We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Megan Linsmeier. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Megan below.
Megan, so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?
I am actually coming out of a burnout phase, regarding my business and all aspects of my life. I have been a full time maker/designer for about 5 years now and I’d say around sometime last year I hit a wall. I couldn’t find my creative spark or drive to go beyond the bare minimum, and thats when I knew I had burnt out.
I feel like my first step in recovering this time was realizing I’m burnt out and labeling it. That helped take the added stress and judgement I was giving myself for not being as focused, productive, and driven as usual. Judgement never helps anyways. :] So instead of being hard on myself, I gave myself compassion and allowed myself to listen to what my body was trying to tell me. Which was ago rest and reset. It took a while to feel myself again but little changes I made thougout my life helped me recoup.
Because I own my own creative business, I didn’t realize how often I was actually working, or even just thinking about work! That is what really made me burn out I think. I would sew, make orders, and design at my studio during the day, then I’d get home and work on my computer on the couch, while watching a show or podcast. I was blending my relaxation space with work, and not even realizing it! I’m sure I am late to the game on this phenomenon, but I didn’t realize that emails, sketching, or sourcing fabric was still apart of being a creative/maker. I wasn’t allowing myself to mentally rest, even though I was physically resting. Making that distinction helped me realize how much my mental energy depleted, it was only made worse by trying to push through while my energy was empty.
So now I have added more structure to where I work, my computer work has a designated spot, and when I’m home, I allow myself not to worry or feel like I have to do everything business related thing immediately, after work hours- as well as setting boundaries on my work hours. I am still trying to be better at listening to my own boundaries and body.
What also helped me heal from burnout was figuring out what brings me joy again. I made my hobby my business, which inherently takes some joy from it, and adds pressure. I don’t think creativity can thrive under pressure all the time, it takes some of the joy out of it. So I took up another creative outlet, painting, and a metalsmith class, something I didn’t feel the need to make a profit from or try to sell. I just wanted to go back to what my creative soul needed- which was fun! I think a lot of artists/makers can relate to this, we got into our business for the love of what we do, and sometimes, years in, we lose it.
I’m still learning how to prevent burnout, but setting aside time for self care, like doing being relaxing or getting in touch with my creative side again helped a lot! I think the anxiety of being in charge of everything in my business is running in the back of my head still, but with a structured schedule, I trust myself to get it done, and in a funny way, I just let myself worry- just during work hours. :]
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a fashion accessories design and maker in Chicago. I run my own brand called Iris Atelier. I’ve been a full time business owner for about 5 years, and my online shop started about 7 years ago as a side hustle! I had always known that I loved the create! I went to university for costume design and ended up working in a few theaters, student films, and then in bridal shops! While working in a high end bridal boutique in Chicago, I started an etsy shop making bridal accessories, which turned into headbands and now I make mostly headbands, bags and other accessories! I started making bridal shawls but and to be honest, they didn’t really sell that well- so I think my willingness to adapt and try new things really helped me land on products that people really liked!
It took a lot of trial and error of course- I knew I could do the creative part well because that’s where my passion was, but the business side of running my own shop was definitely a learning experience. I will always be grateful for Etsy for getting my feet off the ground, I now sell on my own website (as well as Etsy), wholesale, and consignment.
I also do craft street fairs in the spring/summer months which really is so rewarding because i get to meet the people that have purchased from me before, or just finding out about my brand- and hearing their opinions about things in person makes me feel so assured that I’m on the right path and gives me more drive to keep creating and adapting!
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?
My advice to those early in their journey is don’t be so attached to the outcome. If was so set on creating the first thing’s in my online shop, that I didn’t want to entertain other creative ideas or items, I wouldn’t be here running my own business :] I think honoring yourself and realizing you, whether you’re an artist, maker, or something else, are the most important thing to your brand, you are the top asset, and you have to take care of yourself first! So allow self care and self compassion while you’re navigating your creative business. I think the fact that I believed in myself, when others didn’t, helped me a lot too. When I quit my full time job to pursue my own creative business, I definitely got some odd looks. But I knew that this was something I was passionate about and thats how my mind works, if i’m in, i’m 100% in! Don’t let others make you feel down or that you’re doing the wrong thing, because you know yourself the most, and choosing the less practical path, can lead you somewhere you never thought you’d go.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
I think the challenge I am facing now, is realizing that I can only go so far, just me. And I am feeling fear about expanding and out sourcing tasks. I know this is the next step I should take to keep my business growing and preventing me from burning out again and again. I think I have been hesitant because I think I have been looking at my brand as my baby, and am afraid to let go of some control. I think hiring an assistant to help would be a great step but I do still want to make sure financially and logistically this is something I am ready for. I think that’s been a challenge I’ve been putting off for a while, but Its still time take that leap and see what happens. I would love to have more energy and time to do what I love, which is create, but most of my energy now goes into business, fulfillment and other tasks.
Contact Info:
- Website: iris-atelier.com
- Instagram: @iris.atelier
Image Credits
Jude Lo, Myself ( Megan Linsmeier), Alison Rose
