Business Course Testimonials - Happy Students Tell Us What They Think

Oct 14, 2024

an illustrator writing in their sketchbook - the business course now open!

We asked some of our Business Course Sailors what they thought, and here's what they said...

First up is Anna Simmons:

"To provide context, when I first heard about the launch of The Good Ship, it was at a time when I had reached a point of burnout and pessimism.

I've been illustrating professionally since 2011. I wasn't enjoying making work much anymore, and jobs seemed to require more hours to complete. I felt like I was getting less confident, and my secret fear was that I would get worse and not be better at the business side of things.

Thankfully, I decided to confront some of these feelings by giving the Find Your Creative Voice course a go. It was brilliant and fulfilling and helped to reset me creatively…

So! The second I heard mention of a Business Course by The Good Ship I was 100% onboard. The lifetime connection to the resources and network alone was obvious value for money.

I was certain that (as with their other courses) the program would be fun to follow, the input would be broad and expert, and the philosophy would be kind and wise. I just knew it would make me feel different, and I was open to any changes that came along as a result.

Thanks to the course, I can now see the role of illustration in better context. I recognise that businesses have outcomes they need to achieve and budgets set aside for those outcomes. Now, I'm describing my projects in terms of the business outcomes they delivered. As well as the practical SEO benefits, this shift in thinking has transformed how I perceive the value my work brings to clients.

I'm learning that it's easier to be assertive if I regard myself as a small business and not a freelance individual. Marketing doesn't have to be a dreaded chore that chiefly involves harassing Art Directors - it's a beneficial process of introducing what you do and outlining the solutions your work offers. And it's doable! Anyone can do it.

It's such a safe bet as an investment because there is something for everybody and every career stage.

The Facebook community is a resource I've always wished I had. It's amazing to talk to other illustrators off the record while navigating client stuff. I've gleaned lots from reading other people's threads already, just from the first round of the Business Course. I think it will grow into an incredible collective force and resource! I'm so grateful that The Good Ship made it happen."

You can see more of Anna's work at the links below:

Instagram: @Missannasimmons

Website: https://www.annasimmons.co.uk/

Next is Johanna Gousset. We asked her a few questions, and here's what she said:

Did you have any hesitations about joining the business course?

I have to admit that I did, yes. I was worried that the course would be targeting beginners and art school graduates and that the information provided would be irrelevant to professionals who have been in the illustration industry for many years. But I was wrong! The course is really well built and gives useful content to any artist of any level. It gives a fresh perspective, inspiration, tasks, motivation, positivity and a great community to keep you going.

What changes have you noticed in your illustration career since taking the business course?

I feel more confident in my business. I quote jobs more confidently. I am not afraid of asking for more money. I am not scared to say 'no' to jobs. I have improved the SEO on my website (thank you, Katie!), and I am starting to get the right type of clients on my website and getting them to come to me instead of the other way around. It's a relief and gives me more time to produce work instead of sending emails. Also, I feel more inspired in general. I write more, I read more (thank you for introducing me to Substack!) I plan and reflect and listen to more podcasts and talks.

Which bit of the business course have you found most helpful?

It's really, really, really difficult to pick just one. Katie, Tania, and Helen are wonderful and inspiring people who are full of knowledge. They also bring in other people from the industry, and their talks are super interesting and insightful every single time. I love how positive they are and this reflects hugely on the course. As a result, the community created around the course is full of bright, positive, kind and inspiring people. Thanks to various tasks like the worry dolls, the live chats, the Accountability Buddy and the Facebook group, we are encouraged to interact and help each other out. This is hugely helpful because being a freelance illustrator can sometimes be quite lonely.

So, a big thank you to The Good Ship community for your help and emotional support!

Would You recommend the business course?

Definitely!! Go ahead! Whoever you are, this course will be useful!

You'll learn lots of things about the business and about yourself, and you will get to meet wonderful people. It's not just a course. It will be there for you for the rest of your life!

You can see more of Johanna's work at the links below:

Instagram: @goussetjohanna

Website: https://www.johannagousset.com/

Next, we have an interview with Fiona McCurdy:

What changes have you noticed so far?

Since taking the Business Course, I've noticed a real change in mindset in my approach to my illustration career; I can now see what's involved behind the scenes to make it an actual career. Previously, I was just floating anxiously in the sea of the internet, hoping for something magical to happen!

Did you have any hesitations before joining The Business Course?

I had already taken the Find your Creative Voice and the Picture Book course, so I definitely understood the value of The Good Ship Illustration's courses. But I was hesitant about the outlay of money at a time when I had decided to prioritise my illustration work, so my regular income was lower.

I found the 5-pay payment option very useful and am so glad I decided to go for it. It is a real guiding light for making that career switch a reality!

Which bit of the course have you found most helpful?

I think the structure of the course itself is exceptionally useful. Unfortunately, I ended up being incredibly busy, so I wasn't able to do every task or attend every call when the course was live. Still, I went through all the content and focussed on the bits that were more relevant to me at that moment.

I started re-doing my website in accordance with the editing and SEO advice. It's still a work in progress, so I was very surprised when a couple of work enquiries came through! I then found the advice on quoting and valuing your work exceptionally useful. As it turned out, the main project I had been contacted about, which seemed the most exciting at first, was definitely not right for me. After several meetings, there were a number of red flags that I would not have seen without the course - it really taught me the importance of valuing your work and your time.

As utterly terrifying as it was to go into those negotiations for the first time, I felt like I had The Good Ship Illustration in my corner to back me up!

One of the main things I took from the course was to take on the right work, and work with the right people. That + the tools it gives you to go out and find them!

Would you recommend the Business Course?

I definitely recommend the course, and I already have (to several friends!)

I'm really excited to retake it when it starts up and, this time, be able to do it more methodically and join in all the calls – thanks, Tania, Katie and Helen, for creating this amazing resource!