Ever felt that jittery discomfort as you approach a potential client or donor? Ever found yourself hesitant to put your work out on social media, fearing exposure, judgment or ironically, success? You aren't alone. Join us on a transformative journey on Mind Over Medium, as we host the insightful Christina Edwards, a marketing maven and coach, who unveils strategies to overcome these obstacles and thrive in your creative journey.
Christina isn't just a coach; she's a creative soul herself, with her personal creative outlets serving as fuel for her innovative thoughts. Our conversation with her ranges from the discomfort of selling and marketing to the anxiety around success and the imposter syndrome. She shares effective approaches towards potential clients and explains why it's more important to focus on the process than the outcome. We also share our own triumphs and trials, discussing fears that held us back and how we learned to find our voice on social media platforms.
Success is more than just the outcome - it's about the journey and the growth that comes along with it. Christina and we dive into the significance of intentional thinking, overcoming limiting beliefs, and finding joy in the process. We discuss the importance of acknowledging and celebrating wins, finding personal rhythms, and setting achievable goals. Whether you're an artist striving to sell your work or an individual seeking personal growth, this episode is bound to offer valuable insights and leave you with some food for thought. Tune in and embrace the enriching journey towards success.
Connect with Christina Here
Join the waitlist for Artful Decision Making Group Program Here
Have questions or a great idea for a podcast? Let me know Here
Ever felt that jittery discomfort as you approach a potential client or donor? Ever found yourself hesitant to put your work out on social media, fearing exposure, judgment or ironically, success? You aren't alone. Join us on a transformative journey on Mind Over Medium, as we host the insightful Christina Edwards, a marketing maven and coach, who unveils strategies to overcome these obstacles and thrive in your creative journey.
Christina isn't just a coach; she's a creative soul herself, with her personal creative outlets serving as fuel for her innovative thoughts. Our conversation with her ranges from the discomfort of selling and marketing to the anxiety around success and the imposter syndrome. She shares effective approaches towards potential clients and explains why it's more important to focus on the process than the outcome. We also share our own triumphs and trials, discussing fears that held us back and how we learned to find our voice on social media platforms.
Success is more than just the outcome - it's about the journey and the growth that comes along with it. Christina and we dive into the significance of intentional thinking, overcoming limiting beliefs, and finding joy in the process. We discuss the importance of acknowledging and celebrating wins, finding personal rhythms, and setting achievable goals. Whether you're an artist striving to sell your work or an individual seeking personal growth, this episode is bound to offer valuable insights and leave you with some food for thought. Tune in and embrace the enriching journey towards success.
Connect with Christina Here
Join the waitlist for Artful Decision Making Group Program Here
Have questions or a great idea for a podcast? Let me know Here
Welcome to Mind Over Medium, a podcast for artists who want to make money doing what they love. When you tune in a twink, you will learn how to attract your ideal commissions, approach galleries for representation, have a great online launch of your work, and how to do it all with less overwhelm and confusion. You will have the opportunity to hear from amazing artists who will share how they have built their successful creative businesses. My hope is to create a space where artists and the creative curious can gather to learn about one of the most important tools creative entrepreneurs need in their toolbox their mindset. Thanks so much for tuning in to Mind Over Medium podcast. Let's get started. Hi everyone, before we get into today's episode, I wanted to let you know that the waitlist is now open for my 12-week course Artful Decision Making how to transform your artistic journey from scattered dreams to focused success. If you feel like you are stuck on the hamster wheel and would love not only some support but practical tools to create a business that makes you feel overjoyed more than overwhelmed, you should get on the list, and I will offer special pricing for people on the waitlist, so you should definitely sign up. The link will be in my show notes and on my website. So head on over to leanslotkincom to sign up.
Lea Ann:Hello, podcast family. I hope everyone is doing well today. I know I am because I get to introduce you to my friend and brilliant marketing expert and coach, christina Edwards. She is the founder of Splendid Consulting and I really appreciate you being here today. So I always ask people two questions at the beginning. Okay, first one introduce yourself. It's multi-step Introduce yourself who are you, where do you live, what do you do? And then the second one describe a time in your life when you felt the most creative Amazing.
Christina:Okay, hi, it's always good to see you. So let's see, I'm based in Atlanta, georgia, which means that we're in real life friends, which is such a gift we met on.
Christina:Zoom through a mastermind, and it was so fun to get to know you. And then also in Atlanta, because it's so big to be like, oh no, we're like I don't know 10 minutes away from each other, so that's a big problem. Yeah, so to realize that you also were nearby and not in the burbs was great. So what do I do? I run an online business. I am a coach and a course creator, and I say that I work with nonprofits and mission-driven entrepreneurs. So people usually come to me with like some sort of either they're a nonprofit founder or leader or they're a social entrepreneur and their main problem they're trying to solve is how do I get visible, how do I get funded? And I know there's some overlap with your audience in that as well, so we'll dig into that today. I also have a podcast called the Purpose and Profit Club podcast, and I think we're going to talk about that today too. And you asked me when I felt the most creative. Yeah, yeah.
Lea Ann:Okay, a time in your life when you felt the most creative.
Christina:Immediately my brain was like, well, I was in art school, so I went to art school for college, but more you know, 20 years ago. So more recently I have taken to Tuesday night ceramics as just like my Tuesday night class to go make and kind of going into with the thought process of like it's about the making and not the outcome right, the process, not the product. So that has been really cool. That's a good place for me to feel creative and just the other pieces. My daughter definitely got the art gene and so her and I will just mindlessly color, and not like color in books, but like white paper, construction paper, blank paper and just color. And those are two of my favorite pieces and places to create.
