Wendy Porter on Running a Successful Online Business and Giving Back →

*Note: This article was originally published on Medium for CourseCraft – 7/28/2020

As part of our series highlighting successful, inspirational, and just downright awesome CourseCraft creators, we virtually sat down with Wendy Porter, a Business Coach and Social Media expert with 15 years of experience in her field creating, running, and operating multi-million dollar businesses. In addition to being a top creator here on CourseCraft, Wendy also runs Crowned For Success, and is a contributing writer for Huffington Post, Thrive Global, Bossbabe, and serves on the Forbes Coaches Council.

Join us as we learn what makes Wendy tick, what drives her professionally, and why she utilizes CourseCraft to bring her heart-centered business online.

Wendy Porter has been a business-minded leader from a very young age, and like many ambitious women, she was often unfairly labeled as “bossy”, where men are more commonly afforded the words “entrepreneurial” or “self-assured” to describe their go-getter attitudes. Forming a dance crew at 10-years-old and charging neighborhood kids for her shows was nothing short of entrepreneurial in our opinion.

It’s no surprise then, that her number one inspiration for how to run her business and achieve her goals has always been Oprah Winfrey. Wendy explains exactly what it is about Oprah that inspires her in her own life:

She’s just an incredible human being that has such a big heart and a great soul. She has accomplished so much in her life and has overcome so much hardship. She works at being the best version of herself every single day. Where most people get comfortable with the status quo.

Just as her idol Oprah is known as a philanthropic force worldwide, Wendy also places an emphasis on making sure her business consistently practices giving back to the community.

Wendy makes a point that her business is a heart-centered one. What does that mean exactly? She explains that to her, “it means giving back and paying it forward”.

We give 10% of our proceeds to non-profits that specialize in equality, women’s and girls' education, and domestic violence awareness. We are actually building our own non-profit as we speak. We give scholarships for every single course we have. And we also have a “pay it forward fund” where we give a percentage of all of the sales from our most popular program and let those funds accumulate and then pay them out to our clients who may be in need of them. We’ve given funds to clients who have experienced hardships around the holidays, who have a child and needed help with burial expenses, who lost a spouse and needed help or who’ve lost a job due to COVID and needed some temporary help with rent. Having a heart-centered business means putting people’s hearts first before profits.

You do not need to be ruthless or completely selfish to become successful, and Wendy is an excellent example of that fact. She firmly believes that “Sales doesn’t have to slimy or scary.” Her love of people not only makes her great at what she does, but it encourages her every day to be an ethical businesswoman, that puts those people first.

Wendy’s favorite part of bringing her business online is that she is able to see a direct impact of her teaching on people's lives, through the frequent comments she receives from her students. She shares that “it’s the most rewarding feeling to know that a course that you created can have such a profound impact on someone’s life.”

Making the transition to online courses wasn’t initially all smooth sailing. Wendy describes her self as “very tech-challenged”, and needed to find an easy way to get her content out there. When she finally tried out CourseCraft she was relieved by its simplicity.

While it’s simple, it’s beautiful and professional in appearance. I tried using Kajabi and Teachable and other systems and I was left feeling frustrated and it was just too cumbersome to learn. Which meant it was too time-consuming. Coursecraft is fast and easy to use!

Bringing her business online has dramatically impacted Wendy’s quality of life. Before, she was rarely able to see her three kids and was regularly working 12 hour days. Now, with the freedom to work from anywhere, she has the opportunity to take family beach vacations.

Now that Wendy is a master at online courses and managing her online business, we asked her what her number one piece of advice is for others looking to follow her suit.

Start before you’re ready! We often want to start when we THINK we have everything together but that can quickly turn into excuses to never start at all because we let fear and self-sabotage take over. When you start before you’re ready, you get rid of the excuses. It doesn’t have to be perfect, you just have to start

So what’s next for Wendy Porter? She’s working on her second book, continuing to build her non-profit, and continuing to provide inspiration to women all over the world through her e-courses.

You can check out Wendy’s CourseCraft courses, find her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

If you’re looking to share tips and chat with fellow online course creators, be sure to join our Creative Online Course Makers Facebook group. You can also follow CourseCraft news and updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

How to Remotely Connect with Your Creative Community →

*Note: This article was originally published on Medium for CourseCraft – 6/16/2020

Businesses and other public spaces are slowly opening-up, but as we navigate the world during this ongoing pandemic, many of us are still steering clear of crowded spaces for the safety of our communities, families, and self.

