Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Megan Stiles. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Megan, thrilled to have you on the platform as I think our readers can really benefit from your insights and experiences. In particular, we’d love to hear about how you think about burnout, avoiding or overcoming burnout, etc.
Burn out is inevitable in a line of work where you are a one man show. I’ve experienced it on a pretty large level and seen the impacts it’s had on myself, my business and my family.
Going through that made me realize how important it was to care for myself and prevent it.
When owning and operating your own small business, the hours and work are long and despite being flexible, you really never stop working.
In most other jobs, you clock in and clock out. When you’re done for the day, you’re truly done for the day, but with a small business you’re constantly trying to figure out, manage, market, design, etc. the next thing you are going to do.
I’ve found it really important that I force myself to take time off. Both a full day and a period of time each day. It’s completely okay to not work for a day. Your business will not collapse if you don’t post the instagram reel or tiktok. But you will collapse if you don’t take the time to take care of you.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name’s Meg and I crochet for a living. I design amigurumi patterns and sell finished plushies at craft shows and vendor events. I love what I do, because it gives me the ability to support my family, maintains my ability to stay home with my kids and lets me express my artistic abilities. I love that I can bring things to life with yarn and provide people with both a unique gift and the ability to also make a living by selling their own work from my pattern designs.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think the most important things to remember when you’re first starting out is number one: Rome wasn’t built in a day. While it can happen that a business goes viral, blows up and becomes a success over night, the reality is that doesn’t happen for most people. It takes time and patience is key. The second is comparison is the thief of joy. You may be watching other creators/artists and questioning why your skill levels aren’t there yet, but the key thing that most are forgetting is that these people you admire/watch have been honing these skills for sometimes decades. It takes time. Some pick things up faster than others, but don’t allow yourself to get discouraged by comparing yourself to others. You are a unique individual who works at your own pace. The third is take risks. Sometimes a risk flops, but sometimes it doesn’t. Don’t be afraid to branch out and try the risky path. If we constantly play it safe, we limit our ability to grow.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
The biggest thing I do to help with being overwhelmed is listen to my worship music and have a chat with my Creator. Knowing I can vulnerably express my feelings to Him helps me big time. Playing worship music also helps me reset and get back to a more centered spot. I also lean on my husband to help support me and keep me centered. Having a person who is safe to talk with is crucial in helping when things become too much.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/megsmakes
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megsmakescrochet
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077069974423&mibextid=sCpJLy
Image Credits
Meg’s Makes Crochet
