I’m taking a little break from the Podcast and here’s why… 

“This is the scariest thing I’ve ever done and I’m terrified.” - Shinah

FIRST: Crooked Calligraphy is NOT going anywhere

In fact, I’ve created a brand-new FREE CALLIGRAPHY STYLE MONTH for March 2024. 

✍️ So, if you want free lessons on how to think about style BUILDING BLOCKS, so you can level-up your CONFIDENCE and go after truly dreamy clients… SIGN UP RIGHT HERE. 

SECOND: I am taking time to start something new

And I don’t know exactly what it is yet. 

What I do know is that this new branch of my business will: 

• Help you to move towards a life that FEELS TRUER to yourself 
• Take up my Thursdays and Fridays from here on (so calligraphy will be Mon-Wed only)
• Be raw and messy and exciting and will involve some kind of weekly PODCAST or BLOG-type sharing

👉 I don’t even know what I’m selling yet in this new business, but if you wanna come along for the ride, come follow me on my Personal IG @shinahchang 

THIRD: Thank you for your support on this journey

This podcast means so much to me, I’m so THANKFUL that you’re here, and I hope you’ll continue with me on this weird ride called life. 😉

Let’s get into part 2 of how to start a calligraphy business with arguably one of THE most important things – how to attract customers & keep them with the services you’re providing!
There is a LOT that goes into starting a business – which might sound incredibly scary. But this is stuff though where you actually need to show up and courageously keep trying. Of course, you don’t need to do EVERYTHING when you’re first starting out- but you need to know the IMPORTANT things to do to establish yourself (and I’m here to tell you what they are!).
In this episode of The Shinah Show, I break down the essential things you should do when starting your business to attract and keep customers. We’ll cover:

• Why developing your brand identity FIRST will make everything else infinitely easier
• The art of crafting your online presence via a website (and all things social media)
• The “who/what/where” of finding your ideal clientele
• How to keep customers using the “5 P’s” 
• A Cliff’s Note’s version of the beast that is Etsy

I promise following this outline & narrowing down your to-do list will help save you from slipping into decision-making paralysis, and allow you to streamline your customer acquisition strategy. It's not nearly as overwhelming or scary as you think - and totally doable. If I can do it, you can too!

Read a Blog version of this Podcast right here!

RESOURCES:
Check out Episode 52 if you're a brand new beginner HERE!!
Wanna hear more about the Pros & Cons of Etsy?? I break it all down in Episode 77!

FOLLOW SHINAH: 

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphy

SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

I’m de-mystifying the legal & financial steps to officially setup your calligraphy or art business.  

“I promise, by the end of this episode, this stuff will feel less overwhelming and more DOABLE.” - Shinah

If you’ve ever dreamed of making money with your art, but this scary logistical stuff is what’s stopping you, grab a notepad ‘cause we’re getting into the nitty gritty!

LEGAL SETUP

1. Choosing a Business Name
2. Deciding on a Legal Structure: Sole Proprietorship v. LLC v. S-Corp
3. Evaluating permits using my “Top-Down” System

FINANCIAL SETUP

1. Separating business & personal finances
2. Tracking & Invoicing Software
3. Bare Minimum Contracts
4. Business Insurance - General and “Day Of”
5. Sales Tax Considerations

Read a BLOG version of this podcast right here.

OTHER RESOURCES

• EPISODE 52: The Easiest Way to Start a Business - If you are BRAND-NEW and want to start with a more casual "Beginner Business” 
• Contract Template for Calligraphers
• Path to a $79K Calligraphy Biz FREE GUIDE 

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FOLLOW SHINAH: 

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphy

SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Betcha didn’t know I was a huge fantasy nerd🤓… and other (maybe) interesting facts 

In today’s light-hearted episode, I share 13 things you probably didn’t know about me!

Including:

1. The 21 countries I’ve traveled to
2. The martial arts black belt I never use…
3. What I do in my 40s that I would NEVER DARE to do in my 20s

Hopefully you feel like you know me a little better. If there’s anything that surprised you, or that you can relate to… DM me on Instagram and let me know!

(Oh and here’s the brand-new Crooked Calligraphy website that I was obsessively working on today)

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FOLLOW SHINAH: 

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphy

SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

What could you accomplish if you no longer feared failure?

