The Creative Exponent

4.4 - Living A Life In Art by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

4.3 - Know What You Want Out Of Social Media Before Opening The App 1 by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

4.2 - Say Yes, Life After The Death Of Dream With Scott Erickson by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

4.1 - Filling Your Space With Pieces You Love by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

3.24 - Permission To Change Your Mind by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

3.23 - Cozy White Cottage Season & Blogs aren't dead with Liz Marie Galvan by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

3.22 - On Judging Your Creative Work Fairly by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

3.21 - Taking Calculated Risks by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

3.20 - Ruth Chou Simons & Creating A Market For Your Work by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

3.19 - All Of The Details About Getting Published by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

3.18 - When You Hit A Life Wall by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

3.17 - Creative Collaboration by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

This topic comes up a LOT for us in our mentoring group and Community, in conversations with other creatives, between ourselves...we are consistently talking through this and striving to navigate the weird world of social media in our own ways. Todd Henry says, “Technology is really outpacing us.” We talk about this and why it is so difficult to show up as yourself, as you are, on social media and also why we all just can't stop talking about it. How do we use it as a tool, and use it positively for ourselves, without absorbing all of the negativity of sameness, comparison, and simply not feeling like you or your work is enough. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

We love having guests...we love the rich conversation, and so do you guys. And when we asked Jena from A Spoonful of Faith one of many questions, “So tell us about your style,” her answer blew us away. “Your Style is Your Voice.” You will love hearing Jena's story around the beginnings of her business, how she discovered her voice, and how she tries to use her platforms and work to bring beauty into the world and to bless others with positivity and goodness. You can find Jena on Instagram @aspoonfuloffaith and her website https://www.spoonfuloffaith.com. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

It happens. You've gotten older. You've gotten wiser. You have so much experience, and a lot of it is good. Out of nowhere, it seems just like in our lives, we face situations and feelings within our business that force us to feel like it's just not like it used to be. After you have been in business for quite a while, there is simply more time for things to go wrong and to face disappointments. In the beginning, even though you may not be where you want to be yet, there is literally nowhere to go but up. Everything is fresh and new, and there is really only opportunity (or the hope of it) ahead. We talk about the mid-life crisis of a creative business and how we try to navigate it ourselves. It is normal, it is to be expected, and you most certainly can navigate through it as well. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

3.13 - How To Prepare For A Creative Retreat by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

3.11 - How Overthinking Kills Creativity & Joy by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

If the feeling of other humans helping you out sounds amazing right about now, today's podcast episode is for you. We said this recently on Instagram, "I think for us, it's probably the reason we fell into coaching other creatives outside of our own art and writing. We know what it means to be mentored well, and mentored wholly." And boy, do we. We mentor each other and we've had other mentors. We get coached and we coach. Today's episode is all about the beauty of being a master and apprentice wherever you are in your creative/work journey. It's so incredible to lean on community and it's so incredible to provide it. We share a little bit about our Community opening on Friday, May 14, but more than anything we talk about why you need to be coached and why you need to pour out into someone else, too. This cycle is one of the best gifts you can give yourself as a creative. If you want to know more about our Community opening on May 14, check it out here on our website: https://thecreativeexponent.com You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

3.10 - Seeking Your Creative Purpose by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

3.9 - Conscious Creativity With Philippa Stanton by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

The no's are just hard. They are so hard, as a matter of fact. Getting a no can feel devastating, and it may take serious effort to move forward, but getting a no can also be a beautiful thing. We have both gotten so many no's to opportunities, to pitches, to product lines...we have been there. Getting negative feedback & criticism, or even receiving a no is worth feeling. Feel the no. Feel the frustration and disappointment, and keep going. It may sound simple and a little fluffy, but believe us, allowing yourself to feel the no's, and keep doing what you do is the way to move through them. This week we talk about some of our own no's, and the ways we can all cope with them, learn from them, and be shaped by them. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