It can be easy to feel disconnected from your creative communities when the standard ways to connect like gallery openings, open studios, and other in-person art-centric events are no longer feasible. So much creative work benefits and grows from collaborating, sharing, and face-to-face communication.

So how do you stay connected to other creatives in a time when we’re all reimagining how to be together physically?

Thankfully, folks are getting (and have been) creative in how they…stay creative!

In this post, we’ll share resources and ideas for how you can remotely connect with your creative community while staying home.

Talks Centered Around Creativity

Conferences are most likely not going to go on as planned, or at least in the same fashion, for a while. If you’re missing learning from industry expert keynote speakers, there’s an abundance of content online to satiate that need. Chances are, your favorite creative conference has archived speeches from previous events, but there’s also tons of creativity-specific TED Talks, as well a frequently updated content from Creative Mornings.

Creativity Podcasts

In addition to their more formal talks, Creative Mornings also hosts a podcast that will be sure to keep you up to date on all things creative. In general, podcasts are a great way to inject a bit of creative conversation into your everyday routine. A few other recommendations to get you started are Creative Pep Talk, Song Exploder, The Create Unknown, and The Coffe &Convos Podcast. Make sure to look around for voices and topics that resonate with you personally, but these are definitely great places to start.

Forums and Groups

Maybe what you’re really missing is actually interacting with your fellow creatives. A simple way to scratch that itch is to join forums and groups where you can discuss projects, techniques, and more!

Facebook offers an intuitive way to search for open groups that pertain to your specific creative interests, like CourseCraft’s group dedicated to online course creators. Try to be as granular in your search as possible, to find groups that you’ll actually mesh with. You’d be surprised what strange and amazing overlap is out there!

Digital Studio Tours

It can be inspiring to see where and how artists you admire work. In the past, in-person studio tours offered a glimpse into the creative life of local artists in your community. While that particular practice is off the table for the time-being, creative institutions like New York’s Whitney Museum are offering the digital equivalent that can be viewed from home. Take a peek into your favorite artists’ studios and get inspired for your own space!

Find New Creatives to Be Inspired By

Broadening the creative works that you ingest will always have a positive effect on your own creative process and viewpoint. There are so many incredibly talented artists out there, it’s impossible to know about all of them, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying!

Instagram has become a veritable hub for artists of all levels. Searching using art-centric hashtags, and following artists that excite you is an easy way to add more artists to your knowledge bank. Online art portfolio showcases such as Behance, Dribble, and People of Craft are also great places to scroll through and get lost in exceptional artwork.

Teach a Creative Course on CourseCraft

Creating your own e-course is an awesome way to share your creative process, generate additional income, and most importantly: connect with the larger creative community! If you’re interested in teaching painting, drawing, silk-screening, or any other creative skill, but aren’t sure where to start, here’s a helpful guide. Teaching others a creative skill you're proud of is a great way to help and connect with creatives from around the world.

You don’t need to let physical distance get in the way of remaining connected to those around you. Don’t be afraid to reach out (virtually) to your creative communities to continue to collaborate, critique, and be inspired.

If you’re looking to share tips and chat with fellow online course creators, be sure to join our Creative Online Course Makers Facebook group. You can also follow CourseCraft news and updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Jan H Croteau on Teaching Art Online →

As part of our series highlighting successful, inspirational, and just downright awesome CourseCraft creators, we virtually sat down with artist, writer, and teacher Jan H Croteau.

Join us as we learn about what inspires Jan in her work, and why she chooses to take on the sometimes daunting, but important, task of teaching art to others through her online courses.

What’s your earliest memory of creating art, and what role has art played in your life since then?

When I was six years old, I got a box of deluxe crayons and a roll of white craft paper from my parents for my birthday.

I remember rolling out the paper on the floor of my bedroom, laying down on it, and tracing an outline of my body.

I filled in that outline with a bright shining sunrise over mountains and rainbows across the sky and rivers running down my arms with flowers everywhere.

Years later I looked back at that point in my development and realized that was the moment I knew I was an artist and that resistance was futile.

Photo Credit: Jan H Croteau

Who are some of your biggest inspirations professionally and creatively?

When I was a senior in high school, I fell in love with the work of Georgia O’Keefe, Lee Miller, Zora Hurston, Ella Fitzgerald, and Helen Frankenthaler. Quite a cast of diverse artists, but this was back in the 1960s when most women artists were not being recognized for their creative work, and so, I really treasured them.

