Build a creative business that makes you money AND makes you happy!
A two-day live virtual retreat available exclusively to members of Artists & Profit Makers!
When it comes to your creative business, do you feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or confused?
Are you stuck, unable to grow your revenue, and unsure of the next steps to take?
Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the ways you could be making money from your art and you aren’t sure where you should be focusing your time and energy.
Or perhaps you’ve built a business that sort of works, but you spend a lot of time doing things that leave you feeling frustrated and you aren’t spending nearly as much time making work that you love as you thought you would be.
Whether you’re struggling to get your business off the ground or muddling through your next pivot, it can be overwhelming to figure out what you should and should be working on. So you look around at other peoples’ businesses (that you think are successful) and model yours after that. But that brings its own set of problems.
The reality is there’s no one right model when it comes to your creative business. The one that’s best for you is a unique blend of your creative passions and processes, your business model, your personality and skills, and your market.
I call this Alignment, and chances are, if you’re feeling stuck in your business, you haven’t found it yet.
So with all those options, how do you know what’s best for you and your creative business?
Well, you can keep muddling through, guessing, and tweaking but never quite reaching your goals. Or you could bring in a trusted advisor who’s an expert at building creative businesses and helping artists and makers navigate the pitfalls (real and internal) that hold their businesses back.
Hi, I’m Megan Auman!
I’m an artist, designer, and metalsmith who’s been running my eponymous jewelry line for over 15 years. But I’m also a teacher and business coach who’s helped thousands of artists and makers with every aspect of their businesses, from pricing to product design to marketing and more, through my blog, Designing an MBA, my classes (you might have seen me on Creative Live!), my online mentorship program, Artists & Profit Makers, and the Alignment Retreat!
What that means is that I’ve got qualities you’ll find in few other business coaches – I understand the creative side because I’ve been there, done that AND I’ve also worked with enough other artists and makers to know that what worked in my business might not work in yours.
And that’s why I created the Alignment Retreat, to help you get super clear on what is and isn’t working in your creative business. Whether you just need a few tweaks or a major overhaul, I want to help you find the ideal business strategy for YOU so that creativity and cash can really start to flow.
With so much on your plate, it can be hard to find the time to step back and look at the big picture of your business. But if you aren’t seeing the results you want, that’s exactly what you need to do.
That’s why I’ve structured The Alignment Retreat as a two-day, virtual retreat, so you can carve out the time to focus and reflect.
How it works:
The Alignment Retreat features six virtual sessions spread over two days. During that time, we’ll identify where the bottlenecks are in your business and creative process so that you leave with a fresh focus (and a guide) on how to move your business forward.
In Day 1: Session 1, we’ll dive deep into your Personality, identifying your strengths and figuring out where your business sends you into the dreaded Zone of Frustration. (Or, as some of us like to call it, the Zone of “F this!”) You’ll identify ways to pivot your business towards your strengths and eliminate the things that cause you frustration.
In Day 1: Session 2, you’ll look into what your business is all about (what I call your Domain) to make sure it’s most in Alignment with your Personality. You’ll figure out what parts of your creative process were actually set up to cause you frustration and figure out how to bring your unique passions and creative gifts together in a way that feels right to you.
In Day 1: Session 3, you’ll dive deeper into your Models – the ways your business makes money – and figure out exactly how you’ll get paid for doing your best work. You’ll eliminate models that send you in to your Zone of Frustration and figure out the best models for your Personality and creative work.
In Day 2: Session 1, we’ll start to look at the Economics of aligning your Personality and Domain. You’ll figure out the ways to get paid for your work and we’ll do some (gentle) math to make sure it’s all possible.
In Day 2: Session 2, you’ll dive deep into the Market for your business. You’ll figure out WHO will buy your work, exactly WHY they value it, and how to reach them! You’ll ensure that you’re targeting a Market that’s in Alignment with your Personality and Domain, not one that leaves you feeling frustrated and depleted.