Lea Ann:I love that so much and thank you for sharing. Where do you take your ceramics class?
Christina:Okay, so I take it at Kellenwald, which is, like you know, historic. I you know what's crazy is I started taking classes at Kellenwald when I was like 16. So we drive downtown and I would take like figure drawing classes. I was the youngest one because they were like continuing yet for adults, yeah. And I just knew that I wanted to go to art school, so I would. Just, I was like I don't want to take these kid classes, I want to take a talk. And so I've been there ever since.
Lea Ann:Yeah, yeah, kellenwald's awesome. Yeah, that's great Cool. Well, you referenced the podcast, which your podcast is amazing, by the way, so we will link all that, but because people should listen. But when I was listening to your podcast, it's immediately when I voxered you and I'm like hey, can you be on my? Because the topic was an introverts guide to selling and marketing which I think, if I'm right and you can correct me if I'm wrong is episode 65.
Christina:That sounds right yeah.
Lea Ann:Yeah. And so when I listen, I'm like these are my people, you're talking to my people, you're talking to me.
Christina:I feel like I attract people who it's like we want this thing over here, that is, like passionate and purposeful and creative and also so, so adverse to putting themselves out there. And so for you, it's like your artists putting themselves out there whether it's in person or on social media or wherever just selling, right. And for a lot of me and my clients, it's putting themselves out there and asking a potential donor to like support their cause, right to fundraise. And sometimes it's asking a potential client just for a prospecting meeting, like a discovery meeting, right. And it's like it doesn't matter if you're selling art or selling a nonprofit's mission or something like that, like it's the same through line of just discomfort and resistance. And a lot of my clients will get stuck on like spending a lot of time like writing a blog post or perfecting an email or something like that and like, hey, how about you book a meeting this week? How about we get you? And you know, and like what I call is more like the daring action, you know, like really leaning into that. I get it, I get it. I sat in, I was in this meeting not that long ago talking to a bunch of female founders and at the end and they brought me in. So I was like coaching them and talking about them and they at the end, like the founder of this organization was like dot dot. But this comes really natural to you, christina. Like the way that you're talking comes really, and I was like absolutely not, none of this comes natural to me.
Christina:I was voted most creative in my little high school because I was just the slightly weird one, right, oh yeah, and I was quiet. I didn't. I never sat in the front, like I'm sure that you read a lot. Yeah, like all of your people, I was always doodling. I'm sure all your people are. Like, yeah, I was voted and just creative too. Like I was just a little bit of an outsider and so like I didn't say a damn word. Like none of this comes naturally to me. So I say that only because, like, if I could do it, you can do it. My brother totally used to tease me. I like what a quietly order food at a restaurant. I was so quiet and so shy and I just sort of figured out that it wasn't really about me and it wasn't really that hard and it actually was the moving towards the thing I wanted. It made it worth it so long answer.
Lea Ann:Yeah, no, that's really good and I mean it. That is a common through line, and I think what you said is the exact right common denominator. You have something that you feel passionate about, that you feel called to do, and so you're like, yes, I found my thing. And then you're like, oh shit, Now I got to do the thing. And with artists and maybe you can speak to this a little bit it's like the thing is creating the work Amazing. But then if we want to sell the work, that's when it gets real complicated and confusing. We have to do a lot of research and see what other people are doing and try.
Christina:Yeah, so yeah, what if we don't want to do any of that Like? What if it's like our brains try and complicate it in an effort to avoid it? Right, to avoid going to that, I tell a lot of my coaching clients I'm like we're looking for a yes or no, like we're looking for a yes or no. We're looking for yes, come to my gallery and let's talk, bring your portfolio.
Christina:or we're looking for no, we're not interested, like, and I know that's really hard, but that really is the thing that we're looking for, and for a lot of my clients it's like, yeah, I'm looking for a donor to say no, no, because that is how we get to the yeses. But it's so, so hard and I get it. I do yeah.
Lea Ann:Well, and I like how you just made it so simple. It's a yes or no, but in our brains it's like the end of days, kind of like drama in our head, like it makes it mean something about who we are and our talent and all that.
Christina:We talk a lot about how like for us, for my clients, a no is usually data, a no is usually a not right now. A no is usually huh, where was I a little unclear, you know? Where did I maybe show them too much of my work and they got overwhelmed. Not show them enough, whether it's like a discovery meeting, a prospect meeting, something like that. Sometimes too, when we're nervous, we firehose, just we, just you know, and it's like we didn't listen.
Christina:And I tell people like when these meetings, it's like I'm just like just ask questions and listen. You shouldn't come out of it like you were pitching your you know, billion dollar startup to a funder, like you should just come out of it like you had a conversation with a human and you listened and you just asked questions. And I would imagine with, like a gallerist, the same thing, where it's like what are they looking for? How do you have a body of work that maybe, oh yeah, I kind of do have that stuff. I didn't bring it today, but let me bring it, I don't know. But it's like just you know, moving towards and realizing that if they say no, you don't know that they're not sitting on a bunch of work, that they feel weird, that they made a bad decision on, or you know, I don't know, or like some sort of you know higher up. That said, from now on we've got to only get abstract art Like who?
Lea Ann:knows.
Christina:There's so many other outside things that have nothing to do with you that for me it's like making sure that it wasn't personal. It really isn't, and I know that's hard because I'm sure I mean everybody's like, but my art that is personal. Right, it's like that's my art. But if a gallerist is saying no, I mean that could have so many things that have nothing to do with your body of work.
Lea Ann:So yeah, I completely agree. I feel like it's harder for people in their mind to put themselves out there using air quotes on social media than it is to like cold call a gallery or cold call an interior designer or like cold calls, not like they're picking up the phone and calling, they're sending an email, essentially with maybe a visual resume.
Christina:Because that's not as public right.
Lea Ann:Yes, that is like I get that.
Christina:I feel that like that doesn't feel as public as putting a video or putting a post or carry a cell on Instagram or story. That does feel more exposing because it feels like more apt to get judged right and I think it's just that was kind of the shift for me is like stair stepping, of like am I willing to like have I don't know somebody I went to college with, or some friend of a friend, have an opinion about my work or whatever? See it, you know, and is that worth it to get in front of people that I can actually help or people who you know would really be interested in what I do? And I'm like, yeah, it's totally worth it. But I understand like it does feel a little bit easier maybe to just send an email to a couple of galleries and have it go quietly into the night right Versus, you know, showing up weekly on social media, showing up weekly on email, you know, and seeing you know, and not making a big deal out of unsubscribes, not making a big deal when you spend you poured your heart into a post and it got like four likes and three of those likes for, like, your aunt, your mom and your cousin, I get it, I get it, you know, like I totally get it, but for me it's like it's worth it, it's worth it, it's worth it.
Christina:And then you know, just reminding myself that, like most people are, so I mean we all we do is think about ourselves anyway. Yes, we think somebody's judging us. They're just thinking about their own BS anyway.
Lea Ann:So true, it's so true. Well, how would you coach someone if they came to you as a creative person or just you know one of your clients who's got an idea, or they're driven, they've got this thing that they want to get out there, but then they're like, oh no, I can't do that, because I do have clients who want to make money selling their art, but they don't want to be on social media or they're very hesitant to be on social media.
Christina:Well, what do you think that's about? Like I don't want to. I think like I don't want to be on social media Because I think it's what, exactly what you said?
Lea Ann:I think it feels like you know, risk of exposure, risk of judgment. What are people going to think? Imposter syndrome, yep, yep. And then there's some fear of success. What if someone buys it? Now? What I mean? It can go.
Christina:I'm. Yeah, we should put a pin on success anxiety, because I think that's something. Yeah, but what I would say is can you run a business outside of social media? 100% like could you? Yes, but then how are you going to get in front of your exact right person? Like, we have to figure out a way. So for me, it's okay, you don't want to do social? Okay, how else? Is it word of mouth, because I'm going to make you go to networking meetings, or I'm going to make you go to events and you can't sit in the corner Like we're going to go in events and work the room. You know what I mean. Or is it email? In which case, do we?
Christina:How are you building your email list? How do you feel about writing? You know, this is why, like literally. So I have this online marketing kind of social media course that's about getting in front of people that way, and then I have this email marketing course that's about getting in front of people and nurturing people that way. So I'm like we can do it a bunch of different ways, but I would bet that in order to see the traction you want. So, like, whatever that thing is, whether it's like a revenue goal or an amount of pieces sold, or just some sort of like, maybe even what press right Like. Whatever the thing is, it's going to require you to pick one of these buckets and none of them are comfortable. Like I had to build my email list, I joke that, like my first subscriber I mean I say this with love was my mom and I'm like, yeah, mom, and then it was my, you know, and it was like I had to build it from scratch.
Christina:And the way that I built it in bigger chunks, you know, a couple hundred at a time was like webinars and like the, you know, first webinar I taught was really hard. The hundredth webinar I taught I got a lot easier and I've made so many mistakes along the way and now I can just, it's so much more comfortable. But for me it was like I'm willing to do this because I want to get in front of a lot of people, I want to be able to email them every week, you know, and so it was like I was willing to do it. I also used to think I was a terrible writer. I also used to think that, like, like, I was not a good writer, I didn't have anything unique to say, and now I like, the words pour out of me. But that started with just letting go of the belief that I was a bad writer. Like it really was so simple, just like, yeah, stop saying that.
Lea Ann:Did you have a time when like a switch flipped for you, or was it kind of like when you don't see someone for a long, like my? Okay, my analogy just flew out of my brain. So you see your kids every day, but if I wouldn't see them I'd be like, oh my gosh, they've grown so much, but to you it's like the slow thing. So was it like that for you, with your confidence and your willingness, which I love that word, willingness that's been coming up in my world so much or was it like a switch?
Christina:I think there's certain things that the writing like, the writing belief. One day I was like oh my God, stop thinking that Like you're like I'm a perfectly fine writer. It's fine Like. And then I was like so that was more of a switch with putting myself in like the social, whatever sphere. That was more of a stair stop, because I remember this shift of being able to sort of air quotes, like get away with content on Instagram. This is years ago where it was like pretty photos I took out into the world, right, remember those Like just beautiful, and then you can write a caption. And I remember being like oh no, we need some talking head photos or videos. You know, really like I need to put myself out there. I remember calling a photographer and be like hi, I need to have a photo shoot and like of me and feeling very weird about that. So that was like stair stepping and just being like yep.
Christina:I remember getting coached and being like I don't know what to say on social media, like I hadn't figured out, like what I was about, right, or my voice, that's what I'm looking for. And then I realized like I'm only going to figure out my voice by posting. It was like this weird loop of like you'll never figure it out until it's like you know you could watch a kid, you could watch show a kid videos on how to ride a bike. Again, they watch your videos. So ultimately they got to sit on the bike and go. They got to sit on the bike and go, you know. And so just letting myself like, get on the bike, fall, get up, fall, get back up, realize that like I didn't even skin my knee when I felt it was okay, like it was okay.
