Reference Desk —
A collection of programs, courses and online resources that I use regularly in my business.
Business Management
Client & project management program for communication, contracts, invoices & payment processing.
Pinned and general feedback tool for dynamic digital (ie websites) or static (ie pdf) content.
Versatile online workspace I use for business organization, resource databases and note-taking.
Collaborative file storage service I use to collect client content, information and feedback.
Free accounting software I use to track and categorize income, expenses and annual financial reports.
Messaging app for communication and quick file-sharing with clients and communities.
An email inbox app to manage, organize and filter synced email inboxes and client communications.
Web Design / Development
A client-forward web building platform that supports complex coded customizations.
An e-commerce based web building platform best suited for developed e-comm clients.
Creative Tools / Resources
Professional creative software suite for digital design (I use Illustrator, Photoshop, XD and Premiere).
A database of licensed and/or copyright free media sites (photo, video) w/ my tips + tricks.
A database of web design showcase libraries that I use for research and inspiration.
*An asterisk indicates an affiliate link that may generate referral commissions, however I only include resources I genuinely endorse and use for daily business management.
Recommended Reading —
Borrowed wisdom and gathered resources for creative business owners.
For Business
This functional (and evolving) accountability framework exercise; our weekly Creatives Calls revealed a shared need to create dedicated time and real follow-through in our own businesses. To answer that need, this first-draft notion template (with plans for an analog version) provides facilitated questions, note-space, and calendar planning practice focused on monthly: I. Reflection & Self-Discovery, II. Project Vision & Strategy, and III. Accountability Tracking. Parts I & II are a great place to start before the new year if you’re interested!
For Creativity
This self-led meditation series with spirituality grounded in science*; months back, I found myself fascinated by Brazilian-born, Hamburg-based ceramacist Anna Morgado who shares a magnetic creative and business presence online. On a whim, I joined her Quantum Jump Camp series, a 15-day program that approaches informed manifestation through visualization & is accompanied by cited scientific context and narrative insight. Unlike other failed manifestation practices, this format feels genuine and engaging enough for me to have re-initiated the practice multiple times. (*Meditations are available in her subscribed content chat starting on 5/11).
For Design / Dev
This AI tool for custom code and web dev script; compared to ChatGPT, Claude is a more contextual, attentive, and accurate AI collaborator with the major advantage of accepting multiple document uploads (CSS sheets, plugin docs, etc.) for comprehensive code analysis (though the chat length limits could be improved on). Claude is my consistent dev companion these days; check out this podcast episode or this Will Myer’s members-only tutorial for more insight.
For Business
This functional (and evolving) accountability framework exercise; our weekly Creatives Calls revealed a shared need to create dedicated time and real follow-through in our own businesses. To answer that need, this first-draft notion template (with plans for an analog version) provides facilitated questions, note-space, and calendar planning practice focused on monthly: I. Reflection & Self-Discovery, II. Project Vision & Strategy, and III. Accountability Tracking. Parts I & II are a great place to start before the new year if you’re interested!
For Creativity
This self-led meditation series with spirituality grounded in science*; months back, I found myself fascinated by Brazilian-born, Hamburg-based ceramacist Anna Morgado who shares a magnetic creative and business presence online. On a whim, I joined her Quantum Jump Camp series, a 15-day program that approaches informed manifestation through visualization & is accompanied by cited scientific context and narrative insight. Unlike other failed manifestation practices, this format feels genuine and engaging enough for me to have re-initiated the practice multiple times. (*Meditations are available in her subscribed content chat starting on 5/11).
For Design / Dev
This AI tool for custom code and web dev script; compared to ChatGPT, Claude is a more contextual, attentive, and accurate AI collaborator with the major advantage of accepting multiple document uploads (CSS sheets, plugin docs, etc.) for comprehensive code analysis (though the chat length limits could be improved on). Claude is my consistent dev companion these days; check out this podcast episode or this Will Myer’s members-only tutorial for more insight.
