3 superpowers that you need in your creative business (and how to get them)
What were your favourite superpowers as a child? Did you want to travel at the speed of light? Or fly faster than a bird? Or travel in time?
I believe we are on the verge of a new era of creativity. More people than ever before are creating start ups, service businesses and teaching online. More people than ever are redefining success on their own terms. And more people are learning about the importance of mindset and self-care on their businesses.
I am genuinely so enthused and inspired by all the people creating lifestyle businesses right now. Carving out their own space of the internet and owning it. Businesses with heart, soul and intention. Business that feel good.
As humans we can be filled with doubt and negativity, but the people I see achieving their own definition of success have three things in common.
I like to call them superpowers, because even if they can’t travel in time, these three powers are fundamental to success:
Showing up every day
It sounds so simple, but showing up every day really IS a super power. It’s the best thing you can do for your creativity and your business.
Showing up in the everyday as well as the lightbulb moments. It’s the reality, the hard work, the behind-the-scenes, the graft of what you do, the toil over creating your services or products and the legwork it takes to get it out there.
Showing up is the fuel to your creative business. This is important because consistency is what grows your audience and builds trust with your dream clients. Plus consistently doing something makes you get better and better at it. Out of quantity comes quality and growth in confidence.
As your creative business goes beyond being a dream or a plan it’s very normal to have tough times. Reality kicks in and so does fear, negativity and overwhelm.
Common fears I see over and over again in my business: Thinking you’re never going to be as good as someone you admire. Someone who has already achieved success. Or that you don’t really know what to say on social media. Or how you are actually going to market or sell your services to your dream clients.
And it’s OK to feel like this. As creatives we are often driven by our emotions, so the showing up superpower is your best friend here.
My message to you is to do a bit of what you do every goddam day, especially when things get tough.
For me, in my own creative business I have two approaches, and usually one of them works. I always start off by trying to write through my doubts. This can be writing anything, switching to a half-finished article or post or a message to someone in my community. This works some of the time, but if it doesn’t plan B is up my sleeve.
My plan B is to stop what I’m doing and do something different that makes me feel good for a few hours. Taking a long walk, listening to a podcast, dancing around my living room with my kids or meeting a friend for a cuppa all give my brain a break.
What I do know is that I will show up again tomorrow, and the day after that, and always. And that feels good.
Believing in abundance
People who think in terms of abundance and positivity generally succeed. There’s a saying that “the secret to having it all is believing you already do.”
An abundance mindset is represented by thinking big over small, yes over no, proactive over reactive. People who have adopted this mindset of plenty choose joy, choose to dream big, to believe that anything is possible. This mindset bridges the gap between good and great.
For a few people it comes naturally to always think positively, but for most of us it takes a bit of work. Everyone is different. For some people practicing self-care is how to get themselves in a positive mindset. For others it’s about creative an effective morning routine to set them up for the day. Or maybe its just as simple as having a few mantras written down on a post-it note on your notebook to look at while you work.
I love this article from the Chopra centre and have read it over and over – 10 steps to develop an abundance mindset. They talk about the link to mindset going way beyond success. It also contributes to how our immune system functions and how we deal with stress.
For me, a little morning and evening routine is what helps. That’s just a simple walk to school by the river followed by a short run or fifteen minutes of yoga at home. In the evening I’m always too tired to work, but I always achieve so much more the next day if I listen to an inspiring podcast before I go to bed.
I hope from here you can work towards choosing joy, choosing yes, and believing anything is possible because I think you will see a big difference in your creative life if you learn to adopt this mindset.
Empathy
Empathy is a quality of character that can change the world — Barack Obama
Having the ability to understand and share the feelings of other people is so under-rated. All the amazing business owners I admire show endless empathy. Empathy is the secret to connecting with your dream clients, on creating content, products and services that change their lives for the better.
As a writer and as a creative, I see it as a big commitment to represent and honour my own emotions and those of my community. Empathy is traditionally seen as being a soft skill, but I really see it as being as essential in my business life as in my personal life. Kindness and compassion account for a lot too.
To me, empathy is about being kind to yourself when you have a bad day. It’s about understanding your dream clients’ hopes and fears and aspirations and meeting them where they’re at. It’s about listening to what your community are talking about and serving their needs over your own.
In practical terms you can practice empathy by solving people’s problems for free, on social media or in real life. By listening. By learning to serve before you ever think about selling. Playing a part in your community. Helping out your peers. Making notes of what your dream clients are looking for, what motivates them, what makes them happy/sad/emotional. It’s about being a real person talking to real people all of the time.
What do you think? Do you have other superpowers that you bring into your creative life?
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