Business Plan Alternatives for Creatives
Alternatives to boring, dry business plans for creative entrepreneurs! Innovative and creative minds need artistic alternatives to traditional business plan templates. Linear models operate from traditional business concepts that just do not apply in artistic endeavors. Still a solid business plan is key to success for artists who intend to earn a living primarily from their own creations.
This unique alternative provides ways to work on business plans in a VISUAL way by creating an art journal business plan. This application helps creative folks to absorb the necessary concepts and get incredibly inspired and motivated. Some of the journal entries might be just writing and some just art while others could be a combination of both.
Creative people are often driven by both seeing and doing. Their need for this kind of creative involvement makes traditional types of tools feel vague and confusing. When creative people can work with hands-on, inspiring art projects in combination with other tools for expression, then the floodgates are much more likely to be magically opened for all kinds of creativity and abundance. Create and enjoy this fun & inspiring way to create an effective business plan.
This unique alternative provides ways to work on business plans in a VISUAL way by creating an art journal business plan. This application helps creative folks to absorb the necessary concepts and get incredibly inspired and motivated. Some of the journal entries might be just writing and some just art while others could be a combination of both.
Creative people are often driven by both seeing and doing. Their need for this kind of creative involvement makes traditional types of tools feel vague and confusing. When creative people can work with hands-on, inspiring art projects in combination with other tools for expression, then the floodgates are much more likely to be magically opened for all kinds of creativity and abundance. Create and enjoy this fun & inspiring way to create an effective business plan.
Create a 'Blissness' Plan
... rather than a 'Business Plan'
Aren't artists already geared for bliss? Slight variations in traditional business terms open the door to inspiration and playfulness and imagination, all already good friends to a born artist, so ... onward toward your very own Blissness PlanThis art journal will be a place where you make your own plans for business. Consider it a safe place to brainstorm, strategize, plan and dream... while releasing creative energy and expressing ideasin a FUN and non-linear way to manifest your future dreams in an artistic business plan.
Origin of These Blissness Plan Lessons
Marney is the author and also founder of Artella, a wildly successful and fun online network and artist community.
The sections below are introductions to each lesson, NOT the lessons themselves. EACH of the eight lessons includes many pages of journaling prompts and other creative & inspiring exercises to help you dig deep and discover your own truths and realities as you create your own 'Blissness Plan.
This tutorial was created by a wildly creative artist and successful entrepreneur named Marney. Her website (Artella) is an absolute marvel to the eyes. She has created an online community of artists there who contribute and trade in a wide variety of art media.
I don't know why Artellla hasn't been nominated for a Pulitzer yet...seriously Artella has changed the scope of art and words forever."
~ Jill Badonsky, artist and author
Important!
EIGHT Components of a Solid Business Plan
Each of them Created with a Creative TWIST!
Each of them Created with a Creative TWIST!
1) Define Venture Capital
...becomes "Define Adventure"
Your credentials are important in launching your blissness. Get yourself tuned in to your own passions by giving yourself credentials in any way you like. Add some initials after your name to show you DO have whatever it takes to accomplish your blissness. For one example, how about CFO = Chief Fun Officer? Play with words and define your own adventure into the blissness of your business. 2) Analyze the Mission
becomes "Tantalize the VISION!"
This portion of 'The Blissness Plan' directs you through a variety of exercises that help to not only clarify your passion but also to stoke it to the point of creating a mission statement that is the most awe-inspiring and jaw-dropping JOYFUL statement that it can be and expressed with images that speak to you in ways that inspire and motivate.
The photo at right is a sample page from this ebook for art journaling about your 'blissness plan'. =======>
3) Expenses and Profits
...become "Sense and Prophet!"
Yes, expenses and profits exist in any business. In the 'Blissness Plan' you are instead invited to focus on 'Senses and Prophet'. Using prompts provided, you use your senses to become a prophet of sorts, to look into the future at your own marvelous life once your goals are reached. Many pages of exercises lead you toward making the vision ALIVE in beautiful detail.
4) Evaluate Your Assets
...becomes "Evaluate Your As-Yets!"
For example, one common roadblock to success as an artist is this - that many people who are creative think they cannot also be good at business. So that perception itself - even though untrue - can end up thwarting the very efforts needed to move forward. Consider that creativity itself is actually the most important resource of ALL in business, for it allows us to think in unconventional ways that can turn ideas into abundance.
The photo to the right is an actual page from this ebook tutorial about creative business plans for artists. ===>
There is no pre-paved path to building a business (myth) and the resources needed for building businesses are not so specific that they can't be flexible and negotiable (another myth). So in this section it is your turn to figure out ... 'What YOUR roadblocks?'
What IS it that has kept you from following your dream 'as of yet'? The intention is to clearly identify them so you can move past them.
5) Financial Balance Sheet
...becomes "Life/Work Balance Sheet"
It takes awhile for revenue to appear in a new business, yet there ARE other ways that your business is building a profit. It's about balancing financial goals with other ways to measure success.Consider "Accounting Your Blessings" by keeping a record of ... things you are grateful for with prosperity values and a record of 'small change' - meaning the outward changes you are experiencing in life. Many who tried this process felt dramatic effects. It can make a HUGE difference to simply allow yourself to feel prosperous even if the profits coming from your business aren't necessarily financial, at least not yet.
