Balancing personal fulfillment and clients needs
Hey friends
Hope y’all are doing well on this nice Sunday. I am writing this newsletter from my favorite coffee shop in my hometown a little outside of LA. Being back here is bittersweet, nostalgic, and surprisingly normal
The Stomping Grounds
So I’m pretty sure I mentioned it in a past newsletter but im moving soon and actually moving back to the place im writing this newsletter from. It’s where I grew up and is about 30 mins from downtown LA (without traffic of course).
I didn’t think I would be back here so young in my career and when I did I thought it would be because I had failed at some kind of aspect of my design career. However, the circumstances are quite the opposite, things are going really well(which is foreign to me lol) and im actually moving into a house we’re renting which will be awesome.
I’m going to miss living right in the heart of Hollywood but at the same time, I’m excited for the change of pace that comes from living in a smaller town as well as having more peace in my daily life that will allow me to channel that saved energy into the design work.
This process of moving has gotten me so busy thought that all I have been able to focus on is client work and the youtube channel. That has resulted in me neglecting my personal work which is fine… I guess.
The Purpose of Personal Art
So When I don’t have many clients or when my personal life isn’t going through major changes I feel like I have an abundance of time for individual work. On the other hand, when I am busy it’s exactly the opposite.
As someone who loves consistency and constants in my daily work life, this can pretty stressful. I sometimes feel like I have to aggressively take back time for myself in my schedule just to focus on personal design work or Art.
The weird thing is so many other designers I know have varying different approaches to the topic of personal work. Some create so much that I can’t imagine their life outside of design is sustainable and others don’t work on anything EXCEPT work for clients.
I have found I fall somewhere in the middle of these 2 camps and depending on what’s going on that month I sway to one side or the other.
When I am creating tons of personal artwork and design I feel like it is mandatory for my creative success and fulfilling my soul.
When I am too busy I start to feel like
“what’s the point”
Isn’t this great that I have so many clients and things to do that I don’t need to create concept work??
I know I’m not communicating this in the clearest way possible but I guess the point I am trying to make is balancing my artistic fufilment, financial life, creative output, and personal life/relationships can be difficult.
Plus don’t even get me started on the pressure to post on social media and how that just adds toxic fumes to the fire.
This is obviously not something I am going to figure out today but that’s where I’m at with it.
How do y’all balance Clients/Your Job, Personal Design work, social media, being a human, etc?
Stuff to Check Out!
Tweet of the week below
Closing Thoughts
Don’t get lost in the sauce
Much Love, Glue.
Weekly Wrap Up
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome as a Designer
Thanks for reading. This newsletter is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support is to share this newsletter with a friend and/or subscribe to my Patreon!
i don’t think about it too much i think! i let it flow naturally, if i wanna make something personal i’ll just do that, as i don’t get that much crazy amount of client work. maybe that’s why lol
I am often not making any personal work at all. However, going outside for a walk in a new area of London with my camera will always trigger something. I feel like making personal work is easier when it's not in my professional work field, weirdly enough.
Thanks for sharing your journey! Super interesting. Hope the new houses treats you well 😌