069: Having Self-Compassion With Melanie Ham

You are worthy of taking time each and every day to take care of yourself. Self-care is of the utmost importance and not enough people are prioritizing it in their lives. In this episode, I had on author, spiritual teacher and wisdom seeker, Mary Davis. Mary touched on why you have to be relentless with your self-care practices. She and I discussed a lot of great topics around learning to lean into your spirit, turning pain into purpose and working smarter, not harder.  (This episode was pre-recorded on October 20, 2020) What’s in this episode: What brought Mary to this level of wisdom How her upbringing brought her to what she does now Mary’s process of turning pain into her purpose The gift of growth and expansion that comes from life’s challenges Why women tend to put themselves last on their list Mary’s thoughts on divine timing How you can learn to listen to your spirit Why you should work smarter, not harder How small shifts can make the biggest transformations Why you should normalize your perspective on death Her advice for someone who is navigating something difficult Why you have to be able to tell your story Her encouragement about giving yourself the option to cry What her typical day is like  Why you have to prioritize yourself   About Mary:Mary Davis is the author of the beloved inspirational classic, Every Day Spirit: A Daybook of Wisdom, Joy and Peace, and the Every Day Spirit Gratitude Journal. She is a wisdom seeker, spiritual teacher, visionary, graphic artist and mystic entrepreneur. Her wallpaper app, Every Day Spirit Lock Screens, brings a little love, beauty and inspiration to phones around the world. Mary received her BSN from Georgetown University’s School of Nursing, after which she spent many fun years as a musician, songwriter, producer, piano teacher and yoga instructor. She completed her Compassionate Bereavement Counseling certification in 2017 and works with parents who have lost children and in hospice care. She has a house by the sea and lives a contemplative life in harmony with nature. Connect With Mary:Website Links:Every Day Spirit: A Daybook of Wisdom, Joy and Peace by Mary DavisEvery Day Spirit Gratitude Journal by Mary Davis   Hope you’ve enjoyed this episode! Would love to hear from you. What is one thing you can do with the wisdom and guidance you’ve extracted from this episode to make a positive and lasting change in your own life? Connect with me on social media. You can find me @amytangerine on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and pretty much anywhere. If you’re enjoying this podcast, please rate and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and let your friends know about it too! The more we spread the creativity and happiness that comes from pursuing our passions, the better off our amazing community will be. Hope you feel uplifted, energized and inspired. 

I am so thrilled to introduce you to the guest on today’s episode, Nicole Barlettano. Nicole is an illustrator, designer and bullet journalist who has successfully turned her passion project into a career. In this episode, we talk about how she got into bullet journaling and her experience collaborating and doing brand deals. Nicole and I discuss why you shouldn’t look at mistakes as problems, how to handle negative criticism people dish out online and why you should be gentle with yourself during all of the seasons of your life.  (This episode was pre-recorded on October 15, 2020) What’s in this episode: How Nicole got started with bullet journaling  Nicole’s experience of working with Paper Pastel What she does for Zinnia Journal What stationery and art supplies she’s obsessed with right now How you don’t have to look at mistakes as a problem Her thoughts on creating content that will help people How she handles negative critiques from people What Nicole does to navigate when she doesn’t have the motivation Why you have to learn to be gentle with yourself in all seasons   About Nicole:Nicole is an illustrator, designer, and passionate bullet journalist with a background in the product development and crafting industries. Her passion project, Plans That Blossom, has not only turned into a lifestyle, but a dream job that allows her to share her bonkers enthusiasm with others.   Connect With Nicole:Instagram    Links:Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks   Hope you’ve enjoyed this episode! Would love to hear from you. What is one thing you can do with the wisdom and guidance you’ve extracted from this episode to make a positive and lasting change in your own life? Connect with me on social media. You can find me @amytangerine on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and pretty much anywhere. If you’re enjoying this podcast, please rate and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and let your friends know about it too! The more we spread the creativity and happiness that comes from pursuing our passions, the better off our amazing community will be. Hope you feel uplifted, energized and inspired. 

