July 2016 - Tara Swiger

The Adventures – July 2016

Here's a round-up of what I saw, did, and read this month! Follow me on SnapChat for in-the-moment photos + videos!

The News:

I'm teaching a full-day marketing workshop for yarn-y people, in collaboration with a yarn rep/store owner this month! Join us here.
If you're in the UK, check the only biz-focused workshops I'll be holding during my tour in November! Join before spots fill up!

The view

I am so grateful for…

Good books
An amazing team (thanks Jess + Jay!) that makes things happen even when I can't
A quick trip to the beach, before my teaching gig

The Finds:

I’m reading:

The Lady Boss League on Pinterest Strategizing for your Handmade Business
I Automated my Tweets for 30 Days (I do this, too!)
7 Steps to Snapchat Success
7 Steps to your Business Comeback (I'm sensing a “7 steps” theme this month!)
How much time should you spend on your business? (Hint: It depends!)
An Overnight Success 8 Years in the Making
How to Become a Professional Knitter

I’m eating:

Homemade corn dogs – so simple and cute! Take cornbread muffins + pop in a bit of (vegan) hot dog: homemade corn pups!
ALL of the basil pesto (I don't measure it anymore, but this is the basic idea)
Blueberry pancakes topped with blueberry syrup (just cook the blueberries on medium heat until they pop and get gooey)

How about you? What went well in your month?

How to focus on your Right People, to make more sales and create more effective marketing (free worksheet included)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Get more buyers by focusing on the RIGHT people.

This is the heart of effective marketing – speak directly to the person who is going to love (and want) what you sell. Remember, you’re not trying to convince anyone, you’re giving (compelling!) info to interested people.

But how do you figure out who that person is? Are you limiting yourself by just focusing in on one set of Right People? And how do you find out where they are?

In this episode we’ll discuss

Why focusing on your Right People IS scary (and why you need to do it anyway)
How to find the people + be where they are.
5 questions to get closer to your people

Want to focus on YOUR Right People? Apply what you learned in today’s episode with a free worksheet (and today's transcript!).Grab it here.

How to listen

You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

Criticism: When you should ignore it and when you should change

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Should you focus only on the people who love your work, and dismiss everyone else as “not your right people”? Or should you take criticism so you can improve and grow and serve your people better?

The answer is: It depends.

No, you shouldn't listen to ALL criticism.
No, you shouldn't ignore ALL criticism.

Instead, you should pay attention to what's useful and ignore what's not.

How do you know which is which?

In this episode we discuss the difference between focusing on your Right People and ignoring criticism. You'll also learn how to figure out what you should pay attention to, and what to DO with the criticism you get. Get the free worksheet to apply this to the next bit of criticism you get!

How to listen

You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

Reframe it: Turn obstacles into action

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Last week we talked about the difference between a Threat vs a Challenge. At the very end of the podcast I gave you a way to turn a threat into a Challenge. This is an example of reframing, or changing the way you think about a problem, in order to see more possible solutions. If you're an email subscriber, you got an email that walked you through the reframing of my own recent obstacle (Didn't get it? Subscribe here!)

I recorded a podcast about this 2 years ago, episode 3, but Starship Captains asked me to dive into it deeper this week. We'll discuss what reframing is, how to do it, and how to turn it into a habit.

How to listen

You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

What’s stopping you?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

What's standing in your way?

Let's face it – there are obstacles you'll face on your way to building your creative business. The question isn't how to avoid them, but how to overcome them. It comes down to how you approach them and think about them: Are these obstacles threats or challenges?

In this episode we discuss the difference between a threat and a challenge reaction, and how to have a challenge mindset toward the obstacles in your handmade business.

This episode is inspired by one of the most popular lessons in the #monthofbizlove challenge: Threat vs Challenge Mindset.

How to listen

You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

What I’m Reading: July 2016

I follow my enthusiasm by reading…a lot. And once a month, I share (some of) the books I read last month and the books I intend to read this month. You can join the informal book club by sharing your own list in the comments and find all the posts here.

What I read

Sprint, at the suggestion of Joeli (You know we’re doing an event together, in Manchester, England, right? Join us here!)
Shrill, by Lindy West – I got this as part of Book of the Month Club and LOVED it. Lindy is funny, smart, and writes about body love, feminism, and internet outrage (and backlash) in a way that I found very encouraging and cheering.
Eligible, by Curtis Sittenfeld – Another book from Book of the Month Club*. This is a fun retelling of Pride & Prejudice, set in modern-day Cincinnati.
Millefiori Quilts, by Willyne Hammersetin – I became totally obsessed with the quilt on the cover, La Passacaglia, after finding this hashtag on Instagram.
Lumberjanes – I loooove this comic! I read a lot of comics this month, but this is the one I recommend the highest! (Just ask me on Twitter if you'd like a recommendation of other good reads!)

*The Book of the Month Club is seriously the best investment I've made in my own entertainment. I've loved both of the books, and I appreciate that I can pick which book they send, or skip a month whenever I want. I love it so much I went ahead and signed up as an affiliate, so I get a tiny discount on my membership whenever you sign up through my link. (I chose Missing, Presumed as my choice for this month!)

What I’m reading

Rising Strong, by Brene Brown
The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt
Full, by Kimber Simpson

What I read last July.

And in July 2014

What are you reading?

I could use some recommendations! What are you reading and loving right now?

The Adventures: June 2016

adventures616

Here's a round-up of what I saw, did, and read this month!

The News:

I applied for my passport this month! Squeee! All in preparation for my UK events in November. If you want to take a business class and you're anywhere near Manchester, England, join Joeli and I for our two day-long workshops. (There are limited spots, so register now!)