05/22/2026
It's officially been 4 years since I went full time with my pottery business! For anyone who's interested, here's a few thoughts on some things I've learned in that time and some things I know I still need to work out. It's a constant learning experience. I've had to adapt plans, rethink what I thought were obvious choices, and adjust to what is beyond my control.
A big part of that has been learning to say no. Acknowledging that I can't make everyone happy, I can't do every project that comes my way, and I have to give myself permission to prioritize. When your income is based on your work and people buying from you it can be really hard to say no to something out of fear that you won't be able to pay the bills, or you'll make someone mad and they'll go crazy with it. Every choice feels scary. But the more I've said no to things I can't handle, that don't interest me, that I simply don't have time for, the more I preserve time and energy for what really inspires me- and that's what resonates most with people. Some of that is a luxury for sure but it is also a crucial part in maintening my mental, spiritual, and creative energy.
Asking for help and giving myself "space". I'm a total work horse and I'm not good about giving myself down time (or actual days off). I have too many ideas most days and I'm not good about judging what is a realistic amount of work to create in a given time. So if you've ever seen me say "yes 100% I'm making ______ in this collection!" and then you don't see me do it, it's because I simply underestimated the time needed for all my ideas and something had to get left behind. And I HATE leaving behind ideas I'm excited about, but bills are due every month so at some point I have to call it a day, call a collection finished, and move on to the next. I legitimately do every aspect of my business- making, packing, listing, design, finance, advertising... so I have to manage a lot and it all takes time.
I'm sure I could go on, but my biggest takeaway is that it was worth it in every way! Take the big leap, pursue your passion, trust your gut when it tells you to make a move ✨️ Life is better on this side of the scary leap!
