[The Creative Freedom Incubator is a business support and coaching solution for creative entrepreneurs that are ready to lead their company and turn a portion of the day-to-day business operations over to a trusted professional. Typically, you are in the early to mid-growth stages of your business, with little or no team support. I do take zero income (starting from scratch) clients occasionally, so if this feels like a good fit, please apply. If you've grown beyond this stage, contact me for information about the Creative Freedom Accelerator.]
You're a creative entrepreneur. You're good at the "creative" part, but the "entrepreneur" part can be overwhelming - at the very least it's time consuming, and takes you away from doing the creative work you're designed for and meant to do. There always seems to be too little time to implement "all the things" and still do the work you love. You're wearing all the hats, and your fingers are in too many pies to have any sense of sustainability.
Maybe you don't know HOW to run a sustainable business in the first place. Maybe you've figured out profit, but being able to actually enjoy the fruits of your labor? Well, that's a bit more challenging. You're just trying to do what you can based on the cobbled together education you've gotten from books, online courses, masterclasses, and the hard knocks from the school of life.
"My business more than quadrupled last year."
"Being one of Lisa's Incubator clients is hands-down, 100%, THE reason my business more than quadrupled last year and is on target to at least double again this year... It's a perfect combination of mindset overhaul, business & marketing how-to, and hands-on done-for-you. I HIGHLY recommend you see if it's for you.
-Tracy Lay
DigivisualDesign.com
I hear you saying "But, Lisa! It costs too much to get help."
Whether that cost is time, energy, diverted focus, or real cashola, the pain of asking for and getting help is real.
I'm a Fusion creative myself, so I know the pain - it takes too much time to train someone; it's faster if you do it yourself. And what if they can't keep up? Then you've lost precious time training someone that you've got to let go and start this roller coaster all over again! Ugh! Besides, you're pretty good at stuff, so shouldn't you be doing it?
Um, no. Because it's not your zone of genius.
You can!
Until now, operations management has been a tool for the "big guys" - corporations and other high-growth businesses that can afford to hire someone to run the back-end of their business so they are free to be the face of the business and do what they do best.
"She’s smart, proactive, and meets me where I’m at, and then some! I admit my expectations were low as I haven’t had success with a strategist and biz assistant before, but wow! Those expectations are being met and massively exceeded."
- Sue Kearney
MagnoliasWest.com
(In just one coaching call, Sue & I were able to create an entirely new business model and re-launch her offerings within a few weeks.)
The Creative Freedom Incubator takes business management, marketing strategy, and executive coaching, and blends it with just the right amount of accountability and community, to help you build a profitable, sustainable business without selling your soul (I call it your Noble Empire).
Business incubators are typically a combination of business development processes, infrastructure, financial and personal support designed to nurture a small business through their growth stages. You may be familiar with incubators in the tech sector, where start-ups get working space, advisors, and even financial support to bring their big idea into the world.
It's enough to drive you crazy! But that's not how I roll...
The Incubator is designed for creative entrepreneurs of all stripes and offers you the support and accountability you want from wherever you are in the world. It begins with an initial 12-month enrollment, and renews annually for as long as you need it. Once you've "graduated" from the Incubator, you can transition to my Creative Freedom Accelerator, any time you need an additional business boost.
“Here’s what I want to say about Lisa: She’s awesome.
“She has a tremendous heart and sense of caring, that comes out in wanting to roll up her sleeves and get things done. She also has a sophisticated, fun, open-hearted sense of marketing, with a lot of experience behind her.“She gets the vision. She gets strategy. She gets the caring and love in taking care of the itty-bitty details…you can trust her…to care for your heart and your business.”
Mark Silver, M. Div. - CEO, Heart of Business, Inc.
Most support needs can be assigned to one of four categories:
Sometimes it's me (and my team) doing the work, and sometimes it's you. It all depends on how you customize your time in the program. When you complete your application, you'll indicate the specific types of support you need, so that we can hit the ground running once you're admitted to the Incubator. My commitment is that you'll have exactly what you need every step of the way to feel supported, confident, and focused on forward momentum in growing your creative enterprise.
