If you're curious about what it takes to start and maintain a paid membership community as part of your business offerings, today I’m chatting with just the gal for you.

Since 2004, Christine Mighion has been hand crafting each piece of jewelry in her Northern Indiana studio. Using gold, silver, semi-precious and precious stones, her line is a balanced vision of organic and modern. Imperfections and irregularities that mimic the course of nature greatly inspire Christine. Her jewelry has been featured in numerous national and international fashion and lifestyle magazines including Lucky, Shape, Vogue, and The Knot.

To serve her community of fellow jewelry artists, Christine launched the Slowmade Podcast in November 2023 and the Slowmade Collective later the following year. Through engaging conversations and shared experiences, the Slowmade Podcast and Collective provides a space for learning and growth, helping jewelry artists navigate the challenges and triumphs of building meaningful, sustainable businesses. Find Christine Mighion online here: https://christinemighion.com https://slowmadepodcast.com https://instagram.com/christinemighion

Next Steps:

1. Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com.
2. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

Welcome back to class. Today, we’re talking about ONE KEY THING that’s absolutely essential to successful planning.

All of the best planning in the world can go straight out the window if this one thing isn’t there.

I’ve experienced it. You’ve experienced it. So let’s talk about the difference between having this one critical piece in place and not.

With your best work, creative projects, sales, commissions, and opportunities ahead of you, this is one topic you won’t want to miss.

Next Steps:

1. Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com.
2. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

Raise your hand if you have a clearly defined budget and a strategy for investing in yourself as a small business owner in the year ahead.

I don’t see a lot of hands up. Let me rephrase...

Raise your hand if you’re not quite sure what to budget for, business-wise, or where to make minor shifts and adjustments to invest in yourself and your creative business.

Okay, more hands are up now.

When it comes to business budgeting, most people keep on keeping on with what they’re doing without making time for this type of assessment.

However, budget planning is for anyone and everyone. It doesn’t matter how much income or revenue is flowing through your business, large or small.

Think of a budget as a wishlist. And what a perfect time of year for creating a wishlist.

Start by thinking really BIG and expansive. Then get down to the nitty gritty numbers to figure out what’s essential and where to start.

For example, your 2025 wishlist might include heavy duty equipment. Okay, great. What’s that going to cost? Is that something you can plan for?

Or if your 2025 wishlist sounds anything like mine, there are mostly small budget items that are more about deciding to use different digital tools.

This is a great time of year to put a business budget together.

Here’s why:

• • Budgeting now gives you a chance to invest in yourself and your business in a smart way because there’s typically money to be saved through Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts
  • Typically before people start their annual planning and strategic plans for the year ahead
  • Your budget gives you a baseline to make more realistic goals for the year ahead
  • Basically tells you what essentials / must haves need to be in place to operate and function as ideally as possible

I’ll walk you through what’s on my list and why. This is sure to inspire you, so take notes and get your 2025 business budget going!

Next Steps:

1. Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com.
2. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.