Student Spotlight Series #8 - Britt Hoffman
Overview
Welcome to my ongoing Student Spotlight Blog + Instagram Live Series.
I created this episodic adventure to:
Flex the incredible wins my students are stacking while blazing their own paths.
Reveal the adversity they’ve overcome and/or are currently navigating in their day-to-day.
Showcase how they persistently show up like creative professionals who take their shit seriously.
Below, you have 2 ways to consume this interview:
Watch the Instagram Live interview replay below where students expand on the 7 questions.
Read the Blog Post 7-Questions-based interview further down this page.
NOTE: Scroll to the bottom of this page if you’d like to be a student I feature here in the future!
Meet BRITT HOFFMAN
This 8th session highlights Alumni rockstar, Britt Hoffman.
Britt is a Web 2 + 3 artist, storyteller, and art collector specializing in digital illustration, painting, merch, and photography out of Texas.
She’s also an astronaut at heart who injects love into everything she does.
Britt started as a podcast listener of mine and became an early student in my experimental coaching programs.
She then took the ‘22 Q1 3-week Boot Camp swiftly followed by the Spring ‘22 12-week program.
Next, she followed me into the Solana Web 3 art scene as we found our creative identities together.
Then she became my VA while also blossoming into a mini-coach within my coaching programs.
Britt is the real fucking deal as I’ve witnessed her insane amount of growth over the years.
If you’re one to say "You don't have time to make moves," Britt will radically prove you wrong in the most encouraging way possible.
Instagram Live Interview
Click to watch the full interview.
7 Question Interview
1. Give us a little elevator pitch: who you are, what you do, and why you do it?
Hey, my name is Britt Hoffman and I am an illustrator, designer, writer, and storyteller.
I create illustrations combining themes of love through the use of pop culture, my love for space + astronauts, comics, movies, and music.
I create for my past self or ‘little Britt’ as a reminder to be yourself, that you are loved and supported…
And to always keep that inner childlike spirit alive.
2. Before we started working together, where were you at with your work, confidence, and direction?
Before working with Scotty I was listening to his podcast for a bit and felt I needed that extra push.
I lacked a sense of direction—creating wasn’t always for play but for an algorithm.
I lacked confidence in what I was doing and always thought my ‘why’ was ‘too cheesy’ or ‘lame’ but it truly is my secret sauce.
I lacked time management, or the ability to prioritize my time and tasks.
There’s no way I’d be able to juggle everything I do now between my day job, family life, my art, as well as mentoring others during Scotty’s coaching programs.
3. What were your top 1-3 biggest hurdles you’ve had to work hardest on to overcome—and what are some lingering blind spots you’re continually improving on?
1. Britt vs. Britt
This will always be an ongoing battle.
I have always and will forever be my biggest enemy.
What I’ve learned though in being the persistent person I am is to always push myself.
Although I will always be my own worst critic, I’ve also made sure to always have support around me to be my second eye when I already play the devil’s advocate in my corner.
I have learned to be kinder to myself keeping in mind that the designer in me will always want to be ‘perfect.’
But sometimes it’s better to be done than to never complete a series.
2. Time Management
I never would’ve thought I’d be where I am now being able to handle my full-time 9-5 management position…
But also creating for me and taking on the right HELL YES projects that come my way.
As I continue to learn how to make time for what’s important and a priority to me…
I’ve learned to become a master of my schedule despite how challenging it can be.
What this looks like is waking up as early as 4 in the morning to hit emails/backend work, staying up late to complete a few blogs, using my time effectively during lunch, and squeezing in my art anywhere else in between.
3. Communication
I find that over-communicating goes hand-in-hand with time management.
Especially if you are married, it is important to discuss when would be best for both of us to have our own time to do our own thing (e.g., like a specific agreed-upon time for me to work on my art.)
Also, communication over finances has played a key role as well.
This was the main reason I was able to join the 12-week boot camp because Wifey found I had done a lot of the work to show I was ready to invest big in myself.
