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Share Your Artwork With Flatlay Photography

Share Your Artwork With Flatlay Photography

Sharing your artwork is a very important part of having an online business as an artist. You not only have…
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Instagram post 2227132914421202353_254453612 One thing that can change your mindset and your business more than anything else is gratitude. ๐Ÿ™ โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € In life, I am a positive kinda gal. Itโ€™s in my DNA (maybe) to see the sunny side of things. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Iโ€™m not sure why that is, but what I do know is that I donโ€™t like to feel down if I can help it. And while business has a LOT of advantages, it can also get me (and probably you) down. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € You might look at your growth and feel like things arenโ€™t going at the pace youโ€™d like. Or you might look at someone else and wonder why youโ€™re not as far along as they are. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Lots of little things can get your mind in that downward spiral.๐Ÿคช โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € But one of the best things to get you back out...is to practice gratitude. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Taking a step back to look at the present instead of the future. Being thankful for the small things that happen that add up to big things over time. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € I promise that if youโ€™re having a bad day in biz, taking the time to look at what you can be grateful for can go a really long way. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Do you have a gratitude practice? Let us know about it in the comments!๐Ÿ‘‡
Instagram post 2226337913776355843_254453612 Are you filling your days with busywork? With things that really donโ€™t need to be done but that youโ€™re feeling guilty over simply because theyโ€™re on your to-do list?โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Any to-do list can quickly become filled up with tasks of should-dos. But then you might start putting pressure on yourself to do all of the should-dos instead of prioritizing what things really need to be done.โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Look at your list, re-evaluate whatโ€™s important and whatโ€™s going to move your business forward. Donโ€™t keep adding the things that you feel like you should do, because then your days will be filled with mere busywork.โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Instead, focus on what will move the needle and eliminate anything that you donโ€™t HAVE to do right now.โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Honestly, Iโ€™ve left my to-do list behind. Iโ€™m operating from my daily intentions list and my project lists instead. I have time set aside for those should or oughtta-dos, but they arenโ€™t my primary focus each day.โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Instead, I focus on my intentions, my deadlines for client work, and then I move to my project lists. Later, when Iโ€™ve made progress on my intentions and project lists, then I can start doing those to-dos that arenโ€™t really as important.โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Sidenote: Eventually, when my work is batched far enough in advance, Iโ€™d like to work on one particular project per week. So, Iโ€™d focus on batching one big project during the week and thatโ€™s it. Thatโ€™s what Iโ€™m aiming for.โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € How do you deal with the busywork? Are you up to your eyeballs in should-dos?
Instagram post 2223625537088479310_254453612 No one told me when I started a business 10 years ago that Iโ€™d need to work on my mindset. Honestly, I spent the first few years in business chugging along paying no attention to my growth (inner growth or growth in my biz). โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Iโ€™d watched my dad run a business when I was a teen, and one day I said to myself if my dad can run a business then so can I. What I failed to see were the days of self-doubt that would come. The days where Iโ€™d feel lonely because I worked from home. Alone. (That was hard even for this introvert, at first, because I was so used to being surrounded by hundreds of children as an art teacher.) โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € I didnโ€™t anticipate all the ups and downs that came along with entrepreneurship until they were upon me. Then it would take me a while to get out of the mire that I found myself in. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Now, I focus heavily on my mindset. It still can be a struggle for me, but I know itโ€™s the important work that needs to be done if I want to be successful. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € This inner work might just be what you need to focus on too, in order to create the business that you love. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Personally, I spend a bit of time each day on self-development. I also take a lot of time to reflect and plan for the days and weeks ahead. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € What are some of the things that you do to keep your mindset straight? Tell me in the comments below! โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € ๐Ÿ“ธ: @sheilajoyphoto
Instagram post 2222860910729826475_254453612 Let's talk about the to-do items that you have on your list that are looming over your head that you need to get done. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € The things that you keep adding to your list over and over and over again. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € When this happens, the things on your to-do list need to be broken down into smaller, actionable steps. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Maybe you've written something down that's too vague or too big to accomplish in one go. If it keeps coming up on your to-do list, it's probably because you haven't broken it down enough. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € What you'll want to do is reverse engineer what you need to do and break it down to the smallest bits. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € For example, if we write "Email" on our list when what we actually want to do is 1) Respond to client emails, 2) Delete anything that's spam, 3) File away any email receipts, and 4) Unsubscribe from lists that we don't want to follow anymore, we're being too vague with the task. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € By breaking "Email" down into the smallest subtasks, you can see that there are several things to complete. And we may not be able to tackle all of those things at once. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Then those things stay on our to-do list longer than they need to be. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Our brains are cool ๐Ÿง  and can do a lot of cool things. But when we aren't specific, and our minds are being pulled in too many directions..., or we can't remember what we need to do, or we just don't have enough willpower to do the thing that we need to do..., or it feels too big to accomplish in the time that we've set to finish it in, ๐Ÿ˜ต then our brains decide to do none of the things. It's safer to hide or put things off until tomorrow. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € But by breaking things down into smaller steps, we can finally charge through and get those things checked off. Little by little! โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € What do you do when you're adding something to your to-do list over and over again?
