Creative Spark Podcast

EPISODE 43: In this episode of the Creative Spark podcast, we look at the difference between core, pillar, and micro-content and how they should work together in your content strategy. Download your free content strategy template and listen to the episode for instructions how to fill it in: https://www.dominiquefalla.com/blog/episode43

EPISODE 42: In this episode of the Creative Spark podcast, we take a closer look at why Creatives need to package what they know into a signature method. This is the first step in my new course, the Creative Funnel Formula and it paves the way for all the steps which follow. Enrol in the Creative Funnel Formula course for just $197, this week only!  https://www.dominiquefalla.com/creative-funnel-formula

EPISODE 41: In this episode of the Creative Spark podcast, we take a closer look at the steps inside my new course, the Creative Funnel Formula and see how easy it is to build and launch your first funnel. Enrol in the Creative Funnel Formula course for just $197, this week only!  https://www.dominiquefalla.com/creative-funnel-formula  

EPISODE 40: In this step-by-step episode of the Creative Spark podcast, we look at ways creative business owners can build and launch a non-sleazy sales funnel.  Download your free Funnel Launch Checklist here and listen to the podcast for instructions. https://www.dominiquefalla.com/funnel-launch-checklist  

EPISODE 39: In this step-by-step episode of the Creative Spark podcast, we take a look at how you can stop trying to conform to an existing niche and create your own niche instead. Download your free Perfect Niche worksheet here and then listen to the podcast for instructions. https://www.dominiquefalla.com/find-your-perfect-niche  

Without one, it's too easy to miss a week or go off-topic. Your content marketing becomes random content. By planning out a month in advance and working towards a conversion goal using a content strategy template, you can get all your content types working together strategically.

EPISODE 37: In this episode of the Creative Spark podcast, we explore nine different ways graphic designers can become Creative Entrepreneurs and add multiple new revenue streams.  

Topic buckets are groups of things you like to post about, create work about, blog or podcast about. They can be completely unrelated at first. You can create your own unique niche by combining them in creative ways. In today's podcast we have a handy exercise to help you combine your topic buckets with personality lenses to develop a robust content strategy which can be repurposed for social media, blog posts, and a variety of content types. https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode36  

What if you could discover the perfect niche for your business, book, or blog? If you could just be known for the stuff you love doing, you can stop going round in circles trying to figure it out. In today's podcast I will teach you a structured system so you can see how all the moving parts fit together learn how to harness your passions so that you can create a business and life you love. https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode35  

No matter who you talk to, not having enough time is always listed as one of the top three reasons why something cannot be done. Allowing time to block your creativity is easy to justify, but it usually masks other blocks. For a busy creative, the only way to be productive, is to steal time back from your day. In this episode, learn all the tips and techniques to become a master time thief. Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode34  

By its very nature, creativity is a struggle. We are making new connections, trying new things and it is easy to lose our way. By looking at the things we struggled with five years ago, we often gain a clearer picture of what was important to us then. We also understand what struggles we were able to overcome and where this knowledge might be of use to others. Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode33

In the previous episode, we looked at core values and why it’s important to identify them and then act in alignment with them to avoid disappointing yourself. Now it’s time to put theory into practice and develop your own personal values compass. Enjoy the episode and download your free template here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode32  

Every day, whether you realise it or not, we all make decisions based on what we believe in. Think about the choices, challenges, or opportunities facing us every day—and how we engage with them. The way our values affect our choices can change. But also our choices can end up affecting our values. It’s time to get clear on what your values are and why you hold them so dear. Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode31

An energy vampire is someone who makes a regular energy withdrawal from you and gives nothing back in return. They want to fill your clear head with their problems and if left unchecked, a weekly visit from an energy vampire can undo all of your great work renewing your energy levels. As harsh as it sounds, removing energy vampires from your life is the only solution. This episode has a practical component. Access your free worksheet here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode30

As a Creative Entrepreneur, it is often a struggle to craft an authentic identity for your brand or business. It is all too easy to get caught up in what your competitors are doing or you end up following trends. It can take confidence to express your true voice but learning how to harness the power of your authentic voice is a key component of creating a brand that resonates with your audience. Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode29  

