Creative Canadian Women: Photographer Darina Kopčok - Generating Quality Client Leads

In just one year as a food photographer, Darina Kopcok was able to match her full time corporate income. She did it by investing in her skills and with the help of a photography business coach who got her dialed into her pricing and helped her identify - and connect with - her ideal clients. In this episode she talks about how to generate quality client leads as well as how to grow your revenue streams by offering education resources to other creative service providers and makers in your niche.

ASLU 131: Copyright and Creativity with Copyright Lawyer Lesley Ellen Harris

Can I use that in my work?

Have you ever asked yourself that question about somebody else's work? Or has somebody asked you that question about your work? What happens when somebody uses your stuff without asking you? How do you get copyright? Is it different in Canada from the US? What does it mean to sell your rights to somebody? What is licensing? What happens to your copyright when you die? Canadian copyright lawyer Lesley Ellen Harris answers all your burning copyright and IP (intellectual property) questions in this absolutely jam packed episode!

Podcast Episode, ResourcesMelissa HartfielMarch 31, 2023creative enterpreneurshp, S4, business mindset, copyright, legal mattersComment

ASLU 129: Creative Canadian Women: Stefanie Henderlin of Mangata Apothecary - Growing Through Failure

When Stefanie Henderlin first started formulating her products it was with an eye to helping her midwife clients. But, she quickly discovered just how much she loved the process and the result was the birth of Mangata Apothecary. Stefanie shares her journey and how failure has resulted in growth for her and her business to the point where she's now auditioning for Dragon's Den and sourcing investment to scale!

Podcast Episode, Inspiring WomenMelissa HartfielMarch 3, 2023creative enterpreneurshp, S4, skincare, business mindsetComment

ASLU 127: Etsy? Your Own Website? Or Both?

When you have an Etsy shop, you wonder if you should open a stand along shop on a platform like Shopify or Wix. When you have a stand alone website you wonder if you should open an Etsy shop. When you're first starting out, you don't know which to pick. And if you're a creative services provider you might be wondering if this episode is even worth your time (it is). So which is it? Etsy? Your Own Shop? Or... should you have both? I cover the pros and cons of each and why having both might not be a bad idea!

Podcast EpisodeMelissa HartfielFebruary 3, 2023creative enterpreneurshp, S4, business mindset, multiple revenue streams, EtsyComment

ASLU 126: Money Mindset Matters for Working Creatives with Pamela George

All of us have money mindset challenges. Whether they're rooted in our childhood or our choice of a career (starving artists, anyone?), we can carry around a lot of money baggage that gets in our way and stops us from being financially empowered women. That's where today's guest, Ottawa based financial literacy consultant Pamela George, steps in. Today, with the help of her powerful story, she's helping us get rid of that starving artist mindset and align our money mindset with our values.

ASLU 124: One Small Change That Equaled Big Impact in My Creative Business

This time last year I sat down with my planner for 30 minutes and did ONE thing that had a huge impact on my creative business in 2022. In this SBS (short but sweet) episode, I share what I did and how it changed my business and my life! And it's super easy and you can do it too!

Podcast EpisodeMelissa HartfielDecember 23, 2022creative enterpreneurshp, S4, business mindset, systemsComment

ASLU 123: Embracing The Business Side of Creating with Sara Roach-Lewis

The inner struggle between artist, maker, creative and female business owner is real for many of us. But as this week's guest, creative business coach and advisor, Sara Roach-Lewis, likes to remind us... if you earned money this year but didn't get a T4... you're a business owner.

So how do we learn to embrace the business side of creating for a living while still being the creators we want to be? That's our conversation this week!

Podcast Episode, Inspiring WomenMelissa HartfielDecember 9, 2022creative enterpreneurshp, S4, sara roach-lewis, business mindset, systemsComment

ASLU 110: Navigating Economic Uncertainty For Creative Business Owners

How do you keep your creative business stable when the economy isn't? When everything from inflation and interest rates to fuel and food are going up up up and disposable income is shrinking, it’s important to know your numbers, watch your cash flow, keep marketing, evaluate your offerings and raise your prices when it's necessary. This week’s episode will help!

ASLU 109: Setting Boundaries For Your Creative Business

Setting boundaries in your creative business (and your life) are key to ensuring you're happy, successful and mentally and physically well. We talk about the key areas to look to and the questions to ask when you're determining what your boundaries are!

Podcast EpisodeMelissa HartfielJune 10, 2022S3, creative enterpreneurshp, creative mindset, business mindset, boundariesComment

ASLU 108: Tools To Help Grow Your Creative Business

In this week's episode, Melissa looks at some of the must have tools that will help grow your creative business - and a few that you don't need to worry about when you're in the early stages of your business.

ASLU 107: Making Sure Your Next Big Idea Is There When You Need It!

When you create for a living you don't always have the luxury of waiting for inspiration to strike. If a client is waiting, or a product launch is due, the work has to get done in order to get paid! So how do you make sure you've got a steady supply of inspiration and ideas at your finger tips when you need them? This week Melissa and Heather talk about the tools we can use to capture inspiration on a daily basis, store it and refer back to it when we need it!

ASLU 106: How Do You Know It's Time to Move On From Your Creative Business?

We all have moments where we want to throw in the towel with our creative businesses but how do you know when it's really time to move on? And how do you navigate all the fears that come with that? And what do you do with your business when it's time? My original co-host Lisa Bolton is back this week and we talk all about knowing when it's time to let go, move on or pivot.

ASLU 104: A 7 Figure Creative Business?

Is it possible to have a 7 figure a year creative business? Is it a number we should all be shooting for? Yes... and no... Heather and Melissa talk about what's involved in running a 5 figure, 6 figure and 7 figure business and how to measure success.

Podcast EpisodeMelissa HartfielMay 6, 2022S3, creative enterpreneurshp, creative mindset, business mindsetComment

ASLU 077: Self-Care for Creative Entrepreneurs (And the Holiday Season)

As the busiest season of the year for creative businesses approaches we talk about how to make time for self-care - and what self-care really is (it's not just a massage or spa appointment)! Hit the ground running and make this holiday season your best with a body and mind that are up to the challenges. And schedule in some downtime for the new year to rest and recuperate.

Podcast EpisodeMelissa HartfielSeptember 17, 2021small business, business mindset, self-care, S3aComment

ASLU 076: The Social Media Mindset Struggle

We pour an inordinate amount of time into social media for the benefit of our creative businesses. But is it financially, creatively or mentally worth it? Melissa & Heather get into the pros & cons of creating endless content to feed an insatiable beast.

Podcast EpisodeMelissa HartfielSeptember 10, 2021small business, social media, business mindset, mindset4, S3aComment