Oh my gosh Mari I love every word of this! I am 100% in this too right now -- after going pedal to the metal last year trying to "monetize" (which didn't really work), this year I've just followed my joy and my creative spark. And, surprisingly to me, that has led to more money, more clients, and more people interested in my offers in very slow, natural and organic ways that feel good. That wasn't my intention, but it has been lovely to receive. And even more fun to create what wants to be created!
Ahh, thank you for this -- your reflections on the relentless mandate to become the full marketing team always getting those dollars, from the dentist to the chef -- modeling the making of the things that want to be made while being honest about legit money fears. Reading this, I felt relief, validation, the ground beneath me. I will happily and gratefully keep sending over my more-of-this-kind-of-writing votes 💌
This speaks so deeply to me and where I currently am. It's both "I need to make money" and "I don't want to corrupt my creative work with money". Your reframing about monetization not being answered with a noun but with "how can my creative work be of service?" is a key takeaway for me. Thank you so much for sharing! This was a great read <3
Stunning and witty take that resonates on such a deep level. Thank you for the questions, for the untangling, for all the little nuggets I'll surely be nibbling on in the days to come.
Mari, thank you for sharing your thoughts! How beautiful and hard to be figuring out these things and choosing what feels right and what doesn't. Your newsletter has meant a great deal to me over the years, and I for one would love to keep leaving flowers on your doorstep as a thank you for this sweet little gift you continue to share with us :)
Thank you Mari as always for your refreshing honesty. I have loved supporting your writing because it is a gift to me and the world and I will continue to do so. I visited NYC for the first time this month and at your recommendation treated my husband to a birthday dinner at Celestine. It was as magical as you described - dining by the bridge with the sunlight filtering through the windows. Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing these reflections - they are so thoughtful and generous. I've thought a lot about Substack's paid model as I've tentatively launched my Substack to share my own creative self expression. I'm dedicated to keeping mine free for many reasons, and I get overwhelmed when I think about paying $50 annually to every person on Substack I'm interested in - it's not sustainable! But I am a paid subscriber here for exactly the reason you mentioned - a vote for seeing more of your writing in the world! I will continue to be a paid subscriber for as long as I can afford to be - the turning point will likely come when I eventually leave full time corporate work to focus more energy on my own creative expression and figuring out what fashioning a career doing work that feels more energizing looks like! And when that (more frugal) future comes, I'll be even more grateful that I can keep reading all your writing here. (And buying your books in print will always be something I budget for, even when/if I can't be a paid subscriber here!)
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and passion with the world ✨for free ✨ I haven’t had the financial capacity to make the commitment to subscribe to anything but I have been buying your books and meditation cards throughout the years.
For me, all of a sudden I found myself putting down “creating passive income” as a 2026 goal. Which I think together with monetising creative expressions (“you can draw/sculpture/cook? Sell it”) has become such a widespread topic and thought
Yes and yes this makes a lot of sense. Yours was one I wanted to contribute to with $ for a long time I was able more like bringing flowers to an end of a good play.
Oh and I’m slightly working on a mystery novel too, ha. I love what you said about the self expression and many other things. Sending love.
This is beautiful! As always with your writing, it is deeply inspiring - I can relate so much as a "professional" musician and primary caregiver of my 6 months old baby.
Thank you very much for sharing your art, work, and thoughts about it. Love from France, where I hope you'll teach a workshop some day!
Oh my gosh Mari I love every word of this! I am 100% in this too right now -- after going pedal to the metal last year trying to "monetize" (which didn't really work), this year I've just followed my joy and my creative spark. And, surprisingly to me, that has led to more money, more clients, and more people interested in my offers in very slow, natural and organic ways that feel good. That wasn't my intention, but it has been lovely to receive. And even more fun to create what wants to be created!
Ahh, thank you for this -- your reflections on the relentless mandate to become the full marketing team always getting those dollars, from the dentist to the chef -- modeling the making of the things that want to be made while being honest about legit money fears. Reading this, I felt relief, validation, the ground beneath me. I will happily and gratefully keep sending over my more-of-this-kind-of-writing votes 💌
This speaks so deeply to me and where I currently am. It's both "I need to make money" and "I don't want to corrupt my creative work with money". Your reframing about monetization not being answered with a noun but with "how can my creative work be of service?" is a key takeaway for me. Thank you so much for sharing! This was a great read <3
Enjoyed reading this, and resonated so much! Thank you for sharing. I look forward to reading more of your posts!
💐
I agree with your article … many have the same problem (to solve) ..
Stunning and witty take that resonates on such a deep level. Thank you for the questions, for the untangling, for all the little nuggets I'll surely be nibbling on in the days to come.
Mari, thank you for sharing your thoughts! How beautiful and hard to be figuring out these things and choosing what feels right and what doesn't. Your newsletter has meant a great deal to me over the years, and I for one would love to keep leaving flowers on your doorstep as a thank you for this sweet little gift you continue to share with us :)
Thank you Mari as always for your refreshing honesty. I have loved supporting your writing because it is a gift to me and the world and I will continue to do so. I visited NYC for the first time this month and at your recommendation treated my husband to a birthday dinner at Celestine. It was as magical as you described - dining by the bridge with the sunlight filtering through the windows. Thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing these reflections - they are so thoughtful and generous. I've thought a lot about Substack's paid model as I've tentatively launched my Substack to share my own creative self expression. I'm dedicated to keeping mine free for many reasons, and I get overwhelmed when I think about paying $50 annually to every person on Substack I'm interested in - it's not sustainable! But I am a paid subscriber here for exactly the reason you mentioned - a vote for seeing more of your writing in the world! I will continue to be a paid subscriber for as long as I can afford to be - the turning point will likely come when I eventually leave full time corporate work to focus more energy on my own creative expression and figuring out what fashioning a career doing work that feels more energizing looks like! And when that (more frugal) future comes, I'll be even more grateful that I can keep reading all your writing here. (And buying your books in print will always be something I budget for, even when/if I can't be a paid subscriber here!)
Yay!!!! Some articles still show as Paid Subscribers only or smth like that. I will try again
You were worth every penny! Thank you for continuing to share your gift! I will be a subscriber for as long as you'll have us!
Mwwwwahhhhhhh 😘
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and passion with the world ✨for free ✨ I haven’t had the financial capacity to make the commitment to subscribe to anything but I have been buying your books and meditation cards throughout the years.
For me, all of a sudden I found myself putting down “creating passive income” as a 2026 goal. Which I think together with monetising creative expressions (“you can draw/sculpture/cook? Sell it”) has become such a widespread topic and thought
Yes and yes this makes a lot of sense. Yours was one I wanted to contribute to with $ for a long time I was able more like bringing flowers to an end of a good play.
Oh and I’m slightly working on a mystery novel too, ha. I love what you said about the self expression and many other things. Sending love.
This is beautiful! As always with your writing, it is deeply inspiring - I can relate so much as a "professional" musician and primary caregiver of my 6 months old baby.
Thank you very much for sharing your art, work, and thoughts about it. Love from France, where I hope you'll teach a workshop some day!