Exercises in this section lead you toward focus on profit everyday, some type of benefits gained as you navigate along the business building journey in order to make sure you see your 'balance' as growth.
6) Moment by Moment Plan
...becomes "Momentum by Momentum Plan!"
This section of the Blissness Plan leads us down the path of doing just that with templates that have enough clarity to provide direction, yet also having room for flexibility to be easily adapted to your own style.
7) Marketing Plan
...becomes "MARK-IT ing Plan"
Think of marketing as simply this... How are you making your mark?
You are simply interacting with people, talking and listening and having fun while leaving some way of finding you again in a methodic and professional way. You are leaving your mark...so MARK IT!
MARK IT - Free Teleclass
8) Micro Projection Chart
...becomes "My-Crow Projection Chart!"
This is your detailed actions, your calendar of events and daily plan that gives DIRECTION about what to do when. A corporate micro projection plan might lull creatives to sleep, yet this one is not only efficient and practical but also very creative and inspiring.
My-Crow Projection? When you work from a step-by-step plan, visualize the tiny steps taken by a crow - the bird in the expression 'as the crow flies'. When you give MY CROW steps a try, you take tiny steps, moving ahead in small but sure increments.
Here we learn to plan and take MY CROW steps, and also to recognize that when things are not progressing as they should, then its time to break that down into tinier steps - energizing, micro, momentum-creating steps.
My-Crow Projection? When you work from a step-by-step plan, visualize the tiny steps taken by a crow - the bird in the expression 'as the crow flies'. When you give MY CROW steps a try, you take tiny steps, moving ahead in small but sure increments.
Here we learn to plan and take MY CROW steps, and also to recognize that when things are not progressing as they should, then its time to break that down into tinier steps - energizing, micro, momentum-creating steps.
"Artella is a creative fountain; the site just vibrates with joyful expression."
~ SARK, best-selling author and popular artist
Important!
"Art and business may be strange bedfellows, but an artist must make room in her bed for both." ~ Eric Maisel
Wake Up Your Business Plan
Don't just DO it, get jazzed about it!
Here's the image to look for if you'd like to get your hands on this tutorial for creating your very own Blissness Plan. This ebook is the second title on the page of blissful creations from Artella.
The Blissness Plan includes EIGHT books in all, sold separately at $3.00 each or the entire set for only $15.00, one wise investment.
Workbook #1: Define Venture Capital - Define Adventure Capitals!
Workbook #2: Analyze the Mission - Tantalize the Vision!
Workbook #3: Expenses and Profit - Senses and Prophet!
Workbook #4: Evaluate Your Assets - Evaluate Your As-Yets!
Workbook #5: Financial Balance Sheet - Life/Work Balance Sheet!
Workbook #6: Moment by Moment Plan - Momentum by Momentum Plan!
Workbook #7: Marketing Plan - MARK-IT ing Plan!
Workbook #8: Micro Projection Chart - My Crow Direction Art!
Author of this Web Page ...
CrossCreations
Born to think outside the box, she knows when the shoes just won't fit. After many attempts to create a 'business plan' in the boring traditional way, she searched to find one that fit just right. The Blissness Plan is a ray of sunshine compared to other methods, and she now actually looks forward to working on it.
"Marney has a way of accessing both the left and right side of my brain. She speaks to the logical part, and sings to the creative spirit... She got me present to what I am really committed to, and how to push through the negative voices to get to the place where I can hear my own voice again." ~ Melissa Daimler
Be Delighted with the Artellagram
I highly recommend that you do sign up for the free Artella newsletter while you are there, for you may never have witnessed a more creative and whimsical item on your screen ever. Her newsletters are pure delight for creative minds of all kinds.Get the Free Artella Newsletter
LOVE this book!!!
...another favorite title
from the same artist, Marney
Fellow Entrepreneurs - Sharing is Caring
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Got any?
So how's your business plan working for you? Would this idea of a Blissness Plan grab you as a more meaningful and inspiring alternative to the traditional & linear formats for a business plan?
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cogentcoach
Jan 12, 2012 @ 2:36 pm | delete
- This is fantastic. I don't use business plans, rather build around a business model that supports goals and then build marketing and operational plans. But this idea is one that I think a lot of my more visual clients would love!
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BusinessSarah
Aug 25, 2011 @ 4:30 pm | delete
- Very interesting! A standard (read: boring) business plan is absolutely a necessity for investors and partners, not to mention to make sure you've thought about all of the annoying details, but this sounds like a fun way to brainstorm and be creative on top of that. Great lens, thanks!
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23squidoo
Jan 29, 2011 @ 6:07 pm | delete
- I've been a big fan of Marney and Artella for many years, and I, too, highly recommend any and all Artella products and classes. They're all terrific!
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crosscreations Jan 29, 2011 @ 6:13 pm | delete
- YES! I LOVE finding fans of Marney & Artella.
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wordstock Jan 27, 2011 @ 9:56 pm | delete
- If we ever decide to restart our business, this is where I am coming first. Thanks for this valuable information. Angel blessed!
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