The Successful Creative Mindset with Joanna Penn - a podcast by Mark McGuinness

This week's guest on the 21st Century Creative Podcast is Joanna Penn, a best-selling, award-nominated thriller writer, as well as a publishing expert and host of The Creative Penn Podcast.







Joanna is here to talk about mindset for creatives - specifically, the attitudes and ambitions that distinguish creatives who struggle from those who succeed - according to their own definition of success.



She has written extensively about this topic in her book The Successful Author Mindset. For this interview, I've asked her to widen the focus to include all kinds of creatives - the essential psychology is the same, so this interview is not just for writers!



One new release from Jo that is just for writers is the new edition of her book How to Market a Book, which is now available for pre-order.



Jo is constantly researching publishing news and trends, and experimenting with the latest marketing methods. Whether you're self published or traditionally published, if you want to know what works and (what doesn't) in book marketing in 2017, this is the book to read.



Also for authors is The Author 2.0 Blueprint - a free ebook and email series on how to write, self-publish and market your book.



In the first part of the show, I talk about why 21st Century Creatives should forget the career ladder, and start creating assets.







Take Joanna Penn's Creative Challenge (and win her book on the creative mindset)



Every week, at the end of the show, I ask my guest to set you a Creative Challenge - something practical you can do that will help you put the ideas from the show into action.



Here's how you can take part - and maybe win the prize of a copy of Joanna's book The Successful Author Mindset. Even if you're not a writer, you'll find the book is backed with insights and advice on the mindset that will help you succeed on your own terms as a creative professional.



1. Listen to the interview part of the show, either in the player above or on iTunes or your favourite podcast platform.



2. The Challenge is to write down your definition of success for the next year AND the next 5 years.



In other words, what do you want to achieve - creatively, professionally, personally - in (a) in the next 12 months and (b) by 2022?



Joanna encourages you to be as specific as possible, and to make the commitment in writing because by writing it down, you’re starting to make it happen.



3. Once you've completed the challenge, leave a comment below this post describing your definition of success.



You have until midnight United States Pacific time on Friday 30th June 2017 to complete the challenge and leave your comment.



4. Once the challenge has finished, I will pick 3 winners at random from the comments, who will receive the prize of the desktop background and your choice of one of my books for creatives.



5. Over the weekend I will send a bonus recording with my feedback on your comments and what we can all learn from the challenge. I'll be looking through the comments for common patterns, whether that's ways a lot of you get stuck, or great solutions you're finding to the challenge. I'll also be sharing reflections and advice from my own experience as a writer and a coach.



6. As usual the feedback recording will NOT be released on iTunes or anywhere else the show is syndicated. It will only be available via the 21st Century Creative mailing list - click here to join the list (and get a free Creative Career course).



One last thing...



If you're enjoying the show it would be a huge help to me if you would take a moment to subscribe to The 21st Century Creative in iTunes.



And if you'd like to leave a brief review in iTun...

Further episodes of The 21st Century Creative

Further podcasts by Mark McGuinness

Website of Mark McGuinness