I’ve tried to make money with my creative work for a long time, and it hasn't worked. How is the Incubator approach different?

I'd hazard a guess that when you've made attempts before, you were probably throwing spaghetti at the wall. What I mean is that trying random tactics like “post more on Instagram” or “start an email list” will make little impact on your bottom line if the underlying structure of the business isn’t set up to be profitable. The Incubator focuses on strategy first. You will start by designing a business model that’s set up from its foundations to make you the money you need in the time you have available. And only then will you choose reasonable, aligned tactics according to what works for you, so that you can see results. Of course, there are no guarantees! But if you’re not making enough money with your creative work now, and you've been at this for a while...doesn’t it make sense to try something completely different? Isn't it time to test a brand-new strategy that is designed for success?

When I look at your students, I feel like maybe I don’t have what it takes, and I should study some more or get a certification or publish or show more before I’ll be ready to start. How do I know if I’m ready?

I get it. Our students are legit awesome! And they would also laugh their heads off at the idea that they now look so amazing that other people think they must have some special sauce that made their transformation possible. Quite the contrary: There were many conversations in coaching about impostor syndrome, fears of not being good enough or trained enough, desire to retreat into a certification program. I (gently, firmly) encourage each of them to acknowledge what they already have and know and do, and use that. Our mantra is “imperfect action,” and every Incubator student has had to lean on that mantra, hard, to get where they are today. What you need to succeed in this program is: Experience doing the thing you want to help people with. Not learning about that thing in a grad degree program. Experience in real life. You will use the raw material of your expertise, your experience, and what engages and excites you to design a business where you’re the expert, doing what you do best.

I’m super uncomfortable with the whole concept of trying to make money with my creative work.

I hear you. I have felt the same way. Know this: Making money is how we are able to take care of ourselves and our people. There is nothing wrong with being paid for the value you provide. We don’t expect a lawyer to write up a contract without being paid. We don’t think it’s weird for a house painter to expect money. Why do we think it’s wrong to be paid for creative work? Just because we like doing it? Or is it because we don’t really believe it’s worth anything…? Feeling that making money with our work is somehow wrong is a form of internalized oppression. It’s OK to have these feelings. We all do. If you’re willing to work on these feelings and take back your power, the Incubator will help you get there.

I want to join, but I just don’t know if I can commit the time.

The Incubator is a time commitment, it’s true… But consider all the extra time you spend side-hustling and grinding out more work for extra cash. The Incubator will help break the hustle-and-grind cycle, so that after six months you have more time for the stuff you actually want to be doing. You can think of it this way: If you’re exhausted and burnt out from what you’re doing now…how different will things be in 6 months if you take no steps to change your life? It’s always hard to make time for a big project. But THIS big project will make time for YOU, in exchange.

Does my business have to be online? What if I hate social media and want to stay away from email?

Social media is absolutely not required, and in many cases isn’t even recommended. Email, in some form, is likely to be necessary, but it doesn’t have to be at the core of your marketing. There are lots of choices about how to promote your business, and when you build your own strategy on a solid framework, you get to be in charge of where you spend your time. That said, In the Incubator, we will assume that you are transacting business using online tools (like sales pages and payment engines, invoicing and tracking sales) and that you will have a website or other online location where you offer your work. Even if you create a physical deliverable, the structure of your business will be built with online tools.

What happens at the end of the six-month program?

For the six months of the program, you'll have full access to all of the course materials and the incredible Autonomous Creative Collective. When the six-month Incubator ends, you’ll be invited to re-enroll inside the Incubator as a next-level alum (a Hatchling!), with access to all the materials, every special event, and weekly coaching calls. If you choose not to re-enroll in the Incubator, you’ll be eligible to join the Autonomous Creative Collective as an ongoing, alumni member at the end of your six month enrollment, with access to all the community support and the monthly content published in the ACC, for a small monthly fee.

What are the important dates?

Concierge onboarding will occur with live walkthroughs in the week of March 27. We start on April 1-2, 2023 with the Jumpstart Weekend. We will be live 10 am - 4 pm ET. All calls will be recorded and available for replay. The Bootcamp Month (with 3x weekly coaching supports) runs from April 1, 2023 through April 29. The cohort runs through September 30, 2023. You’ll launch your offer to the Autonomous Creative Collective during the month of September!

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