Real Talk with Tian SEASON 2 is here

Season 2 is here🥳🎉

I am so excited to share that the Real Talk with Tian podcast is back with a fresh season where we’re dishing the dirt on running a creative business. 

Head over to the official new home of the podcast @tianconnaughton for more information.

Find the Real Talk With Tian podcast

     Apple Podcast
     Spotify

     YouTube

     Libsyn

     TIANCONNAUGHTON.COM

Are you struggling to figure out your next step?

Happy Wednesday. How is your week going? I hope you’re having a productive and FUN week. 

It’s almost 9am here on the east coast and as I’m sitting down to a cup of tea before heading into my office to start the day, I’m looking around at my kitchen and thinking how blessed I am. Now, my kitchen is nothing fancy, but what I’m thinking about is the FREEDOM I have in my day. 

I set my own schedule and I don’t leave the house if I don’t want to, except to pick up grocery and our laundry service because neither pickup/deliver (aww, living in the sticks). Thanks to podcasters like @bizchixpodcast and @rachrodgersesq who empower women to outsource household chores to make room for life and family. 2020 I finally listened and now I have more time for other more worthwhile things than separating the whites! 

Anyways, I say all that to say, 10 years ago, I didn’t, nay, I couldn’t imagine this life where I work on amazing projects and get to meet wonderful people like you all, while having the freedom to make dinner every night, be home when the teen gets home (that’s a biggie), and all the other family stuff we do. 

So, if you’re struggling. You’re just banging your head on the wall (or the desk in your cubicle, or crying in the bathroom at work again - no judgment, gurl, I have been there!) because nothing is working, you’re stuck and can’t find a way out, there is a better way. 

First, know you’re not alone. 

Second, dry your eyes, leave the bathroom (wash your hands first). 

Then get to work... on you! 

PHASE 1: Start with a brain dump of what an ideal day would look like if you were doing the work you were called to do. Nothing is too small. Nothing is too silly. Just open up and really imagine your perfect day. 

Write it all down. It won’t be pretty, just get it out of your head. 

Got it? Good! Now, let’s get to work. Let’s make it happen! 

PHASE 2: Take that very next step. Is it a coach/mentor, taking a course, creating more content? Maybe you know or don’t know the next step. That is your homework, to figure out your next step. What you’ve done before hasn’t worked. So do something different. Ask for help.

Share your homework below in the comments.

How to start your week?

Sitting down with my planner and a hot cup of lemon/ginger tea.

Sundays are perfect for reflecting on the previous week and to plan ahead for the week to come...

Next up, once I’m done planning for the week is to go sit on the couch with a book - @tomiadeyemi Children of Virtue and Vengeance 

What are you doing today? 

Are you including some personal self-care time?

New design: Konoko Falls Shawl

Happy Fri-Yay. We made it!

EXCITING NEWS: Konoko Falls Shawl is now live on Ravelry designed as part of the Knit North Yarn Crawl.

I am so thrilled to share my new crochet shawl design, inspired our anniversary trip to Jamaica where we experienced the Konoko Falls first hand.

I would love for you 

1) to go over to Ravelry 

2) find the Konoko Falls Shawl, 

and 3) give the pattern some love by clicking to SAVE IN FAVORITES and ADD TO YOUR QUEUE.

Get your pattern copy of Konoko Falls Shawl today. 

Go here --->> https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/konoko-falls-shawl

Pattern Grading Made Easy Q+A

Power pose for today’s coaching and PGME Q+A session. 

Empowering women to get unstuck, to goals and have a partner to achieve them is what working with me is like. .

Even with #techediting, I can’t help but want to see you grow and reach that next level, even when you’re fighting tooth and nails, digging in your heels with excuses like “it’s not perfect yet!” You might not know that that form of perfectionism is you procrastinating because you’re afraid.

You’re afraid of failing and everyone seeing it - news flash, nobody looking at what you’re doing that close. Plus, you can’t fail if you’re learning from the experience, right?

Or you’re afraid of success, of what your life will become - which is even worse than the fear of failure. 

And this is why I believe so much in coaching because while you can do it alone, but imagine going through the jungle and facing all the wild animals and traps and vines, you slashing away and getting turned around because you missed a turn on the map. You’re still heading towards the mountain, but your path looks like a zig zag. Now, imagine that trip through the jungle with a guide that’s done the trek a thousand times and can show you the shortcuts and the areas on the trail to avoid. 

