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In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: Right now I’m taking a good hard look at what I can outsource in my business so that I can be free to do the stuff that I really love. Sara, you mentioned that you have an executive assistant, Jen do you ? If not, I’m really curious to know why not. I genuinely wonder whether it can potentially complicate the goal of a simple and spacious business when we employ people? On the other hand, thinking we can do everything ourselves more easily than outsourcing it can be a trap. I also wondered whether you both have ongoing sessions with your own business coaches or do you feel your work business buddies are enough? - Denise In today’s episode we explore why Sara has intentionally built a team in her business and why Jen intentionally hasn’t, the pros and cons of each path, and why the most important thing when it comes to outsourcing is making the most intentional decision for you and your business. * Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack * Submit your letter * More from Sara * Sara’s Substack * More from Jen * Jen’s Substack And Jen’s flagship group program, Your Simple & Spacious Business, is currently open for enrolment until Monday June 5th if you’d love more guidance and support in building and running a business that truly works best for you. Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: I’m so happy you two are back! I listened to your podcast a few years ago when I was dreaming about creating a business, and now I’m actually starting one, so it’s perfect timing for me.  I have a chronic illness that only allows me to work about 2 hours a day most days (although it fluctuates often from 0-4 hours). I just finished creating my website a few weeks ago, so I’m starting from scratch, and I’m trying to figure out how to manage the marketing side of things because I find social media extremely draining.    Realistically, I think I can dedicate one day a week to marketing without it taking away too much creative time, so I’m wondering, where should I focus my energy? Are there any social platforms or tools where it’s possible to just show up once a week and actually connect with people? I am a pretty extreme introvert, so anytime I try to do more than that, or a little each day instead, I just can’t function. I need fully uninterrupted days to get into the creative flow.  I have put some time into SEO that will hopefully start working in a few months. I’ve also started a blog and I’m posting each one to Pinterest, but I’m just wondering if you have any other ideas? I’m not looking for overnight results - I’m definitely in the slow lane, as Jen would say. I’d love to hear your thoughts. - Claire In today’s episode we share our encouragement for how we would prioritise our marketing energy with limited time, why marketing is not a sure science but instead just one big experiment, and what marketing tasks we would prioritise at different stages of business too. * Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack * Submit your letter * More from Sara * Sara’s Substack * More from Jen * Jen’s Substack * Get Jen’s The Simple & Spacious Deep Dive Kit And the beautiful illustration Emily Charlotte Powell sent to us: Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode we dive into this letter from a listener: I am 6 years into running my business and I feel like I’m running out of steam. The beginning was hard, but then came the “Instagram high” with dozens of thousands of engaged followers. Everything felt so exciting and spacious, I felt like people wanted to see what I’m up to, follow my work and buy from me. Then the pandemic happened and it left me burnt out. For the past two years I was running on the momentum I generated at the beginning of my journey. But the momentum seems to have stopped. Now slowly coming back to myself and my business I can’t help to feel like it’s almost dead. For the past few months I’m working on different ideas to get it all back up and running but I noticed no one cares. I set up a Substack but the engagement is very low, sales are low and so is my mood. Long story short, my main concern is: did they only like me because they didn’t know real me before and now that they do, they checked out and there’s no hope left? How do you run a business when you don’t feel like one of the popular girls anymore? - Unpopular One In today’s episode we share our encouragement for today’s letter writer, our perspective on audience engagement and behaviour evolving, and how we would prioritise re-engaging our audience and breathing fresh life back into our business. * Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack * Submit your letter * More from Sara * Sara’s Substack * More from Jen * Jen’s Substack Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

