All right, this is going to make you a little mad but it’s oh-so-important that you read this! I hear this subject come up far too often and I know it’s at the root of what holds so many of us back.
Here’s the thing: we all start teeny tiny small with our studio in our kitchen and working in between nap times, full-time jobs, and dinner. We all start as hobbyists, tinkerers, enthusiasts, etc. We pay for our supplies with coupons and sell at tiny craft fairs like little kids with lemonade stands.
But guess what, you are NOT that anymore!
You are a professional, an artisan, and a guru. You know SO much about your craft. You are bursting with talent. You have a skill unlike most people.
So why aren’t you shouting that from the rooftops and blasting it on your website?
If you think of yourself as a hobbyist it will hold you back big time. Consider this: when someone introduces themselves to you, which pitch sounds cooler.
“I sew kids’ clothes.”
or
“I create sustainable, eco-friendly children’s clothing that is not only adorable but can be passed down from one bundle of joy to another.”
The confidence in the second introduction makes you interested. You want to know more about what they do and where you can find their work.
By taking yourself professionally, others will too! So many of us hide what we do. It’s as if we’re embarrassed to admit what we love to do and how we make a living. But guess what? Most people would LOVE to do what you do! They’re scared to take the steps you’ve taken, though. They’re terrified to go from a ‘normal job’ to a fulfilling, unusual, invigorating job. If you shine with confidence about what you do, you not only benefit your business, but you inspire other people to follow their dreams.
I can hear your objections already:
- “But I’m self-taught. There’s no way I can call myself an artist.” Guess what, so was Van Gogh.
- “But my materials aren’t high-quality enough for me to charge the professional prices.” Then it’s time to buy the high-quality materials! You need to think about what price point you want to sell at and how you want others to view you. If you want your customers to shell out the money you want, you need to prove you’re not some scammy lady hawking wares taken from a Taiwanese boat.
- “But my studio is only my kitchen.” No one needs to know that! Besides, if you really want that gorgeous, skylit studio, that’s a great goal to work toward. (Believe me, I’m making more than ever this year and my studio is in my kitchen next to my fridge. I chose to keep this small space so that I could have more expensive, adventurous trips with my boyfriend.)
My goal for all of you today is to say out loud, “I am a professional ______.” Make up a term for yourself and begin to identify with that term. For me, I’m a pen and ink virtuoso. I’m Premium Megan.
Once you identify yourself as this professional artisan, others will too because it will show in your copy, in your photography, in your speech, even in the way you carry yourself in public.
So, I want to know…what type of professional are you? Leave me a comment below! I can’t wait to see what you are.
{Featured image via 30 Media}
Hi Megan!
Wow, this topic really speaks to me. I’ve used all those excuses for not taking myself seriously, especially “but I’m self-taught.”
Thank you for helping me realize that I need to take more pride in what I love to do and not to let these (self thought) limitations stop or diminish what I do.
Hi, I’m April and I’m proud to be a Professional Memory Maker (Photographer)!!!!
I love it! I’m so happy you’re proud enough to proclaim you are a Professional Memory Maker. That’s certainly how your clients see you.
I am a stay at home mom and artisan and have always had issues on how to describe my work to be taken seriously. When I tell people what I do i usually stumble through it ( Um…. I am a crafter….. artisan…). To me crafter conjures up gramma images and Artisan just doesn’t seem to roll off my tongue right away (except today!). I am working on it though! I design vintage inspired wedding favors, gifts and greetings and hope to really amp up my business over the next year. Thanks for the post!
You are so welcome! I think it’s hardest for moms because they are so used to putting others first and being judged by other women as ‘unmotherly’ if they list their achievements and dreams before that of motherhood. But say it loud and say it proud because one day the kids will be out of the house and all you will have are those dreams and goals to focus on! And by that I don’t mean that kids are bad but simply that you have the right to be proud of what you do and love and to put yourself first.
