Client Case Study Megan Foldenauer - When I Grow Up

Client Case Study Megan Foldenauer - When I Grow Up Um, do you know that Ive coached hundreds of women since I started offering dream career guidance in 2008? And that these women are freakin rock stars, leaving soul-sucking jobs and traveling the world and launching creative, grown-up businesses and simply doing work that fits their lifestyle goals? Well ya do now and youll hear their stories firsthand in my  Client Case Studies series! Megan Foldenauer  wrapped up  Discover Your Dream Business  almost exactly one year ago, and when it wrapped she started taking her artistic aspirations more seriously and YOU GUYS she started and completed a 365 paintings project that led to selling 115 paintings in 14 days (!!!!). I mean, lets just get right to her secrets and magic, shall we? We shall! Why did you decide to work with me? I decided to work with you after hearing Tiffany Han sing your praises on Raise Your Hand, Say Yes. I opened a tab with your website and read *all* of it, discovering that your approach, your vibe, and your personality really resonated with me. What were you doing work-wise when we started working together and what are you doing now? When we started working together, I was a frustrated artist with a full-time day job doing what Julia Cameron would call shadow art graphic design, some illustration, website management, that sort of thing. I was half-heartedly working on my own art projects, but the stress of my day job was flaring up my anxiety so badly that it was very hard to find any joy from it. I could only see that job as SUBTRACTING from my true work. Nowadays, Im still at that job but Ive been able to re-frame it as a means to an end (i.e., it provides me with money and benefits for my family) that SUPPORTS my other work rather than subtracting from it. That said, Im still looking to better balance things, so, I have a proposed a reduction in my time commitment since Ive seen a growth in my fine art sales and my community is growing. Its very important to me that I honor my lifes purpose but that doesnt have to be a screw you! as I quit this job in a huff it can be more nuanced and still feel good. What was your biggest takeaway from our work together? My biggest take away was to trust myself and honor my gifts. To BELIEVE that they are real and valid and worth something. Think of someone who is currently in the shoes you wore when we first started working together. What advice do you have for her? My advice is to take a step. Just a step. It doesnt have to be a momentous decision or an earth-shifting declaration it can be quiet and still just as powerful. Through my work with Michelle, it has become crystal clear that big change comes from small moments. As a person whose anxiety flares up when I get overwhelmed with too many/opaque* decisions in front of me (which manifests as shutting down and deciding everything is pointless) this has been HUGE. *opaque = not clear Is there anything thats been a game-changer for you when it comes to your business that you can share? Wed love a good resource or a mindset/productivity tip! Yes! Let go of shame and dissect your weaknesses; find ways to trick yourself to overcome them. Some examples: 1) I have so many ideas but I forget everything! Solution: I text myself, I email myself, I set alarms on my phone (one just went off, actually! ha!), I record thoughts into my phone, I tell a friend and ask them to remind me. 2) Ive drug my feet on this project, I MUST work on it (whether thats creation or just emailing someone). Solution: Do it first. Think of NOTHING ELSE. Do not open FB, do not pass go. One foot in front of the other until you can implement it (at a desk, in front of gmail, whatever) and just. do. it. Even something small will lift that guilt and set you free. 3) Why should I bother creating this? SO many people have done this (and really well!). Solution: No one is me. No one is my story. (I cannot tell you how much that mindset shift has save me from stagnation in my work!) Whats on the horizon for your business? Wed love to hear about any upcoming offerings or goals!   Oh my gosh, youve hit me at a serious moment of shift in my business! I just finished my 365 painting project (the first attempt thats ever stuck, btw) and the response has been MIND-BLOWING. (You can see the whole thing here.) I have SOLD 115 PAINTINGS in less than two weeks thats LIKE 8K in sales. (It makes my skin tingle to even type that! AH!!!!) I recently self-published the series as a lovely picture book on Blurb  and I have posters and the like up on society6 too. Finally, I had a one-night gallery show of the whole thing in August here in Michigan. Im hoping to capitalize on all of this momentum and keep it going there will DEFINITELY be more art, I know that! Id love to start talking to people about being a creative person, but the format of how Ill deliver that is not yet determined. Anyway, Ill announce anything and everything on IG (@meganfoldenauercreative) and FB (/meganlovestodraw) for sure! Where can we find you and your work? Website: meganlovestodraw.com Are *you* ready to Discover Your Dream Business and potentially make $8k in 14 days like Megan? Take a deep breath and  click here   you can get started within the hour (or sooner)!