After a three year hiatus we are so excited to be coming back into your podcast feed today. In today’s episode we re-introduce this show after our 3 year break, share why we’re hosting this podcast on Substack this time around, share some updates from our own businesses since we last recorded, and invite you to submit a letter that you’d love us to dive into in a future episode too. * Letters From A Hopeful Creative Substack * Submit your letter * More from Sara * Sara’s Substack * More from Jen * Jen’s Substack Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to feel confident in their new business. Together they dive into the different ways we can all find courage and confidence in our own journeys, and share some encouragement for today’s letter writer moving forward too. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-47 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is finding more joy, ease, and freedom in their business and life during this time of forced lockdown and is wondering how they can bring this into their daily life when they’re back to business as usual. Sara and Jen dive into how we can bring more freedom, ease, and joy into our businesses and lives and how we can navigate the fears and beliefs that can hold us back from doing this too. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-46 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to decide whether to focus on creating products or building a community first. Today’s letter writer also shares a whole lot of fears that are holding them back at the moment too, so Sara and Jen dive into how today’s letter writer can feel confident and courageous in the pursuit of their business goals while also exploring how best to approach balancing product creation and community building too. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-45 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is wondering how best they can refocus and adjust in their business during this world health crisis. Sara and Jen explore how we can feel grounded in this time, how to re-route some of the goals and intentions that we set for ourselves this year, and why they believe we all still have permission to remain optimistic in our business in this time too. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-44 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is wondering how (and if) they should sell in this time while we all navigate this world health crisis. Together they explore how to make business decisions from a place of integrity in this season, how to navigate any feelings of fear and shame that comes with selling, and how they’re both approaching running their business in this time too. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-43 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to decide where to focus next in their business. Together they dive into the lessons they’ve learned about finding focus in their own businesses and explore their advice and encouragement for today’s letter writer too. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-42 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who wants to take the freelance career they’ve built and turn it into a thriving business instead. Sara and Jen explore the difference between being a freelancer and a business owner, how you can start to develop a vision and a plan for your business, and the mindset shifts necessary to go from freelancer to business owner too. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-41 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is battling with burnout in their business and is struggling to show up and run her business in this season. Sara and Jen share their own experiences with burnout, the lessons they’ve learned, and their advice and encouragement for today’s letter writer too. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-40 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to find focus in their work and is curious as to whether or not they can still build a business on Instagram. Sara and Jen encourage today’s letter writer to think bigger than just Instagram when it comes to building their business, and share how they encourage them to get moving forward too. Today’s letter writer also shares that they live with ADHD, something Sara has recently been diagnosed with too so she shares her advice for anyone navigating this diagnosis right now too. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-39 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

We’re coming back from our break with another ask us anything episode, diving into topics like how to deal with a bad client experience, how to prepare for starting a family when you’re self employed, whether or not to put your prices on your website and lots more! Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-38 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling to decide what to automate, eliminate, and delegate in their business. Sara and Jen share their own approach to this in their business, the lessons they’ve learned, and their advice for anyone else struggling with this too. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-37 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is struggling with their work being copied online. Copycats is such a tricky subject that so many of us have to navigate along the way, and in this episode Sara and Jen share their own experiences of being copied, how they deal with it, and the mindset they embrace when it comes to the inevitability of being copied too. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-36 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode Sara and Jen are diving into more listener questions, from our thoughts on Instagram potentially hiding like counts, our advice for being organised, how we motivate ourselves when we don’t feel like doing the work, navigating trolls online and more. Links to the pages and articles mentioned are at: https://www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-35 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode Sara and Jen are answering listener questions, from our advice for starting something new, navigating quiet seasons in business, how we approach setting short and long term goals, how to deal with people who don’t understand your business and more. Links to everything we mentioned will be on our websitehttps://www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-34 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode Sara and Jen respond to a letter writer who is curious about what it actually looks like to build a community online. Together they explore the biggest lessons they’ve learned about building community online, why they don’t believe in trying to hack your way to audience growth, and why they believe the most important part of building a community online is the connection you create and find within it. Links to everything we mentioned will be on the website at www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-33 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com

In today’s episode Sara and Jen are talking all things mailing lists and newsletters. Together they dive into building a mailing list, opt-in incentives, subject lines, how to decide what content belongs on your newsletter and more. If you’re thinking of starting a newsletter or want to be more intentional with the one you’ve already built this episode is for you. We have a just a few spaces left for The Inner Circle now! Find out more about Jen’s new guided journal, Homecoming. Links to everything we mentioned will be on the website at www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com/episode-32 You can write us a letter at our websiteMore from SaraMore from Jen Letters From A Hopeful Creative is produced by Sonics Podcasts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.lettersfromahopefulcreative.com