Three Habits of Successful Creativepreneurs, Pt. 2

Let’s review our previous post…

Here’s a quick recap of part one of the Three Habits of Successful Creativepreneurs:

• A Creativepreneur is a “creative-entrepreneur” who builds a business by meshing the two worlds together- creative philosophies and non-conventional business practices with ‌traditional entrepreneurial and conventional practices, models, and/or philosophies. 
• There is an ever-growing trend toward freelancing and creativepreneurship. You can do this! 
• If you’re venturing into this new territory of creative-entrepreneurship, there are some habits that have their origins in traditional business and entrepreneurship training that will set up your path to success.  
• Managing your time by planning for creativity, tasks, and personal energy will get you started in the right direction.  

What’s next? Let’s discuss the next two habits to implement in your business as a creativepreneur.

My #2 Top Skill of a Successful Creativepreneurs

How did I remedy this?

Well, there were two specific things I did to learn how to estimate my time accurately.

• • Initially, I added 50% more time to what I initially thought I needed per project.  
  • If I said a project would take me two hours, I’d quote the work for four hours.
  • If I said a project would take me 30 days to complete, I’d quote the work for 60 days. 
  • Next, I found a time tracker that would help me stay on task and give me some insight into how long certain tasks and projects took for me to complete.

My time tracker of choice: Toggle!

I know there are many time trackers out there, so if this one doesn’t work for you, I’m sure there’s an option that will. Below, I’ve linked an  introductory video to Toggle if you’re wanting to learn more about this incredible tool! 

I’m not affiliated with Toggle nor do I get paid for promoting their tool.  I like sharing hacks and tips that have helped me along the way. So, be sure to check them out! 

Now, I know I’m going to get questions about why I would double the time when quoting a job or task for a client. ‌So, let me share my “why”.

I am aware that as a service-based business, time is money, and when you’re first starting there’s a temptation to quote lower to win the job. Don’t do this! Don’t sell yourself short or undervalue your time or the service you provide. 

Trust me on this, you will want to underpromise and overdeliver.  Because when you give yourself a little more time, it’s likely you’ll finish early, and that will not only please your client, but it will help you establish a good reputation as a Freelance Creativepreneur.  

Plain and simple, if you’re just starting and you aren’t very clear about how long something will take you to complete, it’s better to give yourself the extra time.

 Ok, enough about that. I think you get the point. 

My #3 Top Skill of a Successful Creativeprenuer

Cultivate a Growth Mindset

Now, before you check out or roll your eyes because this doesn’t seem like a practical skill that can help you grow a business, let me assure you this may be the most important skill of all. I know there have been many articles, blogs, and books on the topic of “mindset”. Words like mindset or growth mindset have become a kind of “buzz word” and even social media is saturated with many experts teaching on the subject. 

Nevertheless, it is an important piece of a personal growth journey, and it truly matters how and what we think about ourselves, our lives, and the goals we set out to achieve. 

Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset

What then is a growth mindset, and why is it important to understand the difference between it and a fixed mindset?

Carol Dweck, author of “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success”, says that a growth mindset “is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts, your strategies, and help from others.”[1] 

So, a “fixed mindset” is somewhat simply the opposite of a growth mindset. If you have a fixed mindset, you tend to believe that your skills, talents, and natural abilities are set, and that no matter what you do, it just “is what it is”. 

Our mindsets shape the way we see ourselves, the way we see the world, how we cope in life, and what things we pursue or don’t pursue. Research has shown that much of ‌what and how we think, or our mindsets, are formed in childhood [2], but ‌this doesn’t mean that you’re stuck with the mindset you have. Even our current beliefs and thoughts can grow and change if we believe they can. 

Take a minute each day to listen to the thoughts and the ways in which you tend to think about yourself or situations. For example, maybe you have a desire to read more, but you tend to think reading is hard for you. Maybe you have concluded you’re not a good reader or that you aren’t able to focus enough to really sit down and read a book. ‌While the struggle to focus these days is real and can be caused by many factors, in a fixed mindset scenario, you would tend to believe that there’s no potential for change within yourself.

One more thought on Personal Development

Being a beginner

Remember, everyone has to be a beginner at some point. I had to learn this and I notice this same lesson having to be learned by many people around me. ‌Even my little boy who is eight years old, tends to want to be an expert the very first time he tries something new. 

I find myself reminding him, just as much as I remind myself, to be ok with being a beginner and that anyone can learn new things, and even excel! 

Here’s your reminder… You’ve got this! 😉

For more inspiration, follow me on Instagram @hollisperti or on Pinterest @hollisperti

References

1. Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House Publishing Group.
2. Dweck, C., & Cherry, K. (2022, September 20). What Mindset Is and Why It Matters. Verywell Mind. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-mindset-2795025