This week's podcast episode was born from a conversation between us. Marian loves to create from a reference photo or from her love of old things. I love to create from my imagination, using past experiences and images in my mind. We think this is an important realization to have for yourself; after all, self-awareness is a powerful tool. We talk about identifying how you create, and identifying ways to expand your boundaries and try creating differently. Choosing self awareness in this way is choosing a path for growth in your creative work. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

3.6 - Listener Question - How To Create In Short Bursts Of Time by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

Your studio. Your place to create and escape the world. Or is it?? Our studios often have to serve the rest of the house as well as our creative work. This week is for the design lovers, and the ones who feel like they just can't quite get the studio “right.” Studio spaces, whether a table or desk or entire room, must be allowed room to breathe and room to evolve. It takes time to see what you need for the space to work FOR you, and not the other way around. We have both been in small and large studio spaces, and either way, it is a corner that really does have to evolve with time AND the evolution of your work. Oh, and it is totally worth the wait. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

3.4 - Doing Feeds Creating by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

Episode 3.3 Creative Evolution with Emily Lex We have both known Emily Lex for years...as a matter of fact, we all began blogging around the same time, and we just wanted to share a cool story with all of you. She is an Artist, Author, Journaler, and creative entrepreneur seeking to EVOLVE. Yessssss. We watched her business and blog evolve over the years, and it was freeing to watch. We sat down with Emily, and heard the story of where her business and blog began, and how one day, she knew it was time to change it. To begin again...in a new way. I, Shaunna, personally, relate to her story 100%...as I had to do that very same thing. We hear her heart behind change, and allowing herself to evolve, expand, and pursue the things she knows to be hers to pursue...and we get some inside scoop on her new book coming out soon, Freely and Lightly. We hope you leave our conversation feeling with a strong desire to allow yourself to evolve creatively, over and over again. You can find Emily at https://emilylex.com and on Instagram @emilylexstudio. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

3.2 - When The Anecdotes Aren't True For You by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

Welcome to Season 3 of The Creative Exponent Podcast!! We wanted to kick off 2021 with a bang, and today's conversation stemmed from a session we taught our Mentoring group. A truth about productivity is this: It's one thing to BE productive, and it is an entirely different thing to FEEL productive. You can be productive, accomplishing plenty, but if the obstacles in your way are making you feel unproductive, the tasks themselves can be irrelevant. This episode will hopefully give you some ideas to be more productive, but hopefully, it will give you perspectives to feel more productive this year. We have found little tricks like the way we approach our lists, what we tell ourselves is priority, and avoiding the procrastination lies we recite internally, give us more energy doing less, and more intentional work. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

Welcome to the Season Two Finale! While we will miss you guys, we also believe deeply in the value of downtime, and we'll take a short break during the holidays. Don't worry, we will be back in January with guests and more episodes lined up that will hopefully continue to help you discover, uphold, and share your creativity. Today we are chatting about a topic near and dear to both of us. We have both done it. We have both learned ways to avoid it. We have both learned the value in sharing what we create vs. creating so we can share. In a sea of people making a living on social media, how can you do the work you love? We mean to emphasize you...how can you build a business around sharing the work and not building it around what you believe wants to be seen and shared? It is definitely an upstream course, but it is possible. In today's finale, we talk about the ways we know this matters, what we have seen it do to our own businesses and lives, and how we will keep striving to create what we want and share it next. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative. We'll see you for Season 3 in January!

When we set out to talk to Mariele, the founder and jewelry maker behind Young in the Mountains (and also the rockstar woman who created Shaunna's wedding ring), we had no idea what a treasure trove our conversation would be. We knew she was talented, but listening to her talk we found ourselves furiously taking notes and getting so worked up we could hardly sit still. Mariele tells us the fascinating story of how Young in the Mountains came to be (even her business title has a beautiful backstory), the work it took mine and source natural stone, to get her here, running retail stores, managing wholesale lines, managing her full time team, and yes, still finding some time to make her one of a kind pieces. We loved hearing her perspectives on social media, on how to foster the team surrounding her, and building a brand around something bigger than simply herself. If you are starting a business as a solo entrepreneur, or want to, this episode is for you. You can find Mariele and Young in the Mountains at https://www.younginthemountains.com and on Instagram @younginthemountains. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative. **************

