School of Kind Business
Creative, healing, get-it-done Kind Business Plan for sensitive solopreneurs. Build your business into a beautiful home so you earn enough, and both you and your good work flourish
Your work doesn't need marketing (only): it needs a custom-designed home
If you're part of my usual crowd, you probably have a fascinating body of work in some sort of healing, helping, teaching, making or repairing work. Or, you've just trained in a new modality that you're excited to share with your people, and make your contribution to re-creating the culture.
If you've been around for a while, you probably also have some notion about how to run a business (as well as some well-earned notions about the more dysfunctional aspects of business in dominant culture).
You figure: I'll just make a new website, and then do some ethical marketing. You're not wrong.
But hold up there, spunky.
First you need a plan.
Sounds deeply boring, if you're a creative-healing-helping-innovator-visionary type.
But even if this isn't for you: if you keep reading, I hope you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Not your run-of the mill business plan
This is a *Kind Business Plan* to meet the uncertain times we are in, and to evolve as you need it to, over your changing life cycle and commitments.
Sure, it's kind to you, and kind to your customers. That's an ethical no-brainer, as far as we're concerned.
And it's more than that.
It's embodied. It comes from your preferences, needs, values ~ your very cells.
It's not about your head-only, or dry-as-dust numbers and projections, lead magnets and funnels.
Of course, we show you exactly how to calculate your fair trade pricing, and then structure your services to support it, so you can work towards sustainably earning Enough (or Enough Plus, up to you). And we cover where to find your people, and connect with them.
But we also integrate the multiple currencies of a wholesome life. Not just money and an 'enough' living. Planning for wealth in available Time, depth of Attention, Community, Purpose, and Wellness.
We see you out there, putting your heart into your good work, trying to manage family commitments, your health, unpredictable world events, the algorithmic whims of the techno-feudal overlords, and then amidst it all. . . wondering if you'll ever get to retire or have some sense of economic security.
And creating the home for your good work -your 'business'- can actually be an antidote for all of that.
Whatever other wonderful work you are putting into it, the business structure, itself -and the act of creating it- can be healing, regenerative work.
This is embodied strategy, aligned offerings, and heartfelt marketplace storytelling ~so you earn enough, and both you and your work flourish.
When I first started working with Pamela, I was feeling confused about marketing and how to be both heartfelt/ service-oriented and still find ways to get the word out about the therapeutic work I do and music I offer. Through her School of Kind Business program, I began to explore ideas and got clearer about my niche market, potential programs I could offer/develop and basic financial requirements for myself. Pamela beautifully held space for me to express frustrations and concerns as they arose. She assisted me both with kindness, affirming my experiences while also offering strategic ideas for change. I would highly recommend her work to anyone with a wholistic/arts/healing practice who is ready to understand how to reach more people with authenticity.
Tiffany M. Sparrow, MA, MTA ~ music therapist, singer-songwriter, kirtan artist, educator ~ www.sparrowharmonix.com
Here's How I Know This Can Work
Heya. I'm Pamela (PJ), your guide here at SKB. I've been an entrepreneur for 25 years. I've always brought in some money. Not quite 'enough' to live on, but my partner's income from his corporate job had made up the difference. And then, about 10 years ago, that job went away. That's a story my partner tells elsewhere, but the peculiar dysfunctions of huge companies are a key theme. (Our bios, here.)
The choices were: I keep going making not-quite-enough and being not-quite-satisfied in my little solopreneur business while my partner went and got a new job; OR we pool our skills and experience to start a new organization, together.
You know which one we chose. My partner brought his specific industry expertise. I brought my decades of entrepreneurial experience, healing work, performing arts, and business communications. School of Kind Business had first come into my life as a program I took (then liked it so much I bought it from the lovely founder and made it my own, another story). It is the template of best practices, healing perspectives, and communication skills that we used to build new business streams, together.
It felt uncomfortable, becoming a household that depends solely on our cottage-industry style family business for a living. And it still does, at times. I am in this with you, constantly learning, and iterating. I needed to learn that ‘no’ from a poor-fitting client (and you know they’re poor-fitting because they’re saying ‘no’) creates space for an aligned client. I needed to be OK changing my prices and standing firm with any number of vendors. I had to find ways to navigate a different flavour of risk.
And a whole bunch of other stuff that feels scary and courageous and empowering at the same time.
