By far the most common conversation we have with the folks we interview is about work-life balance. Starting a business or pursuing a creative career makes finding work life balance really tough because there is no clear start and end to one’s work day. We’ve shared some of our conversations on the topic below.

Becca Ripley | Marketing Director & Content Creator

My work-life balance has evolved significantly over time, shaped by the rigorous demands of my college career where I juggled playing Division 1 basketball, working a full-time job, and managing friends, family, and NIL endorsements. This period in my life taught me essential skills in time management, prioritization, and resilience, guiding me to where I am today. Now, as a marketing director in Charleston, I continue to navigate a dynamic balance, enjoying the beautiful city, maintaining friendships, and engaging in influencing and marketing for small businesses. Read more>>

Brian Zimmerman | Graphic Designer

I try to look at my “work” as part of my life, rather than a separate entity that I need to balance out. With a creative job, you are kind of always working. An idea can come at any time, even when I am having fun outside of my office. My idea of success has evolved over the years: from thinking I need to grind it out and make as much money as possible so I could buy “stuff”, to realizing that true success for me is having the freedom to do what makes me happy, and that time is more important than money. Read more>> 

Tracy Conner | Lifestyle Photographer

So one of the biggest reason for me starting my own photography business besides a huge passion for beautiful lifestyle photography, was building a family schedule and life that allowed me to be home more with my children during the day while they are young. I love that I am able to build my schedule around my family schedule and it has created a lot more balance for me vs working in my corporate that was 8-5 + getting on my computer after my kiddos were in bed. Read more>>

Claudia O’Steen | Artist, Professor, and Yoga Instructor

The biggest challenge that I have faced as an artist is finding the right balance between life, work, and studio practice. It’s difficult to work full-time as an art professor and also make time for my own practice. In addition to being a working artist and professor, I am a certified yoga instructor. These things all greatly influence and feed one another, but managing all three takes a lot of work. I think that there are different “seasons” of work and making. During the academic year I devote more time to teaching and research, and in the summer devote most of my time to my studio practice and yoga. Read more>>