The first time I launched a product I was so nervous. Product launches are a roller coaster of emotions. You slave away in your little corner. And finally, you create a product that you are really proud of. And then you hit publish and hope and pray that other people see the value of your hard […]
Running a creative business
Want to run your creative business on the legal up and up? Then this post collection will help you do exactly that!
Two useful client intake emails you can try right now
There comes a point in time in your business when free just doesn’t cut it anymore. When you need to create systems and processes so that you can manage your business. And often you’ve got to make a financial investment to get the right systems and processes in place. Late in 2014, I was feeling […]
Learning the Ropes: Damon Powell
Have you ever walked into a building and it felt like you’d been there a million times before? That was how I felt when I walked into Warehouse 416 a few years back. I assumed I’d been there a few times before during Oakland Art Murmur, but it just felt like home. And for the […]
Do you get excited when you hear insider information?
Her eyes light up and she gets that excited look on her face. She opens her mouth and starts to answer my question. Don’t you love it when that happens? I do, I love talking to people who are super passionate and nerdy about a topic. It doesn’t matter if it’s obscure technical information or […]
Do you need a legalese translator for your creative business?
For the past eight years, I’ve had the same black, beat-up, dog-eared dictionary on my desk. I totally admit that using a physical book rather than an online version is old school. But I find the physical aspect of pausing, flipping to the entry, and reading it so helpful. There are times that in that […]
Learning the Ropes: Sharon Fain
Today, the lovely Sharon Fain is sharing her story with you. Sharon is one of the founders of Academy of Handmade, a community of makers creating sustainable businesses together. Academy of Handmade has some amazing resources on their blog to help makers build sustainable businesses. They also host an Awards Show recognizing makers who create beautiful […]
How to restrict how I can use your sewing patterns, legally
I’m a huge knitter. I’ve always got a project going. In fact, right now I’m working on this cowl. I’ve got a shawl going as well, but the pattern is a bit involved and knitting one row seems to take forever, so I needed a break. I knit because it keeps my hands busy. Over […]
Do you know the answer to these 8 questions?
When I’m wearing my attorney hat, I see the nitty gritty ins and outs of lots of creative businesses. I hear successes, struggles, fears, and triumphs. I know about exciting things before you can share the news on social media. But also hear your frustrations when things go wrong. I’m the keeper of many secrets […]
Learning the Ropes: Brigitte Theriault
When I came up with this series, I knew that I wanted Brigitte Theriault to participate. Brigitte is a 10-year person chef veteran, but she struggles with an issue familiar to many creative service providers: the contract. For many creatives, presenting and negotiating a contract is a roller coaster of emotions. And I knew that […]
Are you confident in where your business is headed?
The other day while wearing my lawyer hat, I was conducting an intake session with a potential client. During these sessions, I ask some pretty non-typical lawyer questions. Things like: What are your goals? Short-term? Long-term? What’s your timeline for meeting these goals? What does success look like for you? How will you know when […]
Can drudgery be simple and easy to carry out? Yep, it can.
Last month I wrote a guest post series for Oh My! Handmade Goodness on shoring up your business foundations. We talked about getting your website, contracts, structure, and intellectual property shored up. One of the post comments totally made my day. Arianne Foulks wrote: Thanks so much for making this seeming drudgery accessible and actionable. This comment […]
1 powerful question you should ask to grow your business
On an average day, I probably get asked hundreds of questions. Questions via email, questions when I’m chatting with clients over Skype, questions from opposing counsel, or just questions at a social gathering when people learn what I do. After three years of hearing these questions, very few surprise me. But last month I got […]
