Greeting Card Designer!

Grown-Up Gigs Website Designer/ Food Blogger/ Artist/ Greeting Card Designer! Aint It Nice to Be Nice   When You Can Be Nice from thesmalljoys, Jeanettes printable paperie shop Do you guys read The Boss of You? I finished the book a few weeks ago (its still digesting!) love the info that Emira Laura put out into the creative entrepreneur airwaves, like the idea that starting a business does NOT necessarily have to do with making a trillion dollars being able to buy sell a Hawaiian island, unless you want it to be. So anyway, Im on their blog a few months ago was totally enraptured by their interview with Jeannette Ordas, who I loved from her stationary line, The Beautiful Project. When I read that she has a successful food blog, website design company printable paperie shop on top of her gorgeous ( funny!) stationary, I freaked out with excitement emailed to ask her if I can be next up for an interview. She lived up to her super awesomeness sent back these self-proclaimed quick n dirty answers: 1. What did you want to be when you grew up? When I was little I wanted to be a film director. I had a vision of me in a directors chair directing a movie like Jaws. Later on, in elementary and high school, I really wanted to be a writer. 2. Im fascinated by those who dont settle for Just One Career, find it to be something a lot of creatives are scared of (although theyre wired for it!). How did you embrace your  Renaissance Soul decide to pursue blogging, crafting, design as a career? I was always very panicked at the idea that I didnt have a One True Path. I was envious of people who had a drive and a desire to be a violinist or an artist. I was never like that and it seriously worried me. Instead of being good at just one thing, I was pretty good at a lot of things and in my thirties I realized that it was okay and I could embrace that. I was never one to want to work a full time job, so I figured that I could divide my life into blogging and drawing and designing and be happyâ€"and make money at the same time. Who knows what Ill be doing in 10 years, but Im okay with going with the flow. 3. Many of my clients who have more than one passion/focus never know how to respond to the question, So, what do you do? How do you describe your businesses to the outside (often stuffy/judgmental) world? Well, I often respond that Im a web designer and that I run my own company with my husband. But I always do mention that I also have a greeting card business and that Im a food blogger. I always upfront that Ive got my hands in many pots, so to speak. Its funny because so many people dont want their jobs to define them, but because Ive created my own jobs out of my passions, Im proud to define myself as a creative person with many talents. 4. One of the main things that a lot of creatives struggle with is balance. Its something I crave too, but have never seemed to grab a hold of (, thanks to  Danielle LaPorte, Im thinking it doesnt really exist). But honestly how do you manage owning three businesses, designing your stationary printable, designing websites ( other web-related services) for your clients, writing in 2 blogs, assumably being a pretty great wife, friend, family member? Feel free to reveal any all secrets here ?? Ha! I actually wonder if anyone really does achieve balance! Its easy to look at others and gasp at how much they accomplish or get done in a day, but I think its always a struggle for everyone. How do I do it all? Well, it takes a lot of work. Im pretty driven and Im also organized (though if youd look at my desk, youd probably disagree) so I do put in a lot of long nights. I work from home and I do work until the wee hours sometime, but Im also good about taking breaks. Every Monday Im in a bowling league so I find time to hop on my bike and get away for a few hours with my friends. Its scheduled and its something that I cant miss, so its like a dedicated fun break. And while I have a food blog and do a lot of cooking and baking from scratch, I do order in take out pizza when I need a break or when things are just too crazy. And sometimes I dont even find the time to shower or dress for the day (ah, the perils of working from home). No one is perfect and I dont think anyone feels they are achieving the balance they feel they should. Were always hardest on ourselves and maybe you just have to sit back and think back to all your accomplishments and feel good about what youve put your energies into. And maybe go bowling once a week. 5. You totally embrace your uniquity with designs like Hooray for me fuck you, Lets hump Im sorry for being such an ass. Was it ever a problem to stop your censor from going, Ack! Bad words crassness shoving-it-in-your-face-ness! Must be polite nice professional blend in with the crowd? Nah, Im not the best when it comes to self-censoring. I put my foot in my mouth and I throw out f-bombs when Im with my friends. Its part of who I am when you get to know me. Im not an ass or a meanie, but I can be blunt. And other people obviously can relate with my cards and sentiments so I know Im not the only one. My sassier cards are some of my most popular cards and I think because its not part of the Hallmark norm, that its appreciated. 6. What advice would The Present You tell The Old You the one who got laid off starting having little seeds of thoughts of wearing very many hats? Stop worrying and dont sweat the small stuff. As long as I do my best and work my hardest, it will all work out fine in the end.