MSL 408 - Mindset, pricing, and having the courage to ask for the sale with Miriam Schulman
In this episode of My Solopreneur Life, I chat with Miriam Schulman, author of Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living From Your Creativity and creator of the Artist Incubator program. Miriam shares her pivot from a Wall Street career after 9/11 into building a long-term art business, then turning her hard-won lessons into coaching frameworks that help artists and creative solopreneurs build real income.
You will hear why “cheaper is easier to sell” is a trap, how premium pricing can actually feel more reassuring to buyers, and why people want a transformation, not a small task or a bite-size fix. Miriam also breaks down the five business areas she sees creatives struggle with (pricing, production, prospecting, promotion, productivity), why relying on social media alone is a risky game, and how building an email list supports both sales and stability.
Finally, Miriam and I dig into the hidden reality many solopreneurs avoid: you cannot do everything yourself forever. Miriam explains how to build your delegation muscle with small, low-risk support first, then graduate into a documented process and a team that gives you real relief.
Prompts to spur your business growth
Mindset and identity shifts
Where am I telling myself “that won’t work for me because…” and how creative am I getting with that story?
What rejection am I avoiding that is quietly limiting my income?
If my brain is trying to keep me “safe,” what goal am I actually protecting myself from?
Pricing and value (reassuringly expensive)
What am I pricing low because I think it will be “easier to sell”?
What would happen if I raised my price and improved the experience to match it?
What is the premium version of my offer that delivers the outcome people actually want?
Sell the transformation, not the “piddly stuff”
What is the transformation I provide in one sentence (before/after)?
Which of my offers are task-based, and which are outcome-based?
If my client buys this, what changes in their life or business in 30–90 days?
Production and positioning (the “Target vs. Tiffany’s” moment)
Where am I trying to be everything to everyone?
What do I do best that I could become known for (one style, one outcome, one lane)?
What would I stop offering if I wanted to become “the go-to” for a specific result?
Prospecting beyond social media
If social media disappeared tomorrow, how would people find me?
What is one simple email list idea I can start this week (lead magnet, waitlist, weekly note)?
What would I send if I emailed my list once a week for the next 10 weeks?
Promotion and closing (make the offer)
Do I clearly ask for the sale, or do I hint and hope?
How many offers did I make last week, in plain language?
What is one confident, low-drama line I can practice: “Would you like to move forward?”
Productivity and systems
What is the one repeatable process I should document first (sales, onboarding, delivery, content)?
What is one weekly block I will protect for CEO-level work (not client delivery)?
What needs to be automated, eliminated, or simplified?
Getting help without making it a huge thing
What is my “business babysitter” task list (10 hours/week max): scheduling, posting, inbox, uploads, formatting?
What tiny pilot could I run: a paid trial week, one task, one deliverable?
What would I delegate first that would give me the biggest body-level relief?
Spiritual and creative expansion (higher self leadership)
What does my higher self want me to stop tolerating in my business?
Where am I shrinking because I’m afraid to be seen or judged?
What is one creative risk I could take that would make my work feel alive again?
What practice brings me back to myself (quiet walk, journaling, meditation, studio time), and how will I schedule it?
Ideas for managing the downside of isolation
Schedule at least two “out in the world” 3D work sessions at a coffee shop, library, or public space
Join one local group that meets in person: networking, fitness, writing, hobby, or volunteer
Reach out to three peers or fellow solos and set up simple one-to-one conversations
Notice your early warning signs of isolation: overthinking, low energy, procrastination, mood dips
Create a daily movement habit: walk, gym, yoga, anything that gets you out of your office and out of your head
Change your environment once a week to add variety and fresh input
Build a small “support circle” of friends or fellow solopreneur peers you can talk honestly with
Try a short-term side gig, class, or project that puts you around people face-to-face
Use AI as a sounding board or “venting space” and talk through worries or ideas and ask it to help you reframe
Start one “micro connection” habit each day: smile, chat, compliment, or ask someone a question
Shift from “How do I get business?” to “How can I contribute today?” and notice how connection grows
Block sacred solo time for creativity, but balance it with planned social time
End each week by asking: Did I feel connected or isolated? What needs adjusting next week?