A lot of people are frugal with their money. But have you ever considered being frugal with your time? In this episode, I was joined by Steve Glaveski, an entrepreneur, podcast host and author. Steve talked about this idea of how you can invest your time and become more time rich. We discussed time containers, his tips for working remotely and the importance of communicating your needs and boundaries with others. He also shared how to make the most of your life and the lessons he’s learned during the pandemic. (This episode was recorded on October 6, 2020).   What’s in this episode: How to make the most of your life with being time rich How to shift away from the mindset that you have to be working to be productive  The first few steps to getting out of a habit that isn’t serving you Steve’s thoughts on the collective pause and wanting to get things done  The most eye-opening lessons he’s learned during the pandemic 3 tips for working remotely Why you have to communicate your needs and put boundaries in place His tips for channeling your energy Steve’s advice on why it’s never too late   About Steve:Steve Glaveski is an entrepreneur, author and podcast host whose mission is to unlock the latent potential of people so that they can create more impact for humanity and lead more fulfilling lives. He is CEO of Collective Campus, an innovation accelerator based in Melbourne and Singapore, that works with large organizations around the globe. Collective Campus was recognized by the Australian Financial Review as one of Australia’s fastest-growing new companies in 2018. Steve’s company has worked with the likes of Telstra, NAB, Clifford Chance, KWM, BNP Paribas, Microsoft, Village Digital, Lufthansa, Ayala, Charter Hall, Maddocks, Australian Unity, BNZ, MetLife and Sportsbet. Collective Campus has also been home to and incubated over 100 startups which have collectively raised more than US$25M. He also founded Lemonade Stand, a children’s entrepreneurship program and edtech platform, and during COVID-19 lockdowns, established NOFilter Media. Steve is the author of Employee to Entrepreneur: How To Earn Your Freedom and Do Work That Matters, (Wiley, 2019), the children’s picture book, Lemonade Stand: From Idea to Entrepreneur (2019) and the forthcoming Time Rich: Do Your Best Work, Live Your Best Life (2020, Wiley). Steve hosts the Future Squared podcast, winner of the 2017 Australian Podcasting Awards People’s Choice award in the Business category, and now 370 episodes strong. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Australian Financial Review, Tech in Asia and numerous other outlets. He previously worked for EY, KPMG and Macquarie Bank.   Connect With Steve:Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter   Links:Time Rich: Do Your Best Work, Live Your Best Life by Steve Glaveski Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Time Rich Tools   Hope you’ve enjoyed this episode! Would love to hear from you. What is one thing you can do with the wisdom and guidance you’ve extracted from this episode to make a positive and lasting change in your own life? Connect with me on social media. You can find me @amytangerine on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and pretty much anywhere. If you’re enjoying this podcast, please rate and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and let your friends know about it too! The more we spread the creativity and happiness that comes from pursuing our passions, the better off our amazing community will be. Hope you feel uplifted, energized and inspired. 

When life doesn’t go as planned, there’s always another path and calling on the horizon. That’s what happened to Theresa Haddow, an aspiring lawyer who failed the bar exam three times before deciding to pivot to something a little more fun. After working in the creative industry and participating in a challenge with her son, Thersa started her company, The Create Kit. In this episode, we talk about why she decided to start a subscription box and the why behind it. We talk about the magic of getting started with your dream and her advice on making the transition to doing what you love. She also talks about her experience with product sourcing, what a typical day in her business is like and how she’s navigated scaling her business since she got started.    What’s in this episode: How Theresa is staying creatively motivated this year Her experience with failing the bar exam three times Why she started a subscription box for kids Her advice on making the transition to do what you love Theresa’s thoughts on being upbeat and positive  Her goal behind the Create Kit What her typical day is like How this time is affecting her business, creativity and relationship with other crafters The process of sourcing sustainable products How she navigating scaling her business Why you have to get out of your head and take time for pausing and reflection   About Theresa:Theresa Haddow is a creative who lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and son. After failing the bar to become a lawyer (3 times), Theresa decided to pivot to doing something a little more fun, she began working as the Workshop Captain at Paper Source and soon realized that creating pretty things was something that wasn't just a hobby, but something she was REALLY GOOD AT. After her son was born she discovered her love of watercolor while participating in the 100 Day Project and friends began insisting on paying for the paintings that she made. She also discovered that she was really good at coming up with fun and engaging crafts for her little guy to do and how much he was learning when they would do these activities together, which led to the start of the Create Kit. Theresa is passionate about helping others discover the joy and learning that can come from creative play through her craft subscription box for little kids, the Create Kit. As an artist, Theresa uses her work to share stories of hope, love and fun through her use of bright colors and subject matter.   Connect With Theresa: Website | Instagram | Facebook   Links: Simon Sinek Ted Talk The Create Kit   Hope you’ve enjoyed this episode! Would love to hear from you. What is one thing you can do with the wisdom and guidance you’ve extracted from this episode to make a positive and lasting change in your own life? Connect with me on social media. You can find me @amytangerine on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and pretty much anywhere. If you’re enjoying this podcast, please rate and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and let your friends know about it too! The more we spread the creativity and happiness that comes from pursuing our passions, the better off our amazing community will be. Hope you feel uplifted, energized and inspired. 