"Thank you for the help during the insanity of the launch of my podcast. If it wasn’t for you, I know my launch wouldn’t have been successful. Thanks to your support, the show not only stayed in New & Noteworthy for all 3 categories PLUS all of iTunes, it then spent another 8 weeks in “What’s Hot”. The promotions helped me gain social followers, grew my email subscribers, and helped me enjoy the launch process more. To say “I couldn’t have done it without you” feels like an understatement.
Winnie Anderson
Podcast Host And Media Personality
Oh, and unlike other incubators, there are no exorbitant monthly fees to participate. You pay for results. In the meantime, I am investing in you.
In short, the Creative Freedom Incubator is the "silent business partner" you didn't know you needed. Combining my coaching and business skills as a Marketing and Operations Director with get-it-done know-how for the administrative parts of your creative business, I invest myself and my team in your business to help you grow your Noble Empire.
“Lisa is stunningly effective. Without her, our Simpleology Business Coaching program would not be anywhere near as good as it is. She has a unique talent for bringing out the talents of
Mark Joyner - #1 Bestselling Author and Founder of Simpleology
I'm a 20+ year veteran of creative entrepreneurship. I've been a musician and performing artist for decades (three albums and counting!), written two international business best-sellers and worked with other best-selling authors to launch their books into the world. I've also helped them turn their intellectual property into six-figure online learning platforms and coaching programs. I've helped start up new divisions of companies, turnaround failing companies, and help solo-preneurs stop being the bottleneck in their business so that they can enjoy the fruits of their labor. I know a thing or two about getting results for creative entrepreneurs. To do this, I've developed what I call the 360-Degree Business Design Approach.
I begin by looking at the context of the entrepreneur. What, specifically are you going through in your life that's going to have an affect on your business? Someone once told me that "all business problems stem from personal problems." My experience as a business advisor confirms that (and vice versa).
Then, I look at your Creative Freedom Entrepreneur Type. You show up in the world with a particular set of preferences that make you a particular kind of creative entrepreneur. Instead of working against those preferences, we develop strategies to work with them, and help you do your best work more consistently.
Next, we look at where you're at in the lifecycle of your business. What works well for an established entrepreneur may cripple a business in start-up - and vice versa. By identifying your particular stage of growth, we can develop the necessary systems and supports to keep your business running smoothly, regardless of the stage it's in.
Last, we look at your financial situation. The money stuff is important, but it's only a fraction of the bigger picture. I do an "instant assessment" of your financial health to see what's really going to work for your unique situation. There's no one-size fits all approach when it comes to the financial health of your business.
As we move closer to the center of the target, you get more clarity about what your business can do for you. We develop systems, processes, and strategies that are appropriate for where you are in your business and make it easier for you to move ahead on your success path.
"Lisa is one of those people you just love from the first minute you talk to her. She reaches to your level, where ever that may be, and she knows just the right questions to ask to help you become THE BEST at whatever it is YOU want to achieve. She challenges you without being extreme or unrealistic; but, most of all, she knows your strengths and your potential and she genuinely knows how to bring that out in you — it’s actually pretty amazing how she does that!
“I’ve coached one-on-one with Lisa, as well as having hired her to do some training for my team and I can tell you that we all give her glowing reviews! It’s so nice to work with someone who has been where you are and has proven themselves!”
Phyllis O'Neill - Direct Selling Executive Director and multi Six-Figure Creative Entrepreneur
Results may vary. If you don't continue to show up and do your part, it'll be hard for me to do mine. While I can't guarantee your results (no one can), I can guarantee that if you don't get the results we've been aiming for, you'll only pay your monthly "space holder" fee. If things really aren't working, we can close out the contract for a small administrative fee, and you'll pay nothing more.
There are other online programs that call themselves incubators, but they are really an online community with some training elements and bonus "office hours" calls. They don't actually help you do the work of running your business. Instead, they provide a place to connect with other "like-minded" people, and some monthly training to help you feel like you're getting your money's worth. You'll still be left to implement on your own.
The Creative Freedom Incubator offers consistent, personalized support, coaching, and training if you need it. Sure, there's an archive of training materials, but you're not left to fend for yourself and figure it out. You and I talk together regularly, get clear on what needs to happen for your business to move forward, and then we get stuff done. TOGETHER.
