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 October 17. We start on October 22-23, 2022 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 October 24, 2022 through November 18. The cohort runs through April 14, 2023. You’ll launch your offer to the Autonomous Creative Collective during the month of April!

I'm a [writer, podcaster, cartoonist, filmmaker, speaker, copywriter, visual artist, musician, creative entrepreneur…], and my project is [ ]. Will the Creative Focus Workshop be able to help me?

The funny thing about self-generated creative work is that the issues we confront when trying to devote time to it are the same, no matter what the nature of the work actually is. When I help an illustrator who wants to write a children's book fit that speculative and future-focused work into her current life full of client work, it works exactly the same way as when I help a consultant who wants to make time to write and record a DIY course to offer her audience, but struggles to make time for it alongside her busy onsite training schedule. The professional podcast producer who wants to launch his own show faces the same struggles as the full-time parent trying to finish her dissertation. In all of these cases, as in your case, life is already full, with work, relationships, and caretaking. But the ambition to do more, to be more, drives the need to make fundamental change in how you're living. So yes, whatever your self-generated creative endeavor, the Creative Focus Workshop is for you. Don’t believe me? We’ve got members working in dozens of creative fields:

Didn't you write a book about this? How is the Creative Focus Workshop different?

Yes, I did. And, full disclosure: many topics in the CFW are covered in my book, Growing Gills. You CAN learn how to get your projects done on your own, if you're a self-starter and can really stick to a program by yourself. But you probably recognize there's a big difference between reading a physics textbook, and learning physics from a professor, with classmates, lab sessions, feedback on your problem sets, and study sessions built in. What the CFW offers that's unique and valuable is that you move through the program with the backing of a committed community of ambitious creators who offer community, accountability, and feedback. And this is important: STAKES. If you put this on your calendar and join a group that's actively working together, you're not likely to sit idly by and do nothing. If you pay for this, you're not likely to let the opportunity pass. There's so much research behind this idea. We simply don't value things that we get for free like we do when we pay for them. We don't follow through on things that are difficult (especially emotionally difficult) when left on our own. Your investment of time and attention (and, yes, money) is what will change things for you. Students who have been trying to do this stuff on their own for years (and who knew all the big productivity books chapter and verse — we've even taught a fair number of professional project managers!), and who were consistently failing to make it work…have started the CFW and almost immediately started making their work regularly.

Do I get support, community, or access to coaching?

Yes! The Autonomous Creative Collective is a robust, fully-featured membership community full of accomplished, serious creatives, alumni of the Creative Focus Workshop and familiar with the methodology. We work together to rise together. It's much more than your average Facebook group (starting with: it's NOT on Facebook!), with monthly themes, weekly challenges, virtual coworking, Member Mixers, and more. Jessica and her assistant coaches are in the community most days, and there are live video group coaching sessions twice a month , open to all CFW members.

What is the time commitment per week?

That is entirely up to you. The more you put in, the more you get out, but you can do this course at your own pace. You could spend anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours a week on the CFW, and the main difference would be how fast you see results.

I have a day job/night job/crammed schedule/I live in the opposite time zone. Will I be able to engage with the program?

You can finish this program from anywhere in the world, on your schedule. You can complete lessons from your couch, kitchen table, or in a cafe. The entire program is online, so as long as you have an internet connection, you can access it. There’s even a robust app for your mobile devices. There are members all over the world, which means conversations in the Autonomous Creative Collective (and accountability partner meetings) can happen at any time, day or night. The only elements of the program that are live are the monthly live coaching calls. If you’re unable to attend live, you can post your questions ahead of time and come back on your schedule to get answers in the replays!

Do I get lifetime access to the course material?

No, your access is included in your course fee for six months. Why is this the case? Because procrastination is the enemy. It's what we're trying to defeat. And when people join courses with lifetime enrollment, they're a lot less likely to finish! However, the coursework is only one part of what you get as a member of the Autonomous Creative Collective, and there are so many reasons to stick around. As an alum of the Creative Focus Workshop you'll be invited to remain a member, with full access to the course materials, for as long as you like afterwards, enjoying the support and companionship of our robust community, for a membership fee of $30/month.

What are the program dates?

The program begins on the day you enroll, and your included access lasts six months. After that, you're invited to remain part of our ongoing support and accountability community (and retain access to your CFW course materials!) for a monthly membership fee of $30.

What happens at the end of the 6-month CFW membership?

