I’m asked a lot to be in books, to review books, to promote other’s books and 99% of the time I decline. Everyone and their mamma seems to have a book nowadays and from what I’ve seen, a lot seem to just be riding the creative bandwagon which I hopped off long ago.

The thing is, I’m highly creative but I’m also business and it seems that books either address one or the other. Also, a lot of self-employed/creative books geared towards women tend to lack “meat” – they go for making a person feel good with words like “juicy” “blessings” and offer ideas that aren’t appealing to me like pink markers, morning pages, breathing deeply and dancing wildly (ok – I like the last one). For someone like me who is a do-er, I want to be inspired with advice I can actually take from people who not just dish it, but have lived and are living it (I can’t take another self-help guru with a messed-up life promoting how to live and work creatively!).

Bitter much? Yes but I’m sure you’ll agree that there’s a lot of bad books out there. And when you’re starting out you might be tempted to buy them all (I almost did!).

That is why I am so, so, so thankful that Lauren Bacon and Emira Mear’s new book, The Boss of You, is finally available.

Over 5 years ago, Lauren and Emira ran an amazing site called Soap Box Girls which let women talk about what women talk about but also had tid bits on business (they really highlighted women-run business) politics and crafting. It was a great zine ahead of it’s time. I was so in-love with what these women were doing (running their own graphic business on top) that I asked them to be profiled on Another Girl at Play. Lucky for me they said yes and a great friendship started.

It was in this interview that I received the best bit of business advice I’ve ever received: Don’t undersell yourself!. Women undersell themselves on so many levels that to read this from them really, really stuck. And I’ve always asked for what I’m worth and have never settled financially or with projects. That’s thanks to them.

They now run the site “Boss Lady which has lots of great info. It was also the base for their Boss Lady Panel at SXSW last year that I, along with Jenny Hart and Vickie Howell, were able to be a part of. The five of us meshed so well and we offered great advice and stories – some of which are found in The Boss of You.

Whether you’re starting an internet based business, something crafting or a brick a mortar store, this book is something you need – and I don’t say that lightly. It doesn’t talk down to you and it’s not dry. It’s personable with real advice to get you rocking out. Isn’t that what a great book does?

Image by Summer Pierre

I’ve known Summer Pierre for a few years. She was kind enough to be profiled on Another Girl at Play and dish with me on several occasions in both Palo Alto CA & New York. With each visit she’s inspired me and her blog is a never ending visual treat. She’s an amazing, highly creative artist… with a day job.

I once wrote about the highly acclaimed artist Dai Giang who had art showings around the world and sold paintings for thousands of dollars. Yet during the day he worked in the manufacturing plant at Mountain Safety Research – an outdoor gear company. Anything but creative!

Summer shares a lot of thoughts about having a day job (the reasons, the good, the bad, the ugly) that I think everyone can relate to. She’s even made a zine out of it (The Artist in the Office). Why I love these discussions is because I think sometimes some artists feel a sense of “shame” if they have a “day job” or any job that isn’t 100% based on their creativity. But they shouldn’t as long as they’re creating and living the way they want – who cares how it gets done. There is no generic “Right Way.” One way doesn’t make you a real artist. There’s just life and living it the best way for you.

Personally, I’m the most creative when I have a million things going on. If I had nothing to do all day but write and paint I’d do anything but. I believe firmly in the Thoreau quote, “How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.” So because of this, I am on the go a lot, I do a lot of things – some creative, some not. But everything is piece that makes up the larger picture of who I am. Everything I do are things I want to do whether it’s for business or pleasure. This way, despite being tired I’m never drained – and always creating.

The world judges only the outcome but we forget this because we tend to judge the process. We judge the title, the outfit, the company, the paycheque, the right answer, the wrong answer. But really, all that matters is that you do something that satisfies you – whatever and however.

After all, that’s all that should matter, right?

But since I keep getting asked what are my top-rated books, I’d offer the following:

I personally do not like the Artist Way series – I think they can be dangerous in making one feel like a failure because if you’re like me, structure isn’t something that comes easily or something I even want to do (I don’t). I’ve seen a lot of artists in different mediums try it and not been able to get through it. Type A’s, however, might really love this.

