Hi Reader!

On December 5, 2011, I opened the doors of my law firm.

For pretty much that whole first year, I was in a state of nervous excitement. That kind of nervous-excitement that makes you want to jump for joy and throw up all at the same time.

One of the things I prioritized in that first year was doing tough foundational work in my business. I knew that doing this would help streamline my to-do list by helping me prioritize or eliminate things based on my goals.

When I launched the artist's J.D. in April 2014, I repeated this process with a slight twist.

This time, I did the foundational work AND selected three core values to guide my decisions. These core values were (and are) curiosity, listening, and empowerment.

Still, to this day, I base everything on these core values. They guide my decisions, experiments, and what goes on my to-do list. They dictate what projects I scrap, what advice I listen to, and what projects I fast-track. (They are why I'm publishing the second edition of the Legal Roadmap for your Creative Business on October 23rd.)

Values help you decide between two viable courses of action.

Knowing your values will help if you:

• have too much on your plate and too little time
• are wearing 50 hats and trying to keep all the balls in the air
• don't know which decision is right because they all seem equally viable

Your values directly impact your business. And in turn, how you should prioritize your to-do list (legal or otherwise).

Knowing what you value is one of the keys to reducing overwhelm and filtering out the noise.

To help you pick your 3-5 core business values, you can grab a PDF list of more than 200 values that are included in the upcoming edition of the Legal Roadmap for your Creative Business.

You should pick words that reflect:

• what you believe in
• things your business is
• how your customers perceive your business

I'll be sitting at my computer until about 9:30 AM Pacific and I'd love to know your core business values. (And if you are reading this after then, please reply! I'll get back to you ASAP.)

Chat soon,

P.S. Ever feel like you’re winging it with your business’s legal stuff? Maybe you’re wondering if you’re doing “enough,” or maybe you don’t know where to start. Legal Roadmap for your Creative Business. is here to make it simple. Think of it like a guide that walks you through everything—from contracts to trademarks—without the legalese. It’s time to get those legal ducks in a row so you can grow your business confidently! Pre-order your copy on Amazon today and make sure your ass(ets) are covered.

Join us for Ask Kiff

On Thursdays at 9 AM Pacific | noon Eastern, I answer one of your questions live on Facebook. The past few weeks we've discussed:

• ​What do you have to do for an in-person workshop or craft fair in a town where you don’t live?​
• ​Does my business need a "biz" bank account?​
• ​Does a one-owner LLC *really* need an Operating Agreement?​
​

Got a question you want me to cover in a future week? Hit reply and let me know. Want to get notified each week before I go live? Click here and I’ll add you to the list.​

❤️ Easy to understand legal resources should be available to every creative, regardless of their financial situation. If one of my resources has helped you and you would like to say “thank you”, you can make a contribution here. ❤️