Ep 173: A Look Into Our Mastermind – The First Two Weeks

The beginning of anything creative is often the most challenging part. In this episode of Paper Talk, we’re sharing a heartfelt look into the first two weeks of our Mastermind. If you’re starting a handmade business, building your creative brand, or craving support from like-minded artists, then this conversation is for you.   What You’ll Hear in This Episode: How to overcome perfectionism when starting a creative business Why naming your business doesn’t have to be forever The power of encouragement in an artist’s life Tips for making and organizing paper flower templates How community transforms your mindset   Start Before You’re Ready One of the biggest struggles our Mastermind members shared was getting started. Choosing a name, launching a website, or posting on Instagram can feel overwhelming when you aim for perfection. Jessie reminds us, “It doesn’t have to be forever. You just need to start.” That shift - from permanence to progress - is a game changer.   Claiming Your Identity as an Artist  Quynh speaks about her journey to embracing the title “artist.” Saying “I am a paper artist” daily helped her show up with more confidence and creative freedom. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re “allowed” to call yourself an artist, this part of the conversation will inspire you to claim that space.   Encouragement Is Fuel Sara opens up about the encouragement she never received growing up and how being part of this Mastermind has filled that gap. “I crave someone cheering me on,” she said. That authentic, artist-to-artist support can make a huge difference, especially when working from home or navigating your business solo.   Creative Tips for Paper Flower Artists Want to make better templates? Start by dissecting real flowers. Can’t find the bloom you need? Use Google Images to study petal shape and proportion. Sara and Jessie share their process using Procreate, scanning petals, and organizing templates digitally and physically. These tips will help streamline your workflow and make it easier to revisit designs in the future.   What’s Next for the Mastermind: A New 6-month Mastermind Experience Starting September 2025 These first two weeks reminded us of why we created this space to begin with. A six-week program offers valuable momentum, but we imagine a six-month experience starting in September 2025 with new and existing Mastermind members will allow deeper growth and connection. Creative businesses evolve slowly, and we want to make space for that. We’d love to welcome you into the circle. Join the Waitlist now!   ------ Join the Conversation! We'd love to hear from you! Share your insights with us on Instagram @papertalkpodcast or join our Facebook community discussions. Your experiences inspire us just as much as we hope to inspire you.  Stay tuned for more inspiring episodes, and don’t forget to subscribe to Paper Talk wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you’ve been craving a creative community or wondering how to take your next step, let this episode remind you that you are not alone. You can start small. You can begin today.