Clarity can only come from Action “There’s just no way to over-think yourself into true understanding. That’s why I’m walking away from this year with so many lessons.” - Shinah This year, I did NOT hit my financial goals. And I beat myself up constantly… all while creating new offers, trying new business ventures, and feeling like a failure most of the time. AND… I’m feeling really optimistic about the future. How? Because I know this year was all about growth. So I wanted to share my biggest lessons, that will be helpful for anyone trying to go after a more true and fulfilling life:Transitions are always harder and longer than you think - so give yourself grace, allow yourself to feel uncomfortable, and trust that you’ll come out the other side Clarity comes from action - so if you’re in your head spinning about “What should I sell in my calligraphy business?” Stop overthinking and go out there and try some stuff out!It’s ok if you’re not ready to let go of everything to “follow your joy” - there’s an illusion out there that if you just follow your heart, you’ll have a magical life. And I believe that’s true… but it won’t be the magical life you expect. So it’s ok if you’re not ready to completely let go of your current life… there’s a way to find a balance of doing what needs to be done, but also following the fun.And the one lesson underneath it all…. COMPARISON IS THE ROOT OF ALL UNHAPINESS.I was so shitty to myself this year that I got really familiar with that negative, critical voice. I can recognize it immediately now and it’s ALWAYS triggered by comparing myself to:Where other people areWhere I “should be” by nowWhere I used to beFortunately, we all have the power inside us to recognize that nagging voice of comparison and reframe it. I hope you recognize that power in yourself, even if just a little bit. ---The Crooked Calligraphy Holiday Shop is open for one more week - and it’s full of delightful deals on some of our most beloved workbooks & mini courses! Check it out right here.---FOLLOW SHINAH: Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphySUBSCRIBE:Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

I’m officially back from Korea, and settling back into my CEO role as I break down how Crooked Calligraphy has fared in the 10 months since I’ve dismantled & rebuilt it once again!As I process my feelings and look back on the last year, I’ve had quite the love/hate relationship with its performance. While my revenue was almost spot on to my prediction, it came in multiple forms this year as opposed to the past, including:Life coachingMy evergreen webinar funnelCollaborations with fellow creativesMini courses & workbooksLive workshops & bootcampsOne thing has become overwhelmingly clear throughout this learning process - there are two ways of looking at EVERYTHING. And my yearn for perfection has sometimes made it difficult for me to see the “glass half full” side of things.  After this year though, I’m learning to be a little less critical of myself - and PROUD of what I’ve accomplished!Join me in the first episode of this 2-part podcast as I share with you a real, raw look at the numerical wins, lows & hard lessons I’ve faced during my year-long radical business experiment!And DON’T FORGET to check out the Crooked Calligraphy Holiday Shop full of deep discounts on some of our most beloved workbooks & mini courses!! Quantities are limited - so don’t wait to scoop these deals up!FOLLOW SHINAH: Follow along with my Radical Business Experiment of 2023 over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphySUBSCRIBE:Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Dani has always had a life-long love affair with fancy pens and inks.After discovering me through my sweary calligraphy greeting cards on Reddit (crazy right?!?), she began her calligraphy journey in 2018 with my Modern Calligraphy 101 course. When her mental health started to decline due to fertility issues, she made a promise to herself to focus on the future - going all-in and joining my “Calligraphy Bosses Inner Circle” (which would become the beta version of my “Biz Starter Guide” course!!).  I am so happy to share that Dani is now the owner of Rogue Letters & her very own brick-and-mortar calligraphy boutique!Join me in this week’s episode as Dani and I discuss:Why its ok NOT to get everything right in the beginning (even your business name!)How everyone's entrepreneurial journey is distinctively differentWhy you should always be open to the possibilities and say yes to opportunities, because you never know where they may leadI am SO thankful to Dani for opening up and sharing her raw journey, as well as how much my business course helped turn her dreams into her reality!If you are inspired to invest in yourself and begin your own journey, our Cyber Monday sale is going on right now through Friday, December 1st 2023 at 11:59PM PDT. Not only are we offering 3 exclusive bonuses with the purchase of the Pro Calligrapher Bundle, but you’ll also get access to the “Biz Starter Guide” course – the same one Dani began her business journey with (and a TON has been added to the course since then to help you start and grow your own business). Click here for all the details about our biggest bonus package ever & to enroll in our courses!!Follow Dani on Instagram @roguelettersDani's Calligraphy Boutique Dani's Website: Rogueletters.comGretchen Rubin's 4 Tendencies FOLLOW SHINAH: Follow along with my Radical Business Experiment of 2023 over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphySUBSCRIBE:Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