Also, my mother was an entrepreneur who started her own businesses and successfully ran them from 1960 through 2010. She was a great inspiration for me.

What’s inspired you to teach others your creative skills?

I have been a teacher my entire adult life. I love to teach creativity because I’ve witnessed so many transformations that students of all ages make in their lives when they learn to value their own creative genius.

Our creativity is our power and without utilizing that part of ourselves we are missing the meaning in our lives.

My belief is that we are here to create, but many people have forgotten that, so I’m here to remind the ones who have forgotten.

Photo Credit: Jan H Croteau

What was the catalyst for you bringing your business online?

I knew it was time to go online for a few years before I took the plunge, in 2015 I retired from a non-profit Shakespeare Theater Company I had founded 20 years earlier. It was difficult to leave the company, but I wanted to get back to painting and sculpting, so I made the transition from theater director to online entrepreneur.

I took Marie Forleo’s B-School in 2015. Soon after I built my own online gallery, started a weekly newsletter called ArtWord Sunday News and ran a blog. I also started teaching courses and workshops after building a new art studio.

My classes were full, my life was exceptionally wonderful because I had just the right amount of teaching-time balanced with art-and-writing-time.

And then in March 2020, everything changed… for everyone in the world.

It only took me a few days to realize that if this was the End-Times, well, what did I want to contribute?

I started sending what I called The ArtWord Creativity Prompt every morning to anyone who wanted it for free. That email grew into a lovely community of creatives online. And then it hit me, I needed to do online classes.

What were some challenges you faced in the process of starting your business, and also bringing it online?

The technical part was very challenging. Building my own website, figuring out Mail-Chimp, starting Instagram, getting established on Facebook as an artist… those things kept me climbing up and oftentimes stumbling down the learning curve.

What’s your favorite aspect of teaching online courses?

I LOVE teaching online!

I wanted to do it for a while, but the technical part was too daunting. And then I came across CourseCraft.

That was a happy day for me because CourseCraft lets you start for free so you can get a feel for how easy it is to navigate the site and build your course.

With the pandemic, I can’t teach safely in my studio…and, to be honest, I wasn’t sure about online teaching, but I am so happy I did it.

All the participants in my course have been great and I so enjoy our back and forth through the comments and our emails.

What are your favorite parts about using CourseCraft?

I cannot say enough good about CourseCraft.

The way it’s set up makes it so easy to work with.

CourseCraft customer service is outstanding.

Sara and Ryan’s instructional videos are so clear and clean and to the point.

Using CourseCraft opens up yet another stream of income for anyone who wants to teach whatever they know…cooking, public speaking, tap dancing…anything!

I have recommended CourseCraft to other artists in hopes that they too will find a way to generate another income stream during the pandemic, but also to know how wonderful it is to make positive learning experiences available to everyone.

What advice do you have for women looking to start their own business?

Please… get started now.

Women are passionate creators and this world needs you now more than ever.

Examine your stumbling blocks and then turn each block into a stepping stone.

Here’s a suggestion: Make a list.

On the left side, list all the things you see as liabilities of why you can’t start an online business.

Now, on the right-side turn those supposed liabilities into their complete opposite… i.e. turn it into an asset.

For example:

· “ I have no money”, can be turned into… I don’t need money to start an online business. I can invest as I go.

· “I have no time”, can be turned into… I always have the time for what’s important.

· “ I have no ideas”, can be turned into… I can contribute to making life better for someone else by helping them to solve a problem. (Here’s where you get to insert what problem you’d like to solve.)

I cannot emphasize this enough, the world NEEDS Women Entrepreneurs!

We will change the world by changing our own economic reality.

You are more powerful than you can possibly imagine! All you need is a computer and access to the internet, the rest is up to your imagination and creativity.

Can you please highlight one of your favorite courses that are currently open for enrollment?

My course is called Sketchbooking with Watercolor and Ink. I really love teaching this course because it’s not only about drawing and painting, but also, the importance of recording your life in sketchbooks. Especially at this time in history.

Imagine finding a book your grandmother left to you that had paintings and stories in it. You would treasure it, I’m sure.

I know my sketchbooks will out-live me and I want my descendants to know what it was like to live through these times and what it was that I so loved about this world.

What’s next for you and your business?

I have big plans.