Instagram post 2221447554013844447_254453612 Life can quickly become overwhelming with all the things we add to our days and weeks. As a business owner, we add stuff to our to-do list until we have no clue what we need to work on. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € After a while, we have a long list and no time to juggle all the things we have going. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Truthfully, there's more than one issue at play here, but let's first focus on adding margin into your days and weeks. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Margin is something I first heard about from Lisa Jacobs in her YBYY planning workbooks. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € It's an extra cushion of time that you add between your tasks, where you have nothing planned. At all. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € This cushion makes life a whole lot easier. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Plus, in all my years as a business owner, I've learned EVERYthing takes more time than you first thought it would take. And things can come up during the day that will make a task take even longer. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € So, the idea is to create some extra pockets of time throughout your day and week to allow for the overflow. If you fill your weeks too much, where will the excess go? How will you feel when you are scurrying from one task to the next? โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Instead of creating a business where you feel like you never have room to function, let alone get things done, focus instead on creating a biz that has pockets of time for you to get caught up and catch your breath. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Creating margin is one of the many habits that I believe will help you to create a business you love because it gives you back the control of your time. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Do you add margin in your day? Let me know in the comments! โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €๐Ÿ“ธ: @sheilajoyphoto
Instagram post 2211907387276079459_254453612 ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐Ÿฏ ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐˜€๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ณ๐˜๐˜€ ๐˜„๐—ถ๐—น๐—น ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ด๐—ฒ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—ฏ๐—ถ๐˜‡ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € ๐Ÿ“ Mindset Shift 1: โœ– From: I need x,y, and z to be successful. ๐Ÿ‘ To: I have everything I need to reach my goals. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Sometimes we search for a magic bullet, thinking "if only." If only I took this other course. If only I had a website designed by a professional. If only I had money to spend on ads. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Nothing is going to take the place of action. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Sure, we may need to learn something new or to refresh our website (or whatever), but if you use those things as a distraction and procrastination tactic, then you're going to keep searching for that magic thing to get you where you want to go. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € You already have everything you need and if you don't, to quote @marieforleo, "Everything is figureoutable." โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Which leads me to... โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € ๐Ÿ“ Mindset Shift 2: โœ– From: I don't have enough time. My to-do list is a mile long. ๐Ÿ‘ To: Small, consistent, messy actions will lead me to success. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € When you start taking daily action, you'll start seeing results. You may not see it at first because you need time to see real results. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Keep taking those daily actions, and over time, they will compound into what you want. (Read the book The Compound Effect because it's good at explaining this concept.) โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € And finally... โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € ๐Ÿ“ Mindset Shift 3: โœ– From: I'm overwhelmed because my goals are so big and ambitious, and I don't even know where to start. ๐Ÿ‘ To: I'm making changes today for a better tomorrow. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Instead of looking at the finish line (aka- December 31 of 2020), think about what you can do today to make tomorrow better. I love thinking about my future, but sometimes that gets too big, so instead, I think one day ahead. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Ex: If I get this annoying task that needs to be finished done today, then tomorrow, I can enjoy the time that I've scheduled off to be with my family instead of feeling guilty for not doing said task. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Which of these three mindsets will you focus on shifting in 2020?
Instagram post 2185217689963124194_254453612 ๐™Ž๐™š๐™ง๐™ซ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™œ ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง ๐™–๐™ช๐™™๐™ž๐™š๐™ฃ๐™˜๐™š ๐™ฌ๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ ๐™ซ๐™–๐™ก๐™ช๐™š ๐™ฌ๐™ž๐™ก๐™ก ๐™ก๐™š๐™–๐™™ ๐™ฉ๐™ค ๐™ข๐™ค๐™ง๐™š ๐™จ๐™–๐™ก๐™š๐™จ. ๐Ÿ˜ โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Everyone has a problem that they're trying to solve, and business owners solve those problems. It might be through your service, digital offer, or physical product. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € It doesn't matter what you sell. You're a problem solver, and it's your job to figure out what your customers need from you. (Even if it's what am I going to hang on the empty walls of my home.) โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € It's also not a complicated process. Here are a few things you can do: โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € 1) Learn more about your ideal customers. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Iโ€™ve been able to do this well through Instagram, alone. When I connect with someone on IG, I'll watch their stories or read their posts with genuine interest. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € I learn a lot about people this way, and you'll be able to do the same. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € 2) Create content that shares your unique point-of-view or position, then see how your existing audience responds. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Think about your products and offers, then create content relevant to those offers. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € When people see what you're putting out into the world, they will have questions or thoughts about what you're sharing. Theyโ€™ll let you know by commenting, sending you a DM, or responding to your polls. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Always use your content as an opportunity to gather feedback about your ideal customer. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € 3) As you receive questions and feedback, keep a Google Doc or a journal of sorts about what youโ€™re learning about your dream customers. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Then you can write out ideas for new content that will help them based on the feedback you receive. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € 4) Follow up with people, donโ€™t wait for them to come to you. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € People can be shy on the internet. They may stalk your content but never post a reply. Take some time to engage with them first (in a genuine way), and they'll be much more likely to reply in return. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Still not sure what to say or how to serve your peeps? I have a new freebie (link in bio) with some ideas for you. It's geared towards IG Stories but can work for anything. ๐Ÿ“ธ: @sheilajoyphoto #bossbabetribe #creativebusinessowner
Instagram post 2180077036668999421_254453612 ๐Ÿ™ˆ๐Ÿ™ˆ๐Ÿ™ˆ ๐™„โ€™๐™ข ๐™ฃ๐™ค๐™ฉ ๐™ฅ๐™š๐™ง๐™›๐™š๐™˜๐™ฉ. ๐™ˆ๐™ฎ ๐™ก๐™ž๐™›๐™š ๐™ž๐™จ ๐™ฃ๐™ค๐™ฉ ๐™ฅ๐™š๐™ง๐™›๐™š๐™˜๐™ฉ. ๐™„๐™ฃ ๐™›๐™–๐™˜๐™ฉ, ๐™„โ€™๐™ข ๐™– ๐™ข๐™š๐™จ๐™จ. ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™„ ๐™จ๐™๐™ค๐™ช๐™ก๐™™๐™ฃ'๐™ฉ ๐™จ๐™๐™–๐™ง๐™š ๐™ฉ๐™๐™–๐™ฉ, ๐™ง๐™ž๐™œ๐™๐™ฉ? โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Wrong! โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € We're all a mess, sis! โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € People often show you their highlight reel on Instagram. Not the true behind the scenes of their life. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € I'll be the first to tell you that I'm far from perfect. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Here's a little bit of proof: ๐Ÿ‘– I donโ€™t put on pants until I HAVE to. ๐Ÿš๏ธ My house is always a mess, even though I really do feel a bit OCD in my head. ๐Ÿ€ I yell at my husband when he leaves fingerprints on the ceiling because heโ€™s making too many imaginary jump shots...because heโ€™s always pretending like heโ€™s a basketball star. ๐ŸงŸโ€โ™€๏ธ I stay up too late. ๐Ÿฉ AND I eat gluten even though it makes my face breakout. ๐Ÿ“ฑOh, and on the days I donโ€™t show my face on Instagram, itโ€™s usually because my face broke out that day (because I ate a donut) and Iโ€™m embarrassed. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € ๐Ÿคท This is me. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Let's embrace the fact that we're not perfect and show up as who we are anyway. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Are you in?
