I’m a hopeless romantic. I enjoy romantic comedies, date nights with my husband, weddings, and Rascal Flatts. Right before I walked down the aisle to marry my husband, a friend of the family sang the song, Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts.

So, you might guess that I’m a fan of Valentines’ Day, and you’d be right. That’s another reason that today’s video background is my favorite so far.

I was caught off guard at the end of this video–as you’ll see if you watch it–because my husband didn’t know what day Valentine’s Day is in February. What?!?! I need to know if the men in your life know what day Valentine’s Day is or if they have to look it up each year. Share in the comments below.

This week’s video topic came from Rachael {@kitchencourses on Twitter}. She asked if I’d talk about membership sites and how to figure out what people are willing to pay for when it comes to membership sites. You can take this information and apply it to other products and services as well.

After you watch the video above, you might want to check out this free module on getting to know your target market.

If you liked this week’s video, please share it:

How to figure out what people are willing to pay for + Lots of paper hearts! bit.ly/xZz0m1 @blacksburgbelle {Click to Tweet}

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{Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from the lovely Tania Wojciechowski.}

I’m staring at the white page in front of me – have been for about 20 minutes – willing something to appear. It’s no use, it’s not going to work. I walk away from my desk, berating myself for not being able to come up with a new idea, punishing myself for not being creative enough.

It may be a bit harsh, but when we are in the middle of a panic moment, caught behind that creative roadblock, we can get caught up in those negative judgements of “this is terrible,” or “I’m not good enough.”

Luckily there are many techniques you can use to jump start your creative fires. Here are a couple that have worked for me in the past:

1. Give yourself narrow parameters.

It may seem counter-intuitive to limit your creativity when you are in a creative drought, but when we place limits on our explorations it is actually creatively freeing. We no longer remain in that empty space without ideas, but are quickly making decisions about what is and isn’t within your limits.

Let me give you an example. By saying, “I’m only going to think about circles,” we make ourselves aware of circles, we focus on circles, and we play with circles. We can now say “no” to squares and triangles, and that ability to make quick yes/no decisions gives us the feeling of productivity and progress. We can then take our camera out and look for circles to photograph in signs, in landscapes, and in windows. Or we can start doodling and cutting out paper circles and playing with composition. Did I just say play? Hey, sounds like you just went around that roadblock! By saying no to what is outside your self-limited scope, you are saying yes to all the possibilities that are inside it. {Click to Tweet that little nugget!}

2. Say yes. And yes. And yes.

The trauma of that blank page often comes while trying to think of the Perfect Words that make up that first sentence, or, trying to draw the Perfect First Line on your new design. We are prejudging our output – that line isn’t perfect, those words aren’t right. We are actually saying “no” over and over again before we even hit the keyboard.

Change this by saying “yes” – whatever comes out is perfect, is good, is exactly what you want. Say yes to the silly words that pop into your mind – write them down! Say yes to the goofy drawing – it’s perfect. It may not be exactly what you wanted to say, or draw, or photograph, but it’ll get you started, and it will often take you down a surprising path. The silly doodle you just did has an abstract quality that would make a beautiful embroidery, or that line of paint reminds you of water ripples and you suddenly want to do a series of paintings with ‘water’ as a theme.

3. Build creative energy with others.

Just like studying for a test is easier when you are doing it with a partner, so can creativity be more fun when you explore it in a group. You can meet up with other creatives and spend an evening doing something crafty; you can join a photography, improv, or screenprinting class; or you could dive right in and participate in a creative retreat.

Working with Deanna Mullican from Apples and Orange, I have organized just this kind of retreat – a place to reconnect with your creative energy, passions, and authentic voice. The main reason I wanted to set up a retreat was to create a welcoming and supportive space where I could find ways to reignite my own creative fires. I wanted a place where I could connect with other creative entrepreneurs who were going through the same issues, and where I could build a support system I could call on when I had those “blank page” moments. Spark: the Creative Entrepreneur Retreat, takes place May 3-7, 2012, just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. We’ve rented a gorgeous hacienda, and there will be room for 10 beautiful, creative souls to join us. The amazing creative community-builder and mentor Jessika Hepburn from Oh My! Handmade will be there as well as the creative powerhouse and magical wordsmith Alexandra Franzen. They will both be there the entire weekend, and will lead us through workshops to help reconnect us with our own creative force. There will be other workshops as well, and lots of time for discussion with the other women, so we can start building not only a strong creative support system, but also lifelong friends and mentors. Check out the Spark website, and consider joining us in the mountains of New Mexico this spring if you’d like reignite your own creative fire!

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About the Writer:
Tania Wojciechowski is the owner of manusmade, where she makes modern goods for you and your home from natural materials. She is passionate about helping people connect with their creative super powers. Oh yes, and linen – she really, really loves linen. Check out her websites at manusmade.com and reigniteyourfire.com, and connect with her on twitter @manusmade and @sparkretreat.

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Many of you know that I love to take pictures. Almost all of the pictures on this blog are taken by me. I also really enjoy getting inspired by color combinations and have fun putting those together for pictures. I thought I would share this with you every once in a while with a color inspiration post. I hope you enjoy this first one!

{Pictures and Styling by April Bowles-Olin}

In last week’s video, I talked about why you should use video to promote your business and how to build up confidence to put yourself on video.

