The secret to getting results in your business and in your life is to show up to do the work consistently.

I know it get thrown out there a lot that you gotta be consistent if you want to see results. That's tru, but what does that actually mean?

You might be thinking or maybe you've tried showing up 7 days a week on IG and got burned out, so you quit. Maybe you sent out an email to your list and a bunch of subscribers unfollowed.

The narrative is scary on the surface without context or guidance. That's why I'm breaking it down for you in this quick episode.

Want to learn more? Grab my free 5-day challenge and learn how to make a bigger impact without doing more. It's about working differently and adding systems.

Learn more at TianConnaughton.com

Join the FREE 5-Day Market Your Pattern (make more sales) Challengehere>>> bit.ly/marketyourpatternchallenge

Follow me on IG at @tianconnaughton and @knitdesignsbytian

In this episode, we're talking about being scared to put work out into the world and the factors that contribute to that fear. PRO TIP: it has nothing to do with how good your work is. It has to do with your direction. Let's brainstorm together.

Learn more at TianConnaughton.com

Join the FREE 5-Day Market Your Pattern (make more sales) Challengehere>>> bit.ly/marketyourpatternchallenge

Follow me on IG at @tianconnaughton and @knitdesignsbytian

Welcome back to another season of Real Talk with Tian.

In this season, we are getting super candid around topics relating to being creative. We're talking about the reality of being a designer (knit and crochet), technical editor, how to run your business like a real business and less like an expensive hobby.

I cannot wait to share more with you.

Stay tuned for season 4!

Learn more at TianConnaughton.com

Join the FREE 5-Day Market Your Pattern (make more sales) Challenge here>>> bit.ly/marketyourpatternchallenge

Follow me on IG at @tianconnaughton and @knitdesignsbytian

So, how are you? Seriously, how are you? I wasn’t sure if I was going to do an episode this week or skip it in light of all that’s happening. There is so much uncertainty, I didn’t want to add to the noise. But in the end, I decided to record this episode because maybe you're feeling unsure about your business and if it will survive. You’re wondering if you should still be selling... is that even appropriate.

These are unprecedented times. There are so many uncertainties with full-time jobs, schools, let alone a fledgling business. But this is the perfect time to be of value to your community. This is the perfect time to go out and serve the heck out of your community. Now is the time to start focusing on what you can control and that is how you show up in the world for yourself, your family, your audience.

In this episode, I’m sharing some actionable steps you can take right now to reclaim control.

Stay tuned. Real talk starts now.

COURSES

Tian Connaughton - Courses

Pattern Grading Made Easy: How to grade like a pro! (self-study) - Pattern Grading Made Easy (self-study) bit.ly/patterngradingselfstudy

One-on-one Coaching with Tian

Tian Connaughton - Coaching

Website: TianConnaughton.com

Instagram: @TianConnaughton

In this episode, we're talking about the essentials of getting your designs noticed. We’re talking about how to effectively talk about your designs as in marketing and promotion.

Here’s the deal, marketing is essential to the life of your business. Sure, you enjoy designing and you have some great designs published but you get so stiff and robotic-like when it comes to sharing the pattern with your audience and on social media. Maybe you are not confident about the pattern. Maybe you didn’t get it professionally tech edited so you’re not too excited to share it because in the back of your head maybe you’re afraid there might be errors? But if you want to grow your design business you need to learn how to talk about what you do in a not-so-sleazy marketing way that is authentically you!

Want to learn more about how to market your next (or previous) pattern, check out Pattern Launch Plan

https://www.tianconnaughton.com/books

Pattern Partnership >>> Pattern Partnership (thinkific.com)

On today’s episode, I am handing out permission slips. I talk to a lot of crocheters and knitters aspiring to start designing, and the thing that keeps coming up over and over is this idea that each of them needs to reach a particular milestone or achievement to be able to start designing.

If you feel like you need permission, I got you. Grab your printable permission slip here because the world needs what you have to offer.

PATTERN PARTNERSHIP: https://tianconnaughton.thinkific.com/courses/pattern-partnership-membership

INSTAGRAM: @Knitdesignsbytian https://www.instagram.com/knitdesignsbytian/

Let's see a show of hands:

1. You see a new design on Ravelry, it’s climbing the ranks on the way to the top 10 Hot Right Now list and you’re thinking “this is a stupid easy pattern I could have made”.

2. You see a really new designer blowing up on IG, getting all kinds of accolades from big names in the industry and you’re thinking, “she just got here, how's she getting so popular so fast”.

3. You keep seeing what you perceive to be this basic designer with her basic patterns making moves and getting opportunities by yarn companies, event organizers, everybody and you wish you were getting it too.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about jealousy. Yep, the good the bad and most definitely the ugly.

