Successful AF Pod
Successful AF is the podcast for high-achieving women who've checked all the boxes but still feel empty inside, exploring how to redefine success without sacrificing your sanity. Join host Jess West as she interviews women who've cracked the code on setting boundaries, ditching perfectionism, and building a life that's truly successful AF.
Successful AF Pod
Creative Freelancer Success: From Dyslexia to Times Square - Photographer Lily West
Episode Summary
This week, Jess sits down with someone truly special - her sister Lily West, a creative entrepreneur and freelance photographer who's built her dream creative business through determination and creative confidence. From struggling with dyslexia in school to shooting single covers displayed on Times Square billboards, Lily's creative career journey is a masterclass in creative resilience and never giving up on your artistic vision.
Perfect for creative professionals seeking freelance business tips, creative career advice, and entrepreneurship motivation.
What We Cover
The Creative Entrepreneur Journey
- How Lily transitioned from hating academia to building a successful creative business
- The reality of freelance photography: years of financial struggle, knockbacks, and self-doubt
- Why technical skills matter less than creative confidence (spoiler: you can hire an assistant!)
Creative Business Resilience
- Lily's incredible creative resilience through years of unpaid work and rejections
- How she manifested her creative career by literally writing "I'm gonna get paid from my art" in her diary
- The importance of having support when building your creative business
Redefining Creative Success
- Why traditional education doesn't predict creative entrepreneur success
- How learning differences became strengths in her creative career
- The breakthrough moment: from iPhone videos to Times Square billboards
Mental Health for Creatives
- Managing creative professional anxiety and maintaining mental wellness
- The life-changing power of morning journaling for creatives
- Why creative self-care and self-awareness are crucial for sustainable success
Creative Confidence & Authenticity
- University alter ego "Ducky the Diva" and terrible Whitney Houston covers
- The legendary pickled pigeon bingo night
- Why embracing your uniqueness is actually your creative superpower
Key Takeaways for Creative Success
- Transform challenges into strengths - Learning differences can lead to unique creative perspectives
- Creative persistence pays off - Sometimes you need to show up for years before the breakthrough happens
- Collaboration over competition - Partner with people whose strengths complement your creative business needs
- Maintain creative playfulness - The most successful creative entrepreneurs never lose their sense of wonder
- Prioritise creative wellness - Creative career success means nothing without mental health
Resources Mentioned
- The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron - The creativity bible for creative professionals --> https://dauntbooks.co.uk/shop/books/the-artists-way/
- Morning Pages - Three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing for creative confidence
- Megan Rose Lane - Manifestation workshop for creative entrepreneurs
You can find Lily on Instagram @lilz_w or check out her business account @squish.agency
Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at successfulafpod@gmail.com - we're always looking for incredible people to feature.
Connect with Jess:
Instagram: @kalicoaching.co
Website: www.kalicoaching.co.uk