Don't Use A Business To Justify Your Creative Pursuits

I've always used businesses as a way to justify my creative pursuits.

To most, it seems as though your dreams aren't valid unless they're paying your bills.

From the outside, it can appear that I'm very wishy-washy and that I never stick with anything. That's because I'm trying to fit something wild into a box so that it can be taped up and labeled, and perfectly organized, left to rot beneath a thick layer of dust on a shelf.

With each evolution of my creativity and with every new dream that possesses my being, I develop a business to go along with it. Because then, they'll understand.

The truth is, I love learning and coming up with ideas. And then I love bringing those ideas to life. I love the process of change and growth. I love creating. I also love destroying that which I crafted so lovingly with my hands, my mind, my heart, and my hours.

I don't love running a business.

I owned my first business before I ever graduated high school. "Business owner" has been a label that I have carried for nearly half of my life and it's taken me a long time to admit that it's not a title that resonates with me. Not anymore.

I don't love the ins and outs of business ownership. I'm not particularly fond of customer service, of filing taxes, or tracking analytics and sales. In fact, I don't give a shit about the numbers. Not in the way I should.

But I have infinite dreams that I want to bring to life, and will have infinite dreams that I dream of bringing to life but never do. I'm tired of starting businesses to justify those creative, messy, nonsensical dreams.

We live in a world where society wants you to pick one major in college and then one career until you retire. Your family and friends mark that sameness as a sign of success.

To me, that is a slow death.

Just because that is the norm, doesn't mean that it is human nature. In fact, stagnancy is not human nature at all.

Human nature is to be curious. To grow and experience.

Yet so often, we think, if you aren't exceptional in your pursuits, if you don't stand out, then you should give up and fall in line. Go get the 9-5 job you've been avoiding. Or, hustle your hours away creating a business that will never fulfill you.

I don't agree with that.

Dreaming is so important. Working towards your goals is so important. Yes, even if they don't pay the bills. And yes, even if you kinda suck at them.

You don't have to be exceptional and you don't have to be particularly talented to make something really cool.

Create wildly. Stay curious. Be weird. Embrace your magic.

The exceptionality is in the process anyway, not the outcome. Enjoy your journey.

xo

Chelsey

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Maximalist. Gothic. Magical. Romantic.

I design dreamy & rebellious lifestyle brands for misfits like you!

If you're ready to break the rules to craft a brand that feels like you and celebrates your customers...click here.