If you consider yourself to be a planner person then you’ll definitely enjoy today’s episode with Jeanette Richardson. Jeanette is the cofounder of Wild for Planners and Wild University. In this episode, we explored how she got started with her business and membership program. She talks about her popular, GO Wild Conference and what they’ve done to shift this event during the pandemic. We also chat about making your planning your own, being choosy about what you invest your energy into and the importance of daily celebrations.  What’s in this episode: What inspired her to start GO Wild and Wild for Planners Their experience with transitioning their event during the pandemic Advice for people who might be struggling right now Why she decided to create Wild University How you can make your planner your own Why you have to intentionally use your planner for goal setting Our thoughts on being choosy about what you put your energy into  Why you should take the time to celebrate each day What Jeanette’s looking forward to right now   About Jeanette: Jeanette Richardson is the co-founder of Wild for Planners, which hosts the annual GO Wild Conference. She and her team recently launched Wild University, a membership community that features leaders from the creative community teaching new skills each month. In addition to following along with creative content, members focus on making progress and connecting with others. When she isn't working on Wild projects, Jeanette loves to travel (she hopes to make it to her seventh continent soon), and practices small business law.   Connect With Jeanette: Website | Instagram | Facebook   Links: Wild University Planners Gone Wild When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi Blind Injustice: A Former Prosecutor Exposes the Psychology and Politics of Wrongful Convictions by Mark Godsey Hope you’ve enjoyed this episode! Would love to hear from you. What is one thing you can do with the wisdom and guidance you’ve extracted from this episode to make a positive and lasting change in your own life? Connect with me on social media. You can find me @amytangerine on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and pretty much anywhere. If you’re enjoying this podcast, please rate and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and let your friends know about it too! The more we spread the creativity and happiness that comes from pursuing our passions, the better off our amazing community will be. Hope you feel uplifted, energized and inspired.

Creative passion can be the glue that holds us together during challenging times. In this episode, I was joined by Lauren Fitzmaurice, an elementary teacher, calligrapher and hand lettering artist. It was during a difficult year in her life when her love for lettering emerged. She shares her story of how she got started and her advice for those who are curious about this craft. We discuss how you can use your creative gifts to make the world a better place, how she discovered her style as a left-handed calligrapher and habits she developed to improve her lettering practice.   What’s in this episode: How letting has helped Lauren stay sane during times of uncertainty Her advice for people just starting out in lettering and calligraphy Lauren’s story of how her passion for letting came about What she did to discover her style as a left-handed calligrapher Frustrations she felt when first getting started Habits she developed to improve her lettering Why you don’t want your lettering to be “perfect” Her experience of working with Tombow The next step for her in her lettering journey Tips for people who don’t feel like they have time for their creative hobbies How crafting can help you through more difficult times   About Lauren:Lauren Fitzmaurice is a left-handed calligrapher and hand lettering artist from Owensboro, Kentucky. A full-time elementary teacher in real life, and when she’s not busy teaching or being a mommy to two sweet boys or wife to her husband of 10 years, she can be found in her lettering studio with a brush pen in hand. Lauren’s passion for lettering began 5 years ago right after her youngest son recovered from open heart surgery. Her mom bought her an online calligraphy class so that she could learn a hobby and have something to do for herself to help with healing and recovering from a difficult and stressful year. As Lauren learned calligraphy, she started sharing her work on Instagram and over the years has grown a large following with her lettering tips for lefties, positive quotes, and love of bright colors. She’s also loved the opportunity to work with brands she loves and adores teaching lettering and calligraphy in her own community through her in-person workshops. Lauren’s mission for Renmade Calligraphy is to lift others with letters and she continues to strive to bring joy and creativity to others’ lives through her love of lettering. Connect With Lauren:Website | Instagram | Facebook   Links:Everyday Watercolor: Learn to Paint Watercolor in 30 Days by Jenna RaineyBig Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert   Hope you’ve enjoyed this episode! Would love to hear from you. What is one thing you can do with the wisdom and guidance you’ve extracted from this episode to make a positive and lasting change in your own life? Connect with me on social media. You can find me @amytangerine on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and pretty much anywhere. If you’re enjoying this podcast, please rate and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and let your friends know about it too! The more we spread the creativity and happiness that comes from pursuing our passions, the better off our amazing community will be. Hope you feel uplifted, energized and inspired. 

