Amazon #1 Bestseller in Vocational Guidance and Entrepreneurship 2023 Goody Business Book Award Finalist in Business-Career Success An entertaining, fully-illustrated roadmap for any creative longing to master business and build a fulfilling, successful career. From acclaimed illustrator, entrepreneur, and CEO William Warren. “For years, when my creativity needed a boost, I hired William. Open this book and you’ll immediately know why!” — Jon Acuff, New York Times bestselling author and Inc. Top 100 Leadership Speaker Creatives are naturally drawn to the act of creating, not analyzing sales strategies, reading P&Ls, filing forms, or building business processes. But if they want to dump that day job, continue their artistic endeavors after graduation, or scale that side hustle into fulfilling, successful self-employment, they must acknowledge the hard truth that mastering craft is not enough. They must master the business side and become a “Conquering Creative.” The good news? It’s as easy as shifting your thinking. As an illustrator, entrepreneur, and CEO, author William Warren has spent more than a decade leveraging creativity to build a booming business, working with blue chip clients such as The Home Depot, Oracle, and Delta as well as consulting with some of the world’s top thought leaders like Steve Wozniak, Brené Brown, and Malala Yousafzai. An artist at heart, he’s learned the delicate balance between the right-brained world of creativity and the left-brained world of business. And now he’s offering his proven mind shifts for other creatives wanting to follow in his footsteps and become a “Conquering Creative.” From ups and downs to capital to clients, pricing to purpose, Warren walks readers through nine critical “shifts” they must make to level up from “Creative” to “Conquering Creative”: 1. “My art is my passion” ←→ “My passion is my product” 2. “Business is a necessary evil” ←→ “Business will unlock my dreams” 3. “I am my work” ←→ “I am more than my work” 4. “My work speaks for itself” ←→ “I must speak up for my work” 5. “I create as an artist” ←→ “I work as a professional” 6. “Quality is all that counts” ←→ “Everything counts” 7. “I wait for inspiration” ←→ “I create systems for inspiration” 8. “Go it alone” ←→ “Go with a team” 9. “Wing it” ←→ “Dream it” Just as he’s done for top companies and individuals, Warren brings his ideas to life with illustrations, making the book an entertaining, and actionable read. The Conquering Creative is a must-read for every artist and aspiring entrepreneur, whether they’re just graduating, wanting to start a business, or just need a motivational boost. "For years, when my creativity needed a boost, I hired William. Open this book and you'll immediately know why!" - Jon Acuff, New York Times bestselling author "William Warren shares his wit, wisdom, and hard-earned insights with readers in "The Conquering Creative." Those ready to amplify their creativity and enhance their business acumen will find nourishment, encouragement, and actionable advice in the insightful pages of his book." - Paula Wallace, President, Savannah College of Art and Design "This book is a must have for anyone currently in business, anyone considering starting a business, or a creative person in need of a recharge and jolt to embark on their next success. Warren's vulnerability in sharing his entire journey will help others bypass their own doubts, hesitations, and questions about entrepreneurship. What an excellent compilation and toolkit to keep around for daily use." Audra Price Pittman, Vice President for Giving, Savannah College of Art and Design "The Conquering Creative is the perfect business book for creatives who hate reading business books! This short read is fun, practical, and extremely valuable. And it's all written and illustrated by William Warren, who has a proven track record in turning a creative 'hobby' into a real business." - Jordan Raynor, bestselling author of Called to Create and Redeeming Your Time "The starving artist is a myth and William shows how easily that idea is broken. Craft and business success is possible." Blake Howard, Co-Founder, Matchstic "The Conquering Creative is like having a down-to-earth, relatable best friend guiding you through the creative world, busting myths and sharing real, practical advice about how to make YOUR dreams reality. This book is a genuine gem for anyone turning their passion into a career - I wish I had this when I started as a writer!" - Joe Bunting, bestselling author of Crowdsourcing Paris and Founder of The Write Practice William Warren is an illustrator and entrepreneur who has spent his career using visuals to help communicate ideas and tell stories. He is the Founder and CEO of The Sketch Effect, a visual communication company that helps make ideas understandable and actionable through animation, live event sketching and infographics. The Sketch Effect's client list in