I also don’t care for a lot of self-help books that are aimed to make you just feel good about not being great. If you want to stay where you are, get these books or save money and don’t buy any. You want to read to make something happen, right?

And there’s books on money which aren’t geared towards creative people but they’re really useful and I think a must on anyone’s shelves. After all, after all the hard work you’re going to put in trying to cultivate money, you’ll want to know what to do with it when you get it.

So choose your books wisely and don’t buy them all or take everyone’s advice (including mine). Take suggestions and ideas then make them your own.

I totally believe that artists should support artists. It amazes me when people say they want to paint for a living but do not own any paintings. If you don’t support the arts, how can you be in it? Artists have to pay for rent, utilities and create possibilities/examples for others who wish to follow. So support what you want to be. It makes a huge difference for you and the artist.

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. Anais Nin

Every few months I seem to develop a theme that encompasses a lesson I need to learn. It usually takes awhile for me to discover that I�m in the midst of a theme and what it is, but once aware, I notice examples of the theme all over.

My current theme is learning how to be ok with being shiny as my friend Julie Valentine calls it. But I’ve discovered a second theme which really isn’t for me, it’s for whoever needs it, and it’s based on an idea I’ve been talking about over and over on this site the last month.

It has to do with beginning something in any way you can despite any fear that may be there. It�s to become the butterfly, become the forest, become the blossom. It’s going in the direction of your creative dream because the pain of standing still is greater than the fear of moving forward. It�s believing that a dream mixed with action equals reality.

Mostly, it’s the theme of being who you really are meant to be.

I firmly believe that in each of us lies an authentic self that is happy only when we unleash our dreams and become who we should be. Happiness isn’t based on how much money you make, how many fans you have or all the limo rides you get to take. It’s about going to bed content because you know you’ll wake up tomorrow with a life that you want (even during rough patches).

People often hold back because they want to know how to pay the rent and that’s one of the worst reasons to hold back. If money is a concern, work around it. Keep a regular job and paint at night. Go part time at the office and full time as a writer. Get a grant, a loan, a patron. Save your pennies whilst figuring out your dream at night. Cut back on shopping, get a smaller flat, explore free galleries instead of renting 7 movies a week. Get creative about money but don’t get creative with excuses as to why you’re holding back.

Speak your truth and bloom, right now. It’s spring and you’re ready.

One day the Buddah presented a seed to a group of acolytes. “What do you see?” the Buddah asked. “A seed,” they all agreed. “Look harder,” said the Buddah. “It is the entire forest.”

Often, we ignore what we think insignificant because it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the bigger picture. I’ve heard so many people say, “What does that have to do with anything?” with regards to their dream.

But every little thing and detail is connected to something bigger and sometimes is the bigger thing, just not yet.

In a previous post, I mentioned how sometimes a person gets so far ahead of themselves they become overwhelmed and do nothing. But what they really should be doing is looking at the importance of something small and how it can lead to something bigger.

The seed is the entire forest.

People always want the entire dream right now without realising that tiny steps over a period of time make that dream up. Those tiny steps could be thinking of a name of the company, buying new pens to write notes with, writing for ten minutes at night after a day of 9-5, emailing a person for advice, picking up a book on business or sitting down to paint one picture. There has to be somewhere to start, just as there has to be one place to end.

One of my favourite quotes (I collect them as I collect tea. I’m learning how to share both) is from the book, The Power of One. In this book a young man, PeeKay, wants to teach a very small group of blacks in South Africa to read. His teacher questions this, reinforcing that it’s only a handful of people he’d be teaching and what would that really change? To which Peekay responds, “A waterfall begins with one drop, and look what comes from that.”

Possibility lies in the smallest of things. It�s up to us to recognise that and do something with it, rather than wasting time for a big moment that might never come otherwise.

- Trina Paulus, Writer.

Lauren and I have been a part of the planning process and are really eager to involve dynamic and creative young women entrepreneurs, freelancers etc. where possible. It is a bit pricey, so if you are keen or know women who are, I can try to get scholarship information for you as there will be a few scholarships. Also, if you know of any folks who might want to sponsor such an event, I can pass that info on as well, but for now the basics of the conference are here.

The event is limited to 65 women and spaces are filling fast. Please check out the web site for more information, the agenda to date, and to register online for the conference.