Lea Ann:Yeah, I mean, I really do think that you find your voice by using your voice. I mean, that's the only way you can figure it out Totally, yeah, yeah, that's how your people find you too no-transcript.
Christina:That's how your people find you, and for a while I felt like this again who are my people? What is it I'm trying to do? And it's like for me, I think that even though I'm not making my living as a fine artist, I feel like I'm a creative and I'm always like thinking and what about this and what about this? And so it feels very like I'm asking myself questions all the time in my head and I'm thinking about it, and it was like the only way to answer those questions for me is sometimes to try them and be like hey, does my audience like this? No, ok, this is more their jam. Ooh, let me see about deepening that or offering that more, or things like that, and I could have. I can only make so many theories and speculations, right, yeah, and I'm figuring out what I like.
Christina:I didn't know that I would like Zoom webinars, because I was terrified of the first one and now I'm like let's go, yeah, I mean, and it is all a big experiment.
Lea Ann:I mean because you might come to decide that you know what. I think I'm phasing out the webinars. I mean who knows Like, I feel like we think that there's one right way. We have to have it all figured out right out of the gate. Yeah, and it's so strange that we view it that way. And I mean this comes up a lot on the podcast. It's like is it because we see people who we think haven't figured out on social media? That's how people present, so we just assume that's what's going on. I don't know.
Christina:I like to prove myself wrong, just to let those thoughts unravel a little bit of like, because it is really easy to be like well, there's only one way to coach or have an online course or have a successful art business. And then I like to just show myself of like. Oh wow, this person is rocking and rolling on Instagram. Oh, look at this person, they're rocking and rolling and they haven't posted on Instagram of four years Like. I like to just prove myself wrong, just so.
Lea Ann:I go right.
Christina:There are other ways and I think podcasting is a great example where it's like some people, it cracks me up by one of my best clients. She's like Christina, I can't listen to podcasts. It just doesn't work for her. And I'm like amazing, I'm glad that she always comes and she finds me here through my email list. She reads every single email. So I'm like OK, perfect, like I'm just finding out that there is no one right and I'm like but I love podcasting, I dig it, so I'm going to keep doing that, and that's how I'm going to reach some other people that way, yeah.
Lea Ann:Yeah, it is. I think it's just the freedom one Going back to being willing, yep, and you're willing. The willing can be a small little step forward. It doesn't have to be just a giant leap.
Christina:I tell my clients that a lot because this idea of like minimum viable products, that was like the first episode of my podcast, because I thought to myself, how do I record the podcast? And my brain went crazy Like you need a new microphone. And no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Lea Ann:Mine is still a little crazy, I mean still right.
Christina:And this idea of like, I tell them, is, like your minimum, viable. So, like, whatever it is they're trying to launch, so do this version of it, not the five year version. Not the five year version, because our brain is like, well, five years from now, so I have my podcast, whatever producer, and I have my social media person. It's like no, what is the MVP level now? And I think that for so many artists too, it's like we go through this thing of like it has to be perfect, I have to have it this way. And it's like no, you're going to make a fact sheet, you're going to send it out to some people, like, you're going to get it done. And at some point, like five years from now, the process may look different, but it starts here like the scumational piece.
Lea Ann:Yeah, yeah Well, let's go back to something we talked about. You talked about success, anxiety.
Christina:Yeah. So I was working with one of my clients earlier this year and he was working on pitching a couple of donors, like asking for large funding amounts. So for him that was like five figure donations and what was really funny is we were coaching on a lot of resistance on the front end of like making the ask. But what became evident and him and another client, I'm thinking of who, they both got yeses, so both of these clients were awarded like $50,000 in donations was actually this immediate feeling of like oh shit. And I was like wait, what? No, we did it, you did it, you did the thing, and I forgot about the oh shit.
Christina:That's on the other side of it, which is, I think it's a flavor of imposter syndrome, right? Yeah, for them it was like can I think it's a little bit of like? Can I even do this? Can this be replicated? Maybe this was a one off. It's sort of like discounting the whole thing as far as the prospect, the client, the funder goes on their side and also, internally, I think, grappling with the fact of feeling uncomfortable around the yes, and I was like, oh man, if that's not shooting yourself in the fit, I don't know what is, because if you're going into these meetings or whatever it is, with the thought of like, if I get it, then I'm going to have to perform, if I get it, then I better blah, blah, blah Like that sounds really punitive Then you're for sure not going to enjoy the process, but it's going to be really hard to replicate, it's going to be hard to get the yeses. Yeah, yeah, do you see that? Come up for your people.
Lea Ann:I do and a couple of things you said. I get like they may have had some traction with sales and usually like it's a fluke or people felt sorry for me, that's that's that one always gets me. Oh, that makes me so mad. I'm like oh no, people generally don't give you money, because they don't, I mean, in exchange for art or that kind of thing.
Christina:No one opens their wallet Like maybe somebody in a critical, emergent way we would open our wallet for like an earthquake a disaster, a natural like, we will see an increase of funding that. But even then, for somebody to open their wallet is a decision. Right, it is a decision. Nobody is giving you petty money for your art Like period. No, oh, I know.
Lea Ann:Yeah, and it's funny how we it's. I always talk to my clients like why does it matter? Like they bought something that you made and that was the goal, so why are we overthinking it then?
