Permission to Pivot: Building a Sustainable Creative Business with Jeanetta Gonzales
In this episode, I chat with Jeanetta Gonzales a multidisciplinary artist, illustrator, surface pattern designer, and mentor to creatives . Jeanette shares her journey from the early days of graphic design (pre-internet!) to building a thriving career in art licensing and coaching .
We dive deep into the emotional side of creativity, discussing how to overcome imposter syndrome, why we often seek "permission" to follow our dreams, and how to spot the early warning signs of burnout .
If you need permission to REST this is the episode for you!
This episode is sponsored by Ivy Malik. Ivy has created a free training to help you understand how higher-paying clients actually think, behave and buy, so you can attract and sell to them more confidently. If you want sales to feel more natural (and less awkward), head to lizmosley.net/Ivy to watch the free training.
Key Takeaways
The Confidence Connection: Most creative blocks; whether they relate to portfolio building or pitching, are rooted in a lack of confidence and the feeling of not being "good enough".
Permission is Personal: Many creatives stay stagnant because they are waiting for external permission to take the next big leap. Recognizing that you have the power to give yourself that permission is the first step toward action.
Creativity and Life are Intertwined: Unlike data-driven roles, creative work is deeply influenced by personal life events. It is essential to nurture your environment to protect your creative output.
Recognizing Burnout Early: Learn to identify when your creativity "nose dives" as a signal to rest before you hit total exhaustion.
Episode Highlights
- 04:02: Navigating the "dot-com bomb" of 2000 and surviving economic uncertainty in the creative industry.
- 06:55: The most common struggles Jeanetta sees in her 10 years of coaching artists.
- 09:42: Why we look for "permission" and how a coach provides a safe space for creative growth.
- 13:50: Practical advice for working through a "funk" or a period of low creative confidence.
- 15:59: Identifying the "alarm bells" of burnout and the importance of rest.
- 19:10: How to handle comparison and "negative voices" from the past that hinder your current work.
About the Guest
- Website: jeanettagonzales.com
- Instagram: @nettdesigns
- Ivy Malik: Sales coach and mentor (Free training at lizmosley.net/ivy ).
- UCLA: Where Jeanetta attended art school
- Software Tools:
