The Create & Thrive Podcast

#MakingItPodcourse: Business Management | Lesson 26: Manage Your Workflow & Business Systems

26 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the #MakingItPodcourse I’m talking systems and workflow. I share a couple of my own systems, and discuss why setting up systems matter...

#MakingItPodcourse: Business Management | Lesson 25: Manage Your Time

25 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Today on the #MakingItPodcourse we’re talking about time – and how to manage it. I’ll discuss how setting goals & priori...

#MakingItPodcourse: Business Management | Lesson 24: Manage Your Energy

24 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Management of time, focus, systems and more are all well and good… but nothing works (including you!) when you don’t have the energy to m...

#MakingItPodcourse: Business Management | Lesson 23: Manage Your Focus

23 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We live in a world of distractions. Our technology, our family… even our own brain can distract us constantly from the work we set out to do. I...

#MakingItPodcourse: Business Management | Lesson 22: Manage Your Expectations

22 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Welcome to the final week of the #MakingItPodcourse! This week is all about business – and life – management. We’re kicking ...

#MakingItPodcourse: Marketing | Lesson 21: How to Make It: Marketing

21 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  How do you successfully market your business? In lesson 21 of the #MakingItPodcourse I summarise what we’ve learnt this week, and give y...

#MakingItPodcourse: Marketing | Lesson 20: How to Use Social Media

20 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  This is a big one – how to effectively use social media as part of your handmade business marketing. Welcome to #MakingItPodcourse lesso...

#MakingItPodcourse: Marketing | Lesson 19: Use Your Mailing List

19 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Social media is the lifeblood of many handmade businesses. But what happens if IG shuts down tomorrow? You don’t OWN your IG, FB, or Pinterest ...

#MakingItPodcourse: Marketing | Lesson 18: Improve your SEO

18 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to make sure your products get found, this is a crucial lesson! On the #MakingItPodcourse today, we’re talking about Search Engine ...

#MakingItPodcourse: Marketing | Lesson 17: Improve your Visual Marketing

17 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s #MakingItPodcourse lesson is all about visuals. In an ever-more visually-saturated world, we need to have stellar imagery to stand out ...

#MakingItPodcourse: Marketing | Lesson 16: Tell Your Story

16 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Yesterday we answered the question ‘what is marketing?’. Today’s #MakingItPodcourse lesson is focussed on honing in on a vit...

#MakingItPodcourse: Marketing | Lesson 15: What is Marketing?

15 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  This week on the #MakingItPodcourse is about all things marketing! But what exactly IS marketing? Why does it matter? In this lesson, I outlin...

#MakingItPodcourse: Money | Lesson 14: How to Make It: Money

14 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Today we summarise and wrap up our week of Money on the #MakingItPodcourse. What do you need to change? What have you learnt going forward. Li...

#MakingItPodcourse: Money | Lesson 13: Alternative & Passive Income Streams

13 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Do you want to make ALL your income from your handmade business? Why, or why not? Are you less ‘successful’ if you have alternativ...

#MakingItPodcourse: Money | Lesson 12: Make More Profit

12 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In this lesson in the #MakingItPodcourse, I discuss profit. What is profit? How do you create more of it? Why does profit matter to the ongoin...

#MakingItPodcourse: Money | Lesson 11: Get a Handle on Your Bookkeeping

11 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  If you’re not managing your money, you’re not managing your business. Proper bookkeeping and regular financial check-ins are the o...

#MakingItPodcourse: Money | Lesson 10: You May Not Make Money Right Away… & That’s Okay

10 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Did you know that it’s perfectly normal to NOT make any profit in the first year of business? So many people give up when their business...

#MakingItPodcourse: Money | Lesson 9: Charge What You’re Worth

09 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Undercharging is a HUGE problem in the handmade business community. In this episode, I outline why this not only hurts you – but everyon...

#MakingItPodcourse: Money | Lesson 8: What’s Your Money Story?

08 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Welcome to Week 2 of the #MakingItPodcourse! This week is all about money. We’re kicking off with a lesson on your Money Story. This is ...

#MakingItPodcourse: Mindset | Lesson 7: How to Make It

07 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  As we reach the end of a week of #MakingItPodcourse lessons on Mindset – what have we uncovered? Mindset issues are at once incredibly c...

#MakingItPodcourse: Mindset | Lesson 6: The Pull of Procrastination

06 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  How often do you find yourself procrastinating? It’s something we all do – but why? Is procrastination getting in the way of you a...

