Show me the MONEY

Does money have a place in creativity?

Do you need money to be creative?

Do you need money to START a creative venture?

Is there some creative venture you'd LOVE to plunge into BUT you need more money? I think you CAN do it. I just think it means being CREATIVE about getting to that place where you can earn your living doing something creative.

My husband owns his own business. He makes leather bags. He designs, patterns, and builds leather bags. He started his business -his creative business- without carrying ANY debt because he started it while he was working at another job.

His other job provided a good income, so, he purchased some leather and the basic equipment he'd need to start this business. Then, after work (and sometimes before) he started making bags and belts and wallets.

On his days off, he went out and sold his bags and belts and wallets. He got better and better at it. Any money he earned, he put BACK into the business. Upgrading his tools and equipment as he went along.

Yes, he gave up some things to see his creative enterprise take off. Fewer nights out with friends. Fewer dinners out. Late nights and long weekends spent working. But, it was all worth it.

Eventually, he began doing leather working full-time and THAT became his job. His only source of income. He's been running his own business since 1996. It grows every year.

I share this story because sometimes I think we creative types get decidedly UN-creative about earning money doing the creative things we love.

Yes, it takes hustle. It takes work. It ALSO takes CREATIVITY. You, my friends, have oodles of that. So, start getting creative what can you do NOW, today, to get your creative venture off the ground, without going into debt and then start earning you money?