THAT IS WHAT COACHING IS! Having a support partner to help guide you along the way.

Now, I say this ALL the time, and if you’ve done any coaching with me you’ve heard this a million times and I will continue to say it forever because it applies - give yourself some grace to learn and make mistakes. Don’t beat yourself and quit just because it was as perfect as you had in your head. Just keep moving forward, one small step in front of the other and you’ll reach your goals.

If you could use a guide on your journey, I’d love to work with you. Let’s chat. Link in bio or go to tianconnaughton.com/coaching

Brand New Instagram Account

EXCITING NEWS! 

Welcome to our brand-new account for Tian Connaughton – business coach | strategist – helping makers and creative turn their side hustle and hobby into profitable full-time gigs! 

As you may already know, my name is Tian. My team and I run TianConnaughton.com, where we help women business owners launch, grow, and scale their businesses. 

I also run @knitdesignsbytian where I share my knit and crochet designs and tech editing, as well as teach and coach other designers and tech editors to grow their businesses.

With almost a decade working as a full-time creative entrepreneur, with the amazing successes I’ve experienced in the past few years, I’m separating these 2 sided of my business so I can continue to support you. 

So, if you’re a female business owner, you’re finding some successes, but your struggle for consistency, to work less do you can enjoy the fruits of your labor, you’re ready for exponential and sustainable growth with active and passive income, and to develop a diversified income streams, then follow us here @TianConnaughton. 

With this new account, we will be able to deep dive into creating launch strategies and systems, marketing and content creations, how to grow your business for the long haul, and much more. 

If you want to make more money in your business without working more, I got you! 

If you’re a maker or creative, you want to turn your hobby and side hustle into your full-time gig, stay tuned.

Pattern writing tips for designers and tech editors: Grammarly

Pattern Writing tip for Designers | Tech Editors: GRAMMARLY

Grammarly is a free writing tool to make your pattern writing CLEAR!

This tool is so amazing. It’s great for catching those little errors that you miss when you’ve re-read the same line 100 times that can really ruin the overall pattern. It’s my go-to for #pattenwriting and #techediting

Do you use Grammarly? What are your favorite tools for pattern writing and tech editing?

Use it for your romance copy and pattern instructions.

Frustrated about your pattern sales?

"I've been a little frustrated about pattern sales...”

Can you relate? Gurl, you are not alone. This is a common struggle for many designers that I work with.

Here’s the reality, if you’re only making sales when you release a new pattern and your portfolio of existing designs are just sitting there collecting dust, then you need the Pattern Launch Plan (book). Pattern Launch Plan is a step-by-step marketing and promotional strategy plan to get you from overwhelmed to being a boss. 

Pattern Launch Plan is not an overnight fix, but it will give you the tools to start making revenue consistently so you can get off that “constantly releasing new patterns to make a sale” hamster wheel and learn how to make consistent sales without being sleazy. 

Ready to get started? 

Ready to STOP doing ALL the things with little result and START enjoying the making again? Get your copy of Pattern Launch Plan today or book a coaching session. Go to TianConnaughton.com 

Now it’s your turn? Are you struggling with pattern sales? Are you creating and releasing new patterns because THAT is the only way you’re getting sales? What would your design business look like/afford you and your family if you had consistent and predictable pattern sales? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop them in the comments or feel free to DM me. 

Let’s bust the stigma of talking about making money in your crafty biz. I know you LOVE what you do but doesn’t mean you have to be a starving artist!

Finally want to learn to grade knit and crochet designs like a pro

Do you ever wish you could have someone to show you what to do so you could FINALLY do the thing?

We totally understand. We get it cuz we’ve been there. And that’s why I’ve created Pattern Grading Made Easy: Grade your next knit and crochet pattern like a Pro! to help you not only LEARN to grade but to create a process that is FAST and ACCURATE.

If you’re like previous PGME students, this is a no-brainer.

We can’t wait to work with you. Head over to the website and ENROLL TODAY. Go to https://bit.ly/patterngradingselfstudy 

Stop struggling and start enjoying the designing process.