We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Beth Buffington. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Beth below.
Beth, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Risk.
It’s encountered every day when you’re a creative. Especially if creativity becomes your business.
Each time a canvas is turned around for someone to “see”…there’s risk.
Each look a creative “gets” brings elation or rejection.
Creativity requires creatives to infuse their soul into their work.
But, when it is time sell their work—emotions must be removed. “It’s not personal… it’s business.”
The 180 degree swing in focus in order to be profitable… is palpable risk. It can feel like bungee jumping… without the bungee.
As a creative coach, I teach the importance of creative confidence to build emotional strength and maintain creative fire.
Understanding how to embrace the risk of letting the world “see”…and then being able to manage the the high of approval… or the free fall of rejection… is a skill that must be learned and then maintained.
I love to discuss the topics of leaning into the discomfort of risk with my creatives.
When a creative learns to embrace being uncomfortable… they become better at their craft, and find more success with their goals— and ultimately, they enjoy the journey…both the ups and downs of their path to their determined success.
Embracing risk…is the key to creative success.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Beth Buffington, Curious Creative and Founder of “BDI-Create.Today”
Beth Buffington is a Licensed Illustrator, Creative Coach, Podcaster, and Digital Illustration Instructor
Her goal is to help creatives– in every season of life– feel confident, brave, and happier about their creativity– Today!
She teaches creatives how to:
• Be brave! – start/grow a creative business or side hustle.
• Work smarter by discovering how digital art can rocket their productivity and success.
• Grow their confidence…by simply becoming a happier and healthier creative in heart, mind, body and soul.
A little background history
Beth has been creative since she was old enough to hold a crayon.
She graduated with a degree in art and graphic design and illustration, and she began her career as a graphic designer for in-house corporate art departments.
After years of corporate communications, she felt restless, and decided to focus on her creative passions. She started her “Today” businesses: BDI-Celebrate.Today, and BDI-Create.Today.
She focused on becoming an illustrator and product designer, and has completed work for major publishers, magazines, and has licensed her art on products for home décor, gift, home furnishing, tabletop, accessories and more. You can find her illustrations and surface pattern on products in boutiques, major department stores and online throughout the world.
And now—Beth “TODAY!”
She is giving back.
She has a lot of experience to share about how to be a creative who is:
• happier
• healthier
• confident
Being happier, healthier and more confident is the KEY to being successful in your creative business!
Beth understands, because she has been the:
• creative with imposter syndrome
• creative with a crushingly harsh inner critic
• woman who was told “you can’t be a mom and run a business”
• woman of “a certain age” – who was told “you’re too old to run a business”
TODAY Beth is called a “go-getter” because she’s:
• an artist licensing her creative work around the world
• a podcaster who chats with thousands of listeners
• a teacher who is sharing with students worldwide
• a creative coach who understands YOUR creative dreams, fears and frustrations.
Now, YOU can benefit from Beth’s experiences
Beth shares her secrets about how she licenses her work, builds her business, and how she stays happy and healthy as a creative…in heart, mind, body and soul.
Here’s how you can grow YOUR creative biz – with Beth:
The “Create-Today with Beth Buffington” Podcast Each Thursday – learn how to become a happier, healthier, and even more successful creative through Beth’s stories, guests and the fun facts of science– that backs it all up!
“The BDI Create-Today!” YouTube Channel
Watch the latest “Create.Today” videos to find the visual version of Beth’s Podcast -and discover more videos to help your creative passion – become successful!
The “BDI-Create.Today Community”
Check out the “BDI-Create.Today” Website and take advantage of the treasures inside.
• Live online workshops – grab your seat and have some fun!
• FREE and almost FREE resources – enjoy digital art tutorials and biz building guides!
• Join the “Create.Today Membership” – designed for creatives who are starting or growing a creative business or side hustle. Rocket your biz with masterminds, marketing workshops, and network with AMAZING creative professional guests who share secrets about creative success.
• Creative one2one coaching
• And of course the BDI Create-Today digital art courses!
You’ll realize Beth has taken the journey you are on NOW.
She knows from experience – that being creative with a business is exciting, but the path can be lonely and confusing. She loves to share her knowledge – to save you years of frustration!
Beth has created the “Create-Today Community” to provide the nuggets of goodness needed to reach YOUR creative goals.
Her secret to happiness and longevity as a creative…
Appreciate the journey – right now!
Realize that it is a BLESSING to travel the piece of road you are walking on…Today!
She is here to help you walk creatively and confidently… as you travel towards YOUR success.
