An Inspired Chat with Valerie Hartman of Working from home

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Valerie Hartman. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Valerie , thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Honestly, happiness. I live near a very wealthy town, with a lot of multi-million properties. Every time I drive by, and ever since the first time I visited that town, I thought “these people have everything: the wealth, the massive house with the pool, the expensive car, the fancy holidays, the designer brands, the private schools, the golf club, the beach club, the boat, the housekeeper, the landscapers, etc… But I only have question: are they happy? What is stress for them? What is anxiety to them? Are these the definition of happiness to them? As a foreign born, I find Americans – at least where I live, to be too self focused on what they have, or their appearance. Why being so materialistic and not enjoy the simple, free pleasures of what life has to offer?

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Valerie Hartman. I am an abstract artist originally from France who reside in New Jersey, USA since 2011, with my husband, Bob, and my cat, Larry. In the past – after surviving homelessness for a short period of time – I have lived in five countries where I worked as an office employee. In the United States, I struggled finding an office position, so I worked on whatever I could find by working from home. In 2015, I launched what is now a successful Etsy store called VH22 Designs in which I sell my crochet creations. But art is my true passion and my life long dream is to produce art for the music industry, whether as tour merchandising, stage decor and album covers. I sell my own art on Saatchi and Pictorem, but this year, I started to work with artificial intelligence. I use it moderately because I still want my art to reflect who I am as an artist and because I don’t want the world of AI to take control of my passion and my life. But the work I do combines uplifting animated messages with words of wisdom, my own poetry combined with my own art, with the help of an AI voice. I am hoping to share my new endeavours on social media by the end of the year under the name InnerLight 808.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My husband Bob. Being all I have for family, he is also my best friend. He believed in me from day one, and has always encouraged to keep going. When I am down, he uplifts me. Unfortunately, I was not raised to believe in myself and not to expect much out of life. His wisdom opened my eyes to a potential I did not know I had. And his strength has taught me to never give up. He is my second pair of eyes who sees my talent and he is sometimes frustrated for not receiving the chance that I deserve.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The same fear I have today: the fear of failing. When I grew up, at school, teachers would tell my mother that I would set myself for failure. That’s because my parents did not raise me to believe in myself. I am also a homeless survivor and I don’t talk about it much because of all the negativity and stereotypical image around it. My experience was short-lived and and on the lighter side. But it has left in me a lot of unhealed trauma: the fear of abandonment, the fear of rejection, the fear of being judged, and the fear of failing. I always say “I want to do good, give back to others.” I want to sell my art, see it in mgazines, on TV… But because this has not happened, then I see it as failure.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I am thankful for them to say that I have talent and that they love my work. Some are also trying to find solutions to help me grow with the work I do. But overall, all of them are extremely supportive and encouraging.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
I honestly hope that I can give up my crochet business because although crochet is a true passion of mine, I don’t plan and never planned to make a living out of it.

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Image Credits
Valerie Hartman

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