I recently asked on my social media for podcast topic ideas - and wow did you guys deliver!On today's episode of The Shinah Show, I'm sharing one student's struggles with getting her business up and running (and profitable!). She reached out because she is trying to be strategic in her products and offerings to ensure she can actually make money. Does she go for the place cards & gift tags, or focus on the bigger jobs with. more complexity?This is where there is a BIG divide in the indust...
**This episode is a replay of episode 48. It has been updated to reflect current course sales & promotions**The demand for calligraphy workshops (and people to teach them!) is alive and well. BUT I’ve heard from SO many of you that you’re itching to host your own workshops- but paralyzed at the laundry list of to do’s that forms even before signing up your first attendee.I want more of you to feel EMPOWERED to teach your own classes!! So in this week’s episode, I’m breaking down my own ex...
Brand activations (aka “Live Event Calligraphy”) can be a super fun & lucrative job in the calligraphy industry – if you’ve got the skills to deliver the goods!Brands frequently collaborate with calligraphers to personalize their products with everything from pointed pens & brush pens, to glass engraving, at live in-person events. As far as locations? They are only limited by your imagination! Both my students & I have been hired for activations at duty-free shops in the airport, ...
Yep, you read that title right.If you thought the idea & success of Crooked Calligraphy just fell into my lap, you might wanna settle in for an eye-opening episode.In October of 2013, depressed and burnt out, I flat out quit my 6-figure job as a corporate lawyer and went from a completely independent & successful career woman, to living in my best friend’s spare bedroom with NO direction in my life. It took me nearly 4 years of rest, resetting, and a whole lot of trial and error until...
“Us small business owners are over here thinking that if we make a mistake, if we have a failure, if something doesn’t go the way we wanted it to… it means something catastrophic about us.”Most businesses statistically fail. So how do the other businesses succeed you ask? Because most of them are products of business owners who have failed previously.In Silicon Valley, failed businesses are considered a badge of honor. However, as female small business owners, oftentimes we beat ourselves up ...
This episode is a small preview of my full, in-depth "Calligraphy Business Made Simple Training" - CLICK HERE TO WATCH IT FOR FREE---Starting a business isn’t necessarily hard because of the knowledge you need to run it. But rather because you need to look inside yourself and find the courage and strength to face the hard things.Let that sink in for a minute. Because that’s just one of the lessons I’ve learned throughout my 9 years of entrepreneurship.On today’s episode of The Shinah Show, I...
Montine has been my life-coach for 10 years. She leads a magical, creative, laughter-filled, self-love-incuding practice called Intuition Painting. And she needs your help, because her beautiful studio in Asheville, North Carolina was recently decimated by Hurricane Helene. Montine has had to cancel nearly all of her retreats for the rest of the year. So she asked me to help spread the word about the Intuition Painting classes that are left.Montine helped me transform from a miserable, u...
“Even top ranked tennis players win barely more than half the points they play.” - ShinahIn today’s episode, I’m going to totally transform the way you think about business “mistakes” and “failures.” ‘Cause way too many of us go into business thinking you’ve gotta be close to perfect.Even Roger Freakin’ Federer, a world-renowned tennis player, barely won HALF his points while playing matches. BUT the key to his success was the fact that he did not focus on the points he lost. Instead, he let ...
"If you only measure business success in dollars... you'll never be satisfied, because you're never acknowledging the things that are actually making your life better." - ShinahI just got back from my honeymoon trip to Paris and had a realization about why my business feels like a slam-dunk SUCCESS to me right now... despite me not reaching my goals in my last course launch.Listen in to hear:- High and lows of my honeymoon to Paris- The unexpected reason I was dreading the return to my busine...
“We’re not satisfied with the quality of your calligraphy, so we won’t be paying you.”Yes, that was actually said to me. And naïve, inexperienced Shinah hadn’t gotten payment upfront – so all my work ended up being for nothing. Sucks, right?I recently shared this experience with my Calligraphy Biz Inner Circle members. Not to teach them about payment standards, but to remind them that client’s opinions can be brutal. But at the end of the day, they are just that – OPINIONS.Join me this episod...
“My life is always crazy and I’m running all over the place. I do so much for everyone else but calligraphy is something to call my own….and that is a feeling I didn’t even know I needed.” Danielle Williams is a BUSY person. She’s a full-time caregiver to her mother who has dementia, and a part-time healthcare worker. She never considered herself a “creative” person… and now she’s bringing in $300-1,200 PER MONTH with her calligraphy business!Listen to learn how:Calligraphy has boosted h...