Join us today as we chat about all the things we had to learn to make The Creative Exponent Podcast. We really had to learn quite a few new skills to pull this venture off, and are still learning so much! We also chat about all the funny little moments that happen unseen, like our constant yawning battles that begin on days we record multiple episodes, what we think about comments and suggestions from listeners, and our thoughts on keeping this podcast casual and relatable for the long haul. We hope you enjoy this little peek behind the scenes of our podcast we have grown to love so much! You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative. ************

This week we are joined by one of our friends and fellow bloggers, Michael Wurm, of the popular home decor and lifestyle blog, Inspired By Charm. If you haven't heard of Michael, there is almost certainly a chance you've seen his work. His recipes and entertaining experiences are ALL over the internet, and his approach to what he shares is what draws us into his content over and over. We chat about his wonderful story of buying a Bed & Breakfast, Old Charm, and how creating experiences for his guests gave him something to blog about….and how that blog then became his full-time career. Michael's passion is creating approachable content that inspires people to create hospitable experiences in their own homes, and we talk about this, social media, hospitality, and more in today's episode. We hope you leave as inspired as we did! You can find Michael at his blog https://inspiredbycharm.com and on Instagram @inspiredbycharm. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

Neither of us would consider ourselves hyper-scheduled or ritually rigid. However, we both have learned the value in instilling little creative rituals that help us get started, or keep going, or get inspired. We chat about the importance of setting up a designated place for your creative practice, the time you choose to create, and the ambiance you surround yourself with. There is so much you can't control in your environment, but setting some intention around these three areas can help move you into your creative routine even on the days you feel like you just cannot muster it. Shaunna's Studio Vibes Playlist: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/studio-vibes/pl.u-55D6XY1t8gmbr9 You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

A picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, maybe Janelle's photos aren't worth a thousand words, but they do tell the story of how much she loves color and how it shaped the course of her now hand-dyed textile brand. And maybe the best part? This all started after her year abroad in Italy, as she searched for a refrigerator on Craigslist, and wound up buying a business instead. And the rest, as they say, is history. We chat about drive, adapting, funneling your energy into projects you really love, and the art of being a little scrappy to get where you want to be. You can find Janelle at https://tonoandco.com and on Instagram @tonoandco. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

As creative entrepreneurs, it is pretty common to have seven plates spinning at once. Because our income relies on us consistently producing, we tend to tell ourselves we cannot take time off to rest, or to take a break from certain tasks. None of us ever begin our journey of creative entrepreneurship by telling ourselves we want a job where we can never take a day off. Because we don't have employers, these fears and rules are self-imposed. BUT, bonus...this means these fears and habits can be self-corrected. We have to see if what our minds construct as a possibility is a real outcome in reality. Taking time to rest or to take breaks from specific projects usually brings with it more productivity, fresh perspectives, and new ideas...not the other way around. We hope this episode encourages you to listen to yourself. To take breaks when you need to. To take vacation days when you need to. To rest when you need to, so you can continue doing work you love for the long haul. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

Today's episode is such a treat. NYT Bestselling author Myquillyn Smith joins us today to talk about her new book, Welcome Home, her love of the generosity of women on the internet, how her business came to be and how she continues to shift and adapt to continue pursuing work she loves. We chat about her unapologetic attitude towards making a home that works for YOU, how to avoid falling into the trap of doing work that everyone else is doing, and how she hopes to continue evolving and all the while, staying true to the work that brings her the most life. You can find Myquillyn on her website https://thenester.com and on Instagram @thenester! You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

