Hi friends,
Welcome back to the blog! This post is a special one—over the past two years, I’ve been on a journey of growth, creativity, and learning. Along the way, I’ve collected some of the biggest lessons that have shaped both my life and my small business.
It’s been two years since I first decided to start my own art business, and one year since I truly committed to building it. The journey has been filled with challenges, breakthroughs, and lessons that have completely shifted how I approach both my work and my life.
I hope that by sharing these, they inspire or help you in some way—whether you’re on a similar path or just need a little encouragement today.
Focus on Less to Achieve More
"If you try to do everything, you’ll end up doing nothing."
At the start of my journey, I wanted to do everything from Print on Demand, multiple art styles and exploring different mediums. I uploaded work to every platform I could find and experimented with everything from botanical ink to detailed watercolour. I wanted my art on fabric, wallpaper, mugs, tote bags, notebooks. If I could put my art on it, I wanted to sell it.
I was also everywhere trying to market my work from Instagram, Pinterest to TikTok and YouTube. But despite all the effort, I felt stuck.
I’ve learned that trying to do everything doesn’t move you forward, and it keeps you stuck in the same place. The biggest shift happened when I chose to focus. Less noise and more intention. With that came more time for what truly mattered: deep work, quality designs, and building something meaningful.
So, find what excites you—the work that lights you up—and commit to it. Instead of spreading yourself thin, choose a few things that truly resonate with you and pour your energy into them. When you focus, you don’t just move the needle—you create with purpose.
"You can do anything, but not everything." – David Allen
Find Your People
Not everyone will resonate with your work. Not everyone will see your vision. And everyone will have an opinion—whether good or bad.
Some people will fuel your doubts, while others will lift you up and push you forward. That’s why finding your people is essential. But just as important is accepting that not everyone—even those closest to you—will understand or support what you’re building. And that’s okay.
If you were an opera singer, would you perform for someone who hates opera? No—you’d share your music with those who truly appreciate it. The same goes for your art, your work, and your goals. Surround yourself with those who see the value in what you do.
The road can feel lonely at times, but when you hike with a friend, the journey feels lighter and the path a little easier. Find your people, and keep moving forward.
Put in the Hours - And Find Ways to Make It Happen
If you’re feeling frustrated because you aren’t dedicating enough time to a project or goal, chances are—you probably aren’t. That might sound harsh, but frustration is often a sign pointing you in the right direction.
At the start of 2024, I set a goal to hit 4 hours of deep work per day for at least 4 days every break (I work an 8/6 FIFO roster). But despite my best efforts, I felt like I wasn’t moving as fast as I wanted. I tracked my time and realized I was only spending 1.5 to 2 hours a day on my business. What you don't measure, you don't manage.
I made some changes. I started working first thing in the morning, after a shorter self-care session—30 minutes of meditation and 30 minutes of reading. I also woke up earlier, when everything was still quiet and distractions were minimal.
With this shift, I consistently hit my 4-hour work sessions—sometimes even 6. Once I met my goal for the day, I could fully step away from work and be present with my partner and family. No more scrambling to squeeze in extra hours or feeling guilty for not doing enough.
That said, life happens. Some days, I don’t hit 4 hours, and that’s okay. The key is to stay flexible, adapt when needed, and give yourself grace. What matters most isn’t the number of hours—it’s making sure those hours are intentional and focused.
Leverage, But Don’t Overdo It
At the start of my journey, I learned from many artists about the importance of leveraging your work which was aimed at getting the most out of what you've already created. And while I still believe in this, I’ve also learned there’s a limit.
Back then, I would create endless variations of my artwork—sometimes up to 20 different colorways—thinking it would increase my chances of success. In reality, it drained my time. I spent more hours editing old work rather than I did creating new art. Eventually, I found myself stuck, reworking pieces that no longer resonated with me instead of exploring new ideas.
The biggest relief came when I set a boundary—if I wanted to make variations, I’d limit myself to five. That small shift gave me more time to create, more variety in my shop, and most importantly, more space to grow.
This applies beyond art. Sometimes, we hold on too tightly trying to squeeze every last drop out of a project, a relationship, or a phase of life. But letting go is what actually moves us forward.