Motivation is one of those things that can be hard to quantify and we often don’t feel motivated to do something hard until we are part way through doing it. Success in any endeavour can bring motivation with it. A great way to tap into motivation is to use Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle method. In this episode, we look at ways to target your motivation using Simon's Golden Circle method. Download your free template here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode28  

With every new business venture or a creative idea, we usually charge forward, powered by sheer enthusiasm. But this initial burst of energy soon wears off. Without a foundation of intrinsic motivation driving them, many good projects fall by the wayside. The word motivation hides the clue. If you lack a motive, you will eventually run out of motivation.  Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode27  

Trello is a visual collaboration tool that enables you to organise and prioritise projects using what are known as Kanban Boards. I use Trello to organise this podcast, I also use it to manage workflows, to-do lists, book chapters and just about any major project that needs planning and tracking. Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode26    

Procrastiworking is a term I first heard designer Jessica Hische use, and it refers to the work you do (or feel like doing) while putting off the work you don’t feel like doing. This term applies to most designers, creatives, freelancers and entrepreneurs. If Procrastination means you are doing something to avoid doing something else, then productive procrastination means you are not wasting your time when you are doing it. Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode25  

Modern business founders tell their origin stories in books and movies. Ancient cultures told stories about the beginning of life on earth, plants, animals, weather and everything else that needed an explanation. Telling stories is a wonderful way for humans to connect and understand. In this episode, we look at adapting the superhero origin story for our own creative business purposes. Enjoy the episode and download your free story template here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode24  

In most entertainment, an origin story is an account or back-story revealing how a character or group of people become a protagonist or antagonist. Understanding the story behind a character adds to the overall interest and complexity of a narrative. We can take this same idea and apply it to business. Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode23  

Why is the beginning of a new year so popular for making resolutions and fresh starts? What is it about a new year that brings out the resolve to take out gym memberships, start diets, and quit smoking? Why can’t we harness this energy every day? Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode22  

Procrastination refers to the process of delaying or postponing tasks. Everyone bangs on about we should try all these techniques to avoid procrastination but I think that procrastinating is sometimes our subconscious telling us we need time to think about the work we are supposed to be doing Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode21  

When you are creative it’s easy to lose track of what you are meant to be doing with your life, why you have creative skills, who you can help with them and how you can make money. There is often a conflict between our passion, mission, vocation, and profession, many people have unfulfilling jobs for this exact reason. The overlap diagram is a simple way to see where all four areas of your life intersect. Download your free template here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode20

Just about every creative I ever speak to, myself included, has struggled at some time or another with choosing a focus for their creativity. Shiny object syndrome can make it very difficult to choose just one thing. I struggled with this for many years until I discovered the Ikigai, which is the Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life.  Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode19  

Traditional education systems praise the correct solution and discourage mistakes. It can be challenging to move into a creative headspace where mistakes are actively encouraged. To be creatively successful, however, you must shift from a desire to validate your talent and intelligence to stretching to learn something new. This means being prepared to make mistakes. Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode18

The idea that we stop learning when we finish high school or university is as outdated as the concept of having one job for the rest of our lives. The industrial mindset is currently being replaced by the entrepreneurial mindset. In the same way, the concept of structured education at the start of our lives is being replaced by a commitment to lifelong, self-directed learning all throughout our lives. Education is something other people bestow on you. Learning is something we do for ourselves. Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode17

When you are building your creative side business, you need to be creating products and services that people actually need. You might be super passionate and interested in an idea, but if no one else is, you have a hobby, not a business. Conversely, you might have skills or solutions that people want or need, but if they don’t light you up, you probably have what I like to call "a job". This episode has an exercise. Download your free template here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode16  

