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Writer's pictureSue Bulmer

Ten Things I learned from making my online course - Part 1 (1-5)


In 2023 I decided to step off the hamster wheel of social media and I took a break. During that time away I questioned what and who I was creating my art for and it became more and more apparent that things were misaligned. I spent a lot of time reflecting on this and decided for the whole of 2023 I was going to make art just for ME. This led to my Sketchbook Project a 365 day long journey into handmade sketchbooks, making at least one a month for the whole of the year. I shared my process on social media and my following suddenly began to grow after years of stasis.


I made a course to share my process and that led to the revelation that I actually LOVED teaching and sharing my skills. Since I was a teenager I had a MASSIVE fear of public speaking. I would literally do ANYTHING to get out of having to stand up in front of people and speak out loud. This all changed when I went back to Uni in my mid 40s and started my Masters in Art Psychotherapy. I had to speak in front of the group…. about my art…. for 20 whole minutes… in depth….. petrifying!! But I did it. And it went well. And part of me actually quite enjoyed it.


Fast forward to the end of 2023, I have completed a fantastic business course, Build It Remarkable, and I’m serious about making my art business grow, creating art courses for my audience and continuing to make and sell my own art. The plans for 2024 included making a free course and then a signature course to run live over six weeks. It seemed like there was a mountain to climb!!


But, here I am – the mountain wasn’t as arduous or rocky as I had imagined. I made it to the top. I can’t quite believe that I’ve done it. Now that Ive completed the course it’s the perfect time for some reflection and it’s got me thinking about what I’ve learned over the past 8 months… (loads - but here are the first five biggies).


1. Facing Fears Is the First Step to Growth

For years, I avoided anything that involved public speaking or teaching. The idea of standing up in front of people made me break out in a cold sweat and the shakes. But I realised that avoiding these fears was holding me back. It was only when I faced them head-on that I discovered new passions and abilities I never knew I had. It was a revelation!! Teaching has not only become a way to share my knowledge but also a means of connecting with others on a deeper level. I have loved getting to know the students who have taken my courses so far and seeing how they have learned and grown.


2. Authentic alignment can bring unexpected outcomes

Taking a break from the external pressures of social media allowed me to reconnect with my true passion for art. When I stopped creating for others and started creating for myself, I found that my work resonated more with my audience. The growth of my following wasn’t a result of chasing trends but a byproduct of authentic expression. This taught me that true success comes when you align your work with your passions and values. Having worked with Life Coach Rebecca Kirk, I found my true calling in my new profession of Art Psychotherapy. Now I feel I’m living a fully authentic creative life and I’ve never felt so happy and content.


3. Small Steps Lead to Big Achievements

When I first started the Sketchbook Project, it seemed like a daunting task. But by breaking it down into manageable pieces—one sketchbook a month—the project became not only achievable but deeply fulfilling. The same approach applied when creating my course. By focusing on one step at a time, I was able to build something much larger than I had initially imagined. It reminded me that every mountain is climbed one step at a time. I will never forget the time I wrote the course curriculum plan into my sketchbook. I will share a picture below. I can remember thinking ‘OMG how am I ever going to do this?’ but small steps, each video, each upload, each PDF and block of text! I got there. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it, keep turning up and keep taking breaks!!


4. Community and Connection is Key

As my social media following grew, I realized the power of community. Sharing my process and receiving feedback not only motivated me to keep going but also provided valuable insights that helped shape my course. I learned that building a supportive community around your work can be just as important as the work itself. For my free course, Creative Soul Discovery, (link) the facebook group has become such a supportive, generous and inspiring place to hang out. People who have joined are so encouraging to one another it’s great to see. I’m hoping that the group for Creative Soulscapes is a similarly lovely place to be. It’s not just community online -it’s the people you surround yourself with day-to-day, the ones who believe in you, who cheer you on from the sidelines and have your back when you’re feeling demotivated and the ones who pick you up when you’re feeling low. Without them, I don’t think I would have been able to do this! I hope those people know who they are!!


5. Trusting the Process actually does work

Throughout this journey, there were many moments of doubt and uncertainty. Would people resonate with my course? Would anyone sign up? These questions popped up and caught me unawares from time to time, prompting a bout of the jitters, but I kept moving forward. I worked throught the modules myself as I was creating them and it wasn’t until I watched them all back at the end that I thought ‘Yes, I have something good here’. I learned to trust the process, knowing that the effort I put in would eventually pay off. As I sit here now, I’m filled with a sense of accomplishment and pride, knowing that I’ve done everything I can to make Creative Soulscapes the very best it can be.


Join me next week as I share the next five big things I learned from making Creative Soulscapes - my new online course.

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