Watch the video training here--A concrete six-month PLAN you can follow to go from calligraphy beginner, to starting your own calligraphy business!This is the roadmap I wish I had when I first started, because it tells you1) The crucial building blocks and priorities to focus on, and2) What you can ignore (despite "experts" telling you otherwise)If you want the BEST GUIDANCE and MENTORSHIP possible on your calligraphy journey, our Pro Calligrapher Bundle of courses is open through this Friday...
“I’m still afraid to put myself out there because now there are so many more experienced calligraphers than there were back then.” - ShinahToday I’m talking about one of the biggest fears that keeps calligraphers from putting themselves out there – competition.When you’re just starting out, you may think that NO ONE will want to pay you for your calligraphy – but in reality, you are so wrong. Not everyone wants to spend thousands of dollars to address their wedding invitations in calligraphy ...
“I’m no longer afraid to put myself out there... Because of my hearing loss, I’ve always been a little intimidated by new people. But calligraphy has given me a great deal of confidence. And I’m proud of my work.” - Amanda Nicole BorneToday, I’m talking to my student Amanda - a substitute teacher and calligraphy biz owner who is also dealing with progressive hearing loss. There’s SO MUCH VALUE in our conversation, including:How calligraphy has provided connection and confidence, de...
Life is ALWAYS going to get in the way of your dreams. There I said it.I recently hosted my 'Calligraphy Business Inner Circle', where I gathered with a small group of students for an 8-week intensive to set them on their path towards entrepreneurship.As we’re coming down the home stretch, one of the biggest roadblocks we hit was, “life is getting in the way”. Family, friends, work, taking care of YOURSELF… ALL of it swallows up your time. I get it - even 20 minutes a day can seem overwhelmin...
In a not-so-distant time ago, I was cowering under my fancy corporate lawyer desk praying no one would find me. I was miserable and dreaded waking up and going to work every day.So I quit, and started working for myself – and then completely burned out and quit that too for a while. So when someone asks me, “Do you regret entrepreneurship?”, that is a VERY good question.It has taken me being employed & self-employed to see that most people tend to think the grass is greener on the other s...
Not many people realize calligraphy goes WAYYYY beyond weddings – and is growing exponentially in almost every place possible.From presidential (and royal) calligraphers, to highly specialized pieces for celebrities & T.V. shows (Bridgerton anyone?), simple “pen and paper” items only scratch the surface of this industry – as well as the things I’ve made throughout my 9 years as a professional calligrapher. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 of the COOLEST projects I’ve had the pleasure o...
I’ve never told my whole story in one episode… so here it is. How I ended up as a successful but unhappy lawyer. How I got out. And how I hit the calligraphy business “jackpot”. Listen to hear: The REAL reason I decided to quit law (that I’ve never shared before)The humiliating thing I did as a third grader that held me back from becoming an entrepreneur How much -I- was responsible for my million-dollar business success (and how much was plain ol’ luck)The main lesson? It’s P...
How I learned to accept my imperfect body… and how that went hand-in-hand with business growth. In this vulnerable episode, I share openly about:How growing up Korean-American in this jacked up culture led to seriously disordered eating patterns for most of my adult lifeWhat happened when I finally did lose a lot of weight in my 20s… and how it didn’t bring me the peace I desperately wanted How I finally embraced more intuitive eating and fun exercise - by working on the sourc...
“Settling” for my husband has taught me SO MUCH about business…But letting go of the idea of my “perfect man” not only led me to the love of my life… but it taught me crucial business lessons, too. So, keep listening to hear:Everything I thought I wanted in a partner and why I was so wrong about most of itMy husband’s numerous “disqualifications” and the real drama of letting go of that perfectionist idealTHREE CRUCIAL business lessons I’ve learned from this experience - because “perfect...
Overlord Eor
I first learned about Shinah when I took one of her calligraghy workshops and she has a way of teaching you that makes a light bulb go off. I'm so happy to get more of her in podcast form. She's insightful and inspiring.
Samantha Davis
you're an inspiration! I started teaching myself calligraphy about 3 years ago and after discovering you I'm waiting for your course to open again. Shinah has a nice voice and navigates through the creative journey in a real and exciting way that speaks to me.