If you are struggling with jealousy, I’d love to work with you in a one-on-one coaching session. For more information, go to TianConnaughton.com/coaching.

I hope you were able to take away something from this episode. If anything I mentioned in this episode resonated with you, reach out on Instagram (@KnitDesignsbyTian) and leave a comment in the post for this episode. Let’s have some real conversation there around jealousy and competition. If you enjoyed the episode, rate, review, hit subscribe and share with 5 of your crafty friends that you think need to hear this. I can’t wait to talk to you again soon. Bye for now! One-on-One coaching: TianConnaughton.com/coaching

Instagram: @KnitDesignsbyTian

Click here to learn more about Pattern Partnership

To book a one-on-one coaching session, go to TianConnaughton.com/coaching

Copies of my books can be found here>>> TianConnaughton.com/books

- Unlock Your Inner Designer: How to start designing

- Pattern Launch Plan: Sell more patterns consistently without being sleazy

Did you enjoy this episode? Rate, review, hit subscribe and share with 5 of your crafty friends that you think need to hear this. I can’t wait to talk to you again soon.

Bye for now.

(REBROADCAST) Episode 2 is about tackling the major questions crochet and knitwear designers are facing and looking at ways to get past some of the doubts in order to step into what we’re meant to do. We are getting to the bottom of the major questions many aspiring designers ask and the biggest question you are likely asking yourself right now... why even bother when there are already tons of amazing designers out there?

Pattern Launch Plan: sell more patterns consistently without being sleazy(book)

Unlock Your Inner Designer: how to start designing (book)

Website: tianconnaughton.com

Instagram: @KnitDesignsbyTian

You’re probably thinking you’re ready. You’re probably dreaming of your glow up, of hitting it big and being discovered? In this episode, we're going to talk about how to prepare your business with systems and processes so when opportunities come along, they don't break your business. Real talk starts now.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Pattern Partnership.

Find me on Instagram at KnitDesigns by Tian and Tian Connaughton

Learn more about PATTERN PARTNERSHIP HERE (for crochet and knitwear designers) and The SOCIETY HERE (for markers, creative, business owners)

SHOW SPONSORS:

Convertkit - I've been using ConvertKit to build new forms and landing pages to grow my email list as a creator. It's the easiest way to launch your next creative project! Sign up through the link below and you'll unlock 1,000 subscribers for free. CLICK HERE to sign up!

THINKIFIC - I’ve been using Thinkific to deliver my courses and membership training programs. This platform has been a pivotal part of the exponential growth of my business. Sign up through the link below to try for free. CLICK HERE to sign up!

SKILLSHARE - Explore your creativity. Join Skillshare to watch, play, learn, make, and discover. 2020 was a year when we dealt a lot and being able to zone out and learn something creative was exactly what I needed. And, I’m STILL learning and exploring my creativity with painting classing and making videos for Instagram. Sign up through the link below to join Skillshare today and get TWO WEEKS of Premium for Free! CLICK HERE to sign up!

A slow down in sales can be so frustrating, regardless of the stage you are in your business. You feel like you are doing all the right things and bam – you hit a wall. Is it you? Is it your product? What’s happening? I hear you. I’ve been there and, in this episode, we’re taking it way back help you get out of that headspace of feeling like… what am I even doing and wanting to stay under the covers and just hide. We know the feeling and we’re going to show you 3 things you can do to upstart sales during those dry spells. Stay tuned. Real talk starts now

CLICK HERE to learn more about Pattern Partnership.

Find me on Instagram at KnitDesigns by Tian and Tian Connaughton

Learn more about PATTERN PARTNERSHIP HERE (for crochet and knitwear designers) and The SOCIETY HERE (for markers, creative, business owners)

SHOW SPONSORS:

Convertkit - I've been using ConvertKit to build new forms and landing pages to grow my email list as a creator. It's the easiest way to launch your next creative project! Sign up through the link below and you'll unlock 1,000 subscribers for free. CLICK HERE to sign up!

THINKIFIC - I’ve been using Thinkific to deliver my courses and membership training programs. This platform has been a pivotal part of the exponential growth of my business. Sign up through the link below to try for free. CLICK HERE to sign up!

SKILLSHARE - Explore your creativity. Join Skillshare to watch, play, learn, make, and discover. 2020 was a year when we dealt a lot and being able to zone out and learn something creative was exactly what I needed. And, I’m STILL learning and exploring my creativity with painting classing and making videos for Instagram. Sign up through the link below to join Skillshare today and get TWO WEEKS of Premium for Free! CLICK HERE to sign up!