13 Years of Creating Content (here’s what's different this time)
“Sometimes, showing up as you are—messy, tired, figuring it out in real-time—is more than enough. Give yourself permission to move through life without constantly grading your performance. ”
There was a time when I was everywhere.
YouTube. Instagram. Pinterest. Facebook. This blog. Weekly newsletter. Podcast.
Creating content nonstop.
Working with brands.
Showing up the best way I knew how.
I ran a blog and YouTube channel called Brown Vegan, and I built a solid audience by simply posting plant-based recipes.
I sold a couple of inexpensive digital products, a few live workshops, and I had $10K in multiple brand deal invoices waiting to be paid into my account (that $10k happened a grand total of one time lol).
From the outside, I was doing it.
But behind the scenes, I was overwhelmed and exhausted.
I didn’t have systems.
I didn’t have consistent income streams.
And I definitely didn’t have peace.
The Reality Behind “Success”
I relied on sponsorships instead of building my own paid offers.
That meant I was popular, but broke more often than not.
Speaking of some of those brands?
Let’s just say they got more content, more clicks, and more deliverables than I ever got in return.
I never felt like I could pivot into a real business.
I was on too many platforms, trying to do what the experts said. Reach as many people as you can! Build the products, send the newsletter, blog, and post 5 times a week on Instagram. It never felt like enough.
Not to mention, the struggles with my mental health made everything harder.
I would get a burst of energy, create like crazy, burn out for months, then repeat the cycle.
At one point, I had to take a job cleaning bathrooms at a gas station to pay my bills.
That was my turning point.
What I’m Doing Differently This Time
I’m not rushing.
I’m not chasing.
And I’m not creating to prove I can.
This time, I’m building a business that can breathe.
One that doesn’t require me to be present all the time to generate income.
One that’s rooted in purpose and aligned with how I want to live.
Here’s What I’ve Learned (And What I’d Tell You)
If you’re starting or rebuilding your business, here’s my honest advice:
Pick one (max two) social media platforms and go deep. Don’t spread yourself thin trying to be everywhere. You don’t need visibility on five platforms. You need consistency in one place.
Show up messy. You’ll never feel ready. Post it anyway.
Batch and rest. You can take breaks and be consistent if you plan for both.
Keep your day job forever (lol). If you want a side income, but aren’t desperate, you get to build at your own pace. That’s power. One of my biggest regrets was not seeking out a full-time job fast enough when I saw the writing on the wall.
This Is the Year I Reset
I have over $20k in loans and credit card debt, which I’m committed to paying off.
I’m tracking my time. I’m creating with intention.
And I’m building something that’s mine, not something that depends on a brand deal to survive.
If you're still in your start-over season, know this:
You’re not behind.
You’re just building it differently this time.
Thank you for being here.
