027: Community Over Competition with Bonnie Kuhl

As a creative business owner, it's oh so important to develop a community of support to keep you going. On today's episode, I am joined by Bonnie Kuhl, founder of Archer and Olive, a paper goods studio that she created after realizing the therapeutic benefits of journaling. We talk about the importance of community over competition and supporting other people in business. She shares how she set up a sourcing process, her experience with using a fulfillment center and how she knew it was time to hire a team. We discuss how being diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder led her to journaling and her tips for sharing what you do with the world.   What's in this episode: How Bonnie got started in creating journals and notebooks Recognizing a void in the market and deciding to go for it  The process of growing a team and when she realized she needed help Bonnie's advice for getting through overwhelm  Getting to the point where you need to pause and take a break to avoid burnout Being diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder  How Bonnie has used journaling and art to cope with anxiety How she films her videos and the importance of working with what you have  Using a fulfillment center and when she knew she was ready to use one The sourcing process she went through to create her products Dealing with knock offs and copycats from other brands Developing your community in business Supporting other creatives and cheering other people on Why Bonnie has decided to do collaborations with other creatives Working with Amy to create a 2020 planner and sticker pack Filling up empty spaces while allowing for white space in your journal Why it's so hard to be vulnerable and open up online Being a new mom and navigating motherhood  The power behind showing your messes in an authentic way  Bonnie's tips for sharing what you do online How Bonnie runs her e-commerce business    From Bonnie: Journaling has radically changed the way I experience the world around me. My self-discovery journey started at university when I received a life-changing diagnosis. After learning I had bipolar disorder and general anxiety disorder, I struggled to navigate each transition while prioritizing my own mental health. The overwhelming pressure to have it "all figured out" followed me wherever I went. It wasn't until a mentor introduced me to the power of journaling that I began to fully embrace life with my diagnosis. Paired with doctor-prescribed treatment, journaling helped me organize my thoughts, reduce my anxiety, and take control of my mental health. After experiencing my own transformation, I set out to share the empowering tool of journaling with as many people as possible through my paper goods studio, Archer & Olive. We design dot grid journals and daily agenda planners to help ambitious, purpose-driven people like you achieve your goals and exercise your creativity while giving you the tools to manage your mental health.    Connect with Bonnie: Website | Instagram | Facebook   Links: Amy Tangerine for Archer & Olive Dated 2020 Planner + Sticker Pack (USE CODE: AMY10 for 10% off) Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine   I would love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or on my website. If you enjoyed this podcast and you haven't already, I'd like to encourage you to subscribe that way you won't miss a single update. Craft a Life You Love by choosing community over competition, and you and those you surround yourself with, will always win.