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 that three months ends, you will be eligible to enroll in the Autonomous Creative Collective as an ongoing, alumni member at the end of your six month enrollment. You retain access to the Creative Focus Workshop as long as you're a member of the Autonomous Creative Collective!

Is it really risk free?

Yes! We want you to feel safe jumping into the course. If, within 14 days of your enrollment, you don't feel that it's valuable to you, we'll happily refund you.

I'm a [writer, podcaster, cartoonist, filmmaker, speaker, copywriter, visual artist, musician, creative entrepreneur…], and my project is [ ]. Will the Creative Focus Workshop be able to help me?

The funny thing about self-generated creative work is that the issues we confront when trying to devote time to it are the same, no matter what the nature of the work actually is. When I help an illustrator who wants to write a children's book fit that speculative and future-focused work into her current life full of client work, it works exactly the same way as when I help a consultant who wants to make time to write and record a DIY course to offer her audience, but struggles to make time for it alongside her busy onsite training schedule. The professional podcast producer who wants to launch his own show faces the same struggles as the full-time parent trying to finish her dissertation. In all of these cases, as in your case, life is already full, with work, relationships, and caretaking. But the ambition to do more, to be more, drives the need to make fundamental change in how you're living. So yes, whatever your self-generated creative endeavor, the Creative Focus Workshop is for you. Don’t believe me? We’ve got members working in dozens of creative fields:

Didn't you write a book about this? How is the Creative Focus Workshop different?

Yes, I did. And, full disclosure: many topics in the CFW are covered in my book, Growing Gills. You CAN learn how to get your projects done on your own, if you're a self-starter and can really stick to a program by yourself. But you probably recognize there's a big difference between reading a physics textbook, and learning physics from a professor, with classmates, lab sessions, feedback on your problem sets, and study sessions built in. What the CFW offers that's unique and valuable is that you move through the program with the backing of a committed community of ambitious creators who offer community, accountability, and feedback. And this is important: STAKES. If you put this on your calendar and join a group that's actively working together, you're not likely to sit idly by and do nothing. If you pay for this, you're not likely to let the opportunity pass. There's so much research behind this idea. We simply don't value things that we get for free like we do when we pay for them. We don't follow through on things that are difficult (especially emotionally difficult) when left on our own. Your investment of time and attention (and, yes, money) is what will change things for you. Students who have been trying to do this stuff on their own for years (and who knew all the big productivity books chapter and verse — we've even taught a fair number of professional project managers!), and who were consistently failing to make it work…have started the CFW and almost immediately started making their work regularly.

Do I get support, community, or access to coaching?

Yes! The Autonomous Creative Collective is a robust, fully-featured membership community full of accomplished, serious creatives, alumni of the Creative Focus Workshop and familiar with the methodology. We work together to rise together. It's much more than your average Facebook group (starting with: it's NOT on Facebook!), with monthly themes, weekly challenges, virtual coworking, Member Mixers, and more. Jessica and her assistant coaches are in the community most days, and there are live video group coaching sessions twice a month , open to all CFW members.

What is the time commitment per week?

That is entirely up to you. The more you put in, the more you get out, but you can do this course at your own pace. You could spend anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours a week on the CFW, and the main difference would be how fast you see results.

I have a day job/night job/crammed schedule/I live in the opposite time zone. Will I be able to engage with the program?

You can finish this program from anywhere in the world, on your schedule. You can complete lessons from your couch, kitchen table, or in a cafe. The entire program is online, so as long as you have an internet connection, you can access it. There’s even a robust app for your mobile devices. There are members all over the world, which means conversations in the Autonomous Creative Collective (and accountability partner meetings) can happen at any time, day or night. The only elements of the program that are live are the monthly live coaching calls. If you’re unable to attend live, you can post your questions ahead of time and come back on your schedule to get answers in the replays!

Do I get lifetime access to the course material?

No, your access is included in your course fee for six months. Why is this the case? Because procrastination is the enemy. It's what we're trying to defeat. And when people join courses with lifetime enrollment, they're a lot less likely to finish! However, the coursework is only one part of what you get as a member of the Autonomous Creative Collective, and there are so many reasons to stick around. As an alum of the Creative Focus Workshop you'll be invited to remain a member, with full access to the course materials, for as long as you like afterwards, enjoying the support and companionship of our robust community, for a membership fee of $30/month.

What are the program dates?