I am a fashion jewelry artisan. I know I have chosen a saturated field, however, I intend to shine. I am learning and doing. My moto is : Handmade Jewelry for the little girl who aspires to look like a princess and the woman who aspires to look like a queen.
Deborah, I would really encourage you to look at your target market. Is it really that broad? Because if I’m a woman wanting to look like a queen, I don’t want to look over to my right and see a little girl trying on play jewelry. It cheapens my experience and makes me wonder about the quality.
Thanks for this great post; I couldn’t agree more!
Once I started to see myself as the CEO of my life and my business,rather than merely someone who was “trying to make this freelance writing and marketing thing work,” all sorts of opportunities started to come my way. Now I’m booked solid and happy as a clam! 🙂
Like Marie Forleo says, if you behave like you are the best in the world at what you do from Day One, pretty soon you’ll become the best in the world at what you do.
I’m Kimberly, and I’m a writer and marketer who works with creative small biz owners and solopreneurs to help them share their gifts with the world online.
Love it!!! Actually, I’m off to your site because I would love to have you write a guest post for us. 🙂
That fired me up! I’m a Professional Interior Decorative Paint Artist! Thanks for the light bulb.
Ooh, what a great title! I’ve never met a Professional Interior Decorative Paint Artist before but now I really want to!
I am a professional fashion designer branching out into surface pattern design. I have also started to write a blog http://www.lifesariott.com and I have finally started to believe in myself. For all of those out there that need a little motivational wisdom I want to share some of my favourite quotes;
“You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
Christopher Columbus
“Begin what you want to do now. We are not living in an eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand – and melting like a snowflake.”
M.B. Ray
You don’t get to choose how you’re going to die. Or when. You only get to decide how you’re going to live. Now.
Joan Baez
Life’s a riott!
Ros
I am an art and craft guru. Thank you for sorting that out for me. I have been in the art and craft industry for 30 years as a Teacher, Sales Rep, Warehouse Manager and Craft Shop Owner. I have probably forgotten more craft activities than most people have had a go at. I majored in art at teachers college and have painted wall murals for doctors surgeries and private homes. It is about time I saw myself as a talented artist. Thank you for this insite.
If you’ve been in the industry for 30 years, you’re absolutely a pro!
Thank you so much for this post. I am a self taught fashion designer/Upcycler who always thought my designs were not good enough because I did not attend school. So I always down played what I did and it has done its damage. I am now starting to realize my self worth. So today I say hi I’m Tommie I recycle,reconstruct,and reinvent women’s clothing and accessories.
Awesome, Tommie. And how do your products make women feel? That could be a crucial part of your branding. What do you offer these women through your products?
Thank you for the food for thought. With so many people designing/recycling clothing I have been asking myself what makes me different since I am not reinventing the wheel. I have just opened a small shop on Etsy – chosengeneration.etsy.com take a look if you can and comment please. Thanks
I would definitely say you should spend the afternoon with your camera and its manual so that you can play with macro settings and white balance. Great pictures are what make you a success on Etsy. I would also look at how other fashion sellers photograph their work. I’d love to see them on people or a mannequin so I can imagine what I would look like in them.
Thanks for the advice.
Yes, I want that gorgeous skylit studio… with the tree !
So true, I just found your post while in the midst of a pricing discussion on Etsy… couldn’t agree more !
So here I am, Anne, glass artist. My chosen area of expertise is glass beads with a twist, as in miniature sculptures that aim to capture a moment of emotion and beauty.
I am so glad I read this post. I am that mother who creates in my kitchen during nap time, work and dinner. I started selling my handmade hairbows and headbands in 2007. I loved it and was becoming fairly successful. In 2008 I stepped away from my business and am now starting over. I would say the biggest thing that has heal me back is that I never took myself seriously even though in the back of my mind I could envisioning myslef owning childrens boutique selling handmade one of a kind unique creations. So here I am, giving it a second chance. This time I will take myself seriously and I will attain my long term goal.
I’m Amanda and I create pretty, unique and whimsicle accesories for girls, One of a kind creations of all things girly and cute.