Over the years, I have re-organized my work life to provide for my personal priorities:
- Sovereignty. Freedom to work -and play- according to my own natural daily cycles, and the rhythms of the seasons in the Northern hemisphere--my wellness routines built into each day.
- Security. Earn the money to live in a small home on land I enjoy, pay bills each month without worry, fund my ‘extra’ health care, wear clothes by sustainable makers, eat locally-grown food, pursue ongoing education, enjoy happy hour with my friends, and support organizations that matter to me.
- Satisfaction. Feel purposeful and grateful, both at the beginning and end of the work day.
- Connection. Choose the people I work with, and ways of interacting that conserve my energy.
Essentially, I have structured my service-based business streams to nourish me, as they help others. This is what we teach at School of Kind Business™
Because it seems to be the goal of a lot of business/marketing programs, I want to be clear that this isn’t about ‘making multiple six figures’ by next Tuesday. Or any other (usually large-ish) amount in (an unusually short) period of time.
You can build a beautiful home for your work, with integrity. You can plan for sovereignty, deep satisfaction, and sustainably earning enough.
School of Kind Business includes:
-Five modules of light-hearted, creative learning that result in business peace of mind (scroll down for details). Budget 3+ hours per module. You could do these over 5 weeks -one per week- or dedicate a few days to move through it quickly, if you are a fire-y type.
-Multi-media lessons. Each lesson is a combination of written information, workbook exercises, supportive audio or video files.
-Access through the Thinkific learning platform and available for 1 year from purchase. All the essential info will be in the written materials, so you can download them and keep your own, evolving, Kind Business Plan Template.
-Embodied cues, imaginative practices, healing reframes. As a former holistic health practitioner and instructor, I wouldn't know how to 'teach business' without considering the needs of your body, heart, gut, and soles of your feet.
-Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Support. We do this differently. No Facebook groups or expensive memberships to join. When you purchase the course, you will be signed up for a Private Substack newsletter. This automatically gives you 6 months' access to our Layer 1 of support. You can also add on Layer 2 of support.
Layer 1 Support
This might be for you if you have a busy schedule, prefer self-study and are highly motivated, or are on a tight budget. It includes:
~Weekly Write-In Questions. We send out a weekly newsletter exclusively to SKB students, with a prompt about 'how's it going?' and special bonus tips. Click through to the newsletter Comments and ask a concise question about anything in the SKB exercises, concepts, imaginative practices and reframes. We do our best to respond Mon-Friday, within 48 hours. Next week: same thing. And so on.
~2x Monthly Zoom Gatherings. Monthly Live Zoom Q&A sessions (about the course materials) + Monthly Storytelling & Witness Circles (The Circles provide an opportunity to share more personally about a win, challenge, or just vibes -beyond theory or strategy. Participants report lovely & unexpected experiences).
Layer 2 Support (Extra Fee)
~Everything in Layer 1, plus specific, personalized feedback, to accelerate your progress and build faster: our *One-to-One Day-Long No Call Coaching * is basically a personalized workshop, just for you. Learn what it is and how to book it, here.
~OR: Group Guidance for 2 or More People. Working through a program like this with a friend can be super-motivating and group coaching sessions can exponentially ramp up learning. Ask.
Your Commitment
No business program is going to instantly transform your work into a blissful profit machine. Here's how to get the most out of this program:
~Gently give yourself a deadline to complete the exercises ~Follow a schedule to practice what you've planned for 6-12 months ~Show up for whichever support options call to you ~Trust that you already have much of what you need to succeed, and that you can learn the rest ~Notice. Iterate as needed. Keep Going.
This is do-able, roll-up-your-sleeves and be creative sort of stuff. Not marketing fairy dust, or ‘make six figures by tomorrow’ castles in the air. I grew up on the Canadian Prairies. Practical is almost my middle name. At the end of the program, you’ll have built a new, beautiful, custom-designed home for your work. You'll have your own Kind Business Plan™, a bag full of marketing ideas, and a to-do list for tackling them in a non-overwhelming way.
[I] have particularly valued Pamela's ability to provide non-judgmental, very practical and encouraging business suggestions that are relevant to the current times, my holistic industry and personal business philosophy. My biggest challenge . . . was my lack of confidence to communicate my offerings and ability to describe them in a way that wasn't filled with 'industry jargon'. I feel like Pamela has taught me a whole new language to use in my business communications that allows me to convey my messages in a way that speaks to those I wish to work with, that both honors my values and authentic voice.
