178: Come Create With Me
The Professional Creative
It’s Bonnie Christine here, friends, and in this episode, I am bringing you an episode that just might spark a whole new creative journey for you! Imagine holding something that YOU designed - fabric, gift wrap, or wallpaper - and feeling that thrill of seeing your creativity come to life! I share all about my Start Simple mini-class series, a free, no-experience-required introduction to surface pattern design. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just curious about creative expression, these mini-classes are designed to be a fun, stress-free gateway into this vibrant world! I walk you...
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177: Inside the Mark Makers Mastermind Experience
The Professional Creative
Welcome back, friends! I am so excited to talk about one of the most transformative programs I offer: ! This mastermind is a deeply personal and intentional space that I pour my heart into every year, designed exclusively for creative entrepreneurs ready to make their mark on the world! What even is mastermind, you might ask? In essence, it’s a small, intimate group committed to supporting each other in achieving big dreams. Together, we form a powerful network - 30 creative minds coming together to share insights, hold each other accountable, and inspire personal and professional growth....
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176: Decisive Moments: How Hard Choices Shape Creative Success
The Professional Creative
I hope that you will join me this week as I am discussing the complex art of decision-making, especially when it comes to the tough choices we all face in business and life. Listen in as I share some personal insights into how I approach decisions, from small day-to-day choices to major moves that can change the course of my business. Hear about the challenges that I have faced when deciding to let go of clients, adjust product offerings, or even make tough calls within my team. One of the biggest takeaways from today's episode is how critical it is to make decisions quickly and confidently,...
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175: Drumroll, Please: Unveiling Flowerie—Our New Product Shop
The Professional Creative
Today is a day that I have been eagerly waiting to share with you! We’ve been quietly working behind the scenes on something incredibly special, and I’m thrilled to finally announce it: Flowerie, my brand-new product shop, is here! Listen in this week as I take you through the heart and vision behind Flowerie, sharing the story of how this shop came to be and what inspired its creation. From my early days making handmade products on Etsy to where we are today, Flowerie represents my love for combining natural beauty with everyday function and is a reflection of everything I love such as...
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174: Fall Q&A: Your Burning Questions Part 2
The Professional Creative
Welcome back, everyone, to another round of Q&A in which I will be answering some of your burning questions! This time, I reflect on things such as where I see myself and my business in the next five to ten years. While long-term vision admittedly is not always my strongest suit, my team and I recently pushed ourselves to create a five-year plan that includes exciting growth goals across various areas! I also answer questions about the challenges of focus (something that I like to call our creative "Kryptonite”) and share how my team has been honing our priorities to stay on track with...
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173: Fall Q&A: Your Burning Questions Part 1
The Professional Creative
Welcome to another episode of The Professional Creative, everyone! Get ready because I have a special treat for you, a two-part Q&A series. In this episode, I am diving headfirst into your thought-provoking questions and am covering quite a bit of ground! I kick things off with a deep question about areas where I still feel that I need to grow, reminding me of the importance of leadership and integrity. I have dreams galore, from seeing my art on products to maybe even a TV show about surface pattern design, but it’s all about embracing the journey, right? I am also asked about a career...
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172: Think Outside the Box: How to Master Creative Problem-Solving
The Professional Creative
Welcome to another episode of The Professional Creative! As I approach fourteen years in business, I have learned that creative problem solving is so important for overcoming the challenges that help us grow as leaders! I used to make decisions alone, but I have since come to realize how vital it is to have support in entrepreneurship, even when it can feel isolating. This episode of the show digs deep into the significance of thinking outside the box, whether you’re a solopreneur or part of a larger team. Join me as I share a memorable story from my recent family vacation to Iceland, where...
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171: When Saying No is the Key to Success: Prioritizing Your Best Yes
The Professional Creative
In case you didn’t know this, I love my Tuesday episodes because they are unscripted! In this particular batch of my unscripted Tuesday thoughts, I open up about the challenges of staying focused as a creative entrepreneur. If you're like me, then you have very likely experienced “shiny object syndrome” - that temptation to jump from one exciting idea to the next, but this year, my mission has been to dial in on what truly matters to my business and heart, which is serving the surface pattern design industry! Listen in as I will be sharing how I had to make some tough decisions, like...
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170: Crafting Your Company’s Heart: Defining Core Values for Creative Entrepreneurs
The Professional Creative
I invite you to listen this week as I jump into a topic that I believe is the very heartbeat of any business: core values. Whether you are running a solo venture or managing a team of 100, your core values are essential because they shape your decisions, influence your culture, and guide your growth! Join me as I share why defining your core values matters more than you might think. I walk you through my own company's ten core values and how they have evolved as my team has grown, and you can expect to hear tangible examples of how these values have impacted our work culture and...
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169: Failed Payments? How to Recover Revenue Without Losing Customers
The Professional Creative
I think that you're likely really going to like today's topic – all about keeping the money that you have already made! Listen in as I examine an issue that every online business owner faces at some point: failed payments. If you run an online business, offer a product, or have a subscription-based model, failed payments can mean losing revenue that you have already earned, and nobody wants that, right? What if I told you, though, that there is a way to recover those payments and keep more of your hard-earned money? I walk you through our tried-and-true process at Team Bonnie for recovering...
info_outlineWelcome to another episode of The Professional Creative, everyone! Get ready because I have a special treat for you, a two-part Q&A series. In this episode, I am diving headfirst into your thought-provoking questions and am covering quite a bit of ground!
I kick things off with a deep question about areas where I still feel that I need to grow, reminding me of the importance of leadership and integrity. I have dreams galore, from seeing my art on products to maybe even a TV show about surface pattern design, but it’s all about embracing the journey, right?
I am also asked about a career low point, and boy, does that ever hit home! Getting rejected by a fabric company made me question everything, but it ultimately taught me the strength of perseverance. Empathy grew from that experience, reminding me that we all face nay-sayers at different stages of our lives, but we’ve got to keep pushing through!
Then, there is, of course, AI, truly a hot topic today with lots and lots of opinions floating around, so here is my take: AI in the design world is here, and it’s shaking things up. Whether you are an artwork architect using AI creatively or a traditional artist staying analog, there’s a place for everyone. I believe that we should be embracing AI as a helper, not a replacement.
New challenges with growth bring up important questions about focus and financial stewardship, truly important stuff as we navigate new levels in our careers, so stay tuned as we tackle what traits make successful professional creatives!
📒 Episode Notes, Links, & Resources 📒
https://www.professionalcreative.com/blog/173
Connect with Bonnie:
▸ ONLINE | http://bonniechristine.com
▸ INSTAGRAM | https://instagram.com/bonniechristine
▸ START SIMPLE IN SURFACE DESIGN | FREE MINI CLASS | https://www.bonniechristine.com/startsimple
▸ FREE SURFACE DESIGN GUIDE | https://www.bonniechristine.com/guide