I have spent over twenty years in design education and seen irreversible changes to the industry as a whole. These changes are due mainly to the introduction of the desktop computer and the Internet. The Internet has allowed for the outsourcing of design services, in most cases to developing countries. The resulting tide of templates, free fonts and cheap solutions undermine the quality of professional design services. But I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. The way forward for the creative industries as a whole is for us to express creativity through our unique point of view. Finding ways of demonstrating innovation, authority, vision and strategy has always value-added creative practice. You may have rockstar layout skills, great taste, software proficiency, and client service to die for, but these will no longer sustain a business model. Without the addition of a unique viewpoint, the role of the creative will devalue to the point where they can easily be replaced. Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode15

In this day and age, the methods of prioritising that worked for our parents, and grandparents no longer work for us. There is much more other people need us to do, and so many more ways they can get us to do it. However, putting others first means putting your creativity last. Learning to accept that you will never get it all done and learning instead to prioritise your own needs over the needs of others are two essential skills you will need to develop to claw back more time for yourself every day.  Download the worksheet and listen to the podcast for instructions. https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode14  

As a Creative Entrepreneur, it is often a struggle to keep on top of all the skills you need to develop to build a creative business. We are not born with skills—they are developed through experiences in life and work. Learning a new skill builds confidence and based on our environment and aptitude, and some skills are easier to learn than others. By identifying what skills you have already mastered, you can understand the unique composition for your Creative Superpower. Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode13

When you are building your creative side business, you need to be passionate about the work in order to sustain you. Business is tough. There will be days when you are dealing with things that don't light you up. If there's no passion for the bigger picture, it will be easy to give up and walk away.    Your passion for your business should be driven by your passion for creativity. It's like love. Just like any relationship, when you're in love, you might fight or have rough times, but love keeps you going and keeps you committed to working through the difficulties.     Download your free template here and listen to the podcast for instructions: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode12

The majority of creative people are trapped in jobs they don’t love. Surveys show the majority of people don’t even like what they do. Considering you spend 8 hours a day, if not more doing this stuff, it begs the question why people keep doing it.  Your passions hold the key and even if you do fail, failing at something you’re enjoying doesn’t seem as bad as failing at something you hate. Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode11

One of the biggest obstacles you will face when embarking on any self-improvement is your own brain. The amygdala is the part of the brain programmed to keep you safe at all costs, and this means finding ways to stop you doing dangerous things; such as being creative.  Some common ways humans self-sabotage include: overthinking, over-planning, perfectionism, distraction and procrastination. However your creative blocks show up; your best work will only get done if you can clear out the saboteurs from your mind.  Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode10

Most of us creative types think we are special snowflakes and indeed we are. Every human is a unique combination of experiences, knowledge, skills, interests, environment, opportunities and upbringing. However, we are still a mix and match of a variety of standard factors, which makes it a little easier to categorise our creative personalities. When we look at our own creative archetypes, it can be very difficult to pick our own starting archetype, as every one looks different when we view the end result. This is where personality tests come in. Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode9

When you are building your creative side business, it is important to solve the challenges which matter to you the most and then teach others how to overcome those same struggles. All great business owners tell the story of how they overcame past struggles and this forms the core foundation of their business … helping you solve those same struggles. The idea that people have walked the path before us gives us the confidence to follow them. This podcast has a practical component and comes with a template to help you put theory into practice. Download the worksheet and listen to the podcast for instructions. https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode8

When you are building your creative side business, it is easy to shy away from difficulties and spend a lot of time wishing things were different or easier. Failure is painful and it can be frustrating when the things we struggle with seem so effortless for others.   One thing to remember, however, is that humans only learn through struggle. You become stronger and wiser by overcoming challenges. Once you have learned things, you can teach others. Being the learned guide means that people are more likely to pay you to guide them through the challenges.    Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here:  https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode7

As a frustrated creative, it is often a struggle to give yourself permission to actually be creative. It is easy to use permission-programming as a creative block and confuse asking advice, with asking permission.  Most of us spent the first 18 years of our lives, asking our parents permission to do things, especially if they were fun. Can I go over to Rebecca’s house? Can I go to the movies with my friends? Can I get a dog? And so on. The request was usually met with a firm no. Or a series of questions and negotiations before a yes, but with conditions. Yes, but make sure you are home by nine. Yes, but make sure a parent drives you home. Is it any wonder that when we turned 18 and could do anything we wanted (within reason), we still behaved ourselves because the permission-programming was ingrained? Technically, one of the jobs of a parent is to program good habits that will last us a lifetime. However, permission-programming is not as useful when we become adults. The idea that we need to ask permission to do something fun no longer serves us, especially if our parents are no longer around. Who do we ask then?   Download your free permission slip template here and listen to the episode for instructions: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode6