Jess Simson, Stoked Life Coach - Canmore
If you're a detail person, here's the breakdown for each section of your Kind Business Plan
Module 1: What YOU Want and Plan for Getting Help. Clarity on the preferences, wellness concerns, and community /family commitments your business model needs to include, so that your embodied choices are baked into the cake.
Module 2: Sustainable Pricing. Focus on profit not revenue. Exactly what price you need to charge for your 'Enough Fair Trade Living,' as determined by you. Not 'what the market says,' or 'what people are willing to pay' or 'on track to be the next corrupt billionaire.' Simply your slice of the ever-expanding pie. Honourable exchange is a natural human interaction that values how we bring ease to each other's lives.
Module 3: Those You Help, Your Ideal Client. Go deeper into a visceral, felt sense of who your Ideal Client is, and how you help them. So that your website and social media call in more of your favourite people to help.
Module 4: Create (or Renovate) your Business Model -i.e. the way you deliver services- to align with your Fair Trade, enough pricing, and lean into greater sovereignty and satisfaction in your work. This will combine your preferences, needs and favourite clients from Modules 1-3.
Module 5: Marketplace Storytelling, Making Connections, and Asking a Neutral Question. (formerly known as 'Marketing' and 'Sales'). Implement a plan to share stories and develop relationships with the folks your work can help. Act like an ordinary, sensitive human being while doing it, because you are creating a new Marketplace based on honourable exchange that is vastly more appealing and lively than the current threadbare extractive ways.
Does this sound like it might be for you?
Please ensure this is a fit for you, before you buy. We don't offer refunds. Guarantees and refunds can act as false enticements, and we don't want that. If you are still uncertain, read the sections below on who this program is for and who it is not for. Sit quietly, notice how you feel in your body: your guts, your heart, your feet. Underneath any excitement or butterflies, is there a solid 'yes' or 'no'?
We want you to feel good in your body and commit to giving it your best. The results will depend on where you are right now in your life and in your business, and how you engage with the material.
If you need further clarification, please reach out to: Pamela (PJ)
Who is this program for?
- You are a solo or micro entrepreneur and your business is service-based
- You are not (yet) making enough income
- You are an excellent practitioner, but struggling with how to communicate your offerings, reach more people, and make it easier for yourself
- You don't have capacity for one of those 6-month long membership groups, but a bit of structure + gentle support sounds lovely
- You are in a changing season of life. Bodies, families, responsibilities all evolve over time. Your business should too.
- You know a thing or two about business already, but you haven't created a strong plan to sustain you over the long-term
- You are curious or puzzled about how to earn an ethical living in what appears to be a messy and unjust economic system
- You love the idea of combining business best practices with healing practices, imaginative reframes, and a bit of creative play
- You are TIRED. . . tired of worry, tired of not taking care of your body, tired of tiredness
- You've secretly wondered if only more outgoing (extroverted? louder? unethical? magic?) people are cut out for financially successful self-employment
Who isn't this program for?
Like all good things, School of Kind Business isn’t for everybody. You won’t get the full benefit if:
- You’re happy with your pricing, business structure, and website exactly as-is
- Your pricing or practice is mandated by a governing body so you aren’t able to change your rates, or find other creative outlets to augment your income
- You are selling products only. SKB is focused on service-based businesses. Visual artists and musicians who are creating experiences and events might find it helpful, though
- You are a coach, already working with a coach, or have taken every workshop under the sun
- You have no idea what kind of work you want to do, OR you don’t have a sense of the problem your work solves /delight your work offers
- You’re still a student in your modality, and you won’t be finished training by the end of this calendar year. You are always welcome, but you may get more out of it if you can practice what you learn immediately
- You seek more personalized inputs and accountability (you may prefer to Add On our One-to-One service, here.)
- You are not comfortable combining healing, imaginative, or creative practices with 'business'
If you read everything on this page and get a 'yes' in your body: please join us
Every hour you aren't feeling fully supported by your business is an hour that you aren't able to devote your full capacity to your work. And we learn so much more by rolling our sleeves up, and doing. Let's do this, together.
(pssst. . . if you're a cautious soul, why not get to know us first with our newsletter. You receive a free Kind Marketing workbook (along with the rest of our free Starter Kit), plus a 2x/month letter with our best tips, stories, content writing ideas, and bodymind reset practices for solopreneurs. Subscribe here.)