Every week, I share a tactical business lesson + powerful brain reframe drawn from my 10 years of biz experience…to help you get unstuck. The perfect mix of strategy and warmth that never shies away from the truth.
New episodes drop every Wednesday
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Have you ever wanted to land corporate calligraphy jobs, but had no clue where to start? In this episode of Creative Biz Real Talk, I share my experience getting hired by corporate clients, the pro’s and con’s of working with big businesses, and what I would do as a new calligrapher in 2026 to make myself attractive to corporations and desirable to hire.
Ever found a hobby, then had to put it on the back burner because, well, life?? That’s what happened to one of my students, Mian, who found calligraphy in middle school, landed a few jobs later on, and then promptly quit due to her plate being too full. The great thing about calligraphy? It’s something you can ALWAYS return to. Join me as I sit down with Mian and hear about her return to her childhood hobby, and how it turned into a profitable business - all because of one moment of courage and one shaky “yes”.
Chances are if you have thought about starting a calligraphy business, envelopes have crossed your mind more than once! In this episode of Creative Biz Real Talk, I share how I got my own business started with envelopes, and why you might want to take a chance on a few calligraphy envelope jobs as a beginner business owner (they could be a lot more profitable than you think!!).
Wanna know how to build up your portfolio, even if you don’t have a ton of work under your belt?? On this episode of Creative Busines Real Talk, I’ll show you how to create this ‘sales tool’ to help you grow your reach & gain more clients. Whether you’re a calligrapher, illustrator, designer, or service-based creative, this episode will help you create a portfolio that builds confidence and attracts the right type of clients for your business.
Ready to establish your business and build a website, but intimidated where to start?? In this episode of Creative Biz Real Talk, I’m breaking down what your first website actually needs, what you can safely skip, and how to get something live fast—without an overwhelming to-do list, tech overwhelm, or perfectionism. Tune in to see how to get yourself up and running without the stress!
In this informal episode I answer real student questions: What’s a realistic first-year income for a 5-10hr/week side hustle? Can a busy working mom really make this work? How can new calligraphers stand out and get clients?
Join me and my former student, Sophilia, as she shares her journey from worn out teacher, to finding her confidence as a calligrapher. Wondering how did she did it? Tune in as we discuss the 2 tasks I challenged her to take on that helped her gain the confidence she needed to land 4 paying calligraphy jobs totaling over $1500 in sales (in one a MONTHS time)! If you’re trying to find your own inner strength, you don’t want to miss this one!
What do intimacy & creative business have in common?? More than you think! Join me in this episode of Creative Business Real Talk to learn why something doesn’t have to be an innate passion, but how it can be MADE into your passion with intention, structure, and purpose - and how you can start building your creative business TODAY!!
Join me as I sit down with one of my former students, Laura Hess, of Gertie’s Calligraphy! She shares with me what brought her to calligraphy, the biggest hurdles she’s had to overcome starting her own business, and how her career as a calligrapher has surpassed her former job as an accountant (both personally & professionally!).
In this episode: Why waiting to “perfect” your craft is setting you back YEARS. The real reason people buy your work… and it’s not just about skill. Plus, a practical “Beta Business” strategy that lets you earn while you learn!
In this episode, I’m breaking down why failure is essential to building a thriving creative business, and how learning to fail correctly is what separates people who succeed from people who stay stuck. Because most people don’t quit because they fail once…They quit because they decide that failure means something is wrong with them.
Recently, I searched my business on Reddit… only to find some pretty hateful comments. If this was a few years ago, I might have crawled into a corner and ended my business journey. But now, 10 years in, I’m sharing with you how I let these comments roll off my shoulders, how to reframe the negativity, and what I have learned about the keyboard warriors behind the posts (and why YOU shouldn’t listen to criticism either!).
In this episode, I share the stories of two of my students who were paralyzed with the overwhelm of starting their own business. After a few simple tasks, and a dose of course, they were finally able to get over their fears and realize getting started was far less intimidating than they thought (and YOU can, too!).
In this episode, I share my thoughts on the future of calligraphy after I experimented with an “AI Calligraphy Generator”. We’ll dive into my first (and second) impressions of AI calligraphy, and also what it means for the future of calligraphers as technology continuously evolves!
The exact moment one tiny click on Instagram changed the entire trajectory of my life. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “creative enough,” “artistic enough,” or whether calligraphy is something you could ever actually do… this one’s for you.
Two proven calligraphy business pathways that can help you start earning - no huge audience required - and I’m breaking them down step-by-step so it actually feels DOABLE!
Join me as I share with you my best strategies for honing in on the BIG profit-maker in your business and how to keep yourself from falling victim to chasing the little victories.
Join me as I share with you my best strategies for honing in on the BIG profit-maker in your business and how to keep yourself from falling victim to chasing the little victories.
In this episode, Shinah shares her real journey from miserable Ivy League lawyer to building a wildly successful $900K/year calligraphy business… to scaling back down again, all in ten years!