I recently hosted a “Launch Your Profitable Product” Bootcamp, and my students had SO many questions about Etsy. So much so that I added an entire unit to my “Biz Starter Course” walking you through how to sell on Etsy.There are a LOT of strong opinions when it comes to Etsy. And since I have technically sold products on it since 2015, I figured it was time to throw my hat in the ring as well. I know the commerce platform can have its strengths for sellers in ease of setup & not having to worry about logistics. However, there are also a ton of fees associated with selling your goods - and the amount of sellers on the site itself can be overwhelming!In this episode, I discuss the pros & cons of selling on Etsy, including:Two different ways to utilize Etsy to its fullest How Etsy ‘s education can benefit new sellersWhat kind a seller can benefit MOST from joining this platform And stay tuned till the end for a special preview of our exclusive Cyber Monday deal & why NOW is the best time to join our community (you won’t wanna miss this!)Join the waitlist HERE to be the first to know about the Cyber Monday Sale & Get my "40+ Ways To Make Money With Calligraphy" PDF!FOLLOW SHINAH: Follow along with my Radical Business Experiment of 2023 over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphySUBSCRIBE:Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

There are two ways to grow revenue“The calligraphers I see thriving often have a mix of revenue streams.” - ShinahThis episode started when I got an email from someone asking, sincerely and thoughtfully, whether it’s possible to make a living as a calligrapher WITHOUT teaching calligraphy. So I answered her honestly… I myself make the vast majority of my money from my calligraphy online courses.But I also wanted to give you some SPECIFIC NUMBERS and clear insight on how to grow revenue in other ways. In this episode, I explain:How a calligrapher can make $79K IN ANNUAL REVENUE by tapping into 8 different revenue streamsHow that same calligrapher could also make $70K IN ANNUAL REVENUE focusing solely on luxury weddingsHow there are SO MANY potential ways to make money as a specialty calligrapher… and YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE $79K SPREADSHEET right here!One of the crucial first steps to starting a business is gaining a FIRM BELIEF in the possibility and opportunities open to you. I hope this strengthens your belief, just a little bit. 💕---Links mentioned in this episode:2016 Trade Practices and Pricing Guidelines for Professional Calligraphers by Carla Hagan---FOLLOW SHINAH: Follow along with my Radical Business Experiment of 2023 over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphySUBSCRIBE:Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

GROWTH CAN BE INCREDIBLY HARD“One of the most challenging parts of running a business is that it forces you to confront the parts of you that you’ve been AVOIDING your whole life.” - ShinahThis is a deeply personal episode and warning, I get a unabshedly sniffly for the entire second half. I share REAL FINANCIAL NUMBERS from my latest course launch and overall year… and why they are scaring the shit out of me right now. And also, why this year is probably the BIGGEST GROWTH year, emotionally and mentally, that I’ve ever been through. In this week's podcast, I'm walking through: Real results from my recent sale of my Calligraphy Business Starter Guide CourseLessons you NEED TO KNOW before going into your next launchWhy this launch was the cherry on top of an incredibly difficult emotional year I’m sharing this because I hope it makes you feel LESS ALONE. Growing a business is so so hard… and if you’re willing to allow the hard… you emerge a softer, fuller, immensely more strong human being. Sending my love and encouragement to you, wherever you are on your business journey. 💕--Interested in starting your own calligraphy business journey? 👇Register for my FREE "Profitable Calligraphy" WORKSHOP HERE and learn how to take the first steps in your calligraphy journey with my PRO CALLIGRAPHER BUNDLE!!--FOLLOW SHINAH: Follow along with my Radical Business Experiment of 2023 over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphySUBSCRIBE:Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Let's face it - the real reason most people don't start their own business is because of FEAR.Those paralyzing "what ifs" in your mind ignite your true fears - fear of the unknown, fear of the judgement from others, fear of failure.... But what if there was a way to overcome those?Last week. I held my very first "Launch Your Profitable Product" Bootcamp for all my students enrolled in my Biz Starter Guide course. I challenged them to do some HARD things - not just tangibly, but emotionally. When I posed the question to them, "What's been stopping you from starting your business?", the OVERWHELMING majority said fear.In this week's podcast, I'm playing an excerpt from inside one of my Bootcamp live Q&A's where I share:My method for tackling fear head onHow to be BRAVE in the face of itWhat key question you need to answer BEFORE you start your business journey I promise, you are NOT alone in how you feel. But there are plenty of AMAZING things that can happen on the other side of that fear.Interested in starting your own calligraphy journey?? Register for my FREE workshop "Profitable Calligraphy" HERE and learn how to take the first steps in your calligraphy journey with my PRO CALLIGRAPHER BUNDLE!!Go check out Goli's Podcast Lessons from a Quitter HERE!!Follow me on my Radical Business Journey on Instagram @crookedcalligraphy

“Help, Shinah!! Someone wants to pay me to write their wedding song lyrics in calligraphy… is this allowed, or am  I going to get in copyright trouble?!?”The Short Answer? You might be violating copyright law, buuuuuut you probably won’t get in trouble for this one job. The Long Answer? It’s complicated. I’ll try and explain it in easy terms (and keep myself from putting on my former lawyer hat too much 🤓)In this week's episode, I’m nerding out on all things copyright & trademark. I’ll share my hopefully plain-English, not-too-boring explanation of both. We’ll discuss:The definition of Copyright & Trademark and the difference between the twoWhich one affects you more as a creatorThe potential copyright and trademark laws you could violate when selling things containing lyrics, quotes, poems, etc.I’ll also share my own experiences with both & explain exactly how “The Hunger Games” almost shut down one of my first *genius* business ideas- selling scarves and cowls on Etsy (let’s just say I’m happy I found calligraphy amidst my piles of yarn and knitting needles😂).**Missed my “Business Starter Guide” course open enrollment & LIVE Bootcamp?? Get on the waitlist now for the next live round HERE and get my free "45 Ways to Make Money with Calligraphy PDF!!****Disclaimer- I am currently a practicing lawyer with the California Bar. This is NOT personalized legal advice, only my personal experience as a calligrapher and business ownerNew “Profitable Calligraphy” 1-Hr WorkshopLearn how to go from Beginner to Side Hustle in just 6 Months!Register for free: crookedcalligraphy.com/workshop--FOLLOW SHINAH: Follow along with my Radical Business Experiment of 2023 over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphySUBSCRIBE:Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

What kind of person do you picture when you hear the word “entrepreneur”??A lot of us (as I did for most of my life) pictured rich, powerful men full of generational wealth. They were venture capitalists, stock brokers, or heads of giant corporations who drove around one of their many sports cars when they weren’t vacationing on their yacht in the Mediterranean. The problem with that vision?? It’s COMPLETELY untrue. Entrepreneurs these days come in SO many shapes and forms:Moms holding down a side hustle in between shuttling kids to and from sportsCrafters with a true passion for their products that live a quaint but comfortable life selling their handmade goods full-timeImmigrants  and  their children with NO formal business training just making it up as they go along, and successfully building a 6 figure businesses….🙋🏻‍♀️In this episode, I’m debunking the MYTH that entrepreneurs are “born” with an innate talent for business. In reality,  entrepreneurs are MADE- simply through developing skills and an understanding of the industry. Through building a business’ awareness, marketing, & sales I’ll teach you how to change the narrative and realize that entrepreneurship is merely an exchange of value- and not just for the likes of Steve Jobs.------- Ready to take the next step on YOUR own business journey?? ------- My “Launch Your Profitable Product” Bootcamp is starting Sunday October 22, 2023! Together, we’ll spend a week building your business from scratch- leaving you ready to launch your own product just in time for the holidays!Anyone enrolled in my “Biz Starter Guide” can join bootcamp for FREE!! Not enrolled yet?? No worries! Purchase the “Biz Starter Guide” HERE by Saturday October 21st 2023 at 11:59PM PT to be eligible to join the free bootcamp! **Current MC101/MC201 students NOT enrolled in the Biz Starter Guide have the option to purchase the course at any time in your course portal page. See final course modules for enrollment info.New “Profitable Calligraphy” 1-Hr WorkshopLearn how to go from Beginner to Side Hustle in just 6 Months!Register for free: crookedcalligraphy.com/workshopFOLLOW SHINAH:Follow along with my Radical Business Experiment of 2023 over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphySUBSCRIBE:Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word “CUD”??Probably a cow chewing their cud (at least that’s what I think of). BUT, there is an entirely different definition of “CUD” that can help you jumpstart a profitable creative business (stick with me here!)In today’s episode, I define how to use the “CUD Method” (clear, unique, doable) to select the best product to sell in your business. To be successful, your product needs to be ALL 3 of these things:C – CLEAR: Easy for customers to understand and see its use in their lifeU – UNIQUE: Something that sets your product apart from the rest in the marketD – DOABLE: Able to easily be made by you in a timely manner and within cost parametersI’ll also share with you some of my most successful (and not-so-successful) products to date – as well as some of the best products my students have created to sell!AND if you’ve been dreaming of launching your own business but keep setting it on the backburner, my “Launch Your Profitable Product” Bootcamp is starting October 22nd 2023! Each day of boot camp, we’ll be taking concrete steps together to choose a product and launch it into the world for sale! By the end of our 7 days together, you will have a fully marketable product set up to sell (just in time for the holidays!). I’ll be walking you through each step of the process, and answering all your questions along the way!I’m hosting this FREE for anyone currently enrolled in my “Biz Starter Guide” OR anyone who enrolls in the course before October 22nd (SURPRISE!! We’re finally offering the Biz Starter Guide to the public!!! **Doors open October 16th, 2023). Click here to join the waitlist for Bootcamp & Purchase the Biz Starter Guide!! **Current MC101/MC201 students NOT enrolled in the Biz Starter Guide have the option to purchase the course at any time in your course portal page. See final course modules for enrollment info.New “Profitable Calligraphy” 1-Hr WorkshopLearn how to go from Beginner to Side Hustle in just 6 Months!Register for free: crookedcalligraphy.com/workshopFOLLOW SHINAH:Follow along with my Radical Business Experiment of 2023 over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphySUBSCRIBE:Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!