I’ve been a self-employed writer-artist-consultant-entrepreneur for the last eight years. People sometimes ask me, “How do you run your business? How do you make books / produce events / create new classes / get things
done? Do you have a team?”
Back in the very beginning, it was just me. I had zero budget in ye olden days, and so—like most newbie entrepreneurs—I did everything by myself. Gradually, as my business evolved, I added new folks to the squad.
These days, I have an amazing crew.
They’re all really great, kind, talented people who make my life / business / body / brain function so much better. You should know them—and maybe you should hire them, too.
In case you’re curious… allow me to introduce the Franzen Crew.
Woz Flint. Proofreading. Woz double-checks my work for spelling errors, missing words, broken links, and other issues. She has eagle eyes and a big, beautiful heart. $35 per hour. Email: woz.flint@gmail.com
Dennis Carter. Audio recording and editing. Dennis helped me to create this mini audiobook and this one, too. He’s a seasoned pro and makes me sound
really good. Plus he has an adorable dog who stops by the recording studio to say “hi” sometimes. Bonus! Pricing starts at $35 per hour and up, depending on what your project entails. falconrecordingstudios.com. Email: falconstudios@comcast.net
Danielle Cohen. Photography. Danielle has a magical way of helping you to relax and feel
comfortable in front of the camera. Prices start around $800 for product / book photos, $1500-$2000+ for headshots depending on the location. She also loves photographing couples, families, and kiddos. danielle-cohen.com. Email: danielle@danielle-cohen.com
Mango Publishing. Book
production and distribution. Last year, I signed a three book deal with Mango Publishing. They're an awesome publishing house based in Florida. In the past, I've also worked with other publishers including Sourcebooks and Potter Style, a division of Random House / Penguin / Crown. I had excellent experiences with all of these companies. Working with a traditional publisher can be great—however, self-publishing a book is a great option, too. (If you're interested in this topic, here's an article I wrote discussing some of the benefits of traditional vs. self-publishing.)
Kate Lyness. Event coordination. I lead writing retreats in Hawaii a couple times each year. Kate is my heavenly retreat angel. She gracefully handles so many
things—picking up guests from the airport, grocery shopping, grabbing sunblock and toothbrushes for guests who forgot to pack 'em, and thoughtful touches like putting edible flowers on the butter dish, and magically bringing out a stack of chilled, fragrant aromatherapy towels so that we can wipe our sweaty faces after yoga class! With Kate as my right-hand gal, I can focus 100% on being a good writing teacher / coach / host for my guests... instead of worrying about the
dozens of logistical details that need to be handled each day. aboveandbeyondexperiences.com. Email: kate@aboveandbeyondexperiences.com
Note: Kate also does personal
assistant / virtual assistant / research and business support, like setting up your mailing list software, payment system, landing pages, and more. She does it all! Hire her for everything.
Paul Jarvis. Web design. Paul designed my current site a few years ago. I love how it feels simple and uncluttered, and I can update things easily by myself. Rumor has it that Paul is no longer doing web design projects these days. But he does lots of other wonderful things, including making apps,
products, and classes. pjrvs.com
Megan deBoer. Finance and business coaching. If you struggle with money, feel like you're not as intentional with your money as you'd like to be, or feel afraid to charge more for your services, Megan is a great coach for you. She is compassionate and
supportive. She can help with the practical / techie side of things (like teaching you how to use online budgeting software) and also the emotional / spiritual side of earning, saving, organizing, and spending your money. Truly, she has changed my life. tendedwealth.com. Email: megan@tendedwealth.com
Anthony Almer. Taxes. I tried to prepare my own tax returns for years and it was always a big, confusing headache for me… and then I finally hired Anthony from the McDonald Jacobs firm. He answered all of my questions with such patience and never made me feel like I was asking a “dumb question.” My only regret is that I didn’t hire him sooner! mcdonaldjacobs.com. Email: mail@mcdonaldjacobs.com
Ryan Brown. Therapy. Working with Ryan has helped me to remember that even when shocking surprises and losses happen in our lives, we are never "powerless." We can choose how to perceive the situation—and choose to find the light in all the cracks. Some of Ryan's specialties include: navigating
transitions, finding greater fulfillment in life, relationships, and LGBTQ+ topics. He’s based in Portland. Sometimes we do video sessions, too. Sliding scale fee based on your income level. livetruecounseling.com. Email: ryan@livetruecounseling.com
Dee Harlow.
Hairstyling. And of course, I need to mention my “other” therapist (haha!) the amazing Dee! Dee is the one who turned my hair from brown to blue and forever changed my life. She works at Bishop’s Salon in Portland (Mississippi location). Forever my #1 hair hero. bishops.co/locations/mississippi/ There are so many other people who have supported me (both personally and professionally) throughout the years, but that’s the current crew.
Also, I need to extend thanks to my amazing
mom, dad, sister, brother, my partner Brandon, my incredible friends, colleagues, clients, students, readers, and… YOU.
Thank you for being part of my Internet family, for touching my life, and for inspiring me to keep writing, teaching, and making new things.
. . .
I am wishing you a beautiful week. Whatever you’re working on right now, please get support—whether it’s support from a friend, from a furry pet, from an uplifting song that you love, or from a professional service provider.
There are people who want to help you. There are people who want to hear your struggles—and hear your goals and dreams, too. There are people who want to lift you higher and higher.
Everything is available to you. The Internet is a miracle.
Go find what you need.
-Alex
PPS. Do you enjoy emails—like this one—filled with resources / recommendations / links? Do you want more of this type of thing? Maybe a different topic next time? Something else you’d like to see me discuss? If you have a request, you can put it here. <3 Thank you.
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