Balancing Work, Life, and a Passion Project

The Spark That Started My Creative Business

While I’ve been thinking about writing a children’s book for a couple of years, the formation of a business - and how I wanted that business to grow, has really taken shape over the past six months. It hasn’t been a lot of time, but it has been a lot of work.

As I’ve shared before, I work full time in a role that requires my full attention. On top of that, I’ll soon be starting a large project that will demand even more of me. I’m okay with that. This business, while something I’m deeply excited about, is still a labor of love. It’s not what pays the bills right now, and that’s fine. What it does provide, though, is a different kind of fulfillment - a creative outlet and sense of purpose that my day job doesn’t always give me.

Why I Choose Heart Over Hustle

The challenge has been figuring out how to balance both worlds without burning out. I don’t want to live in a cycle of working 20 hours a day. After all, my brand is supposed to be about heart, not hustle - right? That philosophy is what drew me into this in the first place: the idea that you can create something meaningful without subscribing to the “always grind” mindset.

When Work Feels Like Play (and the Curse That Comes With It)

The funny thing is, it doesn’t feel like “work” most of the time. That’s a blessing and a curse. I can finish my day job and then easily put in another four or five hours on blog posts, stories, or image creation. The hours slip away quickly, especially when I’m doing the things I love. The part I enjoy least? Socials. I’ve used to be someone who posted regularly on my personal accounts, but lately, I haven’t done as much, unless I am traveling. Since I stopped doing it, creating consistent content for my business has been a steep learning curve. It takes energy to think about captions, photos, and timing - and truthfully, it doesn’t come naturally to me. But I’m doing it anyway, because I know the beginning requires investment. You can’t grow anything without planting the seeds first.

And speaking of planting seeds… some of them have already sprouted. Website - check. Products - check. First book published - check. Second book published - check. Etsy store - almost check (haha). These milestones remind me that even though progress can feel slow, I’m moving forward. Each step builds momentum, and momentum builds confidence.

The Learning Curve of Self-Publishing and Starting a Business

What I didn’t expect when I started was just how steep the learning curve would be. Writing a book was one thing, but publishing it? That was an entirely different mountain. I had to learn about Amazon KDP formatting, trim sizes, margins, ISBNs, cover design, and why something that looks great in Word suddenly looks not great at all when uploaded. One of the reasons I ended up writing my Publish Smarter guide was because of this steep learning curve. I made so many mistakes with KDP - from formatting issues to cover sizing to hitting ‘publish’ too soon, that I wanted to create something that could save others the same frustration. It’s basically the resource I wish I had when I started.

Then there was Etsy - figuring out how to set up a shop, create listings, write descriptions that don’t sound like they were generated by a robot, and make sure photos actually showcase what I want people to see. And don’t even get me started on the endless details of shipping and pricing. Every time I thought I had one step finished, another popped up.

What surprised me most was that the creative part - writing, designing, dreaming, wasn’t even the hardest. It was the business side. Setting up formation documents, figuring out whether I needed an LLC, registering DBAs, filling out tax forms, opening business bank accounts, and applying for business credit cards, all of that came with a learning curve I wasn’t prepared for. Each step felt like unlocking another level of a game I didn’t know I’d signed up for. Necessary, yes, but not nearly as fun as designing a sticker sheet or drafting a story. Still, those unglamorous details are what give the business structure and legitimacy, and I’ve realized they matter just as much as the creative spark.

What I’m Learning About Marketing (and Myself)

The same has been true with marketing. Social media isn’t just “post and go”- it’s planning, scheduling, and actually showing up consistently. I’ve asked myself countless times: how do I balance authenticity with algorithms? How do I avoid burnout while still being present enough to grow? It’s a lot of trial and error, and if I’m honest, there are still more errors than wins. But that’s part of it. Every mistake is a lesson, every small win a little nudge forward.

Protecting Time and Energy While Building a Business

Now comes the harder part: figuring out how to manage everything at once. There are only so many hours in the day, and if I don’t protect my time, the work will swallow me whole. To keep myself sane, I’ve created a priorities list. Each week, I know exactly what deliverables I need to focus on, and I block time around that. I also make space for the things that matter most - my partner, my dogs, and rest. Those aren’t optional; they’re essential.

The Spark That Keeps Me Going

One of the things I love about this business is that it doesn’t demand anything of me beyond what I choose to give. I can pause if I want to. Nothing will collapse if I step back for a weekend or take an evening off. But right now, I don’t want to. There’s a spark that keeps me moving forward. That spark reminds me that while the outcomes matter, the process matters more.

Looking Ahead with Heart, Not Hustle

Will it turn into something big? Who knows. Maybe it will grow into a full-time business one day, or maybe it will always be my creative outlet alongside my career. Either way, I’ve realized that the joy is in the doing - in building something that feels true to me, in experimenting, in learning, and in sharing. For now, that’s enough.

And maybe that’s the real heart of this - choosing to build with love, not just with hustle.

P.S. If you’re curious about self-publishing on Amazon but want to skip some of the stress I went through, I put everything I learned into a guide called Publish Smarter On Amazon. It walks through the exact steps I wish I knew before uploading my first book. 👉 https://amzn.to/3VhLSV6