One of my biggest frustrations is when I see artists and makers online talking about how they “aren’t really into business” or they “just don’t consider themselves a business person.”
I get frustrated because not only is this a limiting belief that keeps artists, makers, and creatives poor, but it’s also patently untrue.
Anyone can be a business person.
One of the reasons I started Designing an MBA over ten years ago was that I firmly believed (and still do) that business is a learnable skill. It may come more naturally to some than others, especially if you grew up in a business owning household like I did, but it isn’t some mystical power that belongs to only a few. (Funny how you could insert art for business in that sentence and have it still apply.)
I’ll admit that I’ve had more business experience and training than many artists have had. I did grow up in a business owning household, and I minored in Entrepreneurship in college. (Though I blew off the capstone class in that program to take a Wood and Mixed Media class in the Sculpture department instead – so technically I don’t HAVE a minor in Entrepreneurship.) Even now, running a business is a frequent topic of conversation at family gatherings.
It’s those experiences that have helped me understand that when it comes to developing business skills, one of the most important things is simply exposure. It’s not that I have a “brain for business” as someone said to me recently. It’s that I’ve been exposed to business for so long that it’s been able to seep into my brain.
Ironically, I remember learning very little about business in my college Entrepreneurship classes. I have a vague memory of a few key accounting concepts, I have no idea what I was supposed to have learned in Finance, and mostly what I remember about my Entrepreneurship classes was sitting around and talking. (And the shocked reaction I got from my classmates when they learned I was a Metalsmithing major.)
But there is one key business skill I got out of those classes that I still carry with me to this day.
The power of reading.
I remember reading Howard Schultz’s book, Pour Your Heart Into It, about the founding of Starbucks, and being struck by how much I could learn from reading another person’s business story. And ever since that moment, I’ve made it my mission to read as much about business (ok, let’s be real, I also read a lot about art, design, and a host of other topics) as I could.
Because what I really learned is that books are a great starting place for turning on your business brain. They let you absorb the language of business and see how other people solve problems. Sometimes they even solve some of yours.
Of course, reading books on their own won’t make you an expert at business. So much of building a business involves learning on the fly. You try things and see what happens. You put something out in the world and adapt from there.
But reading can help get you up to speed faster.
And yes, podcasts and blog posts can also help. But I always come back to books for their ability to dive deeper. To really immerse me in a particular business skill or story, to let it seep into my brain where I can let it feed into my own next steps.
So why am I telling you all of this?
First, because if you’re an artist or maker who’s struggling to embrace the business side of your business, then it might be time to dive into a business book or two. (Or three or four or seven.) I’ve found it can be the perfect way to turn on your business brain. (If you’re looking for a place to start, you can check out my post on the 10 best business books I read in 2019 for artists and makers. You can also follow me on Instagram, where I share a lot of what I’m reading.)
But I’m also telling you this because I’m launching an online book club!
Well, not just me! I’m launching it with my friend and fellow creative teacher businesswoman Amber Kane! The two of us our always swapping book recommendations, and we decided it was time we shared them with others.
And while I LOVE reading, I also believe the best way to succeed is to take action. Which is why this is so much more than a book club. Every month, we’ll chose one book and create a guide and accompanying video to help you take action on the ideas from that book. (Even if you don’t have time to read the whole book.) Think of it like a mini course every month! There will also be a virtual hangout each month to discuss the concepts in the book – because what’s a book club without a little social time!
We aren’t officially launching until April 1st, but you can head to tractionable.club to join the waitlist or follow us on Instagram to see what we’ve been up to! (You’ll see that we’re actually tackling a mix of books on topics like productivity, art, and creativity, in addition to business!)
Like I said at the start of this post, I don’t think business is a mystical skill only available to a few lucky soles. You just have to learn the language and shift your brain. And embracing business books can be a great way to help you do that!