How to find Beth:
The “BDI Create-Today” resources, events and opportunities:
https://bdi-create.today/
Podcast: “Create-Today with Beth Buffington”
https://www.bdi-create.today/podcasts/create-today-with-beth-buffington
“Create-Today” YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@BDI-Create-today
Pinterest:
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbbuffington/
Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/BDIcreatetoday
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/b.b.buffington_celebratetoday/
Skillshare:
https://www.skillshare.com/profile/Beth-Buffington/4859209
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Helping creatives build confidence…is my mission.
I have worked with students from class rooms to zoom rooms. I’ve taught students from all across the country and many countries around the world—and I see one commonality that stands out with nearly every student I’ve had the pleasure to meet.
No matter how talented, almost every student lacked strength in their…
Creative confidence.
I am no exception. I’ve been nervous to submit work for review.
Waiting for a response can be agonizing.
In the past, my day could spiral up or spiral down—depending on the response I would receive.
Approval made me feel like… I was a good illustrator or designer
Rejection or heavy edits made me feel like…. I was NOT a good illustrator or designer.
The slightest whiff of disinterest, or lack of communication from a client or buyer… and the downward spiral of rejection would hurt like a @#$%.
This kind of wild emotion makes it hard to focus on creative success, right?
Now, every creative knows that art is subjective. There’s no right or wrong art. There’s no formula to plug in that will ensure approval.
So….how can one person’s opinion (approval/rejection) decide the flood of emotions (elated/dejected) that determine the outcome of the day?
And why do creatives allow these emotions to take over?
The Answer: It’s confidence.
Here’s what I’ve learned.
Creatives need more confidence.
Confidence begins with being comfortable with their unique creativity and abilities.
Next… confidence moves to courage and this understanding:
If I show my art to enough people, I’ll find the customers who want what I make.
This means some will like it, and some will not.
The people who don’t like my art…they are not my people. And, that’s OK.
That’s confidence.
However…this is easier said than done.
Confidence is a thing that we need to know we need.
When we realize we need it… confidence (like a solid house) needs to be built from the foundation —up.
When we have confidence, we become brave. When we are brave— we can focus on the business of being creative.
Confidence gives us the ability to show up, and be consistent with our work.
There’s a saying “Confidence comes before courage”
It takes courage to be creative—so confidence is primary, and confidence is vital.
It is a skill that needs to be understood…learned…and also, maintained.
I find confidence fascinating.
My confidence? Well… it is a house I am constantly maintaining and repairing. It needs consistent polishing, tweaking and general maintenance.
Sharing what I have learned about creative confidence…and how I use it to build my business…every day— this is my mission.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Learning was always encouraged when I was growing up. Going to school… getting a college degree —it was just assumed this was the path I would take.
Luckily, I loved school. Loved learning. Loved reading.
When I got to college and studied art, I learned new techniques and genre I had never tried. Jewelry making, sculpture, ceramics, photography.
I learned about the art of graphic design, layout, typography, story boards, design and layout.
When I became a creative entrepreneur, learning new things was crucial to growing my business. I needed to learn new ways of making art, new techniques, new software, new procedures, etc, etc.
But, one of the most important things I have learned… was realizing when I needed to unlearn something I had previously been taught.
Here’s a quote from Alvin Toffler that I keep in my studio:
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
Wow. So powerful.
With creativity, it is extremely important to stay aware of where the world of business is going, and then understand what creatives need to unlearn/relearn in order to stay viable and essential.
Years ago, it was moving from art boards to software layout programs on the computer. (Hello PageMaker, Quark & InDesign)
As a graphic designer there was a shift from brochures to websites. From magazines ads to Google ads.
We witnessed a shift from illustration boards to digital drawing programs on Wacom Tablets, Procreate and Illustrator.
If you were a designer that did not embrace and learn new technologies, it was not long before finding work was harder to find and easier to lose.
Now, creatives need to keep eyes open to understand the creative role in AI, and determine how or when it should be used —or how to successfully compete against it.
When we choose to bury our heads in the sand against the tide of new technologies, we become lost, invisible, and outdated. It does not take long before it becomes difficult or impossible to regain our footing.
If we choose to have a discerning eye that allows for learning, unlearning and relearning—we will remain as one of the literate creatives who will stand the test of time, and find success to “Create-Today” …and tomorrow using our passion—creativity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bdi-create.today/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b.b.buffington_celebratetoday/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BDIcreatetoday
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbbuffington/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BDI-Create-today
- Other: Podcast: “Create-Today with Beth Buffington”
https://www.bdi-create.today/podcasts/create-today-with-beth-buffingtonPinterest:
Skillshare:
https://www.skillshare.com/profile/Beth-Buffington/4859209
Image Credits
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