Welcome to the heART & Business newsletter! This is the first issue, and I'm telling you, this is INCREDIBLY exciting for me. I've been trying to figure out a more organized way to give those of you both in and outside of my paid community more value, and once I discovered this, I got excited.
Every week I'll give you insights in the same format - super digestable and skimmable, so you can only take what matters most to you right now, and leave the rest for later.
So - let's get to it.
Highlight đź’ˇ
(A key creative business insight I'm currently seeing.)
In 2026, I'm hell bent on seeing artists in my community make over $1M in sales... what you don't see behind the scenes is that I'm constantly collecting data from my community so I can see how to help you all better, and let me tell you - the numbers don't lie. And what I'm seeing is a bit scary... and yet, very promising.
The biggest reason artists aren't making more money? They're not taking enough action.
Trust me - I know how crazy that sounds, because for you it feels like you're taking a lot of action... and you ARE. But... you might not be taking the right action.
If you're interested in going deeper into this, check out this podcast. I took data from nearly 100 artists, and fed it into Notebook LM, and it summarized it for you in a way that not only shows what the data says, but also shows what you should be thinking about for 2026 if you want to make more sales.
Here's a link to the podcast:
Execute âś…
(Choose an action item based on where you're stuck.)
What I saw in the data is that there are a few issues that are keeping artists from taking action. So - if you find yourself resonating with one of the problems below, then take the corresponding action associated with it.
Problem: You're frozen in your business and don't know what to do next.
Action: Open your email or Instagram NOW and create a post or email telling people where they can buy a piece.
Problem: You're constantly comparing yourself to other artists.
Action: Unfollow every artist whose success makes you feel behind.
Problem: You don't make content because you're a "perfectionist."
Action: Take 10 minutes and make a BAD post. Not an imperfect post - a BAD POST. Post it and remind your nervous system that there's no actual danger.
Problem: You feel like you need to learn more before taking the next step.
Action: Do not look at one more piece of educational content until you've actually implemented something you've learned.
Problem: You're worried "it won't work."
Action: Write down what you're afraid of doing, and then make a public commitment to a friend to do that thing.
Remember: If you're feeling stuck, the goal isn't to reach your goal, but show your brain evidence that says it's NOT actually stuck.
Awareness đź‘€
(The current things you need to know about social media, the creator economy, and running an online business.)
AI Ads Backfired — McDonald’s Pulls Controversial Campaign
McDonald’s Netherlands took down an AI-generated holiday ad after massive backlash for being creepy and soulless. People on social platforms slammed it for lacking real human warmth and storytelling. [link to story]
Why it matters for artists:
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This is a big reminder that AI content without human soul will hurt engagement, not help it.
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Authentic narratives are what connect people emotionally, and that’s where your art will thrive.
Reflect 🤔
(Question to sit with this week.)
"What would I create and share if I knew no one was judging me?"
So much of what keeps us from showing up is fear of judgment - from family, from other artists, from strangers on the internet. But here's the truth... the people who judge aren't your buyers. Your buyers are looking for someone real, someone they connect with, someone whose work speaks to them.
Your weirdness is your brand. Your story is your advantage.
What if you let yourself be seen exactly as you are?
Thrive 🔥
(This week in this community.)
We're on a mission to hit $1M in collective art sales in 2025. And I want to hear from YOU.
Quick question: What's your biggest challenge right now when it comes to selling your art online? Drop it in the comments and let me know. I read every response and I'll answer your questions in upcoming newsletters.
Talk soon!
Lennon
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