If you’re feeling stuck, maybe it’s not because you’re not doing enough—maybe it’s because you’re holding on too tightly. Let go, create freely, and trust that there’s more ahead for you.
FILTER & TAKE ACTION
Constantly learning and seeking new perspectives is a great way to grow, challenge yourself, and see the world differently. But in today’s world, we’re bombarded with endless information, advice, and strategies. There are infinite ways to build a life, a business, and everything in between, and that in itself can feel overwhelming. It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to implement everything that works for others—or worse, endlessly consuming under the guise of learning without ever actually doing.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that not everything is meant for you. You have to filter through the noise, take what resonates, and let go of the rest. Find what works for you—whether it’s your daily habits, your workflow, or how you approach your creative process—and stick with it until it no longer serves you or your circumstances change.
But you’ll never truly know what works until you take action. Reading, researching, and planning are all important, but the real clarity comes when you take the first step. With every action you take, the next step reveals itself. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you begin—you just have to start.
So, trust yourself. Tune out the noise, sift through what actually aligns with you, and most importantly—take the first step. The path forward will always unfold as you continue to show up.
Confidence AND Self Love comes from Keeping Promises to Yourself
"Imagine the incredible power of following through on your intentions." - Nir Eyal
For the longest time, I couldn’t figure out why I felt so lost. When I moved out and started working, I was unhappy, unmotivated, and stuck in a cycle I didn’t know how to break. I lacked confidence and self-love, and I constantly looked outside myself for validation.
Deep down, I know that we are all worthy of love, exactly as we are. But there’s also a version of ourselves we aspire to be. It's the person we know we could become and it's the life we could create. And I wasn’t living anywhere close to that vision. I worked, watched TV in my spare time, never exercised, and spent weekends mindlessly scrolling on my phone, wondering why I felt so unhappy. I was completely disconnected from the life I truly wanted without knowing it.
Then, three years ago, I rediscovered my love for creating art. At the time, I thought it was just a hobby—I had no idea it would change everything. It started small, with the simple intention of finding more time to paint just because I loved it so much. That intention sparked something bigger. One thing led to another, and soon, I had a clear vision of the person I wanted to become—the way they lived, how they spent their days, and the habits they kept.
But becoming that version of yourself takes work. It’s easy to make promises to ourselves, but as humans, we’re wired for comfort and distraction. We take the path of least resistance and that’s why keeping those promises can be so hard.
What I learned is that every time I showed up for myself—no matter how small the promise—I was proving my own worth to myself. Going for a run when I said I would. Waking up at 6 AM. Eating well. Doing yoga. Each action was a quiet declaration of self-love. Not just in words, but in my actions. And the more I followed through, the more I trusted myself. I became more confident, not because I forced it, but because I was proving I could rely on myself and that I had the ability to set an intention and follow through, no matter my mood, no matter how hard it was.
Confidence and self-love aren’t something you find—they’re something you build. And they start with the simple act of keeping the promises you make to yourself.
Success Takes Time, But It Might Not Be the Destination After All
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". - Lao Tzu
This quote might be a cliché, but I remind myself of it every day. When I first started, all I wanted was to support myself through my creative practice. I was so focused on getting there that I struggled to appreciate here. That impatience led to rushed decisions, constant hustling, and eventually, burnout and I stopped enjoying making art.
But success doesn’t happen overnight. After a year of pacing myself alongside working full-time to support my business, I started to realize something unexpected. When people say, "It’s not the destination, it’s the journey," I finally understood what they meant. Step by step, I wasn’t just working toward a goal—I was becoming a different person along the way. And that growth is what really matters.
Now, a year in, I’m still making a loss every month. But I believe that consistent action and learning to find fulfillment in the day-to-day is what keeps you moving forward. If you show up every day, you can’t not succeed. Building a business isn’t about who moves the fastest—it’s about who’s still standing in the end.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, success isn’t about how fast you get there—it’s about who you become along the way. These lessons have shaped me, and I know there are more to come. If you’re on a similar journey, I hope they help you find clarity, purpose, and a little more joy in the process.
Thank you for being here. 💛
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