"I’m more open than ever to feeling it ALL… success, disappointment, shame, and extraordinary gratitude." - Shinah

If you go after something brave and a little unusual… you WILL face failure and disappointment. 

Here’s what I do so that those feelings make me stronger, instead of crushing me:

1. Three PRACTICAL things I do to re-frame thoughts of failure, and
2. The ONE PERSPECTIVE SHIFT I keep coming back to that helps me embrace all of life, the good and the ugly

Because the confidence that comes from being “successful” is a conditional and fragile thing… especially when compared to the quiet POWER of being willing to fail.

Link to Episode 215 of the "We Can Do Hard Things" Podcast

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FOLLOW SHINAH: 

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphy

SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

"I made more money than my husband, for the very first time in my life... with calligraphy!" - Priscilla Basilio, Crooked Calligraphy Student

Today, I’m interviewing someone who went from: 

1. Not knowing anything about calligraphy... to
2. Bringing in more money with her calligraphy business last December than her husband did with his full-time job! 

Priscilla of Priscilla Basilio Design Studio  has SUCH an inspiring story to share. ✨ She never imagined she could own a business, let alone grow it to replace her full-time income-  and our calligraphy and business courses are what helped her along the way. ✨

Join me as I hear all about her journey and how she went from not even knowing what calligraphy was (!!!!), to finally beating her husband in monthly income 😏, and what her future has in store!

"They were literally life-changing. If you're curious at all about learning calligraphy, just take Shinah's courses - you won't regret it!" - Priscilla

Priscilla's IG @priscillabasilliodesignstudio

 ✍️ Our Signature Calligraphy Courses & Bundle are available to purchase RIGHT NOW!!✍️

Modern Calligraphy 101, Modern Calligraphy 201 & our Pro Bundle are open for enrollment until Friday, January 26th at 11:59PM PDT!
The Pro Calligrapher Bundle gives you everything you need to go from complete calligraphy beginner, to developing a signature style, to SELLING your calligraphy so you can start to bring in some fun side income.  Come check them out 👉 👉  HERE!

FOLLOW SHINAH: 

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphy

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SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

If you’re afraid to follow your creative dreams, I’m going to give you some perspective today that will totally DISARM your fear (and it’s not what you might think).

I’ve been encouraging people to go after their creativity in the form of calligraphy for 8 years now. I’ve sold courses that cost $500 or more – and I’ve also heard EVERY excuse under the sun why people don’t want to take that first step on their creative journey.
All those objections have one common thread – they are born out of FEAR.

Join me in this podcast as I share with you:

• The craziest objections I’ve heard born out of fear, and how people overcame them
• Why you should acknowledge your fears, but not let them run the show
• How to find YOUR own definition of creative success
• How to utilize your fear objectively as a tool rather than run away from it

I hope this episode shows you that your fear is not that special – or unique for that matter. Don't buy its bullshit, and certainly don’t let it keep you from your dreams.

My FREE “Newbie to Pro Calligrapher” Challenge is going on RIGHT NOW through January 19th!! I'm teaching daily calligraphy lessons throughout the week that culminate in my LIVE webinar - where I show you how to go from a totally new calligrapher to owning your own business in SIX MONTHS!

There is still time to catch up & join in on the fun - all for FREE! Register HERE!

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FOLLOW SHINAH: 

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphy

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SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Genell of @speciallyinked is a BRUSH PEN calligrapher (yes, not all calligraphers use pointed pen!) who started her calligraphy journey as a fun venture - unaware of her savvy marketing skills at the time.
She had never really thought of herself as “creative”. But after taking my Modern Calligraphy 201 course (and showing her friends her progress along the way) Genell finally gained the confidence she needed in her abilities... just not her “business abilities”...
After setting down her brush pen for 2 WHOLE YEARS doubting she could pull off launching her own business, she picked it back up on a whim to create a card for a baby shower. Little did she know that simple card would be what reignited her passion to pursue her business dreams once again.