I plan to create several courses using CourseCraft. The first ones will be sketch-booking including the fundamentals of drawing and painting so anyone who wants to learn art can do so and get good results.

Then I will move on to what I called my “Spirit-Art Courses” that I taught in my studio before the pandemic. In these courses, students will gain greater access to their intuition by using art as a channel to open the door to their inner lives.

I hope to convert all of this into a membership site full of courses that kicks everyone’s creativity into high gear because …as I say at the end of my ArtWord Sunday Newsletter each week…

“You create your life every day, so make it into a masterpiece!”

Looking to keep up with Jan and her work? Check out her website, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for the latest news and updates.

4 Ways to Exercise Your Creativity While Staying Home →

*Note: This blog was originally published on Medium for CourseCraft – 4/15/2020

Creativity is a muscle that needs to be worked out!

You’ve seen tons of articles popping up lately suggesting at-home workouts, now that we’re all staying inside for the foreseeable future. While physical health is no doubt especially important at a time like this, there are other parts of our being that need a daily “workout” as well if we’re going to remain balanced and mentally healthy during this period of isolation.

Creativity can feel like a vague concept and is often referred to as a skill for a lack of a better word. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle Ph.D. shares that “creativity scholars can get technical and say that it actually involves abilities, mindsets, personality traits, and self-regulation strategies, as well as a set of conditions in our environments.” Another helpful way to view it as a muscle, that needs to routinely be exercised to get stronger. The longer and more consistently you utilize your creativity, the easier it will be to make art, write, or create pretty much anything else that requires an element of creativity in the future.

Think of these tips as a sort of a “creative muscle” workout plan, that can all be done from the safety of your own home.

Break Your Everyday Routine

Living a wide array of experiences creates a larger pool of inspiration to draw from. Just because you’re stuck inside doesn’t mean you can’t mix up your daily routine!

Do you listen to the same podcast every morning while you make yourself breakfast or while you’re getting your kids ready in the morning? Try switching it up to something you haven’t heard before, it could even be a creativity-centric podcast to get your gears turning as you start your day.

Do you read the same online media every day? Let yourself wander down information rabbit holes about things that have always interested you, but you haven’t previously taken the time to learn about. One good way to start that process is to use your phone’s Notes app to write down keywords, phrases, or the like that pique your interest as you go throughout the day. Wikipedia is often a good place to get the ball rolling.

Changing your daily routine can spark inspiration in unexpected ways, so even if it’s in one or two small ways, try to step outside (metaphorically speaking, of course) of your pre-trodden paths.

Keep Track of Your Inspirations

So what do you do with your newfound inspiration? Keeping track of it in a consistent way can provide a treasure trove of ideas the next time you’re feeling stuck, and even the act of collecting it all in one place can flex that creativity muscle.

There are tons of ways to do this, so try a few out to see what meshes the best with your lifestyle. For some, creating a physical, tactile, way to visualize what inspires them. This can include collage, creative bullet-journaling, or a number of other forms that you can actually hold in your hands. For others, a digital format such as Pinterest, Trello, or Wordpress provides a convenient way to track all of your sources of information.

Whatever way you choose to organize your thoughts, the most important element is what you actually put in it! Make sure to stretch the limits of basic ideas that you like within your own medium of work. For example, if you’re a visual artist, aside from works from other visual artists that inspire you, collect music, fabric, sculpture, the written word and anything else that creates a spark!

Collaborate With Your Household

Bouncing ideas off of and collaborating with other creatives is a great way to grow your own skills, but in the current state of things being in the same room as people outside of your household to make art is off the table.

If you’re fortunate enough to be staying home with a house full of artists like yourself, then the options for ways to works with are virtually endless, but for the rest of us, it might seem less feasible. Luckily there are simple prompts that you can work on with your roommate, spouse, kids, whoever you’re home with!

One classic example has you and your art partner take turns adding to a drawing without seeing what was created before it. While the name of the game, “Exquisite Corpse” may seem a bit dark, it’s fun for all ages and can be played with any medium (pens, paint, crayons, etc) you already have around the house.

Create Constraints to Push Yourself into Different Points of View

Making something harder for yourself may seem counterproductive, but placing restrictions around your work can force you to work from a different point of view. Approaching your art from a variety of perspectives can increase your breadth of work, and serves as a fun challenge while you’re bored at home.