Christina:And it's just I think it's imposter syndrome.
Lea Ann:It was a fluke. How do I replicate it? That I got lucky? Yeah, you know all of those things. So how do you deal with your clients with that kind of mindset, when I mean?
Christina:because it's kind of funny. I used to. We used to spend time on the actual ask of, like you know, asking for the money, feeling that, that discomfort, but going towards the courage and really you know asking. But then when I realized that what they were worried about was really the performance or the indebtedness or the can I even do this? It was like, all right, well, let's play that out Like what's the worst case scenario, one of the things I'm like everybody was an adult here. No one was taking like this person chose to invest in your organization, invest in your cause, become a client, like whatever the thing is. They weren't under arrest, like this is a choice, let them enjoy it. It's usually an invitation in right, it's an invitation for them to take action. They said, yep, I'm interested, yes, I want to, yes, I want this piece of art, you know, hanging on my wall, like, why? Like, let them enjoy it. Let them enjoy it.
Christina:And versus, I think, just in recognizing too that what's coming up is just that piece of, like that inner chatter, that inner mean girl or gal, a guy, just saying I don't know if we can replicate that and just honoring it and be like okay, all right, but I think we can and I'm willing to try and having a conversation with that side of you that is just trying to keep you safe, keep you from judgment, because especially, I mean, we haven't really gone into this, but I do think it's fair to say artists, art gets judged right Of the sense, right, people have opinions. It's like style. But, it's like I'm kind of willing for people to have an opinion about my clothes. I'm okay with that. I'd rather that than just wear bluh all the time and so maybe it's okay.
Christina:And just noticing that part of you in the moment that has that come up like, ooh, people are seeing me, people are seeing me, I feel seen. Oh, now somebody's giving me money. And then that part of you that just feels uncomfortable with the spotlight. I think a lot of introverts feel uncomfortable with the spotlight. I know that, yeah, it's hard. And just hearing that side of you and just talking lovingly to it and just being like it's safe. It's safe to be in the spotlight, it's safe to be the CEO or founder or artist person here, it's gonna be okay. And remember we wanted to do this in the first place, reminding us yeah, Exactly, it's like wait, I did this on purpose.
Christina:I did this on purpose.
Lea Ann:Yeah, and the funny thing is, as you were talking, I was listening and also I was thinking like what's the worst thing anyone's ever said to me with my work? I have to really think. I mean, when I started out doing festivals, you'll have maybe someone come in and be like kid could do that or I could do that. Okay, great, go do that. All right, picasso, let's go. And I don't even I mean, I didn't even take offense, it's just like, yeah, maybe you could. That'd be awesome if you could. And then what else maybe? Has anyone said?
Christina:I mean people used to say to me and I feel like some artists might get this but some little belittling version of like, oh, that's cute.
Lea Ann:Like it's you're doing right.
Christina:Yeah, I was like. I definitely got that and people would say this to me when I had like a marketing agency service, like, oh, what you're doing is cute. I'm like is it cute? And so just being like, all right, and also you're not my person, Exactly yeah.
Lea Ann:And people. I mean I know I've said stupid stuff before and then I'm like why did I just say that? Maybe they were just having a moment, so I think that that's a good point. Yeah, just like Keep going Not believing one, every thought that your brain serves up to you and not really putting a lot of stock into what strangers, like passersby, like, if you're in a festival or whatever thing you're doing or having a gallery show, it's not your person.
Christina:It's reminding me of like in college. You know being in those critiques right.
Lea Ann:Yeah and like Right.
Christina:But, like I remember, it's like there's 20% of the students when it was like students critiquing students who were just like they just wanted to critique shitty, to be like I'm critiquing, right, yes, and just being like you're not my person, like your art's not for me, my art's not for you.
Lea Ann:Onward right, yes.
Christina:And then it's like being able to hear some feedback. So you know, when my teacher is like, hey, try this, or I'm not really getting I don't know really getting what you're trying to say Like that's constructive feedback. If I have somebody on my list, I'm thinking of somebody who responded not that long ago and with a constructive bit of feedback. She's like Christina, please include the times of this, because in every email because I can never find them I'm like that is constructive. I will include them. Versus the people that I get emails like this all the time, who are like you emailed too much, you're too excited, no thanks. Like I got all sorts of like. I'm like goodbye onward. Like I get all sorts of like you're too excited. I haven't told you that one.
Christina:Oh no, I was on a webinar. I was teaching a webinar for free. This is a true story. I haven't told this one before. This was this month, this or last month, and I'm gonna say you know, we've an hour together on a webinar. I get down to like the teaching content really quickly. This webinar is. It's a good training. I'm probably four minutes in and the sky types get to the point. Oh my God, and I just, you know, basically at that point I think I had done you know, here's what our agenda for the time, you know, like a little bit, and he was like, get to the point. I gave him a tiny bit of backstory about me. This is like into the chat with a group and I was like whoa, all right, and here's the thing. I just kept going. I didn't even acknowledge that whatever in the chat because it wasn't worth calling out, but I did see it in the moment After the webinar, I'm not kidding. I like was venting to my husband.
Christina:I was like, look at this guy you know, the same guy sends me an email and he's like that was such an amazing training, thank you, I really. And I was like dude, so our mouths fire off such bullshit. And then it was almost like his primitive brain was just and he was just growing and just doing all the things that dudes do like hurry up honey.
