THE CREATIVE INTERNSHIP: Orientation Day
Week 1 - Orientation: setting expectations, defining your role, and deciding how you’ll show up.
I created The Creative Internship to help creatives stop overthinking once and for all! The beginning of a new year is always hard, and I wanted to create an encouraging space for us to start or finish projects with structure, strategy, and community!!
Over the next 10 weeks, we’re not treating our creativity like a job (yet): the goal isn’t monetization, the goal is to grow and become the type of creative entrepreneur who CAN monetize and sustain that income!!
The Creative Internship is an internship-inspired experience where, each week, we walk through the skills and habits of a successful intern—learning how to focus, build systems, do research, take ownership, make decisions, network, and build momentum inside your own creative work or business!
I’m Isis Bradford, a Harvard-certified business strategist, business owner, and aspiring romance novelist who helps creatives romanticize their lives while turning ideas into sustainable progress. I’m also Christ-led, anti-hustle, and pro-ease!! So, much of how I teach is through that lens!
If you haven’t already, you can upgrade your subscription to join us these next 10 weeks!
I have a smile plastered across my face as I write this because we — our community — really needed this. I am so grateful for your responses to the Creative Internship, and it’s orientation day! Let’s get right to it!
Table of Contents
What This Internship Is Not
[How To] Be Consistent & Show Up for Yourself!!
Name Your Creative Role!!
Shadow Me! (Here’s What I’m Working On)
Homework
Tomorrow’s Workshop Info & Link to Call
Before we get into what this internship isn’t, let’s talk about what it is: a chance to woosahhh.
This internship is all about learning, being curious, experimenting, observing, and creating from what inspires you — without the pressure to monetize it. Of course, becoming a full-time creative who makes a living from your brain and art without overwhelm IS the goal, but we’re not rushing to that goal in these next 10 weeks. We’re establishing consistency and discipline, and determining what ideas, offers, and plans we want to move forward with and lock in for 2026.
That being said, this internship is NOT about perfection, rushing to launch something, or instant clarity. We’ll take time to grow together and push beyond the “January excitement” that will likely die off for others who are rushing into launches and rebrands.
1. CLOCK IN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
Read each of these Sunday Creative Briefs! Do your homework alongside your coworkers! Clock in to as many Monday Team Meetings as possible! And if you know you can’t make the call that week, comment your questions here and I’ll answer them, I got you!
2. DECIDE WHAT CONSISTENCY LOOKS LIKE TO YOU. Examples…
Time-Based Consistency
“I’ll spend 30 minutes a day brainstorming and journaling ideas.”
“I’ll set aside 2 hours every Wednesday and Friday to focus on my internship tasks.”
Task-Based Consistency
“I’ll write 3 blog posts or story ideas per week, no matter what.”
“I’ll give well-thought-out feedback to 2 of my coworkers each week.”
Habit-Based Consistency
“I’ll take 10 minutes to review last week’s homework before starting anything new.”
“I’ll share my updates in the group chat every Friday to hold myself accountable!”
Energy-Based Consistency
“I’ll do whatever internship task I feel most inspired by on a given day.”
“I’ll do deep work when I have energy, rest when I need it, but never skip commenting or reflecting.”
“I’ll lean into coworking sessions whenever I feel isolated or stuck.”
Combination Approach (Most Favorite!)
“I’ll clock in to each Monday meeting, spend 1 hour a day on my main project, and write a weekly reflection post for accountability.”
WHAT MATTERS MOST:
Don’t fall off when you get confused, stressed, or discouraged.
That’s what this community is for: to pick you up and help each other through these next 10 weeks.
When you feel the urge to isolate or fall off, LEAN INTO showing up more. Revisit an old post and comment what you’re stuck on — I’ll see it and respond. Write down questions throughout the week for the group!
We got this!