Instagram post 2175642193587859802_254453612 ๐Ÿ˜ฒ ๐™ƒ๐™–๐™จ๐™๐™ฉ๐™–๐™œ๐™จ ๐™™๐™ค๐™ฃ'๐™ฉ ๐™œ๐™ง๐™ค๐™ฌ ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง ๐™„๐™ฃ๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™–๐™œ๐™ง๐™–๐™ข. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Now before you go throwing rotten tomatoes at me, hear me out. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € You can't simply add a list of 30 hashtags on the newest photo in your feed and expect people to follow you on IG. As if hashtags are the magical holy grail... if only you choose the right ones. ๐Ÿ˜ฐ โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € You'll find yourself giving up quickly with that strategy. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Because it takes more than that. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Here are a few things to consider when trying to grow your IG following: โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € 1) You get what you give. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € If you're opening up the Instagram app, throwing up a photo with hashtags, and then closing it down and hiding for the rest of the day ๐Ÿ™ˆ, you're not going to see any substantial results from your actions. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Sure, you might get some likes, and you may even get a few follows, but you won't create a lasting connection. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € The best strategy that I've found on Instagram is to give. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € More than you get. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Don't show up only when people are responding in the way that you want them to.Growing a community of followers requires a two-way street. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Show up because you have something to say. Show up because what you create or teach is what other people need. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € 2) Grow a community regardless of the numbers. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Community is what matters most on social media. Sure, you can try to attract a large following, but are they going to be a bunch of people who don't need what you have to offer? โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Do you want to attract a bunch of strangers who will never care, or would you rather attract the people who NEED what you have to give to the world? โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Building a community means that you have to attract some people and repel others. It doesn't mean having a huge following of people who couldn't care less about what you have to say one way or another. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € If you're wanting to grow your Instagram from a place that focuses on quality over quantity, join my free 5-day challenge. We start on Nov. 18th. Link in my bio. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € #creativebusinessowner #savvybusinessowners #smallbizsquad
Instagram post 2169998820881329538_254453612 When it comes to showing up on Instagram, I choose to show up when it works best for me. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Iโ€™ve set a โ€œscheduleโ€ of sorts that calls me to show up daily and weekly, but in a way that fits my personality and introvertedness. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € I know that I need time off from IG on occasion. So, I decided a while ago that posting to my feed every single day just wasnโ€™t going to work for me. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Instead, I choose to show up on the feed 2-3 times per week. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € When it comes to IG Stories, Iโ€™ve committed to 10 stories per day, and at least 3 stories on the weekend. This gives me some needed downtime (usually on Sundays). โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € I know that showing up on Stories this much for some people might be too much. Iโ€™ve figured out how I can do this in a way that it doesnโ€™t drain me. But do what works for you. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Whatever you choose, I believe that consistency is the ๐Ÿ”‘. I know that when Iโ€™ve been inconsistent in the past that people grow uninterested. So, I made a commitment to try to show up on the schedule that I created for myself. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Also, I wanted to say that I first signed up for Instagram, I thought that I had to post something every single day. And then I told myself that I didn't have anything to say which made it feel really hard. When I finally released this expectation and pressure that Iโ€™d put on myself, it got much easier. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € No one (but me) was pressuring me to post . I was exhausted from my own doing. When I released the expectation, it took the weight off. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € So... โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € This is what I'm able to do...it doesn't feel overwhelming. It feels enjoyable. It's what I know that I can stick to. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Take some time to reflect on what kind of schedule works for YOU. Donโ€™t put all the extra stress on yourself to post because everyone else is doing it. Only show up as you can and in the way you can. โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ €โ € Are you putting any unnecessary pressure on yourself to show up on IG in a certain way (whether its frequency or the actual HOW to show up)? Let me know in the comments below! ๐Ÿ“ท by: @sheilajoyphoto

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