pursue your dreams: emily jeffords of beautiful hello
Pursue Your Dreams is a weekly mini-series brought to you by a handful of talented handmade artists, bloggers, small business owners, and ladies who are chasing hard after their dreams. The series focuses on 3 insights they've learned about staying inspired, dealing with negativity, business tips, blogging, setting goals, marketing yourself, and more!
Hey! I’m Emily Jeffords. I have been a professional artist for 6 years,
to collectors all over the world, and writing about creativity on my blog
. …that all sounds super fancy, but really, I just spend long, long hours in the studio with my sweet little girls (speckled in oil paint and drinking a lot of coffee), and I put my head down and create. There are many ups and there are also some downs to being a full-time creative entrepreneur. I am so honored to be able to share a few things I’ve learned along the way!
1 // Realize the Value in What You Do
First of all, if you are a creative entrepreneur you are incredibly valuable and what you make is very needed. History and science will back me up on this: humanity needs creativity and it needs beauty. So, value yourself accordingly: financially (obviously – charge what you’re worth) and personally. I say this a lot, but I’m preaching to myself every time I do: “being an artist takes a lot of self-grace.” By that I mean that when you hit that creative-block and feel like you’re never going to create anything of worth ever again (and you will feel like that at some point) you must remember that you will come through this. You need to rest, to heal, and to allow your mind to revive itself. Creativity is only of value if it takes something out of you, something you must replenish. It can be easy to forget that your most valuable asset is your refreshed and inspired mind. Reserving time – even just a few hours – to restore and replenish your inspiration will make you unstoppable.
2 // Be Genuine
One of the most valuable things I did for my business was to start a blog. It isn’t huge, it’s not flashy, I don’t post often, but it is where I speak for myself on things that mean a lot to me. People want to meet a person – not some loft artist and definitely NOT a salesperson. They want to know what inspires me and makes me tick, they also want to know that I fail more often than I would like to admit. The beautiful thing about cultivating that relationship with my audience is that they relate: they get it, they are inspired by it, and they are generous and crazy-supportive in return. There is a catchy saying going around right now “find your tribe”. I love it. It is the golden ticket for any creative small business. But you will never find your tribe unless you allow them to get to know you and your brand.
3 // It’s Not About the Product; It’s About the Message (and it has almost nothing to do with your logo)
Sometimes the word “branding” can sound a little commercialized and sterile (especially for someone who is often enamored with the million shades of yellow one can create..). But branding isn’t gross; it’s actually totally beautiful.
People want to align themselves with a mood and a lifestyle; they want to feel like they are taking part in your creative process and enjoying something of worth. You know this – heck, you DO this. Focus less on your letterhead and far more on how your audience feels after visiting you, reading what you publish, and seeing what your post. Consistency and beauty go a long, long ways. We have the tools at our fingertips to genuinely connect with real people. Your audience wants to know YOU. Treating them with respect and gratitude is such a powerful way to cultivate a beautiful community around your brand.