Christina:You know, and then he was like, oh wait this is really good and it cracked me up because I was. I would have never had, I not, he had a very unique name and I hadn't. I just wouldn't have put two and two together and I was like, oh my God, that's the same guy who was telling me to get to the point. So I laugh at that stuff now. I laugh at the people who are like you're so too excited which I definitely still get and you email too much.
Christina:Okay, yeah, and then you can go to the internet and subscribe. That's right, yeah, and so that part of me is just, it's a means to an end. Sometimes I remind myself, if it does sting, like, oh, I'm in their arena, just like Brené Brown says, I'm doing the work, I'm in their arena, I'm putting myself out there and I'm gonna get a few critics and that's okay. That's okay.
Lea Ann:Yeah, yeah, I mean it is inevitable. Like, the more you put yourself out there, yeah, you might get some criticism. That doesn't feel great, but you have to go back to why you're doing it. Like you said, yeah, yeah, yeah. You seem like you've done a lot of hard work on your mindset and working on limiting beliefs. What has that process been like for you?
Christina:I feel like it's ever evolving. So I feel like I've learned for myself the more I'm just aware of what I'm thinking and the more that I move towards thinking on purpose, with purpose, the more successful I am. So, like there's that piece, the other pieces that I learned was like that was the first layer of it. The next layer of it was okay, I know how to intentionally think, or I know a little bit about how to watch my thoughts and what's true and what's not true. The next layer of it was wow, I'm really working hard and I'm grinding hard and I'm not really enjoying the process. I'm just pushing towards the product.
Christina:And that was kind of the next layer of like how do we enjoy the process? How do we actually enjoy the process of like wow, I have a campaign launched this week. I have a campaign this week, I'm pitching somebody this week, I'm really putting myself out there this week, whatever that is. And that was the next layer of it of just being like oh right, I'm not supposed to grind through this life that I've created for myself. We don't work in corporate, so let's enjoy it. We don't have to work nine to five, so don't like. How do I create the actual business that I want. So that's kind of the next layer.
Christina:That has been the past few years and a huge part of that is coaching, like having a space to say blah, blah, blah blah blah blah. So I feel like doing this for the coach Having a space to just feel supported, feel like people understand you and think it's really important for that.
Lea Ann:And then I lost where I was going with that. But yeah, well, I mean so you've done a lot of intentional work on creating new thought patterns and getting rid of limiting beliefs, and it sounds like you know, I think, one thing that I always like to tell my clients, like we might not ever get rid of these things completely fewer.
Christina:Yeah.
Lea Ann:Unless frequent. We can turn down the volume. You can create a little space in between. So it's not just like this thing that feels automatic, like this thought that you might have about yourself or your work or whatever it is.
Christina:So that's what I think coaching does, that's what I was going to say yes, yes, you said it which is like, and there is no like, oh, I don't have to deal with any of that ever again anymore. And just like that, it's ever evolving. But I think the pieces of like kind of just questioning some of it and then just being like, oh, is it true, when those like mean inner thoughts come up or mean outer thoughts come up, and just reminding myself that if I am putting myself out there and whatever, whether it's on social or whatever, that like I'm doing it with a purpose at mind, like it's not because I have to. I just recorded an episode I think it's from this week of like one of my clients. She had this launch and it went so, so well. She did 10k and it was awesome, but really her goal was higher. She didn't hit her goal and one of the things she said to me was now I have to fundraise. And I was like oh hon, you're always going to have to fundraise and it's like, now I have to sell and you're always going to have to sell, like, if that thing you want over here, if it's, if you really hold it true, then yet you were always going to have to do it and watching yourself saying I don't want to as the pre-courser.
Christina:So for me, on Monday mornings, I go to the gym. The first thing my brain says is I don't want to go to the gym. The truth is, I want to go to the gym. I actually do, I really do. I just, you know, also want to not like the. Both are true. And just realizing that like, the truth of it is that I, my best self, the one that's holding the goal over here, right, wants to go to the gym. She really does. This other one over here, that's like, oh, I didn't want to put myself out there, I didn't want to have to ask more people. I didn't want to. It's like, yeah, that's true, but what's more true is this thing over here? I don't know.
Lea Ann:Yeah, yeah, the both. And then also Do you do a lot of work or any kind of meditation or anything like that, like coming from your future self.
Christina:Yes. So I think because I have just a really active brain, whatever the thing is like, you think however many thoughts a day what did they say? It's like 30,000. I'm like I think 100,000. Like it's just very lively in there Slightly. I have a hard time just meditating to like just meditate to a song or quiet or even a mantra or something. So the one thing that works really well for me is insight timer. I do like that because they're guided and so they will like give you thoughts you know, kind of, even if it is a mantra, I don't know, it works well. And then a phoneless walk. One of my clients, andy Bloom, she from the Bloom Foundation she shared this. She's like I go for a walk, phoneless walk, and there's something about knowing you didn't bring your phone with you, leaving it at home, and it's like boom, creativity or boom free phone less like no phone free Phone free, yeah, yeah, I'm like phoneless.
Lea Ann:What?
Christina:Like I thought you're like what's a phoneless?
Lea Ann:Yeah, List, Like I'm like oh, you're making your phone break. Leave this thing at home. Yes, leave your phone at home. Yes, yes.
Christina:That's a good idea and it can be really meditative and one of the things I've also done. If I do have my phone but I'm like, ooh, I'm just jumping around and I'm on a walk, I'll put my earpods in and just shut off everything and I think it like signals to my brain like we're just everybody, just chill out, and then I just go for a walk. So sometimes I'll listen to nothing but happy about something that helps you, of just like trying to, you know, get a little center and a little clear.
