We recently connected with Sally Harvey Anderson and have shared our conversation below.
Sally, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
Radical Tenderness was in the works years before I knew what it was. It started as an itch: an itch to use improv and creativity to impact people’s lives for the better. Because improv and creativity, for me, opened up a world where I felt I belonged and could succeed. And I wanted other creative weirdos to experience that sense of belonging and confidence.
Improv is the cornerstone of my business and how it got started. I taught a group of my peers for free and, eventually, that group of peers turned to students who were paying me for class. At the time, I knew absolutely nothing about business. I just knew I had an itch. So I kept taking action. Because action creates knowledge.
I ran an improv program as a contractor at an acting school for several years. During that time, I was a working artist and had a poetry book come out as well as acted in many film projects. I learned a lot about marketing and business through all the self promotion that goes into being a working artist.
When I was ready to form my own business, I used as many free resources as possible. I asked people for help. I looked at what other people were doing. I learned technical skills I never thought I could learn. I did invest some money, but kept my investment lean. Little by little, I learned the skills necessary to run a business — and I’m still learning today. Because I had no business education, I had to be scrappy and learn it through experience. Action creates knowledge!
Sally Harvey, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
As coach, I help creatives have BOTH: a sustainable income and a fulfilling creative practice. There is a myth out there that people with 9-5 jobs can’t be creative and that creatives have to starve to make art. This is simply not true. I’m here to bust that story. It is my personal mission to help creatives feel full — with plenty of savings and making the projects of their dreams.
Radical Tenderness has two branches: improv and life coaching. I love incorporating life coaching into my improv class. Improv builds confidence and what I like to call the “f*ck it muscle” in my clients. It also helps tremendously with the craft of acting, and many of my clients are film actors. Life coaching helps clients get past the blocks that keep them stuck in their creative career and practice. We work towards their big goals together, for example, writing a book, becoming a working actor, starting a creative business, etc.
Radical Tenderness is about kindness, passion and fun. It’s heart-centric.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn was the story that creatives couldn’t be good at business. Everyone has to start somewhere. As it turns out, creativity and entrepreneurship go hand in hand! I use my creativity all the time in business. And I get to decide if I want to outsource a section of running the business or if I want to learn to do it myself.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Brene Brown’s work on vulnerability and shame had a huge role in shaping my business and overall vision.
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Image Credits
Jeremiah Dunlap, Mindy Lopez, Seth Dunlap, Lauren Starr