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Transcript

E2: Finding Light in Dark Times Through Creativity · The Creative Jugglejoy Podcast

• 0:05
  Kaylie Edwards: Hey everyone and welcome to the Creative Juggle Joy podcast.
• 0:09
  Kaylie Edwards: I'm Kaylie Edwards, your multi-passionate mompreneur from the UK, and today I want to take you on a little journey, my journey.
• 0:18
  Kaylie Edwards: It's been filled with creativity, lots of juggling and a fair share of ups and downs, but through it all I've learned so much and I'm here to share that with you today.
• 0:29
  Kaylie Edwards: Early creative roots and overcoming challenges.
• 0:34
  Kaylie Edwards: So creativity has always been a big part of my life.
• 0:39
  Kaylie Edwards: Ever since I was little, you'd find me sketching or painting in my sketchbooks or on canvases.
• 0:47
  Kaylie Edwards: My family would always say they didn't know where my creativity came from because no one else in the family was particularly arty.
• 0:55
  Kaylie Edwards: But for me, those creative projects were more than just hobbies.
• 0:59
  Kaylie Edwards: They were lifelines.
• 1:01
  Kaylie Edwards: They got me through some really tough times, from years of being bullied at school, child abuse and other traumatic events to the heartbreak of losing my grandad when I was just 13.
• 1:21
  Kaylie Edwards: He was someone I was incredibly close to and losing him was one of the hardest things I've ever gone through.
• 1:29
  Kaylie Edwards: Through all of that, art was my safe space.
• 1:34
  Kaylie Edwards: It was where I could express myself, find comfort and create something beautiful out of the chaos.
• 1:41
  Kaylie Edwards: I spent most of my breaks in school either in the art classroom creating projects, finishing things off, or I'd be in the product design classroom doing other projects, finishing off my really cool wardrobe that I created, and I think that's why my creativity is so close to my heart.
• 2:13
  Kaylie Edwards: It's more than just making things.
• 2:15
  Kaylie Edwards: It's about healing, connecting and finding joy even when life is hard.
• 2:24
  Kaylie Edwards: College and early career in art and design my passion for art led me to take art and design foundations in college, where I discovered my love for ceramics.
• 2:34
  Kaylie Edwards: I loved all art, but ceramics was just a love that I ended up with.
• 2:42
  Kaylie Edwards: I had an amazing tutor named Rachel, who was patient, funny and truly supportive.
• 2:50
  Kaylie Edwards: She helped me create a portfolio that I knew would land me a spot at Craig Bragdy Design Limited, the only creative place I could work in my small hometown of Denbigh.
• 3:01
  Kaylie Edwards: I applied as soon as there was an opening and I was thrilled that I got accepted for a trial day.
• 3:09
  Kaylie Edwards: I was up against a few people that I personally thought were better than me.
• 3:15
  Kaylie Edwards: I loved every moment of it and was over the moon when I got the job Working on the clay on the floor, carving and stamping the tiles to create beautiful bespoke pool tiles and murals.
• 3:30
  Kaylie Edwards: It was physically demanding, but I adored it, even after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia just six months before.
• 3:39
  Kaylie Edwards: I persevered, taking all the overtime I could to make up for six sick days.
• 3:45
  Kaylie Edwards: But then life threw me a curveball.
• 3:51
  Kaylie Edwards: The company was hit with a big fine for lead poisoning issues.
• 3:55
  Kaylie Edwards: That happened before I started and I was made redundant after six months.
• 3:59
  Kaylie Edwards: It was a shock and I had to quickly pivot.
• 4:03
  Kaylie Edwards: I ended up as an IT assistant on a business administration apprenticeship, which unexpectedly steered me into business and marketing roles over the next 10 years, building skills in business and marketing.
• 4:21
  Kaylie Edwards: Over those 10 years, I dove deep into the world of business and marketing.
• 4:26
  Kaylie Edwards: I completed graphic design course and took on various marketing courses and covered everything from email marketing and website building to advertising.
• 4:36
  Kaylie Edwards: I found myself enjoying the creative aspects of these roles and it felt like I was finally combining my love for creativity with a newfound business skills, starting my creative business and learning to pivot Fast forward to November 2019.
• 4:56
  Kaylie Edwards: I decided to take the plunge and start my handcrafted candle business.
