Before this last conference began, I [half] jokingly asked Kat: “So… since I’ve been a panelist and/or speaker at every single Creative At Heart event since its inception, does that make me a C@H groupie? Or a valued member of the squad?”

Let’s go with “valued member.” That sounds better.

Creative at Heart, round 7 in Raleigh, NC | photo by Holly Felts

In all sincerity, I wouldn’t be mad to be a groupie, though. This conference is one of the best ones out there for creative small business owners in their first few years of business; Kat has done SUCH an incredible job over the last seven conference of dialing in the true mission of it all that people never cease to walk away with their business and, more often than not, their LIVES changed as a result.

We keep coming back to serve at Creative At Heart because Matt & I are SO fully invested in what happens here. There are speakers who offer practical, actionable content that you can take home and implement right away, like Shanna Skidmore‘s talk on money mindsets.

But there’s also the perfect balance of inspirational speakers, too- like how Kat surprised us all by bringing THE Lara Casey to kick off the conference! AH!! That was a game changer for me.

Creative at Heart, round 7 in Raleigh, NC | photo by Holly Felts

This past conference saw quite a few changes in format, the one that I loved the most being the introduction of breakout sessions!! And not just because I got to take one on cupcake decorating. Which was delicious, by the way.

Creative at Heart, round 7 in Raleigh, NC | photo by Holly Felts

I was SO excited to teach a breakout on Emailing Like A Boss- you guys know I love anything having to do with small business communication strategy. Having the opportunity to walk 50+ attendees and speakers (#nopressure when Shay Cochrane attends your breakout session) through my best communication practices was so much FUN!!

And then hearing from folks afterwards that it had been incredibly valuable content that they needed to hear was so, so affirming. I’ve struggled a lot with Imposter Syndrome over the last several years, and if this past Creative taught me anything, it’s that I DO bring value as an educator. And that I need to lean into my gifts, instead of comparing them to the gifts of others.

Creative at Heart, round 7 in Raleigh, NC | photo by Holly Felts

My biggest takeaway from this past conference, though, wasn’t a new piece of software or a sweet new Instagram hack. It was this:

I’ve allowed anxiety to place WAY too much of a role in my day-to-day life, and both my business and my emotional health has suffered as a result.

From never really closing my inbox, to constantly checking social media, to finding too much of my identity in my career… the anxiety and, at the root of it all, FEAR? It HAS to be reigned in.

For me, that looks like this:

  1. Deleting Instagram off of my phone. I re-download it whenever I need to post something, but I then delete it right after. This keeps me from SWB (Scrolling While Bored, which NEVER leads anywhere positive), and prevents me from falling down the Insta rabbit hole of comparison, feeling less-than, and major FOMO.
  2. Telling myself the truth about who I am, what I am NOT, and the greatness that I’m capable of. And believing it, really believing it.
  3. Finding the areas of our business that cause unnecessary anxiety and make the decision to either a) manage them, b) outsource them, or c) get rid of them.

Because there is so much joy, value, and encouragement that I have to give- being distracted by self-induced anxiety is to the detriment of very folks I’m trying to serve!

All photos by the lovely Holly Felts– I stopped bringing my camera to conferences because hellooo freedom!

Creative at Heart, round 7 in Raleigh, NC | photo by Holly Felts Creative at Heart, round 7 in Raleigh, NC | photo by Holly Felts Creative at Heart, round 7 in Raleigh, NC | photo by Holly Felts Creative at Heart, round 7 in Raleigh, NC | photo by Holly Felts Creative at Heart, round 7 in Raleigh, NC | photo by Holly Felts

Creative At Heart, Round 7 | Speaker

August 23, 2017

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Leave A Note

Browse the Conversation ...

Snag the Gear Guide

Heck yes! Gimme!

Curious about my gear list?

Follow along

@abbygracephoto

info@abbygracephotography.com

WASHINGTON, DC & WORLDWIDE

DESIGN BY TONIC SITE SHOP 

© ABBY GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY 2024 

Back to top

JOin the abby grace newsletter community

Get on the list

for exclusive, once-weekly business & photo tips, early access to new courses and resources, and occasional Mean Girls quotes. 

%d bloggers like this: