From $400/Week to 8-Figure Exit: Sue Bryce’s Brutal Truth About Making Money as an Artist
The Wake-Up Call That Changes Everything
What happens when you're 30, working at the best photography studio in your country, and making $400 a week while all your friends are buying houses? For Sue Bryce, it became the catalyst for one of the most successful creative business transformations I've ever witnessed.
In this raw conversation, Sue doesn't hold back about the harsh realities of trying to make it as an artist. Her story challenges the romanticized notion of the “struggling artist” and offers a radically different path forward. This conversation reminded me exactly why I created my Creative Force of Nature Mastermind Retreat. Because transformation happens when you surround yourself with people who refuse to accept “starving artist” as their destiny.
The Question Most Artists Never Ask
Sue reveals why technical mastery isn't enough and shares the pivotal question that separates thriving creatives from those who stay broke. Her approach to valuing work, asking for money, and building authentic connections with customers completely reframes how we think about creative business.
The conversation takes an unexpected turn when Sue discusses her controversial stance on business partnerships. Having built and sold two businesses, her insights about equity, personal branding, and the hidden costs of “security” partnerships offer sobering lessons for any creative considering bringing on co-founders.
The 7-Year Creative Cycle
Perhaps most intriguing is Sue's revelation about creative cycles. How every seven years, she's felt compelled to completely evolve her career path. This pattern explains the restlessness many creatives feel and offers a framework for understanding when it's time to pivot versus push through. If you're feeling this creative restlessness right now, you're not alone. It's exactly why I bring together high-achieving creative women at my retreat. To help them navigate these pivotal moments with clarity and support.
From Creator to Master Creator
Sue's final insights about moving from “creativity” to “creation energy” provide a powerful reframe for anyone who's ever felt like an imposter in their creative business. Her distinction between competition and creation offers a mentally liberating approach to building sustainable creative wealth.
This conversation will challenge your assumptions about creative business, personal branding, and what it really takes to build lasting wealth as an artist. Sue's message about stepping into your full power as a creator resonates deeply with the transformation work we do together in Scottsdale each October. This is why I'm thrilled she'll be joining us as a featured speaker at the Creative Force of Nature Mastermind Retreat to teach on building a personal brand that commands premium pricing.
Listen to the full episode to discover why Sue believes you're either learning to sell or you should get a 9-to-5, and why that mindset shift could change everything.
xo, Tracy
Sponsor Spotlight!
Ready to step into your most magnetic self? Join me October 6-8 in Scottsdale for my Creative Force of Nature Mastermind Retreat. Sue Bryce will be there as a featured speaker, teaching personal branding that commands premium pricing. You'll mastermind with other creative powerhouses and get a hot seat for your biggest challenges.
Links in this episode:
Follow @suebrycephotographer on Instagram
Creative Force of Nature Mastermind Retreat (October 6-8, Scottsdale, AZ)
Buy My Book: The Desired Brand Effect