Rosie Holt- Business skills
Making smart business decisions as an artist
In this episode, we dive deep into the business side of creativity with Rosie Holt. Rosie is a business coach who delivers coaching, masterclasses, community and speaking events to business owners and creative entrepreneurs. We chat about how to make informed choices in your creative practice, avoid burnout, and approach long-term growth in a sustainable way. Rosie emphasises that success doesn't come from working at 100% every day, but from showing up consistently—whether you're putting in 10 minutes or a full day's work. We also explore the importance of planning for the future, setting achievable goals, and finding joy in small wins.
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Summary of Rosies Advice!
Start Thinking Like a Business Early: This does not have to be overwhelming or strictly profit-driven, but simply an awareness of how to make and sell your work in a way that feels manageable and intentional.
Set Clear and Intentional Goals: Have an idea of where you want to go. Even if the goal isn’t massive, having a direction helps to avoid feeling lost or unproductive. Being intentional with daily actions, whether small or large, leads to a sense of achievement and consistent progress.
Embrace Trial and Error: Embrace experimentation and avoid the trap of perfectionism. You don’t need to be 100% certain before making decisions. Often, being 51% confident and trying something is enough to gain new insights. Mistakes are part of the process, and each attempt provides valuable learning
Anchor in Your 'Why': Understanding your core reason or motivation for pursuing your art or can helps guide decisions & minimising distractions.
Start the Day with Priorities: Before diving into daily chaos, set clear priorities based on what you need and value most. Understand that not everything will get done, but always make time for what brings joy and fulfilment.
Know Your Audience: Understanding who your audience is and what aspects of your work captivate them.
Simplify Income Strategies: Identify gaps and determine simple, efficient ways to bridge them. Avoid overcomplicating things. Start small, test the market, and scale up based on feedback.
Effective Marketing: Utili\se free marketing platforms like social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook) to engage audiences. Select platforms based on personal enjoyment and audience presence.
Consistency in Branding: Ensure that your brand identity (color palette, voice, and presentation) is consistent across all platforms. This builds recognition and trust with potential customers.
Avoiding Burnout: Burnout happens when there is constant pressure to perform at 100%. Rosie advises that progress can still be made with small efforts, and it's essential to be aware of your limits. The idea is to work efficiently, identifying key tasks that can move your goals forward, even if only dedicating minimal time each day.
Long-term Growth Mindset: Think about growth as a slow and steady journey. Set clear goals but be open to reassessing and refining them regularly. Visual cues like post-it notes, vision boards, or colour-coded planners can help anchor your objectives and keep you focused. Celebrate small wins, as they contribute to larger achievements over time.
Reflection and Realignment: Periodically review your progress through “coffee dates” with yourself. Use this time to reflect on what's working, what isn't, and how you can pivot to align with your evolving goals. This process may reveal opportunities to do more or less of certain activities based on what's effective.
.Combat Analysis Paralysis: Avoid getting stuck by overthinking or comparing yourself to others. Instead, focus on creating and sharing your work. Taking action, even imperfectly, is more beneficial than doing nothing.
Seeking Guidance: Finding the right mentor or coach is important. Rosie highlights her openness to offering free advice and engaging with creatives through platforms like Instagram, making herself accessible for questions and discussions. Testing whether a coach is a good fit for you can be valuable before committing long-term.
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