#MakingItPodcourse: Mindset | Lesson 5: Overcoming Overwhelm

05 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Overwhelm – that feeling that everything is just too much. That we are swamped, snowed under… and we can’t see a way to esca...

#MakingItPodcourse: Mindset | Lesson 4: Confidence & Courage

04 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Do you feel confident when it comes to running your handmade business? Or do you constantly suffer from self-doubt? If so – you’re...

#MakingItPodcourse: Mindset | Lesson 3: The Pitfalls of Perfectionism

03 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In Lesson 3 of the #MakingItPodcourse I discuss the pitfalls of perfectionism. I call myself a ‘recovering perfectionist’ – because...

#MakingItPodcourse: Mindset | Lesson 2: Expectations vs. Reality

02 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In Lesson 2 of the #MakingItPodcourse, I discuss the cognitive dissonance and negative feelings that can arise when we are confronted with the...

#MakingItPodcourse: Mindset | Lesson 1: Facing Fear

01 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In lesson 1 of the #MakingItPodcourse, I talk about fear. The fears we all face, the fact you’re not alone in your fear, and what to do ...

#MakingItPodcourse: Introduction

30 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Welcome to the Making It Podcourse! Today is the first episode of the course, and in it, I tell you what to expect, as well as sharing a littl...

[154] The Success of Soak Society

27 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  So many business come about because the creator sees a problem, and can’t find a solution… so they create it themselves. Soak Soci...

[153] The New Etsy Seller Fees – Let’s Compare the Cost…

19 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

So – Etsy are putting their fees up for the first time in 13 years. And a lot of people are unhappy about it. I’ve shared my brief thoug...

HBT #22 – What’s Your Why?

18 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

     

[152] How to Get More (& Better) Product Reviews {Premium Episode}

13 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This month’s member-exclusive episode was inspired by a question asked on our last Thriver Circle monthly call. “How do I get more of my...

HBT #21 – Keep Your Books

13 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

   Or, listen below:   Want help with starting (or sticking to) a simple bookkeeping system? My bookkeeping basics for small biz worksho...

[151] Being Boss with Emily Thompson

06 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Have you heard of the Being Boss podcast? If so, you’ll know my guest today – one half of the BB duo – Emily Thompson. If no...

HBT #20 – Celebrate the Wins

04 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Listen to the Audio Only:  

[150] 10 Unmissable Episodes from the Last 3 Years

29 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  To celebrate hitting the 150 episodes milestone, I’ve put together a roundup of 10 unmissable episodes from the last 3 years of the show...

HBT #19 – Use ‘I’ Not ‘We’

28 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Listen to the Audio Only:

[149] Improve your Handmade Biz Workflow with these Awesome Digital Tools

24 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Today I’ve got a suite of awesome digital tools and apps that will help you more effectively and efficiently run your handmade business....

HBT #18 – Everything is Figureoutable!

17 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

 

[148] How and Why to Take a Digital Sabbatical {REDUX}

15 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  This week, I am away on my own digital sabbatical. I’ve booked 5 nights in a hotel at the beach, deleted all social media and email apps...

HBT #17 – Use Linktree on Instagram

10 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

 

[147] The Circle of Control {Member Exclusive}

08 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Hey Thriver, Welcome to this month’s member-exclusive episode. In it, I’m getting a little philosophical with you. I want to intro...

Handmade Biz Tip #16 – We all Have Impostor Syndrome

04 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

   

[146] Set up Good Systems with Marina Darlow

02 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  I’ve got an epic interview for you this week! My guest – Marina Darlow – is a systems expert & productivity geek. An eng...

Handmade Biz Tip #15 – Use Etsy Shop Updates to Get Seen

21 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

 

[145] Erin Dollar of Cotton & Flax

19 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  My guest today is the inspirational Erin Dollar. Erin is a textile and surface pattern designer who specialises in minimalist designs with an...

Handmade Biz Tip #14 – Underpromise and Overdeliver

12 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

       

[144] The Power of Pinterest [Member-Exclusive]

10 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  This month, to fit in with the Thriver Circle project (#PinterestChallenge), I’ve done an episode on the power of Pinterest. In it, I ou...

HBT #13 – Use Trello (or Something Like it) to Capture and Organise your Ideas

06 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

     

[143] Growing a Jewellery Design Business with Priyanka Kedia of AYVA

04 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Today’s story is of a woman who has come full circle. Priyanka hails from a family of jewellers in Mumbai, but calls San Francisco home....