For Business
This functional (and evolving) accountability framework exercise; our weekly Creatives Calls revealed a shared need to create dedicated time and real follow-through in our own businesses. To answer that need, this first-draft notion template (with plans for an analog version) provides facilitated questions, note-space, and calendar planning practice focused on monthly: I. Reflection & Self-Discovery, II. Project Vision & Strategy, and III. Accountability Tracking. Parts I & II are a great place to start before the new year if you’re interested!
For Creativity
This self-led meditation series with spirituality grounded in science*; months back, I found myself fascinated by Brazilian-born, Hamburg-based ceramacist Anna Morgado who shares a magnetic creative and business presence online. On a whim, I joined her Quantum Jump Camp series, a 15-day program that approaches informed manifestation through visualization & is accompanied by cited scientific context and narrative insight. Unlike other failed manifestation practices, this format feels genuine and engaging enough for me to have re-initiated the practice multiple times. (*Meditations are available in her subscribed content chat starting on 5/11).
For Design / Dev
This AI tool for custom code and web dev script; compared to ChatGPT, Claude is a more contextual, attentive, and accurate AI collaborator with the major advantage of accepting multiple document uploads (CSS sheets, plugin docs, etc.) for comprehensive code analysis (though the chat length limits could be improved on). Claude is my consistent dev companion these days; check out this podcast episode or this Will Myer’s members-only tutorial for more insight.
For Business
This functional (and evolving) accountability framework exercise; our weekly Creatives Calls revealed a shared need to create dedicated time and real follow-through in our own businesses. To answer that need, this first-draft notion template (with plans for an analog version) provides facilitated questions, note-space, and calendar planning practice focused on monthly: I. Reflection & Self-Discovery, II. Project Vision & Strategy, and III. Accountability Tracking. Parts I & II are a great place to start before the new year if you’re interested!
For Creativity
This self-led meditation series with spirituality grounded in science*; months back, I found myself fascinated by Brazilian-born, Hamburg-based ceramacist Anna Morgado who shares a magnetic creative and business presence online. On a whim, I joined her Quantum Jump Camp series, a 15-day program that approaches informed manifestation through visualization & is accompanied by cited scientific context and narrative insight. Unlike other failed manifestation practices, this format feels genuine and engaging enough for me to have re-initiated the practice multiple times. (*Meditations are available in her subscribed content chat starting on 5/11).
For Design / Dev
This AI tool for custom code and web dev script; compared to ChatGPT, Claude is a more contextual, attentive, and accurate AI collaborator with the major advantage of accepting multiple document uploads (CSS sheets, plugin docs, etc.) for comprehensive code analysis (though the chat length limits could be improved on). Claude is my consistent dev companion these days; check out this podcast episode or this Will Myer’s members-only tutorial for more insight.
For Business
The most obvious & overlooked local business resource; a basic offering I would’ve otherwise bypassed (thanks Dad!), your local Small Business Development Center can be a hugely valuable tool hub for US-based entrepreneurs. While it took me a couple of rounds to find the right match, I found lasting value in their Free business advising mentorship and literal value from a super accessible $5k state-funded grant a few years back. It’s worth checking out.
For Creativity
The passive practice of sound healing; A couple of weeks ago, I attended my friend Sophia’s sound bath ceremony - if you haven't experienced this before, do it. It's ironically hard to put into words, but it's an entrancing, healing, and wild experience. She opened my eyes (and ears) to the power of sound therapy, including the more accessible format of binaural beats - sound that creates a third frequency in your brain by combining two distinct tones. I've been tapping into it occasionally to help with creativity.
For Design / Dev
My notion database of copyright-free media libraries categorized w/ cost, media type and starred-selections of my favorites. Click-in to see my comments on select resources for my insights and tips into how and why I use them, plus practical tips for each platform. Have resources to add? Please share them!