4. Confidence
I had to overcome my fear of many things to allow my confidence to shine.
The biggest one would be the fear of sharing my story.
Truth is the fear in sharing my story slowly evolved into many opportunities…
It has made me more confident in speaking about my work and what I do.
4. Was there any defining moment(s) of getting fed up AND/OR waking up to start taking your shit seriously?
I wouldn’t define it as a moment of being fed up.
It’s more of a continual buildup of knowing that I had to prove myself.
Because I’m persistent, I have always had to pivot and push through.
I’d been wanting to take Scotty’s 12-week program for a few years…
But in order to do so, I also had to show my wife this wasn’t just going to be something I did without any follow up after.
So prior to joining, I’d been pivoting, exploring, listening to his podcasts, and taking advantage of all the early coaching programs he offered.
Finally, the day came when we were budgeting for our next year and she asked me “Is that it, I thought you’d ask to join that program this year?!”
That day when she said that was one of the two defining key moments that put a major spark in my drive…
The other was the day when my wife told me that she tells everyone “My wife is an artist!”
Where I always reverted to leading off with my day job followed by “I do illustration on the side."
5. What have been your biggest wins since we worked together?
In the past year, I have made over $1k with my artwork…
And have had my work collected by some pretty incredible humans I get to connect with.I’ve recently been able to use that income to bet big on myself and reinvest in a high-end printer.
After 10 years, I have circled back to my original plan and will be producing merch with my art now under the brand name of “Astronauts Are Dreamers.”
After creating a business plan, I narrowed down that with a printer of my own, I will be able to benefit from the profits versus most of the profits going to a fulfillment center.By confidently sharing my story and process, I’ve not only been interviewed by Scotty, but also by Sol City Radio and Brick Astly.
I’ve been a mini-coach mentor in 4 coaching programs while also being spotlighting during an Alumni Guest Expert with Boot Campers.
I’m being reached out to and completing HELL YES projects that are requested in my art style.
Last but not least, I will always need a coach but I am grateful for the friend I made in Scotty along the way. Between him (alongside my wife and family), this was the push I needed to take things to the next level .
6. What was your biggest highlight/takeaway from working together?
It is ok to pivot.
Remember that everything is a season and we are not tied down to it.
However, staying in the season allows you to be consistent and push yourself out of your comfort zone.
I pivoted during the program towards the end and that’s when I had the ‘Aha’ moment of my story and my ‘Why.’
It’s only been up from there. 🚀
7. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone who’s dealing with the same struggles as your past self?
I’m about to sound like a set of inspirational quotes but it’s because it’s all true.
Be yourself.
Share your story.
Those that matter will connect with who you are and what you have to offer.
We cannot keep creating for everyone as it is exhausting.
(AKA You cannot be everyone’s cup of tea—but you can be one person’s favorite slice of pizza—Scotty quote 😉).
Always embrace the pivot.
And ‘No matter what you do, do it with love’ (my quote).
Connect With Britt Hoffman
Make sure to show them some love and connect with them if you found this helpful:
I’d love to work with you!
I’m always looking for the next Britt to make moves with, if that’s you, learn how we can work together below. 👇🏻
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You'll get direct daily/weekly access to me within a personalized, yet intimate setting of 6 total hungry souls such as yourself.
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SCOTTY HERE 👋
I’m a full-time Coach for Web 2 + Web 3 creatives and I side hustle my own art in the rapidly evolving NFT space.
I’m also a designer, podcaster, speaker, + husband, and rad dad to 2 kids (and 3 cats), making moves out of Cedar Falls, Iowa.
After 5.5 years of side hustling outside my Corporate Cubicle, I made the full-time leap to Side Hustle Coach in January 2020.
I’ve since scaled this into a 6-figure creative business and have coached well over 1.5k students worldwide. 🤯
My mission is to put you in a position to get paid to play creating work you vibe to that impacts the people you care about the most.
I’d love the chance to work with you in a future 3-Week Boot Camp or 12-Week Coaching Program.