HBT #12 – Brand your Craft

29 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

         

[142] Success Story: Bare Hands Bracelets

29 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In this month’s success story, I’m sharing the story of David Wright of Bare Hands Bracelets. David is an ex-tradie, and he has cr...

[HBT #11] Build your Courage Muscle

22 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

   

[141] Grow your Side Hustle with Chris Guillebeau

21 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In this episode I talk with the master of the Side Hustle – my friend Chris Guillebeau. Chris has been running one side hustle after the...

[HBT #10] None of Us are Ever Finished

17 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Handmade Biz Tip #10. Do you ever feel stressed because you’re never *done*? Like your to-do list is ever-expanding. You’re not al...

[140] Goal Setting Do’s and Don’ts for your Business (Member-Exclusive Episode)

13 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  In this member-exclusive podcast episode, I outline a whole bunch of do’s and don’ts for goal setting. I hope this helps you think...

[HBT #9] Sell on Etsy

09 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Sell on Etsy      

[139] How Max & Me Became a Smashing Success with Stacey Howard

07 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  I’m so excited to share this episode with you!...

[HBT #8] Set Up an Order Processing System

01 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Why you need to set up an order processing system – and how I do it.    

[138] Satsuma Street: a Success Story

28 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  “Grandma” and “Kitsch” are NOT the words you would use to describe Jody’s beautiful cross-stitch patterns from her online store Sat...

[HBT #7] Use the Right Keywords in your Product Titles

22 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Use the Right Keywords in your Product Titles    

[137] Set Up an Effective Sales Funnel with Chanelle White

21 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Do you have a mailing list for your handmade business? Even if you haven’t started your business yet, you can start collecting email add...

[HBT #6] 5 Qualities of Successful Business Owners

15 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  5 Qualities of Successful Business Owners  

[136] Why you Need to Stop Feeling Bad about Charging Money for your Craft

13 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  We’ve all felt it. That stab of guilt when you put a price on your work. Even worse – the fear AND guilt when you RAISE the pric...

[HBT #5] The Customer Isn’t Always Right

08 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Handmade Biz Tip #5 – The Customer Isn’t Always Right     Episode referenced in this show: Episode 3 – How to Provid...

[HBT #4] Claim Your Name

01 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Handmade Biz Tip #4 – Why you should claim your name… everywhere!   Love the show? You can show your support by: Leaving a ...

[134] Sharing Our Success Stories

30 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

    Hey Thriver! This little episode is more of an introduction and invitation than anything else. I’m going to start a new series of...

[HBT #3] Find Your Micro-Niche

25 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Handmade Biz Tip #3 – Why you Need to Find Your Micro-Niche   Love the show? You can show your support by: Leaving a review on ...

[HBT #2] Unfollow your Competition

18 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When it’s time to unfollow your competition. http://createandthrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/HB2_Unfollow_the_Competition.mp3 Love the s...

[133] Outsourcing Production with Britta Boeckmann

16 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever thought about outsourcing the production of your handmade goods? Maybe you want to grow beyond what one person can achieve. Perhaps yo...

[HBT #1] It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

13 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  It’s a marathon, not a sprint.     Love the show? You can show your support by: Leaving a review on the C&T FB page. L...

[132] How to Have an Effective Monthly Planning Day (Premium Episode)

09 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

  Do you ever feel like you get ‘stuck’ in the day-to-day of your business? Do you find time has gone by, and you wonder ‘what...

[131] #LookBackMoveForward: A Yearly Review Process

30 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  Welcome to a new year of the Create & Thrive Podcast!   In this episode, I outline a series of 10 questions that will help you review...

Podcast Summer Series ’17 – Handmade Biz is Hard Work

27 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Create & Thrive Podcast: Summer Series ’17 During the Summer Series I’ll be re-playing the best episodes from 2017. T...

Podcast Summer Series ’17 – Staying open to possibilities with Lisa Congdon

20 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Create & Thrive Podcast: Summer Series ’17 During the Summer Series I’ll be re-playing the best episodes from 2017. Th...

Podcast Summer Series ’17 – 7 Tips for Work-at-Home Creatives

13 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  Welcome to the Create & Thrive Podcast: Summer Series ’17 During the Summer Series I’ll be re-playing the best episodes from 2...

