Weekly-ish notes on navigating big change

What I’m reading: June 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'm reading in June: SuperBetter and lots of novels.

What I read

  • Smarter, Faster, Better, by Charles Duhigg
  • The Great Vegan Protein Book, by Celine Steen – Ok, so the title isn't all that compelling, but this book has more recipes-i'll-make-again than any book I've tried in the last year. The Caribbean tofu was inspired by one of our fave restaurants, Nine Mile, and it turned out delicious. We're buying this one, for sure.
  • Prep, Sisterland, and American Wife, by Curtis Sittenfeld – I've been on a Sittenfeld kick, as I waited for my copy of Eligible to come as part of my new Book of the Month membership!
  • SuperBetter, by Jane McGonigal – Oh man, this was an instant classic, I'm going to be referring to it and the studies it highlights about how to pursue a life you want again and again. A lot of it's lessons found their way into #monthofbizlove and the Starship voted to make it our reading choice for the informal book club!

What I’m reading

  • Sprint, at the suggestion of Joeli (You know we're doing an event together, in Manchester, England, right? Join us here!)

What I read last June.

And in June 2014 (Oh, wow! I read another Charles Duhigg book exactly 2 years ago!)

What are you reading?

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

 

 

Disclaimer-y Disclaimer!  Or course I’m biased when my friends write a book, but I don’t mention things I don’t like. Read the usual disclaimer here.

How to have a business you love

How do you build a business you love? How do you transform the biz you have into one you love more? Sign up here to get the #monthofbizlove workbook/journal and answer the questions I ask in the episode! In this episode we discuss: The entire map of things you might need to fix in your business The very first step in loving your business What happens after you envision your dream business. Listen in at TaraSwiger.com/podcast109/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

How do you build a business you love? How do you transform the biz you have into one you love more?

Sign up here to get the #monthofbizlove workbook/journal and answer the questions I ask in the episode!

In this episode we discuss:

  • The entire map of things you might need to fix in your business
  • The very first step in loving your business
  • What happens after you envision your dream business

 

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.

You’re invited to love your business: the #monthofbizlove challenge

How do you feel about your business? Do you LOVE it? Do you love all parts of it? Or are you feeling exhausted, grumpy, and stuck doing stuff you don't wanna do in your handmade business? It's time we turned all this around. It's time you looooooved your business. Big heart-eyes-emoji love. If you want to fall in love with your handmade business and explore the foundations of a biz you adore (whether your biz is brand new, or you've been doing it for a decade!), join me on the #MonthofBizLove! This free #monthofbizlove challenge includes: Daily Instagram Challenges to get you loving your business Daily video lessons exploring the Daily Challenge in depth! (Broadcast live on Periscope and uploaded to YouTube) A 30 day workbook to walk you through each challenge! Sign up at TaraSwiger.com/podcast108

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

How do you feel about your business?

Do you LOVE it?
Do you love all parts of it?

Or are you feeling exhausted, grumpy, and stuck doing stuff you don't wanna do in your handmade business?

It's time we turned all this around. It's time you looooooved your business. Big heart-eyes-emoji love.

If you want to fall in love with your handmade business and explore the foundations of a biz you adore (whether your biz is brand new, or you've been doing it for a decade!), join me in the #MonthofBizLove!


 

This free #monthofbizlove challenge includes:

  • Daily Instagram Challenges to get you loving your business
  • Daily video lessons exploring the Daily Challenge in depth! (broadcast live on Periscope and uploaded to YouTube)
  • A 30 day workbook to walk you through each challenge!

To join in:

  1. Get your free workbook by signing up here.
  2. Follow me on Instagram to get the daily challenge (you may want to hit “subscribe to updates”, so you don't miss a challenge)
  3. Watch the daily videos (follow me on Periscope or subscribe to my YouTube channel)

 

 

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.

3 Lessons from The Introvert Entrepreneur (and giveaway!)

An introvert gets their energy from being alone, while an extrovert gets energy by being with other people. Many of my listeners are introverts (me too!), so I love to find resources for thriving in business as an introvert. I recently found a great book. In this episode, we'll discuss the three big lessons I took from The Introvert Entrepreneur, by Beth Beulow. And I'm giving away a copy. Enter to win!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

An introvert gets their energy from being alone, while an extrovert gets energy by being with other people. Many of my listeners are introverts (me too!), so I love to find resources for thriving in business as an introvert.  I recently found a great book. In this episode, we'll discuss the three big lessons I took from The Introvert Entrepreneur, by Beth Beulow. And I'm giving away a copy. (Scroll down to enter!) 

Resources mentioned

Enter the book giveaway 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.

 

 

Interview with video podcaster, designer and retreat organizer, C.C. Almon

I am totally delighted to be talking to Starship Captain, video podcaster, designer and co-organizer of the Geeky Puffin Knitpalooza, C.C. Almon. We had a geeky, enthusiastic conversation (I'm more than a little excited that C.C. invited me to teach in the UK!). We discuss: What a knitting video podcast is. (Here's CC's) How her online community helped her deal with chronic illness What made the difference in her business and led to her biggest month ever. Her book, Coffee with C. C. What The Starship has contributed to her business The upcoming retreat in England (where I'll be teaching!) and the corresponding knitalong (which I am SO excited about!). Register for the retreat by June 1, so you can join us in the knitalong! Listen in at TaraSwiger.com/podcast106/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

I am totally delighted to be talking to Starship Captain, video podcaster, designer and co-organizer of the Geeky Puffin Knitpalooza, C.C. Almon. We had a geeky, enthusiastic conversation (I'm more than a little excited that C.C. invited me to teach in the UK!).

