5 Key Drivers of Success
When we start a creative business, most of us dream of doing more of what we love. Creating art, designing products, sharing our gifts.
But as we build that business, we quickly realize:
👉 It takes more than talent to succeed.
That’s where performance comes in. Not in a stressful, “hustle harder” way, but in the sense of how we consistently show up to achieve our goals, do the work, and share our creative passion with the world.
Brendon Burchard, a highly respected coach and entrepreneur, has spent years studying what makes people perform at a high level in their work and life. His research points to 5 core drivers of performance. Today, I want to explore them through the lens of building a creative business you love. I refer back to them a lot, personally, because they help me stay on track.
1️⃣ Mindset: The Foundation of How You Show Up
Mindset is the filter through which you see your work, your challenges, and your opportunities.
When I lost my corporate job, I faced a crossroads:
I could shrink into myself and lick my wounds, or I could, as my mum always said, “Pick yourself up. Dust yourself off. And keep moving forward.”
I chose the second path. I didn’t know exactly what the future would look like, but I knew I could learn, grow, and create something new if I worked at it and stayed positive.
👉 Your mindset shapes what’s possible. It determines whether you see obstacles as dead ends… or detours that lead to growth.
The good news is that your mindset can shift. It’s not static. You may have some recurring thought patterns like: “I’m too old to start something new” or “I don’t have a degree in x,y,z so I’m not qualified to teach it.” The first step is to recognize them and then realize they aren’t true.
Reflection prompts:
What story are you telling yourself about your creative idea right now?
When things get hard, how do you tap into your perseverance skills?
How might you reframe a current challenge to see it as an opportunity?
2️⃣ Goals + Payoffs: Knowing What You’re Aiming For
High performers don’t just set goals. They connect deeply with why those goals matter.
In your creative business, it’s easy to set surface-level goals (grow my list, make more sales). But the goals that truly motivate you are the ones tied to a bigger purpose:
🌟 To build a life of creative freedom.
🌟 To support your family.
🌟 To express your unique voice in the world.
When you know the payoff, the deep reason you’re doing this, it fuels your perseverance. Another way to think about this is: How do I want to show up for my audience?
Your unique values are reflected in everything you do. How you treat customers when they ask for a refund. How you respond to questions, even if you’ve answered it a hundred times before…
Reflection prompts:
What’s one goal you’re working toward right now?
Why does it matter to you beyond the numbers?
How will your life change when you achieve it?
3️⃣ Habits: Small Actions That Add Up to Big Results
We don’t succeed because of one big leap. We succeed because of small, consistent actions, taken over time, that move us forward.
Brendon’s book High Performance Habits, emphasizes that what we do daily defines who we become. It’s about being intentional and setting recurring, deliberate routines. They don’t have to be big!
For example, one of my favorite routines is to take time on Sundays to reflect on the week that’s just passed. What worked well. It’s so important to build celebration into your process. What didn’t work or what didn’t I accomplish.
It’s okay if I don't get everything done. It’s actually an opportunity for me to decide if it was really that important in the first place. Maybe it needs to go on my to do list for the coming week or maybe it’s something I can eliminate entirely.
In your creative business, habits might include:
✅ Sketching or creating daily, even for 10 minutes
✅ Reviewing your goals at the end of each week
✅ Getting intentional about the key tasks for the coming week
💡 Check out High Performance Habits here
Reflection prompts:
What’s one small daily habit that supports your art?
What’s one small habit that supports your business?
Where could you replace a draining habit with one that energizes you?
4️⃣ Competency: Growing Your Skills
Performance doesn’t just come from doing more. It comes from doing more of what’s working and less of what’s not.
High performers stay curious. They seek to level up their skills, whether that’s in their craft or their business competencies.
👉 The more competent you feel, the more confident you become.
When I started my business, I didn’t know how to build an email list. I didn’t know how to design a course. I didn’t even know what a lead magnet was!
But I committed to learning: step by step, skill by skill. I love learning. It keeps me alert and aware, especially in today’s world where change is constant. Better yet, things that used to be really hard are so much easier now!
Think websites and all of the amazing and beautiful templates available today. It’s so much easier to get your creative business up and running now that it was even 7 years ago when I started. But we still need to be open to learning. And see learning as a gift, not a chore.
Reflection prompts:
What existing skill can you leverage in your business right now?
Where do you feel most confident and how can you lean into that confidence?
Where would a little focused learning help you feel more skilled?
5️⃣ Relationships: The People Who Shape Your Journey
You’ve probably heard this expression before: We are the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with.
In your creative business, relationships are everything. Who encourages you? Who challenges you? Who believes in your dream, even on days you feel uncertain?
Relationships shape us and move us forward. You want to be in environments where everyone is encouraging, supportive, positive and show up for each other.
That’s why I believe so deeply in building community and connection in all of my programs from Doodles to The Academy, Anne’s Atelier and my Creative Business Mastermind.
Find someone you can relate to and join one of their programs. It’s lonely trying to accomplish your goals all by yourself. Everyone needs a cheering squad, right?
It’s also really important to know who is supportive in your immediate family and friends circle. And who isn’t. I heard this anecdote from my friend and mentor Bari Baumgardner. It goes something like this:
When you get a new prescription for your glasses, you’re delighted. You can see more clearly and you’re excited to share your newly improved vision with everyone. But if you hand your glasses to your partner or a friend, they can’t see clearly. Everything is blurry! That’s because it’s YOUR unique prescription and no one else can see with the clarity you have.
Reflection prompts:
Who lifts you up and helps you stay focused?
Who drains your energy or pulls you off course or can’t see with your prescription?
What relationship could you nurture more intentionally this month?
Final Thoughts: Show Up for Yourself, Your Art, and Your Dream
Performance isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up. It’s about making small, powerful choices every day that move you closer to the business, and life, you want to create.
🌿 Start with your mindset.
🎯 Connect with your goals.
🔑 Build habits that support your dream.
📚 Keep learning.
🤝 Surround yourself with the right people.
Because it’s never too late to create®. And you deserve to create your business on your terms.
👉 If you’re ready to put your creative ideas into action, join my From Doodles to Dollars® Coaching Week. Early bird tickets are just $10!
Click here to learn more + enroll.
xo,
Anne
I will be live on Wednesday at noon PDT which is 3pm EDT.
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It’s Never Too Late to Create®
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MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