For example, allowing yourself to only use two colors in your next painting so that you hone-in your focus on other factors such as shape, texture, and composition. Following along with a “drawing a day” prompt list (think #Inktober and the like on Instagram) can also force you to work in different styles or on subjects you hadn’t previously given a shot. Play around with making creative boundaries such as time spent, medium used, or subject to see what you’re capable of.

Just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t mean you should give up on your creative endeavors!

For many of us, creating is an essential part of maintaining our mental health. While we’re all doing our part and staying home, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by what’s going on in the world. When possible, try to take time to “workout” your creative muscle even if it’s just jotting down a few notes of inspiration, or playing a fun drawing game with your child. Stay healthy, stay safe, and keep creating.

If you’re looking to share and chat with fellow creative online course creators, be sure to join our Creative Online Course Makers Facebook group. You can also follow CourseCraft news and updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

3 Tips for Teaching An Art Class →

*Note: This blog was originally published on Medium for CourseCraft – 3/12/2020

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up” — Pablo Picasso

When you’re a kid playing with paint or a box of crayons for the first time, there isn’t any element of self-consciousness getting in your way. It’s just you and your supplies huddled away into your own imagination, losing track of time and the world around you. As we get older, a myriad of factors begin to creep in, making the act of creating art so much more frustrating. Anxiety around perfectionism, imposter syndrome, creative blocks, and even just day-to-day responsibilities monopolizing your time can interfere in creating art as an adult.

CourseCraft Co-Founder, artist, author, and mother Sara Funduk shares that when her son was born, she was nervous she had let her creative side “dry up”. She felt like she “had no time to paint and [she] definitely didn’t have time for all the setup and cleanup work that went with it”. Luckily, she finally found some time in her daily grind to start painting again and that reignited her creative spark.

So how do we as a society help foster creativity well past childhood, re-engage busy creatives, and even help some adults to create art for the first time?

Art classes!

That’s where you come in.

Creatives no longer have to attend formal art schools to have fulfilling careers, so people are more frequently seeking individual classes to strengthen their skills or simply dip their toes into art-making. Whether you’re running an online art course or teaching one in-person for your local community, here are a few tips to keep in mind when you’re teaching a class geared at beginner artists.

1. It all starts with genuine, consistent, encouragement…

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to have “natural-born” talent to be an artist. In fact, there’s evidence against the idea that that concept of natural talent even exists. Still, this myth persists and often leads to people repeating familiar lines like “I’m not an artist” or “I’m not creative”. The truth of the matter is, more than anything else it takes practice to become a better artist. Encouraging students to be gentler with themselves, continuing to practice every day, and to actively fight off preconceived notions of what an artist is or is not, is a crucial part of any course. Without that initial push, it can be hard for beginners to feel confident enough to experiment and push their limits.

2. But it’s also absolutely necessary to give solid technical instruction

Artist and author of “The Everything Guide to Drawing” Helen South, shares the pitfalls of not focusing on basic techniques from the get-go. She explains that “traditionally, teaching art emphasized self-expression and avoided skill building for fear of cramping creativity. However, basic skills can be enjoyable to work on, and having strong skills allows students to more fully express their original idea.” It’s important to find a balance between encouraging students’ creativity and actually showing them how to hone their craft.

3. Learning to give and receive artistic critique is a critical tool for growth

It can be tempting to steer clear of formal critique when students are first starting, out of fear it might discourage them. In reality, learning the important skill of both giving and receiving artistic critique is foundational for continued growth. With proper structure (several templates are offered online), and repetition, a critique can give direction to artists and encourage their creative skills to flourish!

Artist Marc Holmes recognizes that sometimes during traditional in-person art courses getting one-on-one time between students and teachers can be difficult because of the size of classes. He highlights that “online classes give tutors the opportunity to give critiques and answer questions by email. This gives them time to compose solid answers, offer useful links, and sometimes even do a sketch by way of example.”

The therapeutic benefits of creating art are well documented, but the barrier to entry for many adults, especially ones who have no previous experience, can feel overwhelming. Taking the time and effort to help people discover their creatives sides can have a real effect on the world around you. Babita Shamji, mother of three raves about the personal progress she’s made through taking art classes as an adult. She shares that “It has opened up emotional doors, given [her] confidence. Sometimes, [she] looks at the canvas and wonders how [she] made that.”

Feel ready to start your own art e-course for beginners? CourseCraft provides a free, intuitive way to share your knowledge with people all over the world and help them lead a more creative life, learn more here. You can also follow CourseCraft news and updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Your Online Course Post-Launch Checklist →

*Note: This blog was originally posted to Medium for CourseCraft – 3/10/2020

An online course can be a big project, but if you really want your course to be successful the work you put in after launch can be just as important as the course creation process itself.

