Take Chelsie To Lunch
This program is my win-win solution to requests for coffee dates and one-on-one mentoring. As an established creative business owner, two core values I hold are being helpful to others and knowing my worth. I wish I could meet with everyone who requests support from me, regardless of budget, but I’ve learned that I am just one person and have to be increasingly protective of my personal and work time to ensure I can maintain a positive work-life balance.
Read the blog post for more of Chelsie’s insights on how this program came to be here.
Chelsie’s relevant experience:
Owned & operated Lettering Works, LLC since 2016
Generated $100,000+ in annual revenue since 2019
Created over 200+ products that are sold wholesale to museums and independent retailers including the Field Museum, Chicago History Museum, Garfield Park Conservatory, and Peoria International Airport Gift Shop
Produced four online courses spanning topics of branding, passion projects, business development for artists, and hand lettering
Participated in three, eight-week, educational cohorts on topics of scaling, aviation, and top-shelf retail; advised as a subject-matter expert for two
Successfully funded two Kickstarter campaigns, which resulted in self-publishing two books
Completed a six-month artist residency in Peoria, IL
Designed logos, campaigns, promotional materials, branded graphics, and custom merchandise
Managed Lettering Works website (on Squarespace), social media accounts, and overall online presence
Shared insights on countless podcasts and interviews
Areas of Expertise: Small Business Ownership • Entrepreneurship • Creative Marketing • Branding • Crowdfunding • Self-Publishing • Community Involvement • Graphic Design • Wholesale • Online Course Creation • Teaching
Problematic phrases
I often hear these phrases and believe they are very well-intentioned, so I’d like to take a moment to share my perspective on why I find them to be problematic when directed to solopreneurs and independent creatives…
“Just grab coffee”
I find that this phrase minimizes the value and experience of the person who is more established in their business or industry. Grabbing coffee is more than just grabbing coffee - it often requires preparation, travel, energy to show up fully, and time to decompress.
Every hour that a small business owner or independent creative gives away for free without a clear return on that investment is one they must take away from either their own work or personal time.
Added bonus of lunch over coffee: Getting lunch assures we will have a table and all of my attention will be directed on our conversation rather than navigating a busy coffee shop.
“Pick your brain”
I personally find this to be stressful because I offer this as a paid service (1:1 consulting where you can ask me anything), so it can feel like someone is asking for my services for free and disregarding the effort I’ve put in to get to where I’m at.
Many independent creatives and small business owners have spent years honing their craft, learning, and professionally developing to the point that they become sought out resources by others. Creatives need to know and advocate for their worth so they don’t feel taken advantage of.
As an advocate for creatives knowing and charging their worth, it’s most on brand for me to stand up for myself here.
How this program works:
Book a session via TidyCal (and choose from one of Chelsie's favorite Logan Square restaurants to meet)
Prepare your questions and topics of discussion
Meet at the designated time and location
Get your questions answered over lunch
You pay for lunch in exchange for access to Chelsie's knowledge from 7+ years in business
Save your receipt and record your purchase as a business expense
The Lunch Spots - Chelsie’s Logan Square Favorites
All locations are easily accessible by public transit, specifically the Blue Line via the Logan Square stop, as well as the Milwaukee (56) bus and Diversey (76) bus.
Lula Cafe
Inventive, market-driven food in a casual, funky space that hosts an especially popular brunch.
Address: 2537 N Kedzie Blvd
Chelsie’s Go-To Order: Pasta Yia-Yia or Chilled Spicy Peanut Noodles
Longman & Eagle
Hipster spot with modern farm-to-table fare & nose-to-tail eats plus whiskey & craft cocktails.
Address: 2657 N Kedzie Ave
Chelsie’s Go-To Order: Biscuits & Gravy or Sloppy Joe
Chiya Chai Café
Casual Nepalese cafe serving many types of chai plus coffee, booze & a compact food menu.
Address: 2770 N Milwaukee Ave
Chelsie’s Go-To Order: Creamy Masala Paneer Bowl
Recommended Resources
If getting lunch is still out of reach for you at the moment, here are some free and low-cost resources that I recommend:
*WBDC, SBDC, and SCORE resources are free because they are government-subsidized or staffed by volunteers.
The fine print: Get Lunch with Chelsie sessions are limited to one session, per person, per year. If you can afford 1:1 consulting services, I ask that you keep these lunch spots available for those who could most benefit from them. As a friendly reminder, this program most likely qualifies as a business expense. Consult with your local tax professional for information specific to you and your unique situation.
The exception: Lettering Works does offer free, 20-minute project consultations via phone call. While these are a no-strings attached meeting, they are not intended for consulting purposes and asking general questions without the possibility of a paid project occurring. The difference between these meetings is that they are focused on logistics including sharing relevant project details and determining if we are a good fit to work together rather than sharing insights and best practices.