We discuss:

Register for the retreat by June 1, so you can join us in the knitalong!

 

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.

How to set (realistic) marketing expectations

If you spend all the time and energy to properly launch your next product: What can you expect to happen? How can you set realistic and yet inspiring sales goals? Today we're going to cover how exactly to set your expectations for any of your marketing activities. Listen in at TaraSwiger.com/podcast105

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

If you spend all the time and energy to properly launch your next product: What can you expect to happen? How can you set realistic and yet inspiring sales goals?

Today we're going to cover how exactly to set your expectations for any of your marketing activities.

Links mentioned:

 

How to listen

  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • 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.

Get a FREE worksheet to help you improve your marketing when you sign up below!

What I’m Reading: May 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'm reading this month: business books, memoirs, novels. Find out more at TaraSwiger.com

What I read

  • The Introvert Entrepreneur, by Beth Buelow. I SO enjoyed this book! It is so inline with the many “For Introverts” podcast episodes I've made, and the author gave voice to why I do a lot of my business practices and systems. I loved it so much, I'm going to give away a copy next week! Be sure you're signed up here to get the chance to win it!
  • Wake up Happy, by Michael Strahan. It's so weird that I read two books kinda related to sports this month. This one was happy, upbeat, and encouraging. I didn't know anything about Michael and I like him quite a lot after reading it. If you need a pick-me-up, read it!
  • Lock in, by John Scalzi. Oh man. This novel was SO good. If you like sci-fi set in an almost real-world, read it. I have loved every Scalzi book I've ever read. I'll be reading more!
  • Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable, by Tim Grover. I have mixed feelings about this book, written by a superstar basketball trainer (he worked with Michael Jordan!). I want my teenage brothers to read it, for its message of “work harder than anyone else, in order to be great”… but making excuses for why “great” men cheat on their families is pretty disgusting. Related: He only talks about great men. Not once does he mention women, or how they can be relentless and great. Ugh.
  • Drawing Blood, by Molly Crabapple. I had no idea who the author was, or how the book even landed on my “to read” list, but it came in at the library so I got it. And it was very engaging. Fascinating to read about a world that's unfolded parallel to my own (we're close in age) but so totally different (being raised in rural Ohio, going to school in East TN then living in Appalachia is nothing like NYC!)

What I’m reading

What I read last May.
And in May 2014.

What are you reading?

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

 

 

The Adventures: April 2016

Every day is an adventure. I share the view, the gratitude and the news at the end of each month – you’re invited to join in. You can find all my adventures here.

The Adventures of my creative business: TaraSwiger.com
It's been a while since I did an Adventures post! I've decided to change it up and do them every month and wrap up what happened, what I've learned and the best stuff I read online, heard, and ate.

The News:

The BIG news this month is that Craft Your Marketing is open! And there are all kinds of new bonuses. If you join by April 29th, you'll get a free signed copy of my book, mailed right to you. And if you join by May 5th, you'll get access to an exclusive Q+A, where you can ask me your marketing questions.

I also worked on a lot of live teaching events this month! I taught in Atlanta (at the Yarn Market News Conference) and in a few days I'll be teaching in Maryland (details here). And some of my teaching gigs in the UK are now open for registration! You'll find all the live teaching gigs here.

The view

My business in April 2016, on TaraSwiger.com My business in April 2016, on TaraSwiger.com My business in April 2016, on TaraSwiger.com My business in April 2016, on TaraSwiger.com My business in April 2016, on TaraSwiger.com My business in April 2016, on TaraSwiger.com
My business in April 2016, on TaraSwiger.com

My business in April 2016, on TaraSwiger.com My business in April 2016, on TaraSwiger.com
My business in April 2016, on TaraSwiger.com

I am so grateful for…

  • Spring flowers
  • Lovely yarn
  • Fantastic students

The Finds:

I’m reading:

In case you missed it: 

What adventures have you had?

How to make time for marketing

You're busy making products, photographing, listing, and (hopefully) shipping orders - how do you find the time to also do marketing? In today's episode, we tackle the problem of never having time for marketing. We cover: How you know if you're doing "enough" marketing How a plan saves time Batching your tasks Using what you already have

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

You're busy making products, photographing, listing, and (hopefully) shipping orders – how do you find the time to also do marketing? In today's episode, we tackle the problem of never having time for marketing.

We cover:

  • How you know if you're doing “enough” marketing
  • How a plan saves time
  • Batching your tasks
  • Using what you already have

Links mentioned:

Who has time for marketing? Making a plan will save you tons of time.

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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.

Sign up below to get a FREE e-course on making your marketing more effective! No matter how much time you have for marketing, it's important to focus on improving its effectiveness.

 

How to stop feeling weird talking about your work

How do I describe what it is I do? How do I talk about my work? This is the question we nearly all have. Here's what you need to do to talk about your work effectively AND the key to feeling more comfortable. Click through for your free worksheet!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

How do I describe what it is I do? How do I talk about my work?

This is the question we nearly all have. (If you've figured this out and feel 100% confident talking about your work, email me immediately and tell me your secret sauce).

Even though I've been doing this for 6 years (and have been running my own business for over 10 years!), I struggle with how to talk about my work every day. In every sales page I write, in every conversation I have, and in every byline I submit to a magazine or book.

I don't know that this question ever goes away, but you certainly can get better at talking about your work. In this episode we'll cover what you need to do to talk about your work effectively AND the key to feeling more comfortable. 

Learn to talk about your work sans awkwardness w/ a FREE worksheet from @TaraSwiger:

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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.

To apply this to your own business, fill out this worksheet and stop feeling weird talking about your work today!

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