Join me as Genell and I discuss:

• How tapping into your friends as a creative resource can also cultivate your following at the same time
• The Dunning-Kruger Effect and why starting a business can leave you deep in the Valley of Despair
• How the quest to be perfect is SILLY, and figuring it out messy is still figuring it out 
• Genell’s very first launch and how it went – from product, to pricing, to sales – and what gave her the guidance she needed to pull it off!

 If you’ve ever wanted to start a business but gotten stuck one way or another, you DON’T want to miss this powerful episode!

Genell's IG @speciallyinked
Genell's Etsy Page

**Have you registered for my FREE “Newbie to Pro Calligrapher” Challenge yet?? It's happening January 14th-19th and everyone is welcome! I’ll be teaching FREE, simple lessons so you can learn calligraphy in bite sized pieces that keep creativity FUN!

I’ll be going LIVE each day to teach interactive lessons & give you a solid foundation to begin your calligraphy journey (oh, and there’s also some SWEET prizes we’ll be giving away)! **

There's still time to join! Register HERE!

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FOLLOW SHINAH: 

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphy

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SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

psst... Join our FREE 5-Day Calligraphy Challenge (starts Jan 14, 2024)

If you’re hoping for more creative exploration and expression in 2024, I’m here to bust some myths about what it truly means to be “creative” and explain why as a society we need to re-think creativity just like we’re re-thinking SEX.

Join me in this episode as I debunk some of the most common myths of creativity like:

• 'You should enjoy creativity for creativity’s sake – the art is enough to keep you happy!'
• 'You should ALWAYS feel pulled to be “spontaneously creative.”'
• 'Once you find your creative passion, it’ll just click and you’ll effortlessly AMAZING at it!'

Being creative doesn’t have to overwhelm you and your life – you can find a balance all your own! 

**And if you’re looking for an easy way to bring a little creativity into your life in 2024, join me for my FREE “Newbie to Pro Calligrapher” Challenge January 14th-19th! I’m teaching FREE, simple lessons so you can learn calligraphy in bite sized pieces that keep creativity FUN!

I’ll be going LIVE each day to teach interactive lessons & give you a solid foundation to begin your calligraphy journey (oh, and there’s also some SWEET prizes we’ll be giving away)! **

Register NOW so you can be sure to get your supplies before we start! See ya there!

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FOLLOW SHINAH: 

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphy

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SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

Clarity can only come from Action 

“There’s just no way to over-think yourself into true understanding. That’s why I’m walking away from this year with so many lessons.” - Shinah 

This year, I did NOT hit my financial goals. And I beat myself up constantly… all while creating new offers, trying new business ventures, and feeling like a failure most of the time. 

AND… I’m feeling really optimistic about the future. How? 

Because I know this year was all about growth. So I wanted to share my biggest lessons, that will be helpful for anyone trying to go after a more true and fulfilling life:

• Transitions are always harder and longer than you think - so give yourself grace, allow yourself to feel uncomfortable, and trust that you’ll come out the other side 
• Clarity comes from action - so if you’re in your head spinning about “What should I sell in my calligraphy business?” Stop overthinking and go out there and try some stuff out!
• It’s ok if you’re not ready to let go of everything to “follow your joy” - there’s an illusion out there that if you just follow your heart, you’ll have a magical life. And I believe that’s true… but it won’t be the magical life you expect. So it’s ok if you’re not ready to completely let go of your current life… there’s a way to find a balance of doing what needs to be done, but also following the fun.

And the one lesson underneath it all…. COMPARISON IS THE ROOT OF ALL UNHAPINESS.

I was so shitty to myself this year that I got really familiar with that negative, critical voice. I can recognize it immediately now and it’s ALWAYS triggered by comparing myself to:

1. Where other people are
2. Where I “should be” by now
3. Where I used to be

Fortunately, we all have the power inside us to recognize that nagging voice of comparison and reframe it. I hope you recognize that power in yourself, even if just a little bit. 

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The Crooked Calligraphy Holiday Shop is open for one more week - and it’s full of delightful deals on some of our most beloved workbooks & mini courses! Check it out right here.
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FOLLOW SHINAH: 

• Join our community of creativity-seeking souls over on Instagram:  @crookedcalligraphy

SUBSCRIBE:

• Love podcasts? Listen to The Shinah Show wherever you get your podcasts, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!