Hello Megan,
After reading your article, I thought as if you were addressing me directly! Wow.
Ijust love clolorful natural stones, would touch and feel them whenever I saw some attractive piece. Buy various things made of natural stones even if I didn’t need them. Always wanted to do something creative,but couldn’t think of anything.
Then,one day I decided to start making necklaces !
I had no clue how to do it. I asked here and there. Felt a bit confident,made a few pieces. Gave them away to little ladies in the family. They liked my work. Slowly some very serious and professional ladies noticed my work and offerred to buy my necklaces, I was very shy of quoting a price to my work and couldn’t believe they really wanted to pay me for my necklaces.
Over a period of many years of learning about nature’s work and names and qualities of many stones, I developed a lot of confidence.
Then a time came and I could easily ignore those who laughed at my unmanly hobby.
I had the opportunity to set up my lemonade stall a couple of times, paid out more money in rent and other expenses than made in selling my work.
I felt very happy when recently I sold a big quantity in an exhibition in London, England. I thought , I must be doing something right, after all these intelligent people who are buying my work wouldn’t dish out their hard earned money just like that.
I have just joined Etsy. My first ever attempt to go on line. Thanks to a friend who runs a shop here successfuly.
Megan, thank you for writing such a wonderful article for people like me.
Great article! I struggle when trying to explain what type of artwork I do, and struggle with pricing to make an actual profit.
I’ve got to remind myself that my TIME is worth charging for! It took nearly 2 additional hours, start to finish, last time someone asked me to take care of printing invitations for them (instead of sending my customer to the printer with the file I created)… Drive time, “quick” stop to buy cardstock, wait time at printer… Ugh.
Aaaaand guess who didn’t charge for those 2 hours.
I am an artist, and I create fun handlettered artwork. I personalize and customize everything from rocks to paper to clothing.
(And I’m still going to have to work on the description of what I do.)
My Etsy site, if anyone reading would like to see:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/WordArtStudio
Believe me, Sarah, I’ve been there. It’s best to overcharge for special projects like that to account for those unexpected incidents. I would really recommend watching the Etsy Labs interview with Megan Auman and Tara Gentile on the Art of Pricing for Profit.
Oh, and triple or quadruple your prices!!!!
Hi Megan,
I felt your energy and enthusiasm in your article about taking your business seriously. I have recently begun to do this with my sewing business and my specialty making cushions. I have been on Etsy for many years but never had a shop. I would post and try to sell some sewing creation now and then, without success or even one person messaging me.
Now, I set up a shop and although not all items are related, they are all custom made by me. I would like to expand my cushion products somehow to draw more customers. I am working on it and now want to do a nice banner and rethink the name of my shop. (Etsy.com – shop name: cushncovers)
I used to feel guilty if my husband found me on the computer. I was always working on my website, or on Etsy or answering a customers email. Although I was working and actually having “FUN”, I would hurry up and finish and get off. Now I just let him know I am working. Sometimes I go into great detail to explain and it isn’t that he needs to hear it, he is just being friendly.
Taking my sewing business ( I have other jobs but this is the one I adore!) more seriously has already brought me more traffic. Thank you for your article. It encouraged me even more!
I’m so happy for you, Cathy! If I had to explain what I was doing to my boyfriend every time he found me on the computer, I’d never get anything done. Haha. It sounds like he supports you though. That’s so important!
Boyfriend? Dare I say….husband? He is my best friend though, like the boyfriend he used to be! LOL
I am a professional recording artist (musician), this post spoke to me also, I always felt as if I was a joke whenever I would think of telling people what I love to do and how I want to make a living , thank you for expanding my mind a little more, still a lot to go though…
oh my goodness! I deceided this as the day I would start taking myself more seriously and actually get my butt into gear and be more professional so I was making a vision board on Pinterest and pinning a dream studio in paris and came across this article, it was like you woke me up with this post, how amazing, thank you so much.
I am a rainbow positivity artist bring joy and colour to the world.