Talking to creatives is our favorite, and this one is a treat. Chloe of Boxwood Avenue joins us this week, and she is just as passionate about sharing value and insight with her audience as we are. While it isn't our traditional podcast conversation, we were dying to hear the story of how this city girl came to live on a ranch and build such a unique life, all while building a creative business career around her passions and hobbies! We chat about the story of how Boxwood Avenue (the ranch life and business) came to be, continuing to pursue new dreams and ventures, and the world of Instagram and Design. We know you will love this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it! You can find Chloe on her website https://boxwoodavenue.com and on Instagram @boxwoodavenue! You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

We know. This topic can be one to scoff at. Defining success for yourself sounds like a really fluffy, cliche topic. The truth, though, is this: defining what success really looks like for you impacts the choices you make as a creative entrepreneur every single day. And the other truth is this: we have to continue defining what success looks like for us all along the way. With so much pressure coming at us through the lens of social media, and what perceived success looks like for others, we must find some kind of destination with places to stop and enjoy the view along the way. Considering what success looks like for you also means inviting in the responsibilities and downsides that might come in different phases of success. This week we're chatting about the reasons we believe it is so important for us to define our own success and why it's not cliche at all. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

The Creative Exponent podcast returns this week with a bang, great conversation, and an incredible guest. Heather Bullard is an Editorial Prop Stylist, Creative Director, Producer, and Business Coach - with more than a decade of experience, and on top of all of that, she believes deeply in pursuing your own creative path & creating a rich, fulfilling, career built around the things you care about. Yes, she's our kind of woman. We chat this week about styling and photography, creating classic looks and branding experiences that stand the test of time, as well as how to combat the “sea of sameness” on the internet and why it's so, so important for us as creatives. You can find Heather at www.heatherbullard.com and on Instagram @heatherbullard. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

How can we take care of ourselves creatively? Making time for it is a huge start. But how do we do that? How do we keep our creative time a priority and more importantly, how can we protect how we feel about our creative work? How can we avoid burnout and the angsty feelings of “not getting enough done?” What kinds of things can we do to promote creative self-care? This week, we're talking about what works for us, talking about how we approach our schedules and grace, and how we try to invest in ourselves to keep going. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

2.25 - Who Are You Creating For… by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

You're a creative entrepreneur. You wear a million different hats. And chances are, because you are opportunistic and optimistic or financially motivated, you wind up saying yes to everything. And while sometimes we have to say yes to more than we'd like, the goal is to move into the place where we can become discerning, and say no to the good to make room for the best. Saying no is golden. Saying no when something is not a “heck yes!” is essential to save room in our businesses and in our lives to GROW. We've both been there, and this week we talk about two or three instances where we have had to say no in big ways to pave the way for the better opportunities for our businesses or to provide more thriving in our lives. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

2.23 - Talent Vs. Creativity by Marian Parsons & Shaunna West

Once you have determined what matters to you and your brand, THEN we can begin to build a vision. So often, as solo entrepreneurs, it feels a little lofty to create a vision. But knowing where we are going matters. The unearthing of your vision matters. Your decisions, your yes's, your no's...will all stem from here. Dreams and ideas are singular, not necessarily tied to a holistic picture. A goal is trackable and actionable. A VISION is the picture of your true north. Where am I actually going, long term? Vision is an encompassing view of what you want to cultivate AS you accomplish your goals and dreams. The other truth about vision? It can be simple. It does not have to be a world conquering, consuming picture. Even in its simplest form, vision is impactful and empowers the way you and your business move in the world. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

Ahh, growth and social media. You rarely hear a conversation about Instagram, or any other social media channel, that is not synonymous with growth. And while we know growth does matter as it relates to our creative businesses, this is not a “5 steps to grow your Instagram” podcast episode, but rather, a totally honest, exploratory conversation between friends, one with a large audience and one with a smaller audience. How it works for us, what the frustrations are, the good stuff...what matters and what really doesn't. There are important questions to consider like: How does growing your Instagram account impact your business goals in the short term? Long term? What are you really reaching for? Growth for community? Growth for eventual financial stability? Could it be growth matters because there is pressure simply to have a large audience? Putting a name to why we want to grow matters as much as growth itself. A Compiled List of Key Areas for Instagram Growth in 2020 Referenced in Today's Episode: IGTV series Collaborate with brands and others Longer captions Post more videos Post more selfies Cross-promote IG to your other platforms Use #s Create memes Develop & maintain a brand Participate in trending topics/conversation Run a contest/giveaway Monitor people who tag you Quality over quantity with grid posts Use IG stories Create your own #s Geotag location Tag friends & brands Post pretty photos Socialist and comment Tools/apps Planoly Onlypult Tailwind Facebook Creator Repost for Instagram You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