To follow that up, I’m covering Hannah and Emily’s {from @flychicksoline} other topic request: what to vlog {video blog} about.

I hope you like today’s Valentine’s Day inspired background. I painted this to hang above my bed and thought it would make a great background for a video.

Today is the last day to enroll in:

1. ARTrepreneur {enrollment will not open up again for at least another six months}

2. Six Weeks to a Creative Business {enrollment will not open up for at least another four months}

Enrollment will end tonight at 10pm EST, so if you’re interested, make sure you sign up before then!

P.S. If you’re already enrolled, I’m soooooooooooooooo excited to start working with you this week! Yay for successful creative businesses!

You’ve got an online business. You want to connect with and engage more of your fans and customers.

What to do…What to do?

Use video.

Hannah and Emily from @flychicksonline requested that I talk about building confidence to vlog {video blog} and what to vlog about. Before delving into that, I talk about why you should use video to promote your business–and then I go into how you can build up your confidence to do it. Watch below to see what I have to say:

Next week, I’ll cover what you should vlog about.

Do you have any tips for building up confidence to put yourself on video? Have you recently started using video? Were you nervous? Share any tips below!

Quick Announcement: Enrollment for ARTrepreneur and Six Weeks to a Creative Business closes January 30th {that’s this upcoming Monday!}.

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We’re nearing the end of the third week in January.

This is the point where I notice less people at the gym, because they’re starting to give up on their goals—their New Year’s resolutions.

They’re starting to realize that the goals they set weren’t realistic, they didn’t realize how tough it would be to make the change, or they don’t care enough about losing 15 pounds before bathing suit season to wake up an hour earlier.

This is also the point where I notice people not following through on their business plans. They started out the New Year strong and have tapered off.

I have a few suggestions on how you can deal with this, so you’re not one of those people who end up saying, “How did 2012 go by so fast? There was so much I wanted to do and change, and it didn’t happen.”

1. Don’t give up when you slip.

Making changes isn’t easy. That’s just the truth. So, when you decide that you’re going to work on your business for an hour after dinner at least three nights a week, you might realize that it isn’t as easy as just making that decision. Stuff comes up.

Scientists disagree on how long it takes to form a habit, but it usually takes at least 30 days. Once you’ve done something for a month, it becomes easier to keep doing it, because you start to do it more on autopilot. Before this time, most of us have slip ups. These slip ups determine whose going to make it and who won’t. The people who make big changes learn from their slip ups, they understand that making mistakes along the way is part of the process, and they keep moving forward.

2. Get to know your triggers and plan for them.

We all have triggers that keep us from our goals. I just started learning some new knitting techniques, and I’m really excited about them. I also have some episodes of Grey’s Anatomy sitting in the queue of my Tivo. I love to watch/listen to Grey’s Anatomy and knit. I don’t feel as bad about watching television when I do something else along with it—like knitting.

This is a trigger for me. I could be knitting and watching Grey’s instead of working and writing this post. I have to plan for that trigger. I have a rule about it. I’m not allowed to watch and knit until at least 5:45 pm. My husband usually doesn’t get home from work until 6:30 pm, so that gives me time to watch one episode and knit while fast forwarding through the commercials. I don’t get to do it every day, but having that rule in place keeps me from playing couch potato girl.

3. Tell other people about your goals and the changes you want to make.

Today, I spent an hour talking with Mayi Carles from heartmade. We were catching up, talking about our recent launches, and making plans for 2012. That hour inspired me, gave me new ideas, and will help me hold myself accountable. If I tell someone I’m going to do something, I’m more likely to do it. When I feel inspired because I’m around like-minded people, I’m more likely to stay motivated.

One way you can do this is by joining a community like ARTrepreneur {enrollment closes January 30th}. You’d be surrounded by people who want the same things you want, who are willing to tell you their secrets and failures, and who want to see you succeed. That’s one of the things that I love about it.

Tell me. Where you at with those New Year’s resolutions?

My mom and I share a lot of things. We have the same eyes and lips–when you see us in person, you KNOW we’re related. We both have sparkling personalities {ahem, tempers}. And, we both have a passion for creative pursuits.

My mom was my first creative business inspiration, and she’s a big part of why I do what I do.

Since, I’m launching a new program, Six Weeks to a Creative Business, and relaunching ARTrepreneur, I thought I’d share one of the big reasons I wound up where I am today.

Settle in with a handful of popcorn or a cup of tea {it’s really not that long}, and enjoy:

Has anyone inspired your passion for creating? I’d love to hear more about it in the comments below.

And, do you like today’s background? It’s a bunch of hanging ribbons!

Mentioned in the video module:

1. Jessica Swift’s amazing rain boots.

2. Target market biography worksheet: download here.

3. Example of a plan of getting to know your target market: download here.

This is a module from, Six Weeks to a Creative Business, which is currently open for enrollment here. Enrollment closes on January 30th. If you enroll in ARTrepreneur, you automatically get access to this course for FREE. 

Want the details on ARTrepreneur or see how I tied together Gilmore Girls and ARTrepreneur? Check it out here. Enrollment ends January 30th.

If you’re not ready to join ARTrepreneur, but you need help getting your creative business up and running, check out this new ecourse: Six Weeks to a Creative Business. If you do join ARTrepreneur, you get access to this course for FREE. Just sayin’.