Why most creative coaching is bulls*it

Let's get real about creative coaching and consulting

TL:DR from the cats of Rebel Yell Creative: Most coaching advice sucks. The human's doesn't.

Maybe it's because I'm autistic. Maybe it's because I'm a woman in the world. Maybe it's years of PTSD : )

But my bullshit meter is pretty on point. Especially when it comes to marketing and creative advice.

Admittedly, I'm not the rah-rah type. When I worked in corporate, I was the employee that plastered on a fake smile at company meetings and did the bare minimum to survive the hour. At that job, and all my previous advertising gigs, I was the one that muted every call so I could groan and swear off mic at all the corporate-speak and insistence on engagement. At every gathering, I cannot control my aghast face.

Generally, I think we're all playing a game, whether we acknowledge it or not. The game? That we LOVE capitalism. We LOVE whatever we have to do in order to make money. We LOVE working, and work, and work colleagues, and work bosses, and we LOVE IT SO MUCH, forever and ever amen.

And as part of that game, we swap marketing and creative advice, and 'truisms,' and work-work-work slogans, and productivity tips, and we pretend that it's not made-up fuckery of the highest order.

Good lord, lady

Am I ranting? Perhaps. But to bring it back to the topic at hand: creative coaching.

I quit my corporate job this year, and started my own thing. And I am genuinely excited about it. I think I've finally found a way to meld our common reality - that we have to find a way to make money to survive - with something I actually care about - the arts, and art used as a tool of resistance against the powers that be.

That said, to build my business into something sustainable, I've been watching a lot of marketing and business webinars and events. And occasionally there's a good tactical nugget there: how to use SEO, how to use tools like Notion, how to make this all doable with processes and technology.

But most of the time, it is people committing to the game HARD. And spitting out some epic bars of bullshit.

And that would all be fine, because of that bullshit meter I mentioned. I can watch a "MAKE 100K IN YOUR FIRST YEAR" webinar and roll my eyes. I can subject myself to a "HOW TO NETWORK LIKE A BOSS" recording and decide, nope, networking still sucks, and I'm out. I can watch yet another variation on "HOW TO WORK WORK WORK, BITCH," mute the coked-up audio, and just pull out the one or two ideas that might apply.

But I'm so frustrated that this is the advice that is on hand. Because for folks who are a bit younger and inexperienced, or people trying to break out of traps they're in, or parents trying to find new ways to feed their kids, this type of advice puts the onus directly on the viewer.

If you can't make whatever advice on hand work, it's your fault. You're a failure, and that's that.

And it's the same with creative coaching. When I have occasionally watched a creative coach webinar, against my better judgement, I've shook my head and/or screamed in dismay.

Wait - aren't you a creative coach / guide?

Yep. Because this isn't fair, it isn't right, and I want to offer an alternative.

Having the typical coaching as the standard? It just makes us all feel like shit and give up. And we don't have time for that. Not in these times of terror. Not in this economy, babe.

I want to help creative people and groups get real. I want to offer a perspective beyond rah-rah bullshit, one that actually speaks to real people trying to make real, good work.

What does that mean? Rebel Yell Creative is all about:

• Neurodivergent-friendly advice and guidance. Most creative and marketing advice is based on neurotypical practices. I know this because I'm autistic, and every article and event telling me I have to spit out an elevator speech to strangers, or cold pitch a literary agent, has me cowering in the corner. I'm skipping all that, and focusing on what works for your communication styles and needs.

• Intersectional understanding, at all times. Most marketing and creative advice comes from cis white men or women. And the advice is absolutely oblivious of the factors that can play into making goals and dreams a reality. They ignore systemic inequalities that will make it harder for many people. I'm talking about that, and thinking about how it plays into all guidance.

• Grounded, small, focused goals. I'm not going to show you how to reach millions of people. I don't know how to do that, and honestly, my messages aren't appealing to that many people. I believe in the power of small. And reaching the people who need to hear you, even if that's just one person.

• Art as resistance. Not sure what I mean? Listen to The Art of Resistance Podcast for examples of writers, musicians, and other artists who use their art as resistance to tyranny, patriarchy, and the status quo.

• No formula. Seems like every marketing or creative seminar is espousing some framework or IP that they swear will work for everyone. Come on. Maybe if 'everyone' is of a certain demographic and income, that might be true. But in reality? Nope. Everyone is different, every creative venture is different, and every bit of advice should be too.

• DIY or personalized? All good. Learning how to do something yourself can be incredible. I taught myself how to podcast, and the satisfaction of seeing that work turn into something I'm proud of? Beyond. So I'm not dissuading anyone from DIY, and in fact offer multiple options to support your DIY journey.

So....Is creative coaching for me?

I see a lot of searches for things like: Is creative coaching for me? What does a creative coach do? Is a creative coach really worth it today, especially in this economy?

Typically? Probably not. Because it's based in the type of marketing and business coaching that's all made up.

But that's why I offer something different. Creative coaching that's not corporate bullshit. Creative coaching and DIY for individuals and organizations rooted in reality. Creative guidance and resources for introverts and neurodiverse as much as the extroverts.

I'm using the term 'creative coaching' because I want to find people where they're at. But I want to redefine the terms. I want to get real, and help everyone make the art that matters.

Sound interesting? Here's a free and easy way to see if this works for you: Sign up for the Rebel Yell Creative newsletter and get a free Creative Review and Reframe Workbook. Real talk and real advice.