincts for products and opportunities and it is great to capture all your business ideas in one place. You can use any type of journal for this purpose, but if you are an artist, you may like to turn this into an art journaling practice so using a watercolor journal could be a great option.
Let me ask you two questions that will help you to start off your money making journal and get you thinking:
So grab a cup of tea, get comfortable and think about the following...
- Have you ever sold a piece of your artwork in the past? If so what was that, how much did you sell it for and how did you feel about that?
- If you haven't sold a piece of your artwork before have you ever given a piece away as a present? What was that and what response did you get?
These two questions will help you start thinking about your target market and customer responses. Testing and gauging customer reactions to your designs is one of the keys to inspiration and success.
You can start a digital journal or buy a book especially for this project.
In it write any business ideas you have, tips you learn, websites you visit or quotes that spark your motivation.
You can also collect things that inspire you, marketing ideas, product ideas and more. Mind maps are also a fantastic tool for including in your money making journal for brainstorming.
Make it as fun, colorful, creative and messy or pretty as you like! Just as long as you are not afraid of adding to it at any time inspiration hits!
Remember...
No idea is a bad idea...it's a work in progress.
- Tracy Saywell
Starting a business can be a daunting process so having a place where you can record tips and tricks is a great resource. I still use mine on a regular basis. I like to look back through my journals to revisit ideas or develop ideas that at that point in time where not feasible.
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Why not make your journal a creative space for brainstorming, note taking and recording contacts, web links and ideas. Make it colorful and creative, so you feel excited to use it. Scrapbook in inspiring images, magazine clippings.
Your journal can be a business plan, goal setting workbook, to do list and collection of ideas and research all in one place.
Things to include in your business art journal:
- business ideas
- product ideas
- marketing ideas
- goal planning
- to do lists and checklists
- inspiring images
- business contacts
- brainstorming mind maps
- sketches and doodles
- vision board
- gratitude journaling
Build your art business by creating an art journal to record your ideas, inspiration and plans. Find out what to include in your business art journal in this blog post.
Would You Like to Make Money from Your Art?
Paint Art That Sells is an online program created by Tracy Saywell to teach you a variety of art techniques and mediums and show you a variety of ways that you can easily turn your art into products that you can sell. With inspiring examples and activities to get you on your way to creating an income doing what you love!
If you sign up for my course, Paint Art That Sells, at the end of every lesson there is a section "Your Money Making Journal". In these sections I will prompt you to reflect on your experiences and also research ideas that will help you develop your business. I will also give you contacts to help you turn your ideas into reality!
