We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Karla Chavez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Karla, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout
The life of an entrepreneur can be challenging. The hard work, long hours, and living with constant uncertainty can lead to burnout. Personally, I overcome this by making sure to take time for myself and practice self-care. This includes taking regular breaks throughout the day, getting adequate sleep, staying hydrated, and engaging in activities that help reduce stress and boost my energy. This may include reading a book, taking a walk or spending time outside in nature. Even small acts of self care can make a huge impact in one’s wellness– physically, mentally and spiritually.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am the proud owner, content creator, web designer, operations and marketing director, sourcing specialist and more for my jewelry brand, Serenity Designs.
Both challenging and rewarding, I find great joy in having total creative control and the ability to steer Serenity Designs from the ground up, while maintaining what the brand truly represents. What was once a journey of personal healing transformed into a journey where I can continue exploring the depths of my creativity while developing meaningful connections with other women entrepreneurs.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Honestly, there’s a sense of urgency often, and it can be quite the challenge to wear so many different hats as a solo-entrepreneur. Much of that urgency is felt in trying to prioritize my roles as Jewelry Designer, Sourcing Specialist, Web Designer, Shipping and Receiving Specialist, Customer Service Representative, Photographer, Content Creator, and the list goes on. Wearing all these hats can be overwhelming, and can lead to feelings of anxiety and burnout. Along the way, I’ve gained three invaluable skills: setting boundaries, time management, and self-care. In being intentional in my focus on these acquired skills, I am able to rest confidently that my passion doesn’t become a burden. I seek to maintain balance with Serenity Designs just as I do in life.
To be an effective entrepreneur, one must learn to set boundaries. This includes identifying one’s strengths and limitations. This level of self-awareness helps establish realistic expectations for yourself and others. My goal is to leverage my strengths and improve my weaknesses. My greatest strengths include my creative spirit, attention to detail and desire to learn, therefore, I may choose to take a class or workshop to explore different mediums that allow me to hone my jewelry making skills. However, there’s another, less talked about side of running a business, that includes website design, copywriting, and bookkeeping. I learned that I can outsource these functions to other small businesses and entrepreneurs to increase efficiency, avoid burnout, and focus on areas of the business that I enjoy.
Time-management skills are essential in finding a work-life balance. I’ve learned to prioritize tasks, create to-do lists and to identify my most productive hours and places for productivity. That could be a midday visit to a local coffee shop where I may plan my social media posts for the week or venturing out into nature, or maybe to beautiful Balboa Park to photograph my products. Escaping the daily routine has proven essential in sharpening my focus, boosting my energy, my creativity and overall wellness.
I’ve learned that self-care is the most rewarding form of self-love. In a world where a person’s worth is often measured by their productivity, it’s difficult to make time to rest and recharge. For me, self care can be taking a short walk, practicing reiki, reading, journaling, meditating or taking a self-growth class or workshop. Each of these practices enhance my ability to be present, to practice gratitude and allow me to be kinder and more empathetic towards myself, and others.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
The amazing network of women and fellow entrepreneurs I have shared space with along this journey. In their own way, they’ve each encouraged me to continue exploring my creativity, which has propelled my desire to grow as a brand. I’ve expanded my collection by adding a wider variety of elements and pieces. I’m also grateful for my loyal customers who have been with me since the beginning. They continue to return due to the thoughtfulness, creativity, and the spiritual elements that go into crafting unique pieces for them. The support and feedback from my customers have certainly helped me successfully expand my brand and grow as a more confident entrepreneur. I am so proud that Serenity Designs has evolved into a strong and engaged community, a space where people can connect and build relationships with the brand and each other.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.myserenitydesigns.com
- Instagram: @myserenitydesigns
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myserenitydesigns/
- Other: TikTok: @myserenitydesigns
Image Credits
Photo 1 Headshot Photo Credit: Alexa Marquez Photo 2 Model: Alondra de la Torre Photo Credit: Karla Chavez Photos 3-5 Model: Everleigh Kantner (IG: @velvettwiggy) Photo Credit: Rachel Danielle Photography (IG: @rachel_danielle_photography) Photos 6-7 Model: Everleigh Kantner (IG: @velvettwiggy) Photo Credit: Images by Barry (IG: @imagesbybarry) Photos 8 Model: Everleigh Kantner (IG: @velvettwiggy) Photo Credit: Villa Pablo (IG: @villapaaa)