• 4:59
  Kaylie Edwards: It took me two years prior that to gather all the supplies and equipment I needed, and to gather the courage as well, to actually start.
• 5:21
  Kaylie Edwards: I was so excited to launch and had my first craft fair lined up at the end of November, which I did, and it was great.
• 5:27
  Kaylie Edwards: I earned some money, gave me that little boost I needed.
• 5:31
  Kaylie Edwards: But, as we all know, life has a funny way of throwing curveballs and just a few months later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
• 5:40
  Kaylie Edwards: All the events I booked were cancelled and suddenly I was stuck, my mindset took a hit and the doubt started creeping in.
• 5:50
  Kaylie Edwards: I was questioning everything.
• 5:53
  Kaylie Edwards: Was I even cut out for this?
• 5:54
  Kaylie Edwards: Then, during lockdown, I ended a difficult relationship and found myself starting over in so many ways.
• 6:03
  Kaylie Edwards: But life also has a way of bringing beautiful beginnings and in 2021 I met my current partner.
• 6:11
  Kaylie Edwards: We conceived my son not long after and I remember being about six weeks pregnant at my last craft fair.
• 6:23
  Kaylie Edwards: The evening before into the early hours before the craft fair, I was obviously preparing and getting everything right and getting all the labels on everything, boxing up all my tea lights, and I was sat on the floor boxing up tea lights and finishing off cleaning them and I was hit with waves of sickness.
• 6:50
  Kaylie Edwards: I was so stressed I was I need to get this out, I can't feel.
• 6:56
  Kaylie Edwards: I can't feel sick now, and then, obviously knowing I was six weeks pregnant, realization hit.
• 7:03
  Kaylie Edwards: It was going to be really difficult if this pregnancy was going to be sick all the way through.
• 7:10
  Kaylie Edwards: How was I going to create my products?
• 7:12
  Kaylie Edwards: How is I going to work and do that?
• 7:14
  Kaylie Edwards: Sat there on that floor was so difficult and I knew that after this craft fair, that was going to have to be it.
• 7:26
  Kaylie Edwards: Running a product based candle business wasn't going to work.
• 7:30
  Kaylie Edwards: With a baby on the way, when was I going to have the time, once this baby was here, to go into my workspace and create candles enough to make a living?
• 7:43
  Kaylie Edwards: I had to pivot once again.
• 7:48
  Kaylie Edwards: Key lessons and mistakes from the candle business.
• 7:51
  Kaylie Edwards: One of the biggest lessons I learned from my candle business was the importance of focusing on the right things at the right time.
• 7:59
  Kaylie Edwards: I got so wrapped up on the legal aspects, making sure I had the correct CLP labels, that my candles were safe and that I had the right insurance.
• 8:08
  Kaylie Edwards: I almost forgot why I started in the first place my love for creating and wanting to move away from the boring hustle and bustle of employed work.
• 8:21
  Kaylie Edwards: I let those worries hold me back from just putting my products out there and building my business as I went.
• 8:29
  Kaylie Edwards: If I had just let go and focused on creating and promoting my candles.
• 8:34
  Kaylie Edwards: I would have figured out the rest along the way.
• 8:39
  Kaylie Edwards: Another big mistake was marketing to the wrong audience.
• 8:41
  Kaylie Edwards: I was trying to sell my handcrafted sustainable candles at local craft fairs in my town, but the people they were more interested in bargains than in supporting small businesses or buying quality products.
• 8:55
  Kaylie Edwards: I remember hearing comments like I can get cheaper candles at Asda, or why don't you make candles that smell like sweets, like the other vendor?
• 9:04
  Kaylie Edwards: It made me question everything I was doing when really the issue was that I wasn't in front of my ideal customers.
• 9:11
  Kaylie Edwards: The issue was that I wasn't in front of my ideal customers.
• 9:15
  Kaylie Edwards: If I had travelled just 20 miles to a more affluent area, I would have found the people who valued what I was offering.
• 9:24
  Kaylie Edwards: A lot of my customers came from my dad and family recommendations, my dad's friends, who set up a glamping site on their farm.
• 9:39
  Kaylie Edwards: A lot of my candles went to them.