Sometimes we launch a creative business by accident of sorts. Sometimes the business shifts drastically. Sometimes, as creative entrepreneurs, we long to change or further develop the vision of our business. This week, we talk through the first part of building your vision. Think of your vision as the “could's and should's.” We talk about setting up your core values, non-negotiables, and must-haves. Who are you? Where are you willing to go? What needs to be at the heart of your business? You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative. Additional Note: You can find the work of John and Ashely Marsh (mentioned in the episode) at www.marshcollective.com.

We would argue that everyone is creative, and we give you some more reasons to believe us this week. But just in case you're still on the fence, we talk about practices for the “non-creatives” out there. What are some small, simple ways to shift your perspective or maybe open up the creative work or hobby you had to sideline some time ago? We chat about these this week, and talk about the ways we have used these exercises to stir up our creative juices again and again. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

You've started this business. You've bought the domain, or rented the space or listed your products on Etsy. You are going to do this. Reality sets in and we begin the process of beginning our business, and often, we get bogged down in simple mistakes that shape the very nature of our creative work pursuit. We don't promote our work because it feels a little too sales-centered. We isolate ourselves and keep ourselves alone and outside of a like-minded community. We don't treat our businesses like a business because it is easy to be distracted or to say yes during work hours. Believe us, we understand. This week, we talk about the mistakes we creative entrepreneurs make when we begin their businesses, and as we move forward. We still make them. There are ways to combat these mistakes, and ways we have learned to navigate through them. We hope this week leaves you feeling understood (we've all been there), and encouraged to look at these mistakes we can make with fresh, creative eyes. You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

If there is one thing we have learned about creative work, it is this: You just don't have to do it alone. Being the CEO, COO, CFO, Creative Director, and every employee can be a little difficult to juggle, and while we all might be capable of multitasking, the needs we have as a creative business owner reach further than the tasks. The other thing we know is this: It is good for you to have other voices speak into your business and to give you a fresh perspective. While your own voice should be the loudest, giving a community of people permission to give you new ideas or new approaches, collaborations, or just plain encouragement is NEVER a bad thing. This week we talk through all the reasons why we believe creative community is important, why The Creative Exponent began with community in mind, and the ways you can become a part of it. More than anything, we just want you to have community around you as you walk through your creative journey, whatever it looks like! You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

Working from home. What a gift and a challenge. We certainly know all about it, as both of us have worked from home for the last ten years. It can be a complete joy and almost impossible, depending on the way you approach setting up your space. This week we talk about setting up your creative workspace at home: What does the space need to look and feel like to be conducive to creativity? What's the top priority in the space? Does everything in the space give the space the chance to function for its highest and best use? And lastly, what kind of boundaries need to be set around the space...and you? You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.

Weddings and Happy Mail. Sometimes we just need to talk about the good stuff. This week Shaunna and Marian talk about two good things surrounding us right now. Shaunna gets married, quarantine-style, and talks about why they decided to move forward during this stay-at-home time, and what really matters. We also share some ways you can spread a little light around the world right now with the Happy Mail Movement. Marian began receiving happy mail from different friends and shops and is spreading the love. Drop a little something in an envelope and tag it #happymailmovement so we can see and share. Let's take this time to start a movement with all the good feels! You can find us, Marian and Shaunna, at www.thecreativeexponent.com where we continue our passionate conversation around all things creative.