Overcoming Creative Burnout and Boosting Your Profits
Hey friend! You know that feeling when you pour your heart into your work, just to find yourself exhausted and totally disconnected from the passion that sparked your journey in the first place? Yeah, I’ve been there, and it’s not exactly a fun place to be.
It could be the pressure of the endless to-do lists, or the stress to keep growing your business, and bham… creative burnout can sneak in and seriously take over. But don’t worry—you’re not alone in feeling that way, at all, and there is a way to lighten the mental load. Over the last few years, I’ve focused less on getting a ton of new clients, and more on increasing my profits in other, more sustainable ways. And I’m sharing my biggest takeaways here. So, grab a second cup of coffee, (or warm that first one back up) get cozy, and let’s dive into a few key areas that can help you overcome the burnout and boost your profitability.
#1: Realigning Your Creative Vision
Let’s start with vision setting, shall we? Imagine that you’re trying to navigate a new city without GPS. Like, how is that even possible, right? I think that’s exactly what it feels like when you don’t have a clear vision of where it is that you want your business to go. And I say that because, for the first three years of my own business, I felt like a lot of it was spent throwing spaghetti against the wall.
I’ve learned a few tips and tricks on strategic branding (you can learn more about that here), and since then feel like I’ve become a much more focused businesswoman.
I even created a vision board desktop wallpaper, (with inspo from Kaitlyn at Copy Uncorked) and it became an instant, and constant reminder of what I was working toward. Even better, when I open up my laptop and see my little 12-grid, I start to notice the goals that are actually coming to fruition— even if I forgot about them for a little while. Lemme tell ya, that was SUPER exciting and motivating!
If you haven’t already, I’ve got a free vision board template you can access → right here. Trust me when I say that clarity breeds motivation, and having a solid plan for your growth (personal and professional) can reaally reignite your passion for the work you do every day.
#2: Understanding the Heart Behind Your Brand Messaging
Ok, now, let’s chat about branding for a bit, (and not in the sense of logos and color palettes– I’m talking brand strategy, and the foundations behind your brand. Ever been just casually trying to promote something in your business and felt a huge shift in your energy like everyone is going to laugh if you finally hit ‘post’? Imposter syndrome.
And yeah, just like every creative I know, I struggle with that too, even to this day. Plus, it’s all too easy to get caught up in what your colleagues and friends are doing, especially when you have a backstage pass to all their successes they’re having. But when I started working through my website copy, I started getting clear on my Onlyness Factor, and that was a huge game changer for me.
Instead of focusing on what my competition was doing, I shifted my attention to what unique value only I could bring to the table. That whole shift led to a whole lot more confidence and a deeper understanding of my "why" when it comes to business Have you ever tried an exercise like this?
When your messaging resonates with both you and your audience, it makes such a difference in how you show up in your business. (And also how you cheer for your peers).
#3: Feeling Good About Selling Your Services
And then there’s sales... 🫣 If the thought of your selling your service makes you cringe, you are not alone my friend. I mean it is the most important exchange of your client journey, and a complicated sales can totally drain your energy before you even get started. A few years ago, I started using Honeybook for all of my client management, and honestly, it couldn’t be easier.
Sure, I still love having discovery calls to make sure that what I offer is the best fit for potential clients, but so much of the process is automated now. My clients also feel supported and informed throughout the onboarding process without me having to reinvent the wheel every time which is a win-win for us both.
I’ve packaged my services and set up templates for contracts, invoices, and emails, even the ones I use to follow up after a proposal goes out, which is a totally automated part of the process. Plus, I’ve keep a live link to my scheduler with my available office hours, so booking calls with me is a breeze!
When your sales process is smooth, it boosts your confidence and elevates client the experience, leading to happier clients, which leads to more referrals, which leads to more money. Dolla dolla bill y’all.
#4: Finding Flow & Ease with Your Systems
Last but not least, let’s talk about systems and processes. As an ops consultant, I’ve tried a bunch of project management systems—everything from Asana to ClickUp, Monday to Trello, and even some old-school ones like Wunderlist and Todoist.
But, what I’ve come to learn is this: Nothing changes if nothing changes. If you’re feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, and uninspired, then continuing down that path isn’t without making an effort isn’t going to solve the problem—it’ll likely make it worse!
The best project management tool is... the one you actually use every day. It’s all about building a habit, like muscle memory. After all my trial and error, I finally landed on Asana for me here at W&J.
Some days I love it, and other days, I just barely like it. But regardless of how I feel about it, it works, gets the job done, and keeps me and my contractors organized on what we’re working on and when. Honestly, I use it way more now than I ever did when I was flying solo, which just goes to show how valuable it is when you have a team.
So, there you have it! Overcoming burnout and boosting the profits in your creative biz isn’t just a pipe dream or part of your distant future. It’s totally achievable when you focus on vision, messaging, the client journey, and efficient systems.
If you’ve been feeling ready to take the next step in yoru business but aren’t exactly sure what to focus on next, I’d love for you to take my free quiz to discover which one of these areas is holding you back. You might just surprise yourself, (like I did)
👉🏼Ready to break free from burnout and boost your profit? Take the free quiz now and let’s uncover what’s standing in your way!