The program begins on the day you enroll, and your included access lasts six months. After that, you're invited to remain part of our ongoing support and accountability community (and retain access to your CFW course materials!) for a monthly membership fee of $30.

What happens at the end of the 6-month CFW membership?

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 that three months ends, you will be eligible to enroll in the Autonomous Creative Collective as an ongoing, alumni member at the end of your six month enrollment. You retain access to the Creative Focus Workshop as long as you're a member of the Autonomous Creative Collective!

Is it really risk free?

Yes! We want you to feel safe jumping into the course. If, within 14 days of your enrollment, you don't feel that it's valuable to you, we'll happily refund you.

landing page Archives - Page 2 of 3

You’re in! | Creative Business Design Lab

By Jessica Abel

Thank you for joining the Creative Business Design Lab! Your link to join the session is on its way to your inbox—if you can’t find it, please check your Promotions and Spam…and then add my address to your Contacts so that future emails land in your inbox! If you’ve already got questions, we want to…

Creative Business Design Lab | Collaborate and Build Together

By Jessica Abel

The Creative Business Design Lab The Creative Business Design Lab is a free, monthly series of open conversations where we work together to solve real world problems that are part-and-parcel of running a successful creative business. We’ll have a fresh topic each month… …and we’ll also be open to addressing whatever challenges you’re facing. I’ll…

Three paths to financial sustainability as a creative | Interest

By Jessica Abel

You can have a profitable creative business that you’re proud of The Three Paths to Financial Sustainability replay has expired If you want to be the first to know when we go live with this seminar again, and to hear more about developing a thriving creative business, subscribe below! I WANT TO DISCOVER MY PATH…

The Autonomous Creative Incubator | Application

By Jessica Abel

Thanks for your interest in the Autonomous Creative Incubator! Our next cohort will be in Spring 2023, but in the meantime, we’d love to discover whether we’d be a good fit to work together. Please fill in an application to get on the waitlist! Launch a business you’re proud of in six months with The…

The Autonomous Creative Incubator | Applications are open!

By Jessica Abel

Thanks for your interest in the Autonomous Creative Incubator! Our next cohort will be in Spring 2023, but in the meantime, we’d love to discover whether we’d be a good fit to work together. Please fill in an application to get on the waitlist! FOR CREATIVES WHO WANT TO BUILD A PROFITABLE SERVICE BUSINESS ROOTED…

Three paths to financial sustainability as a creative | See it again

By Jessica Abel

Three paths to financial sustainability as a creative The replay has expired! Thanks for your interest in the Autonomous Creative Incubator! Our next cohort will be in Spring 2023, but in the meantime, we’d love to discover whether we’d be a good fit to work together. Please fill in an application to get on the…

The Biz Brainstorm | Identify your high-end service offer

By Jessica Abel

Thanks for your interest in the Autonomous Creative Incubator! Our next cohort will be in Spring 2023, but in the meantime, we’d love to discover whether we’d be a good fit to work together. Please fill in an application to get on the waitlist! Click here to fill in the application! FOR CREATIVES WHO WANT…

Thanks for joining the Incubator 6 month coaching program!

By Jessica Abel

I’m so excited to keep working with you! More info about your membership is en route! Breathe a sigh of relief—you don’t have to run through Bootcamp Weekend again! © 2023 Autonomous Creative. All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy & Terms of Service · Website by ModernTraction.com

The Creative Focus Workshop – Foundation

By Jessica Abel

If you go about your life feeling just slightly haunted by the sense that you’re failing your creative self… this is for you. Be the Person Who Does the Thing A version of yourself walks through the world with confidence. The confidence that comes from finishing the creative projects you care about. What if… Instead…

The Creative Focus Workshop

By Jessica Abel

WATCH NOW! The Creative Engine Masterclass: How to overcome your resistance and put your creative priorities FIRST, before you’re derailed by everything else! Sign up for the Creative Focus Workshop for up to $540 off! Enroll now For creative people who struggle to fit their real work into their real lives Be the Person Who…

Posts Tagged ‘landing page’

You’re in! | Creative Business Design Lab

Creative Business Design Lab | Collaborate and Build Together

Three paths to financial sustainability as a creative | Interest

The Autonomous Creative Incubator | Application

The Autonomous Creative Incubator | Applications are open!

Three paths to financial sustainability as a creative | See it again

The Biz Brainstorm | Identify your high-end service offer

Thanks for joining the Incubator 6 month coaching program!

The Creative Focus Workshop – Foundation

The Creative Focus Workshop

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