In our first newsletter, we said we would spend two weeks deciding our next step for A Creative Duo. Specifically, we wanted to use the Shape Up method to choose what to commit our time, energy, and resources toward for the next six weeks (a six-week cycle).

Shaping our next six weeks

So, how did it go? Well, messy.

First, we had discussions to identify our more pressing challenges: 1. we need to extend our financial runway (make enough money to pay our bills for a few more months) and 2. we need to build an audience for A Creative Duo (so it can eventually become our main source of income).

Second, we brainstormed solutions to these challenges. We had quite a few ideas for how we could make money and grow our audience in the next six weeks. Most of them included some version of selling web design client services or digital products, like website templates.

However, the more we brainstormed solutions, the more we questioned our priorities. Why are we limiting ourselves to web design if what we're drawn to is film, education, holistic health, and social justice?

So, our brainstorming expanded. We discovered new ideas that are more bold, complex, and risky. What if we organized an online film summit? We could gather leaders and change makers to educate and bring audiences together through shared values. What if we reduced our monthly expenses by living abroad? We could finally do what we've dreamed about and planned for years and not have to make as much money.

That brings us to now. We haven't chosen a six-week cycle yet because we rediscovered our priorities. We have a new decision to make, instead. Do we: A. optimize the same strategies we've already used with web design work, or B. take another risk by trying something new, like the film summit?

Option A: more predictable income, it's familiar, safer financially if we find clients
Option B: unpredictable income, more upfront work to see results, no financial runway if we fail

Option A: we feel uninspired by the work, and it's caused us to burnout in the past
Option B: we feel motivated by this work, and it aligns with our passions

Option A: limited ability to build audience for A Creative Duo, slower growth
Option B: great audience building potential for A Creative Duo, quicker growth

During our discussions, we observed how our bodies and energy felt when we imagined committing the next six weeks of our lives, the rest of 2024, to each potential solution. We're leaning toward Option B. We prefer choices that fit with our passions even when they're more risky than to do more of the same and expect different results.

Share without shame

As we thought about what to include in today's newsletter, we were tempted to write about something unrelated to our six-week cycle. We could avoid the fact that we didn't decide on our next six-week cycle like we planned. That would have given us more time to figure it out and share after it's polished and complete. But we realized, that was our shame talking.

We reminded ourselves one of our main goals for A Creative Duo, including this newsletter, is to be transparent in all parts of the process, especially the messy ones. Because the messy parts of the filmmaking process — or any complex human experience, really — aren't shared as much. When we don't see others sharing the messy parts, there is extra pressure to only share when things go well. We are trying our best to share the whole journey. The messy decision making, the confusion, the frustration, the fear, the disappointment. It's all relevant, and it's all human.

So, here's to being messy. Hopefully you feel like it's okay to be messy, too.

Take care,
A Creative Duo