As a creative, it is easy to compare yourself with other people and discount your own natural aptitudes. But as Albert Einstein said: "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."   This is why falling into the comparison trap is so dangerous. It pays to embrace your creative superpower instead. Your own story is all that matters, your own experience. Learn to stop comparing your natural skills and abilities with those of other people.   Aptitude refers to things you are naturally good at. You might not like these talents, or actively pursue them, they just come naturally to you. Aptitude has little to do with knowledge, culture, education, or even your interests. They are inbuilt.   We cannot change our aptitudes, they are built into our foundation and influence everything else that comes after. The innate nature of aptitude is in contrast to a learned skill or achievement. Instead of complaining about your lack of abilities at some things, embrace them and think of your natural aptitudes as the foundation of your Creative Superpower.   Enjoy the episode and find all the links and resources mentioned here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode5

As a creative entrepreneur, when you are building your creative side business, if you’re going to be successful, you will eventually need to replace yourself. Think about all the successful creatives running their own businesses. They have automation tools and software, they have assistants, managers, and all sorts of support networks. In episode 3 we talked about how, as a creative business owner, the more successful you become, the more you’re going to have to get done. All CEOs eventually become the bottleneck for their business and need to sack themselves. If you know where your three core skills lie, it’s not going to come as such a shock to you in the future when you have to stop doing everything else.  This podcast has a practical component and comes with a template to help you put theory into practice. Head to https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode4 to download the worksheet and listen to the podcast for instructions.

When you are building your creative side business, it is often a struggle to know what you are good at. It is easy to get distracted with the things you are interested in and the things you want to learn, but without a clear understanding of your foundation skills, you will build your business on shaky foundations. What is a skills audit and why do you need one? As a creative, it is easy to get distracted by new ideas. Shiny object syndrome anyone? There are so many things we want to learn and try and explore. However, when you’re building a creative side business, you really need to focus on leveraging the skills you already have.    Chances are, you have developed lots of skills over the years. It can be difficult to tell which are innate abilities and which are learned skills. It can also be difficult to identify what skills you possess, and often your friends can tell better than you can. It can also be difficult to see where these skills come in handy and how they all fit together.   This is where a skills audit comes in. A skills audit will identify the skills you already possess, and if you’re planning on building a creative side business, it will identify where you have a skills gap, and how you can plan for the future.   Enjoy the show and grab all the links and resources here: https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode3

As a busy creative, it is often a struggle to clear space in your mind to think creatively. It is all too easy to get distracted with the worries and problems of the day, and creative ideas get drowned out by brain chatter. Without a daily dose of mental clarity, you will lose sight of the bigger picture and spend all your time among the weeds. In my book Creative Space, I offer up several strategies for clearing out your mind to make room for creativity, but one of my favourite tools is daily journaling. Listen to this episode and find out why.   Grab the show notes and any resources here https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode2

As a Creative Entrepreneur, it is often a struggle to craft an authentic identity for your brand or business. It is all too easy to get caught up in what your competitors are doing and become lost in the day-to-day of running a business without knowing what you stand for, or where you are heading. Bernadette Jiwa has written a book called Story-Driven where she proposes that a powerful sense of identity, driven by your own story, is the key to success in a competitive landscape.  Links and show notes here https://www.creativesparkpodcast.com/blog/episode1

Welcome to the creative spark podcast. I’m your host Dominique Falla and it is my mission to keep your creative spark alive, no matter how crazy your life gets.    This podcast will teach you how to find the space to light your creative spark and fire up your creative side business.    You can stay up-to-date on all the latest episodes by following us on Instagram @CreativeSparkPodcast.