Grow: How to Take Your DIY Project & Passion to the Next Level and Quit Your Job!

by Eleanor C. Whitney MPA

Like a personal mentor, this guide provides step-by-step instructions and advice for creative people with great ideas for independent projects who want to achieve success and sustainability. Whether their projects are based in independent publishing, music, food, art, craft, activism, or community work, this user-friendly tool will help to clarify the project vision, get organized, set goals, create a plan, raise funds, market, and manage any do-it-yourself project. The reference is full of real-life inspiration and creative business advice from successful, independent business owners and creative people with projects that began in the do-it-yourself spirit. An accompanying website includes downloadable worksheets to assist in putting the information and advice into practice.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Kat Asharya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guide is concise, jam-packed with useful info and, above all, inspiring! It breaks down the oft overwhelming process of starting a project or business into digestible chunks of information you can put immediately into process, putting what seems like a castle in the air into actual reach. Approachable and down to earth, Grow is a great business primer. Don't let the small size fool you: this is an invaluable tool if you're looking to start something you can scale into a sustainable enterprise.

[Keight · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guide that really puts the "do it!" in "do it yourself." Concrete advice is partnered with real-life stories from artists and entrepreneurs. The book includes an impressive reach of information and is well-organized so you can dip into specific topics easily. Invaluable for any creative person.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational and helpful were the two words that came to mind first after finishing this information-heavy book.
I see myself going back to Grow many times for small personal and bigger group projects.
Loved the layout and personal tone of this book and can highly recommend it to all musicians, bloggers, oh, everyone really.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid basic introduction to business with an awesome resources section and honest reflection. Props for the inclusion of a "when to fold" section.

[Eric Sbar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grow is a nice concise guide to starting a business and growing a community. Good references.