CEO, Julie Anne Jones, Inc.
"Lisa's strength lies in spontaneously and accurately seeing a project (whether hers or someone else's) from a bigger picture view and then focusing like a laser beam on exactly what and how to improve or advance that project.
"The first time I spoke with Lisa regarding a project I was working on, I was struck by her instant understanding of what I needed and her intuitive sense of which direction I should move in. She is a master interviewer and can spontaneously personalize another's message, using her own experiences to make whatever someone else is sharing instantly more relatable to her audience.
"In short, Lisa is a brainstorming genius and brings a sharp, creative and spontaneous element to whomever she's coaching. I highly recommend you work with Lisa if you've hit a wall and need to move your ideas forward in new and creative ways."
That depends on you. This is a pay-for-results program, meaning you'll pay a fixed percentage each month that you're enrolled. There is a nominal monthly "space holder" retainer fee that holds your spot in the program, but beyond that every contract is unique and tailored to your specific needs.
In exchange for that lower fixed monthly fee, you agree to pay me a percentage of your Real Revenue* for the services and support provided. At the end of each month, you'll submit a Sales Report and make your percentage payment (less the monthly fee you've already paid). The lowest retainer fee is $200, and the highest commission percentage rate is 25%
Your retainer and percentage are based on several factors, including your existing income and the number of hours and nature of the tasks in your contract. If you're already bringing in thousands of dollars each month, your retainer is likely to be higher than someone starting from scratch because you've already proven your idea can generate income (lower investment risk on my part). The higher your retainer, the lower your percentage. The more "do it for me" tasks that are in the contract, the higher the percentage is likely to be, because you'll need more work hours to complete the tasks (and my team doesn't work for free). What kind of tasks? That depends on what you need, but maybe things like:
Let's say we have a 10% agreement with $300 monthly retainer. If your Real Revenue* for the month is $20,000, then you'd pay $300 retainer at the beginning of the month (to hold your space), and $1700 at the end of the month ($300 + $1700=2000). If you have no Real Revenue*, you'll pay only the $300 at the beginning of the month.
Placeholder payments do not carry over from month to month. So, continuing the same example, if you pay $300 for three months with no Real Revenue, and then have a month with $20,000 in net sales, you'll still pay $1700 at the end of that month. Failure to accurately report your net sales or pay your percentage payment on time may result in removal from the Incubator.
*Real Revenue = a calculation based on total income minus certain costs related to delivering your offers
Please note: no refunds are available once your payment is processed. A 12-month commitment is required.
Nope! I don't own your company, but you agree to pay a percentage of Real Revenue for the duration of our contract. I have no voting rights and no say whatsoever in your business. YOU are solely responsible for your company and its results.
It's a renewable 12-month contract. We are committing to each other to stay in the program and do the work to the best of our abilities for a full year. At the end of 12 months, we'll re-evaluate your contract and make adjustments to continue your plan if needed. Mid-term modifications to your contract are rare, based on program availability, and considered on a case-by-case basis.
Every Incubator applicant will receive:
If you enroll, every Incubator participant will receive:
PLUS, monthly support, based on your individual contract:
The Creative Freedom Incubator is customized to fit your needs and the specific needs of your business. There's no other program like it in the world. Why?
Because I developed it from the ground up with creatives like you in mind.
The Incubator varies in size, depending on the total contracted work commitment. Due to the nature of the program, and the amount of time my team and I are investing in each participant, enrollment is currently capped at 8. Participants will come from the application waiting list first. Incubator participants are considered VIP clients and get first dibs on my time and attention. Every Incubator participant is also part of Accountability Club, which is a great place for community connection, masterminding, support, and encouragement.
All new participants must apply for admission. You can download, complete and submit the application before the application fee is due. When spaces are filled, applicants on the waiting list will be considered in the order received as space becomes available. Until further notice, I am waiving the application fee.
Not sure you're ready for a commitment like this? There are still several ways to get the support you need. Consider picking up a copy of Creative Freedom if you're a DIY type, Portable Coaching if you just need some guidance on your next steps, or Accountability Club to have a community to help keep you focused and engaged in growing your business.
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