I am excited to be bringing you guys this conversation with Lydia Diaz. Lydia is a full-time crafter and she’s actually in the top 3% of sellers on Etsy!. We covered a lot in this episode including how she got into crafting, how she got her products featured in the press and why she follows her heart instead of trends when creating products. Lydia and I also talk about her experience as a Black woman, especially as it pertains to the crafting industry. She talks about why she wants to be on the right side of history and how she helps her children to understand the realities of the world.    What’s in this episode: How she got into crafting and made it on the top 3% of Etsy sellers Why she tries to not get caught up in trends How she got featured in publications The impact that crafts have on other people Why you need to decompress and practice self-care The unrealistic expectations of strength that are often placed on Black women Her experience with feeling underrepresented as a crafter Why she wants to be on the right side of history The ebbs and flows of progress in social justice How she shares the realities of the world with her children   About Lydia: Lydia Diaz is a wife, mother, and full-time crafter living in Central Florida. She uses her various social media platforms to share crafting tips, Etsy advice, self-care, and social justice content. Resin + vinyl is Lydia's medium of choice. She enjoys the fluidity and permanence of resin paired with the versatility of vinyl as a means of personalizing or making a clear statement in my pieces. Lydia also uses her digitally drawn art pieces in her resin work by transferring them to printable vinyl. Lydia will be launching her own online courses for resin crafting this summer. Connect With Lydia:Etsy | Instagram    Links:I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown   Hope you’ve enjoyed this episode! Would love to hear from you. What is one thing you can do with the wisdom and guidance you’ve extracted from this episode to make a positive and lasting change in your own life? Connect with me on social media. You can find me @amytangerine on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and pretty much anywhere. If you’re enjoying this podcast, please rate and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and let your friends know about it too! The more we spread the creativity and happiness that comes from pursuing our passions, the better off our amazing community will be. Hope you feel uplifted, energized and inspired. 

Entrepreneurship isn’t easy. That’s something that Jaime Schmidt, founder of Schmidt’s Naturals knows all too well. Jaime is a multi-passionate entrepreneur who after partnering her business with Unilever, went on to start another company and an investment fund to support other founders. Jaime bootstrapped her business for many years and in this episode, she shares the lessons she learned along the way, her biggest pain points and what kept her going. She talks about the importance to her of staying grounded and being aligned with what she does. She also gives us the inside scoop on her new book, Supermaker: Crafting Business on Your Own Terms. What’s in this episode: What it means for Jaime to craft a life she loves Why she decided to move and make a change How she continued to explore and search for her passion  Her turning point where she realized her personal care products could be a big business How Jaime felt going through the process of taking her business to the next level The progression of her company growing through word of mouth Pain points she reached as she grew her business What kept her going as an entrepreneur Why she wanted to build her brand without taking on investors Her experience of getting approached by companies to sell Schmidt’s Naturals What made her decide to partner with another company Why she started her business, Supermaker The most common pain points she see’s female entrepreneurs going through How she stays grounded and aligned with her values Her non-negotiables for her daily life How she bases her decisions on what’s best for herself and her family Why she started an investment fund to help support other founders    About Jaime:Jaime Schmidt is an entrepreneur and the founder of Schmidt’s Naturals, a brand of natural personal care products that she started in her kitchen in Portland, Oregon in 2010. Jaime is known for modernizing natural personal care products, including the customer-favorite deodorant, and bringing them to the mainstream market. Under her leadership, Schmidt’s grew into a household name lining the shelves of retailers including Target, Costco, Whole Foods, Walmart and CVS across 30 countries. In 2017, Schmidt’s partnered with CPG giant Unilever, with Jaime continuing as the brand’s founder and spokesperson. Today, Jaime is focusing her efforts on helping emerging entrepreneurs pursue their own dreams. In June 2019, Jaime launched Supermaker, an editorial-driven platform that celebrates diverse, independent brands and creators, and hosts conversations that empower progressive values in the workplace. She has also authored the book Supermaker: Crafting Business on Your Own Terms, releasing April 2020 in partnership with Chronicle Books. Additionally, Jaime is the co-founder of Color, an investment portfolio that supports diverse and underrepresented founders, and co-owner of local entrepreneurial collective Portland Made. She is regularly profiled in prominent business media including Inc., Entrepreneur, Forbes and Fast Company. Jaime is an inaugural member of the Inc. Founders Project and has also been recognized as 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs (Goldman Sachs, 2017 & 2018), PNW Entrepreneur of the Year (Ernst & Young, 2017), Inc.’s Female Founders 100, and the Create & Cultivate 100.   Connect With Jaime:Website | Instagram | Twitter Links:Supermaker Supermaker: Crafting Business on Your Own Terms by Jaime Schmidt Hope you’ve enjoyed this episode! Would love to hear from you. What is one thing you can do with the wisdom and guidance you’ve extracted from this episode to make a positive and lasting change in your own life? Connect with me on social media. You can find me @amytangerine on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and pretty much anywhere. If you’re enjoying this podcast, please rate and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and let your friends know about it too! The more we spread the creativity and happiness that comes from pursuing our passions, the better off our amazing community will be. Hope you feel uplifted, energized and inspired.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of being hard on ourselves when we’re chasing after our goals. In this episode, I was joined by YouTube content creator, Melanie Ham and we talked about why we should put less pressure on ourselves as creatives. Melanie got started on YouTube in 2011 after wanting to connect with other makers and quickly realized her love for sharing content. She shares how she started it as a side hustle, how she deals with criticism on the platform and what she does to stay grateful during challenging times.  What’s in this episode: How Melanie remains grateful and positive Why turning to your hobbies is a great way to get through challenges Her process for making a project happen How she felt when she first started as a creative on YouTube How she started her channel as a side hustle project Why you shouldn’t put too much pressure on yourself Melanie’s advice for custom handmade gifts  Her thoughts about dealing with criticism and negative feedback What she does to overcome supply limitations during the pandemic  Why you should use this time to finish a shelved creative project What Melanie enjoys most about crafting Her YouTube schedule for creating videos What Melanie does when she needs inspiration How her typical day looks About Melanie:Melanie took a beginning sewing class at Joann Fabrics back in 2007 and bought a sewing machine shortly after. She started sewing crafty stuff, just simple things and then in 2010 made her first quilt and has been obsessed ever since. In December of 2011 she started her youtube channel to first connect with other makers online. At the time she was an active duty military spouse living away from family, and desired that connection with other creatives. She also wanted to share her latest projects and teach others how to make them as well. It took off beyond her wildest dreams with now nearly 650k subscribers and 55 million views on Youtube. Her favorite thing about being a creative content creator is the ability to work from home and keep her family the top priority. She lives in a suburb of Los Angeles with her husband and 2 children. Connect With Melanie:Website | YouTube  Links:One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp    Hope you’ve enjoyed this episode! Would love to hear from you. What is one thing you can do with the wisdom and guidance you’ve extracted from this episode to make a positive and lasting change in your own life? Connect with me on social media. You can find me @amytangerine on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and pretty much anywhere. If you’re enjoying this podcast, please rate and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and let your friends know about it too! The more we spread the creativity and happiness that comes from pursuing our passions, the better off our amazing community will be. Hope you feel uplifted, energized and inspired. 

