Ep 198: Inside the Mastermind: The Long Game of Building an Art Business

*Quynh, Jessie, and Sara go behind the scenes of their paper flower mastermind, sharing what three cohorts have taught them about accountability, imposter syndrome, and building a creative business for the long haul.* In this episode, Quynh, Jessie, and Sara step away from guest interviews to talk directly to you about something they don’t often unpack on the podcast: their mastermind community, Paper to Profit, and what running it for three cohorts has taught them about what it actually takes to build a paper flower business that lasts. They talk candidly about the difference between making art and selling art, why their members today struggle with too much information instead of too little, and why accountability and community consistently move the needle more than any single tactic. Sara and Jessie share what it’s like watching members go from afraid to even say “I’m an artist” out loud to confidently running their first workshops and sales. ### "It's so easy to sit and think and not do anything about it. Our purpose in the mastermind is to motivate you, to keep you accountable, to be your cheerleaders." - Jessie on accountability   The hosts also get real about the timeline. Referencing recurring guest Poy T. Granati’s three-year pursuit of a Hermès collaboration, and their own decade-plus journey building Paper Talk into a top-ranked podcast, Quynh and the team make the case that meaningful creative businesses are built slowly, with consistent effort, not overnight virality. They close with details on their next mastermind cohort opening September 8th (sign-ups open in August) and their upcoming August retreat in Seattle, which includes a visit to the Seattle wholesale flower market and the flower fields of Mount Vernon and Skagit Valley. As always, the episode wraps with the hosts’ current favorite things, including Quynh’s new obsession with her Oura ring, Jessie’s discovery of a product that saves her from uncomfortable leaks, Sara’s long-overdue investment in real running shoes.   ## The Best Thing We Bought that Bring Us Joy - Quynh: Get 10% off of the Oura Ring 5 - Jessie: Uresta Bladder Support for Women - Sara: Hoka Running Shoes Paper Talk is supported by our community of readers and listeners. When you click on our affiliate links, we may earn a commission for qualifying purchases made through Amazon.com, Shareasale, or similar affiliate marketing programs. This commission goes directly into the maintenance of this website and our podcast.     ## ----------------------------------------------------- ## JOIN OUR PAPER TALK MASTERMIND! If you've been running your paper business solo and you're tired of figuring out pricing, marketing, and selling alone, then this is for you. The Mastermind is returning in the Fall 2026 and we saved you a seat! Starting September 8, we are leading a 6-month Mastermind for paper artists ready to build something sustainable. You'll meet twice a month with us and a small group of paper artists tackling the real stuff: pricing, social media, selling your work, newsletters, and building confidence in your business. We’ll have honest conversations, dive into practical strategies, and be with people who actually understand what you're building. Registration begins in August. Get on the Waitlist! ## ----------------------------------------------------- ## 🎙️ Listen and Subscribe Paper Talk is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review! It helps other paper flower artists find our community.   *Keywords: Mastermind community, long-term business building, accountability, imposter syndrome, September cohort launch, August retreat, favorite things segment*