In Day 2: Session 3, you’ll tie everything together to create both a Creative Production and Marketing Plan so you can leave feeling ready to take action on your business! You’ll feel able to move your business more into Alignment than ever before, so you can create a business that not only makes you money and supports your creative work but leaves you feeling happy and fulfilled at the end of each day!
What people are saying…
“The first time I did one of Megan’s Alignment Retreats, just the one opening exercise blew open how I saw my art business. I could see how the particular, unique way I am comfortable operating in the world turned up in my art practice and made that art very unique, very particular.
And from there, it was – OK, now how can we make your business operate in this same way. The way that I personally find easy, natural, and very doable.
I think Megan Auman is a bit of a business genius and I can’t believe how lucky I am to be able to access her skills on this personal level for the Alignment Retreat.“
“The longer I am in business, the more I realize I need a specific, strategic, and tailored approach to successfully set and achieve my goals. The Alignment Retreat provided exactly that!
Megan continually encouraged me to focus on my strengths, acknowledge my vulnerabilities, and create structures that support my business with those things in mind. This included amazing spreadsheets with real numbers that make assessing different stages of growth easy and tangible!
If you are longing for a way to build and grow a profitable creative business in sustainable ways, the Alignment Retreat will change the way you approach your business.
Megan offers a solid framework to develop a clear path forward. It’s what every small creative business needs to thrive.“
“I jumped into The Alignment Retreat at the last minute, when the sudden changes in the world in spring 2020 left my original plans for my business completely derailed, and me feeling anxious and very unsure of how to proceed. I’ve worked with Megan many times before so I knew that the investment would be worth it, even if I didn’t know the outcome.
The two days of the business retreat were intense in the best way and incredibly helpful; it actually changed the trajectory of my business. Megan had prepared a series of in-depth, progressive two-hour workshops that built on each other, and the small group meant she was able to go deep with each of us and our own particular needs. I laughed a lot and had several significant breakthroughs; I’ve never before had such clarity about how my business can work with who I am in a sustainable way. Being able to talk honestly about our businesses in detail and learn from each other was invaluable.
If you’re in any way stuck or confused about how to uplevel or move your business forward, I couldn’t recommend The Alignment Retreat more highly.“
The next live Alignment Retreat will take place in February 2025 and is available exclusively to members of Artists & Profit Makers.
But as a member of Artists & Profit Makers, you also get instant access to recordings of previous Alignment retreats, so you can work through the process when it’s convenient for you!
All-access membership in Artists and Profit Makers is just $199 a month and you can cancel your membership at any time.
In addition to access to the Alignment Retreat, as a member of Artists and Profit Makers, you get…
New monthly trainings, on topics that are specific to running a business as an artist and maker. Plus you’ll have ability to request topics for future trainings, so you’re getting exactly what you need for your business!
One monthly group coaching call, to ask anything related to your business. These calls aren’t surface level – when you ask a question, you’ll get a deep, thorough response that’s specific to your business!
A resource library of past months’ training webinars and calls, as well as access to signature programs including Poetic Product Photography and The Ultimate Pricing Template! Click here to see the full list of trainings available inside A&PM!
A private forum (NOT a Facebook group!) to connect with fellow members, ask questions, and get feedback on your business, directly from me! (And your questions always get answered!)
Unlimited feedback and copyediting. There’s nothing like an extra set of eyes on your business, and as a member of A&PM, you can submit emails, marketing copy, product pages, line sheets, and anything else you can think of for written and/or video critique.
The ability to cancel your membership at any time. Pop in for a month or two to get answers to your most pressing business questions or stick around for a while and benefit from new monthly trainings, a supportive community, and ongoing mentorship! Artists and Profit Makers is designed to fit your needs as a creative business owner!
The peace of mind of knowing you’re getting answers from someone who has years of experience running a business like yours!
So what are you waiting for? Click the button below to join Artists & Profit Makers today!