Lea Ann:Yeah yeah, I like doing those walks. I use insight timer too, and I really like it. It's good. So let me ask you this question If an artist came to you and wanted to up level their marketing so they could sell more work, what would be your recommended minimum viable?
Christina:product that you would recommend for them.
Christina:Okay. So I mean, let's say, in this fictitious example, they're not in complete resistance to cutting them. They're like. They've come to me and they've said come on, one of my clients at the very beginning of the year. He's like this is the year we hit the gas. And if so, I'm like I like that, all right. So this artist is like this is the year we hit the gas.
Christina:I would say we got to pick a platform, so I don't even care if you're like LinkedIn. That's where I feel comfortable. I don't care. Yeah, pick one single platform Instagram, linkedin, tiktok, whatever Pinterest. Just pick a place. Youtube, fine, like, pick a platform and commit to minimum viable of how often you're going to post. So even if it's once a week, that would probably be my minimum, but a few times a week would be better. And I would also say I really think your email list is important. It's really important. So I like to think of social media as the top of funnel. It's a great place for people to learn about your work. Right? I can think of actual artists. There's a ceramicist I follow. I mean I only found her through Instagram and it's like that. I joined her email list. I mean it's such a great place to discover and Instagram will favor. They know I like ceramics, so then they're always just like what about this person? What about this feed? And it's so you know do some reals.
Christina:Do some videos. You don't have to dance, you don't have to be weird, you have to point at things, or weird, yeah you have to point at things. Remember when we were doing that.
Lea Ann:Yeah, I never did that. I couldn't do it.
Christina:Yeah, it's like, do it your way. I think do it messy is another one of like just you know what, sometimes my captions aren't exactly timed out. It's fine, my cuts are a little like. Just let it be a little messy. I've definitely released some podcast episodes that weren't perfect. It's fine. Like they got out into the world. So like, do it messy.
Christina:Have that, as you know, as a foundational piece. Get people from social media over to your email list. Just, it's really important. Email is really, I like to say, where the sales happen in. Social media is very often where we are acquiring people for your email list. So, like, the two are peanut butter and jelly, but just to you know, not worry about these like crazy long emails just to start eat list building. Now, I would say those two things and then, depending on what their work was and where they were, I still would. Those are most digital. I still would want to get them out into the world. So, whether it's in their town, whether it's represented, you know, in another community, like somewhere, I kind of want them to do some outreach, some prospect in that way. What do you think? How's that?
Lea Ann:I think that's great, and I think that things that I love the most are pick one platform. Yeah because I think we probably don't do it on purpose, but I think a lot of people think that they have to like touch all these different things in order to really not go all in on one thing. So I think that's super important. And then I think, like your minimum, like create your minimum amount of time that you're going to spend posting baseline.
Lea Ann:Yeah, you have to have a minimum baseline and you know, yeah, things happen for sure. But get back on the horse real quick.
Christina:Yeah, so I have this like year long tracker. That was for going to the gym and one of the things that I sort of hate that, like Jim, people say is like never skip a day, right, Never skip a day.
Christina:And I'm like I'm sorry Shit happens, Like people, you know, get sick people have whatever people got a town, and so one of the more helpful mantras I've adopted is like just get back on, yeah. So I'm looking at, like my, you know, 12 months out of the year. There's one big block where it's like oh yeah, that's where I had my oral surgery, because there were no, you know, it's like I couldn't have anticipated that, or maybe it rained a lot that week and I just wasn't feeling it and didn't go for any walks or whatever the thing is, and it's like to allow myself, like to throw out, never skip a day and just be, like you know what, today we begin.
Christina:Today we begin. I just like letting myself not have rules and letting yourself not have rules, but still take action. Maybe that's the sort of right.
Lea Ann:Yes, exactly Like create the rules that work for you. Because I know, when I transitioned from being like corporate environment you know it's Monday through Friday, all the things Then I'm like, oh wait, I'm doing this thing and I don't have any rules, it was kind of a lot Like what do I do? When is this enough? And it was like I would find myself overworking and then not working at all because I would be really tired and I'm like, okay, let's this, I can figure this out.
Christina:So, trying things on and seeing what works for you and what your rhythms are, and working within that, I think I would imagine to like for artists to, because there's like the creation time and then there's the business time and making sure that you're giving yourself separate pieces, because that's too much switching when we dip our toe into like let me write a blog and I need to do a reel and also I'm going to finish this, it's too much. It's like to have you know, I do no meeting Wednesdays. I don't speak to anyone on Wednesdays because I need focus time. So I imagine that would be like that's what I paint, that's what I create, that's what I make, so that on Thursdays I can go talk to some humans or send some emails or like go sell, you know, like whatever that thing is that can help to you know.
Lea Ann:Yeah, I'm actually that is. It's a hard thing and I feel like I have tried 72 different ways to feel what works best for me and haven't quite figured it out. But here's my new one. I'm just like not making the ones that didn't work mean that I'm a terrible person, but I'm going to block a week off in my calendar where it's almost like I'm having my own painting retreat, so that week I love it. It's like 100% in creatively.
Lea Ann:I love it as much as it can be you know, and so that means the other time, because I can get a ton done in a week, and if I, and that's my minimum viable time, because I found myself just like dipping in and out. It's so hard and we're so efficient.
Christina:When we do that, it's so, so hard, we're rushed. It makes me think of like so the class I take is over at nine and so, like, when you see 830 on the clock, you're like whoosh, you know you're hurry, that's not even fun. It's not even fun to create anything when you feel rushed, you know it's not.
