Feeling stuck staring at a never-ending to-do list? As a busy creative, deciding where to focus your energy can feel overwhelming — especially when everything feels important right now.

In this episode, I share a simple prioritization framework I’ve been using for almost 10 years: the Time Value Matrix. It’s a practical tool that helps you cut through the noise, focus on the tasks that actually move your business forward, and reduce time spent on the low-value work that drains your energy.

You’ll learn:

• The 4 categories of tasks (A, B, C, and D) — and why knowing the difference is game-changing

• How to spot your A-level, revenue-ready tasks (the ones with the biggest ROI)

• Examples of how this works for digital creators, crafters, and artists

• Considerations for letting AI help you with low-value tasks

👉 Challenge for today: Take your current to-do list and run it through the Time Value Matrix. Circle one A-level task and tackle it first.

✅ Next Steps:

1. Book Your Coaching Call!
2. Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics
3. Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com.
4. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

Feeling stretched thin this busy season? You don’t have to do it all alone. In this episode, we’ll talk about how to hire support in a way that feels clear, doable, and affordable.

You’ll learn:

• How to decide exactly what kind of help you need

• Creative options for paying or trading beyond just cash

• Why clarity is kind — and how a simple job description makes hiring smoother

• The importance of planning for help before you’re overwhelmed

Hiring help doesn’t have to break the bank — and bringing in support early can make your busy season run so much smoother.

👉 If this episode encourages you, share it with a fellow artist who’s gearing up for the season too!

✅ Next Steps:

1. Book Your Coaching Call!
2. Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics
3. Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com.
4. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

When you identify a struggle in work or life, creating healthy boundaries can be a powerful way to reduce stress, reclaim time, and regain a sense of control.

Boundary setting also helps you to step into your best, most creative self!

Here’s a step-by-step practical approach to creating those boundaries and improving your well-being.

This is a 5-step framework designed to help you set and sustain boundaries that protect your time, energy, and peace of mind — at work, at home, and in relationships.

This strategy is perfect for working artists and self-employed creatives!

What’s the current situation causing stress, resentment, or anxiety?

My struggle is: ____________.

Where is your energy, time, or emotional well-being being drained?

• Time

• Communication

• Emotional energy

• Physical space

• Task/workload

• Other: _______________________

What clear, kind, actionable limit do you want to set?

How will you communicate and enforce this boundary?

After trying this for a few days or weeks…

✅ Next Steps:

1. Book Your Coaching Call!
2. Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics
3. Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com.
4. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

One of the biggest challenges that I’ve heard come up through hours and hours of coaching sessions with creatives, is that of getting found online for what you do or make.

Simply getting found and increasing visibility online... which isn’t so easy these days with all of the noise, options, and algorithm changes.

But there are a few things you can do to increase your online visibility through your digital storefront and targeted key words as you gear up for your next season of sales.

Today, as you look at the week ahead, we’ll focus on three creative business checklists that you can knock out in under an hour each.

1. Your keywords and key phrase brainstorm
2. Your digital storefront audit
3. Your social media refresh

Listen in for guidance for each. Be sure to use a timer for these exercises to keep you super focused on the task at hand.

Using keywords strategically today will help you to increase your online visibility and get found online this season!

✅ Next Steps:

1. Book Your Coaching Call!
2. Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics
3. Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com.
4. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

Hey, Creative Boss!

Something big is coming up for your customers—and it’s time to get you ready. We’re moving out of the slow, stretchy days of summer and heading straight into a season of momentum. The weather’s shifting, routines are changing, and your audience is shifting right along with it.

Your buyers? They’re getting back into routines. They’re starting to plan. Some are even thinking about gifts—yep, already.

Parents and kids are in back-to-school mode, companies are pushing hard into Q3 and Q4, and before you know it, it’s the holidays.

That’s when the messages start rolling in—DMs on Instagram, inquiries on Facebook, Etsy orders—and a lot of it will be last minute.

Which is why today we’re talking about the #1 sales skill that could make or break your bottom line this fall: the follow-up.

I’ll walk you through what follow-up really means, how to do it without feeling pushy, and why starting now could be the reason your holiday season is booked out.

Grab a pen and paper—let’s get you revenue ready.

✅ Next Steps:

1. Book Your Coaching Call!
2. Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics
3. Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com.
4. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

Are my revenue goals even possible? 🤔

This question requires more than just a yes or no response.

If I were to answer this for you, I’d be tempted to say, “Absolutely yes your revenue goals are possible” because the optimist in me believes with strategy, planning, faith in your vision and follow through, just about anything is possible...

But the strategic thinker in me would want to know more.

To determine if your revenue goals are possible there are 5 strategic questions that you can ask yourself.

Listen in, take notes and take action!

✅ Next Steps:

1. Book Your Coaching Call!
2. Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics
3. Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com.
4. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

✏️🗒️ Summer School is now in session! Throughout the month of July, join me here on the Revenue Ready Creative podcast each Monday for conversations with guest experts in art and design who are ready to drop knowledge on topics like building resilience in self-employment, getting your name out there in the community, switching to a value-based pricing model and so much more.

Today’s guest is Eric McRay, a celebrated painter and collage artist. Eric has been running McRay Studios for over 25 years. With a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art, Eric has built a carer fueled by passion, grit, hustle, bold exploration and a relentless drive to reinvent.

Striking a rare balance between creating work that brings him join and deeply resonates with his patrons, Eric's art has found its way into hundreds of personal collections, as well as those of corporations, hospitals and public institutions.

✅ Learn more about Eric McRay:

• https://ericmcray.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/mcraystudios/
• https://www.facebook.com/mcraystudios/

✅ Next Steps:

1. Book Your Coaching Call!
2. Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics
3. Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com.
4. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.

Summer School is now in session!

Throughout the month of July, join me here on the Revenue Ready Creative podcast each Monday for conversations with guest experts in art and design who are ready to drop knowledge on topics like building resilience in self-employment, getting your name out there in the community, switching to a value-based pricing model and so much more.

Pull up your easel and prep your palette—our guest, Pete Sack, is about to paint a whole new perspective on the value of community, planning, and diversification in self-employment.

✅ Learn more about Pete Sack:

• http://petesack.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/petesackart/

✅ Next Steps:

1. Book Your Coaching Call!
2. Respond to the Call To Artists: Request for Topics
3. Find more information at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com.
4. Buy a copy of the book "Let Your Creativity Work for You: How to Turn Artwork into Opportunity" by Heather Allen, MGIM-MBA at www.HeatherAllenOnline.com/book.