#96: When Rejection Leads to Success: A Creative’s Journey with Katie Chappell

In this episode, I speak to Katie Chappell, a talented illustrator specialising in live event illustration and co-founder of The Good Ship Illustration. We discuss her early experiences with work and the first rejection thst left her reeling and questioning her path, and then her journey back to creativity, and her fascinating career path. Katie shares her innovative approach to handling rejection through a 'no thank yous' challenge, which not only desensitised her to rejection but also helped her create a pricing mindset that has transformed her business. We delve into those pricing strategies and how her mindset shifts have influenced her business decisions. Katie also talks about her community initiatives and the importance of being adaptable and willing to experiment in business. This is an insightful conversation on creativity, resilience, and the power of saying yes - AND no. 

Find Katie on Instagram here 

Find Katie's website here

The woman Katie shouted out was Denise Duffield-Thomas.  Find her work here

Don't forget to join me on Instagram here 

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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 

01:21 Meet Katie Chappell

02:44 Katie's Early Work Experiences

05:16 Navigating Career Challenges and Discovering Illustration

11:48 Building a Freelance Career and Overcoming Setbacks

24:29 The Impact of Rejection and Embracing Challenges

29:31 Embracing Rejection: The Numbers Game

30:00 Applying the Rejection Challenge to Real Life

30:54 Pricing Strategies for Women in Business

32:33 The Importance of Incremental Upgrades

33:39 Building a Strong Online Presence

36:04 Balancing Creativity and Business

40:20 The Value of Community and Collaboration

42:45 Navigating Social Media as a Creative

45:52 Learning Business Skills as a Creative

54:19 Final Thoughts and Advice