Imagine:

You and I sit down for coffee at your favorite little place.

Or maybe beers in a corner of your local pub (except I'm not a beer gal. I'll order Jameson's or something).

The topic of conversation?

Your thing.

That thing you do that you love. That thing that your friends and family ooh and ahh over. That thing you just can't get off the ground. Or that thing that you started, and now what?

We put our heads together.

Sometimes the answer is some practical step to take. Sometimes it's a voice inside you that wants your attention (like the voice that says, you can't make money from art!). Most times it's a combination of the two.

And when we're done, you'll have concrete next steps that take you closer to where you'd like to be.

We might talk about ...

• Pricing -- ugh. You can put an end to agonizing about whether your prices are too high or too low.

• Digging through your bushels of ideas for the ones with the most potential (or the most excitement!).

• Taking advantage of Twitter, Facebook, and all that, without feeling awkward or spammy.

• Balancing your creative time with everything else, including getting your work out into the world.

• Figuring out if you need a blog. If you do, planning the best way to go about it for you.

• Discovering alternate ways to make money from the thing you love to do.

• Focusing on what's most important to you.

• Revising or tweaking your web site, your postcard, your artist's statement, your product line.

• Keeping yourself on track with a specific project, like launching an ebook or preparing for a one-person show.

• Finding the confidence to take the big, scary step you've been putting off.

• Infusing more of you into your web site or business cards or however you talk to your people.

• Gently removing the barriers -- both practical and internal -- to doing what you want to do.

• Making sense of all the projects vying for your attention, or structuring a particular one that's overwhelming you.

Getting to know you.

When we talk for the first time, we’ll spend a good deal of the session tuning into your current situation and figuring out where you want to be. We’ll work on untangling all your options and finding focus.

We’ll do this in a way that’s completely unintimidating.

I won't be whipping out all kinds of marketing and business jargon on you.

I won't insist you get on Twitter if you’re a confirmed technophobe.

Our time together will be all about your specific needs and your strengths.

This first conversation can lay the groundwork for our future work together, if you decide that’s right for you. Lots of creative people find it helpful to have ongoing advice, support, and someone to check in with.

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When I began working with Maryann, I was interested in shifting more of my focus to my art, to making connections with distinctions between my more corporate business and my more personal blog. I have a new product line coming and wanted a place to start seeding a different audience. I was confused, so I really wondered if anyone could make sense of what I was thinking. After all, if I wasn't clear, how could anyone else be? 

Maryann was able to listen, ask questions, and help sort through what felt like mud. She has deep listening skills and the ability to help make connections between the pieces where a clearer path emerges. She has a solid understanding of the mid career artist and the multitude of paths we have walked, along with the new possibilities that have emerged through the use of technology.

I would recommend working with Maryann one-on-one. The art world has changed a lot since I left art school. I have enjoyed working with someone who has walked through many segments of the art world and understands the benefits and pitfalls of the full range of possibilities.

-- Christine Martell, artist and co-founder, VisualsSpeak.

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What happens when you sign up?

When you sign up, you’ll receive an email with a link to my online scheduler. I’ll ask you to complete an easy, two-question application that will help us both see your situation more clearly, and ensure that our time is spent productively. It also helps me know if I’m the right person for you to talk to.

Our conversation will take place by phone, and you’ll receive a recording of the session, which I’ll never share with anyone else.

Available slots are limited. Sessions are available from 2 – 8 PM Eastern Time, Monday – Friday.

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Before speaking to Maryann I was pretty stuck and overwhelmed. My main focus was on finding ways to  begin selling my artwork online, for instance, how to get decent quality prints of my work made. Maryann helped me with that, and much more that I didn’t expect.

I didn't realize I had so many options available to me and Maryann presented them in a way that was focused and clear. Once we began working together my vision for what I could achieve just kept getting larger.

I was very impressed at Maryann’s level of knowledge, too. We covered a broad range of topics in our calls, and her expertise shone through at each turn in the conversation. I felt in very good hands the whole time.

I ended up with a real sense of direction, I feel like I have a plan now that is achievable and fits perfectly with my own needs. I also feel better about myself as an artist. I was amazed when I listened to the recordings of our calls--I could actually hear the confidence in my voice rising as we progressed.
 
I highly recommend working with Maryann. She was encouraging, supportive and asked insightful questions that helped me clarify my goals. Over the course of our calls I developed a real sense of how all the different elements of my business could work together in helping me to get my art out there. I came out of the process with a very clear sense of direction and the confidence to follow through.

-- Dave Rowley, artist and creativity coach.

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One-on-one sessions are having a makeover and will return shortly.

In the meantime, come play with me.

Click “Add to cart” to put our date on your calendar.

Meet Me for (Virtual) Coffee!

• One hour live phone consultation.

• An mp3 recording of the consultation.

$120

(Virtual) Coffee + 2 Refills!

Lots of people are excited at the possibilities they see after we first talk, but find it hard to stay focused without more support. Coffee + 2 Refills gives you the support you need to move forward and do your Thing.

• One hour live phone consultation.

• Two 30-minute live phone follow-up consultations, ideally scheduled two and four weeks after the initial session.

• An mp3 recording of all three consultations, for reference.

$240

Guarantee: If you’ve taken the steps we discussed in your session and you’re not satisfied with the results, I will spend up to two additional hours consulting with you by phone at no charge, in order to find a solution.

If the issue you describe in your application is beyond my expertise, I’ll let you know right away, and refund your fee immediately.

Cancellation policy: If you must cancel or reschedule, please let me know within 48 hours of your session. This time is reserved just for you, and you are responsible for full payment of any session that is canceled, missed, or rescheduled less than 48 hours in advance of the session.