From Teacher to Founder: How I Built a Business That Works for Me
If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be running my own creative business while raising four kids, I probably would’ve laughed… or cried from exhaustion.
And to me, creativity meant being good at art — designing, drawing, painting, creating something beautiful on paper.
Not being good with words.
At the time, I was teaching full-time, juggling 3 kids (at the time), and squeezing in copywriting projects late at night. For almost a year and a half, I worked before school, after bedtime, and during weekends. When my fourth kid was born, I finally took maternity leave and that was the month I decided to go all in.
While my business had several 4-figure months early on, at that point, I was making about $150 a month in my business (not really enough for a family of 6 to live on!). But I had something more important than a big paycheck - - a conviction that I could build a business that worked for me and my family.
Lesson 1: ADHD Isn’t a Roadblock - - It’s My Superpower
I’ve always been the kind of person who has 14 tabs open (in both my browser and my brain). My ADHD means I can overthink, get distracted, or jump to shiny new ideas before finishing the last one.
For a long time, I thought that made me “bad at business.” But I’ve learned that my brain’s way of working is exactly what helps me spot patterns, make fast decisions, and bring creativity to every client project.
I’m not a perfectionist, not even close. But I am persistent and stubborn. And that combo (plus a lot of coffee) kept me moving forward even when progress was slow or messy.
Lesson 2: Building a Business Around Real Life
In the early days, running a business with little kids at home was a literal juggling act.
I planned sales calls while my toddler napped and my newborn slept beside me in a bassinet. Before each meeting, I made sure my toddler had activities lined up to keep him busy and quiet, which meant a lot of prep work before I ever opened Zoom.
It wasn’t exciting. And it required more planning than any lesson plan I ever wrote as a teacher. But I did what I had to do to make it work.
Now, my schedule is much more flexible, and my kids are a little older - - which helps a lot. It’s still a juggle (it probably always will be), but it’s a juggle with more breathing room.
Lesson 3: There’s No One Right Way to Build a Business
For a while, I thought success meant doing business like “everyone else.” I followed every strategy, joined every program, and tried to build my business the way I thought I should.
But every time I tried to fit into someone else’s mold, I ended up burned out and frustrated.
The turning point came when I stopped asking, “How are they doing it?” and started asking, “What actually works for me?”
For me, that looked like:
Working evenings and weekends in the beginning
Scaling slowly and intentionally
Building flexible systems that fit my ADHD brain
Prioritizing my family while still moving the needle forward
There isn’t one single “right” way to build a business but there are definitely wrong ways, like building one that doesn’t fit your life.
Lesson 4: Hard Work Still Matters
I didn’t get here by winging it. I got here through hard work, focus, and a lot of trial and error (and OK. A good amount of winging it too ;) ).
The key was pairing that hard work with direction. Because when you know what you’re building and why, even the late nights feel worth it.
Now, I get to work with clients I love, manage a schedule that actually works for my family, and do creative work that is fun because I built it with purpose.
The Takeaway
You don’t need to do business like anyone else. You just need clarity about what your version of success looks like AND a plan that helps you get there.
It takes hard work, strategy, and a lot of grace, but it’s absolutely possible.
👉 Ready to get clear on what your business should look like? Book your Brand Clarity Intensive today and start building a business that truly works for you (and your real life).