• 9:45
  Kaylie Edwards: Pivoting to Etsy and freelance marketing With a newborn in my arms, I decided to open an Etsy shop selling digital printables and designing my designs for print-on-demand products.
• 10:01
  Kaylie Edwards: So t-shirts, mugs, cushions, you name it.
• 10:06
  Kaylie Edwards: I worked tirelessly to get my shop up to 135 listings by the time my maternity leave ended in April 2023.
• 10:15
  Kaylie Edwards: It was a hustle and, let me tell you, juggling a baby and building a business was no easy feat, but I was determined to make it work.
• 10:24
  Kaylie Edwards: However, another lesson I learned was the importance of consistency in marketing.
• 10:29
  Kaylie Edwards: With the pandemic in full swing, offline opportunities were limited, but I could have done more online to keep my shop thriving.
• 10:38
  Kaylie Edwards: Looking back, I wish I had been more consistent in my online marketing efforts and worked harder on my mindset during those tough times.
• 10:44
  Kaylie Edwards: These are lessons that have shaped my approach.
• 10:47
  Kaylie Edwards: Today, reality hit again and I realised I needed to bring in more immediate cash, so I pivoted to freelance email marketing to replace some of the lost income.
• 11:01
  Kaylie Edwards: This is where Delores comes in, one of my first clients and someone I've had the pleasure of working with on a monthly basis ever since.
• 11:11
  Kaylie Edwards: I manage her weekly emails, promotional campaigns and now I'm setting up all her funnels and automations.
• 11:17
  Kaylie Edwards: This partnership has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey, and being part of her community of students has been incredible.
• 11:28
  Kaylie Edwards: It's taught me so much about the power of collaboration and connection, finding my true path with teaching and digital resources.
• 11:40
  Kaylie Edwards: In February 2024, I did my first live email marketing training with one of my clients coaching groups and it lit a fire in me.
• 11:49
  Kaylie Edwards: This was what I was meant to do teach, guide and help other creatives navigate the complexities of marketing and business.
• 11:57
  Kaylie Edwards: My wonderful co-host, dolores, was a huge encouragement during this time, sparking the idea of creating courses and trainings for creatives.
• 12:07
  Kaylie Edwards: Since then, I've been creating digital resources, challenges, mini-courses and working on my business and marketing beta membership specifically for multi-passionate creatives like you.
• 12:19
  Kaylie Edwards: I'm passionate about helping you build a business that doesn't just survive but thrives and is sustainable, even with all the juggling you have to do.
• 12:31
  Kaylie Edwards: Why am I here?
• 12:31
  Kaylie Edwards: To support you?
• 12:32
  Kaylie Edwards: I know what it's like to feel overwhelmed, to question if you're doing the right thing and to wonder if you can really make it all work, but I also know the power of creativity and how it can transform your life in the most unexpected ways.
• 12:47
  Kaylie Edwards: I'm here because I want to share what I've learned and help you find the joy in your own journey, even when it's messy, chaotic and far from perfect.
• 12:58
  Kaylie Edwards: I've been in the trenches just like you.
• 13:00
  Kaylie Edwards: I've had to pivot, start over, find new ways to keep my dreams alive and, through it all, I've learned that it's not about being perfect or having it all figured out, because when you've got a toddler, that doesn doesn't happen.
• 13:16
  Kaylie Edwards: It's about showing up, giving yourself grace and taking one step at a time.
• 13:24
  Kaylie Edwards: Thank you so much for listening today.
• 13:26
  Kaylie Edwards: I'm really grateful to have you here, and I hope my story has resonated with you in some way.
• 13:31
  Kaylie Edwards: If you're on this creative journey, too, know that you're not alone and that together we can navigate this beautiful chaos and find joy in the juggle.
• 13:40
  Kaylie Edwards: Make sure to subscribe to the podcast on your favourite platform so you never miss an episode.
• 13:46
  Kaylie Edwards: I'd also love to hear from you what's your story?
• 13:49
  Kaylie Edwards: What challenges are you facing?
• 13:51
  Kaylie Edwards: Reach out, connect and let's keep the conversation going, and if you found today's episode helpful, please share it with a friend who might need to hear it too.
• 14:00
  Kaylie Edwards: Your support means everything to me and I'm so excited to keep sharing this journey with you.