Our community is filled with hard-working, high achieving entrepreneurs and creatives and so work-life balance is a complicated, but highly relevant topic. We’ve shared some responses from the community about work life balance and how their views have evolved over time below.

Matthew Umphreys | Pianist, Artistic Director

It’s tricky when you’re an artist to separate ‘work’ and ‘life’- it feels like making music is always supposed to be fulfilling because it’s your passion. But sometimes it really is just work! Early in my career I felt the need to take any gig that came my way in order to build my network and not have gaps in paychecks- no PTO when you’re a gig worker! Read more>>

Cassidy Boyuk | Oil Painter

I was taught to paint from natural light, so I can only work while the sun is up. After a long day of chasing a drawing, where it can be easy to overstay in the studio and continue to go around in circles, it’s nice to have a natural stopping point. Having a separate space as a studio has helped too. I have a small shed in my backyard that I can lock up and leave at the end of the day. If my studio was somewhere too accessible, I know I’d keep going back late at night to fiddle with a painting some more. I’ve found that as tempting as it can be to “just fix one thing” before bed, I’m never very successful in that headspace. Read more>>

Geovante Preston | Founder and President of Glory in the Beat

At this stage in Glory in the Beat, I’m operating bi-vocationally. In case anyone isn’t sure what that means, it simply means that I work a full-time job besides running the business. So, figuring out my work-life balance has been crucial as I’m a husband and a father. Read more>>

Jury (ud) Mirceta | SELF EMPLOYED CONTRACTOR

FOR YEARS NOW, I HEAR EVERYONE REQUESTING ME TO CREATE A WORK/LIFE BALANCE. FOR YEARS, I HAVE FOUND THAT TO BE IMPOSSIBLE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CANNOT BE A MILLIONAIRE, RUN A COMPANY, BE THE SOLE OWNER OF A COMPANY, HAVE A FAMILY, MANAGE A FAMILY, HAVE A NEWBORN, ATTEND FAMILY EVENTS, ENJOY HOLIDAYS, WORK OUT, HAVE HOBBIES, MANAGE FRIENDSHIP AND ENJOY THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE. Read more>>

Jennifer Zmuda | Photographer & Cinematographer

When I started my business in 2006, I was hustling for every dollar I earned and didn’t have a full understanding of my CODB. So I was effectively working myself to the ground for free or sometimes at a deficit. I came from the arts world where it’s engrained deeply in us that we don’t do what we love for the money, we do it for the passion. This is a nice thought, but a terrible practice that leads many to feel underappreciated, burnt out emotionally, and physically incapable of asking to be paid appropriately for the work and service they provide. Read more>>

Natalie Meyer | CEO/Principal Designer

My work life balance has changed over the years, especially since I became an entrepreneur. I started my design business while still working in the corporate world, and for years I grew my business as a “side hustle” while still working a full-time corporate job and juggling a family. At that time, I didn’t have as much balance…especially early on, when most nights I’d be logging on to work on my design business after my kids were asleep. Read more>> 

Michael Coppage

When I first finished art school I worked, got married, built a house and had a kid. By the time I had my son, I was working two jobs and about 100 hours per week. There was the need to take care of my family and pay for the life and the lifestyle I had. I traveled abroad often and bought nice things but as the years started piling on I realized this wasn’t a sustainable model. Fast forward a few years to a divorce and all the things that come with it, I decided to really dedicate myself to my practice. There was no room for it in my marriage and it often led to conflict because my practice took time I could have spent with my son who was in the care of my wife most days while I worked both jobs. Read more>>