Consistency is needed for growth in any business or endeavor you take on if you want to see growth and success. That’s why I had to bring on Teela Cunningham, founder of Every Tuesday. The name of her business came from the very idea that she would produce and share new content with her audience every Tuesday. In this episode, we talk about her journey of starting her business and why she strives for consistency. She shares how she finds inspiration for creative projects and her advice around managing your time and setting your own deadlines. Be sure to listen fully through so you don’t miss the funny ending! (This episode was pre-recorded on July 29, 2020) What’s in this episode: Her journey from getting her degree to where she is now The difficulty in being consistent when creating content How she finds inspiration for her projects Teela’s thoughts on self-directedness and why she enjoys being self-employed Her tips for setting your own deadlines and time management Their plans for hiring employees for the business Lessons that she’s learned along the way about motivation and hard work Why it’s good to take time for yourself and take breaks How the process differs when she creates courses herself vs. on Skillshare What Teela is excited about accomplishing next Her process for creating her lettering brushes About Teela:Teela is a graphic designer and hand letterer based out of Atlanta, GA. In early 2014, she published her first YouTube tutorial as a way of sharing her program tips and knowledge with others. The kind responses were overwhelming, which led her to publish a new design, lettering or illustration tutorial every Tuesday since then. Her weekly tutorials led to online courses and in 2015, she and her web developer husband, Spencer, quit their full time jobs and pursued their business, aptly named Every Tuesday together. Teela now offers online courses and digital products in addition to her continued free weekly tutorials. After 5 years, millions of tutorial views and over 100k students taught, the Tuesday tutorial tally continues with no end in sight. Connect With Teela:Website | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook Links:Intro to Watercolor Florals in Procreate Learn Font Making Procreate For Beginners Hope you’ve enjoyed this episode! Would love to hear from you. What is one thing you can do with the wisdom and guidance you’ve extracted from this episode to make a positive and lasting change in your own life? Connect with me on social media. You can find me @amytangerine on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and pretty much anywhere. If you’re enjoying this podcast, please rate and review on iTunes, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and let your friends know about it too! The more we spread the creativity and happiness that comes from pursuing our passions, the better off our amazing community will be. Hope you feel uplifted, energized and inspired.