Podcast Summer Series ’17 – 10 Truths About Handmade Business

06 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  Welcome to the Create & Thrive Podcast: Summer Series ’17 During the Summer Series I’ll be re-playing the best episodes from 2017. ...

Podcast Summer Series ’17 – The Power of Putting Yourself Out There with Stacie Bloomfield of Gingiber

29 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Create & Thrive Podcast: Summer Series ’17 During the Summer Series I’ll be re-playing the best episodes from 2017. T...

Podcast Summer Series ’17 – Mastering SEO with Feuza Reis

22 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the Create & Thrive Podcast: Summer Series ’17 During the Summer Series I’ll be re-playing the best episodes from 2017. T...

[130] When a Hobby Should Stay a Hobby with Amanda Adams

15 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

You want to turn your handmade hobby into a business… but, should you? Is turning your hobby into a business really what you want? Have you th...

[129] Stop, and Focus on What You’re Grateful For

08 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In one of the last episodes of the year, I want you to take stock of the good – and all the things you’re grateful for in your business j...

[128] The Fears We All Face

01 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  There are so many different fears that we face when starting and growing a business. You may think you are the only one who feels these things...

[127] Self-Leadership with Karen Gunton

25 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever struggle with the fact that the buck stops with YOU in your business? Sometimes, especially if we’re not used to being the boss, we...

[126] The Legalities of Handmade Business with Christina Scalera [Part Two]

17 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  Listen to Part 1 Here. In part 2 of my interview with lawyer Christina Scalera, we talk copycatting and branding. We also discuss the Digital...

[125] Can I have a successful handmade business without Etsy?

11 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes, it feels like everyone is on Etsy. But… ca...

[124] The Legalities of Handmade Business with Christina Scalera [Part One]

03 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered about the legalities around your handmade business? Things like trademarks, copyright, insurance… Can you buy Star Wars...

[123] The 4 Things Holding you Back from Succeeding [REDUX]

26 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  We all face challenges when starting a business – or even further along the track when we are attempting to grow and change. I know I st...

[122] How to be a Misfit Entrepreneur with Kate Toon

18 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever feel like you’re not a ‘real entrepreneur’? Yeah, me too. And so does my guest this week, Kate Toon – who happens...

[121] How to Embrace Change

09 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

How can we embrace change when change is either scary, or not happening fast enough? Changes might be imposed upon your business by outside forces. Y...

[120] Can you make a successful living selling OOAK items online?

05 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  Can you make a living selling OOAK handmade items online? This is a question I’ve been asked many times over the years, and now that I&#...

[119] 10 Steps to Wholesale Readiness

24 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Are you ready to sell your handmade goods wholesale? Is tha...

[118] The Only Race is With Yourself

17 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  Do you feel ‘left behind’ when you look at other handmade businesses? Do you worry that you aren’t doing enough? That your b...

[117] Round Table Q&A with Thrivers in Winchester, England

11 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  This week, I’m bringing you something special! When I was in England recently, I had a Thriver meetup – and 5 wonderful makers (wh...

[116] Do you still think that a job is the best way of making a living?

06 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  Did you grow up before the Internet existed? I did. And boy, how has the world changed in the last 25 years? One of the most profound shifts h...

[115] Business Intensive with Steph Wallace

01 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes, we just need to share our thoughts with someone else. It gets us out of those endless loops inside our mind – where we go round and ...

[114] The Starving Artist Myth with Kerstin Pressler

21 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  Do you ever feel like you will never make any money from your art/craft… or, even worse, that you don’t really deserve to? That it...

[113] Seeking Freedom with Beth Kempton

16 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  How important is freedom to you? For me, it’s essential. Freedom is one of my most core values. I have deliberately designed my life to ...

[112] How to Rock Facebook Live with Jackie Muscat

06 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  Have you used Facebook Live to market your handmade business yet? If so – how did it go (share with us in the comments!). If not –...

[111] Handmade Business is Hard Work

29 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  Handmade business is hard work.   It takes a lot of time. A lot of work. A lot of learning. And a LOT of patience. There are no shortcuts...

[110] Business Intensive with Judy Carlson of Boulder Creek Soapworks

22 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  Today I’m drawing aside the curtain and taking you behind the scenes to share with you one aspect of Thriver Circle community membershi...

[109] The Digital Tools I Use to Run my Businesses – 2017 Edition

16 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

  Do you ever wonder what digital tools and software other people use to run their businesses? I do – and I get asked about various and su...