Christina:Yeah, I think that's really smart. It's reminding me that I my goal. I don't know if I did this, but my goal for the year was to have one focus week a quarter I think and the focus week is no meetings, no launch, it like I'm not, it's all inward, right, so it's all inward. I probably did two of those and it was great. It was so great because it's like that's the space to create. That's the space where you're not even especially to like anyone's client facing, where you're not client facing that week, you're literally just in your own cocoon.
Lea Ann:Right.
Christina:Yeah, yeah.
Lea Ann:It's really good. How do you celebrate your wins and when can mean anything. It doesn't have to be like a huge thing, it can be.
Christina:OK. So how do I try and it is uncomfortable I try to celebrate them publicly, so I try. My wins are when my client wins, and so I try and celebrate those on Instagram, on Stories, in our Facebook groups. We'll do that. I have a folder my friend Sean, kind of an idea of his called a bragg basket. So any email that is like kudos or just feels good, I'm like, put it in the bragg basket. That can be really helpful.
Christina:Pausing just to write them down, like you said, no matter how small, because I think that's one of the other things is, we move the goalpost, so don't we love to remove that revenue goalpost or whatever that is and just pausing to be like nope, this was the win of the week and it doesn't have to be hundreds and thousands of dollars, it could be something else. And not minimizing that win I think is really important. So it goes back to coaching too, of having people that share that win with you, that celebration, with you having a place, because I think, too, it could be isolating when your family and friends don't really get what you're doing. And so having a group, I would imagine like having a group of other artists who are like amen. You sold that thing, I get what that took. Or you created that body of work, I get what that took in a way that, like bless it, my husband might not.
Christina:I mean he's like whatever that is. So having a group of people who are like, I see that, yeah, yeah. I mean you're definitely that person for me too, because we both speak the online business piece, so it's like oh, she gets it yes, everybody needs a she gets it person 100%.
Lea Ann:Yes, and it's like you don't have to explain what you're doing?
Christina:Context. You just tell them the win. You don't have to like couch it with a context. Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah. Yeah.
Lea Ann:So good. Well, this has been great. Thank you so much. Is there anything that you would like to leave folks with? And I will certainly put all of your contact and your Instagram and your website and all of that, your podcast and the show notes but how can people find you, so this just popped into my head Because I'm thinking you know, you've got the beautiful art in the background.
Christina:I'm thinking of your artists. So, whether or not your painters, makers, whatever creatives, I could see an argument of like thinking that somebody already has enough, like a potential client already has enough, like they've already bought my pieces, they already have enough and I just want to offer that I have more art than I have space on my walls for. So, like I'm somebody who just I love art, right, and I grew up in a home where I think my dad made everything a gallery wall. You know, like he just loved it. He just we just hung art everywhere and then we would cycle it out. They're not the people who the art stays in the one place it's is cycling out.
Christina:And I think just to remember that like kind of like clothing, like sometimes we want we're more into abstract, sometimes we're more into something else, sometimes we're only in a sort of like watercolor or whatever, and just remembering that people want your work, they want it to evolve, they want it to change, they want to like come along with you for it. So that's really fun to like be like I bought a piece of her work when and check out her work now. Like there's this big painting in my dining room and this guy, eric, like he doesn't paint anymore, he just does these like huge sculptures. And it's cool to be like I have Eric's piece. I know you don't paint anymore, I have it, you know. Like yeah, so just to, the people want to be along with you for that ride. So like, put them be along with you.
Christina:And they know other people who also would be interested in your work, because creatives hang out with creatives, collectors hang out with other collectors. Yeah that's a good point. That's just what I tell my fundraisers too. So if you know, if somebody is really passionate about, you know, an animal rescue, they probably are hanging out with other people who are passionate about pups too, you know. So it's like remembering that those influence, those spheres of influence, all intersect. So like working those networks too, that's really good.
Lea Ann:No, it's really good. I appreciate that, so but yes, that's when did.
Christina:Consulting is where you can hang out with me on Instagram to answer your actual question yes, and we will put all that there.
Lea Ann:And your Instagram is very fun because I enjoy your excitement.
Christina:Thank you. Thank you, I enjoy my excitement too.
Lea Ann:I know, I mean, why not be excited about what you do, right? Yes, yes, it's the best.
Christina:Yeah, I mean we both. It's like it's so fun, it's the best to be able to help people. Yes, we're both helping people pursue that passion, that needling nudging intuition. I think it's the best, so yeah.
Lea Ann:Do you have a goal of how many people you want to help?
Christina:Oh, that's a good question.
Lea Ann:I write mine every day. Tell me I want to hear your goal. Well, this particular one. I helped a thousand women sell their art. That is, that's my goal.
Christina:I love it. Yeah, I love it. It's beautiful. I need a tracker. Yeah, I think I just Googled mine. Yeah, pinterest will sell us one.
Lea Ann:Yes, Pinterest will definitely sell us a track. Yeah, yeah, it's so good. Well, thank you.
Christina:Thank you for having me.
Lea Ann:I was so fine, Of course. Thank you so much for listening to Mind Over Medium podcast today. If you found the episode inspiring, please share it with a friend or post it on social media and tag me on Instagram at Leigh Ann Slotkin, or head to my website, wwwleighannslotkincom. To book a discovery call to find out more about working with me one on one. You can also head to my website to get a great tool I've created for you to use when planning your own online launch of your artwork. It's an exercise I've taken many of my coaching clients through and it's been very helpful. It's my way of saying thank you and keep creating.