In a lot of ways, an online course is a set-it-and-forget-it product. The promise of passive income is why a lot of course creators get into this in the first place. But there are a few things you need to do after your launch to ensure the success of your e-course.

This short video walk-through shows you ways to incorporate the following into your checklist:

Interact and engage with your students

• How to actually reach them

Use analytics and course stats to inform your marketing strategy

• How to make data-influenced changes

Keep promoting, even after your course launches

• Why post-launch promotion is just as important as pre-launch

Learn from past courses to make your next one even better!

• How to make the most of your past experiences

Looking for more ways to improve e-course? CourseCraft provides an “E-course Creation Toolkit” playlist on YouTube full of useful tips and tricks that span through creation, marketing, and customization.

If you’re looking to share and chat with fellow online course creators, be sure to join our Creative Online Course Makers Facebook group. Make sure to follow CourseCraft news and updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

How to Defeat Your Creative Imposter Syndrome →

*Note: This blog was originally published on Medium for CourseCraft – 2/13/20

Chances are, you’ve heard a friend or loved one question if they are “good enough” to be in their current position, career or otherwise. They might even feel like they’ve inadvertently pulled a fast one on their employer. You reassure them of their skill and worthiness without a second thought.

Then why is it so hard to be that reassuring friend, to yourself?

What is imposter syndrome and who does it affect?

Oxford Dictionary describes Imposter Syndrome as “the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills.” This feeling is so common that according to one Psychology Today study, it’s estimated that around 70% of people have experienced this at one point in their life.

Artists, designers, and people in other creative industries are unfortunately prone to feeling this way even more often. Dr. Valerie Young, an expert on Imposter Syndrome notes that “The nature of creative work makes everyone more vulnerable to feeling inadequate and even more so if you are not classically trained.”

Additionally, women creatives may feel additional pressure and uncertainty. It’s theorized that this is because girls are often socialized to be more risk-averse than boys during childhood. Cara Maksimow, LCSW shares that “in careers that are more male-dominated, women feel isolated and begin to doubt themselves and their ability to be where they are — despite the evidence that they deserve to be there.”

What are some ways to overcome Imposter Syndrome?

So if female creatives are especially prone to these feelings, how can we combat them in order to feel a sense of belonging and deserved success?

1. Accept help and connect with people you respect in your field.

Connecting with creative mentors and peers you respect will help you understand that you’re not alone in feeling like an imposter. Dr. Jason Eckerman shares that “part of what makes impostor syndrome so powerful is the feeling that we’re not able to talk about it without exposing ourselves as being a fraud.”

Sharing those feelings and learning how others deal with their own insecurities can be tremendously helpful, even if it can initially feel scary. Successful serial entrepreneur Nathalie Molina Niño “used to think power was about outcomes and getting shit done, but [she doesn’t] think that is the case anymore,” she explains. “Power comes from allowing yourself to be supported.”

2. Write down and acknowledge your accomplishments in a real way.

Think of this as your personal resume, solely for the purpose of reminding you of all that you’ve done and what growth you’ve been through creatively. Take time to list your previous projects, partnerships, and jobs, as well as more general points of strength and success.

Make sure to keep this updated, and look back on this list when you’re feeling a pang of imposter syndrome. Seeing these things written out can help serve as a concrete affirmation, and help you fight self-doubt.

3. Work towards taming your perfectionism and stopping constant comparison.

Easier said than done, but comparing yourself to others is a losing game. It’s impossible to really know what luck, privileges, or simply more time has lead to your favorite artists’ success. Holding yourself to a perfect standard that may not even be possible, will only increase feelings of being “not good enough”.

Freelance graphic designer Lauren Koste reminds us that “ You are not perfect. Those brilliant creatives you follow on Instagram aren’t perfect. Perfection isn’t a thing”!

You’re not alone in feeling this way and you can overcome it!

The number one thing to remember is that most people feel this way at one point or another in their life, especially women in creative jobs. It’s perfectly normal, and there’s nothing wrong with you!

Imposter Syndrome, when not worked on, can be a roadblock to future successes. Surround yourself with supportive mentors and peers, keep track of your wins, and work every day on being kinder to yourself. You are the origin of your own success, celebrate it!