If you'd told me two years ago, when I was pregnant, that I'd be running two creative businesses — working with our lovely food brands, mentoring photographers, and building a platform for women in the commercial industry — I probably would’ve laughed into my coffee… or just stared at you with a very confused look on my face. Not because I didn’t believe it was possible, but because I had no idea how to get there.
But here I am — doing the work, and growing something I’m genuinely proud of. And I want to tell you the truth: it hasn’t been luck. It’s been intentional choices.
So today, I’m peeling back the curtain and sharing six shifts that genuinely helped me move from overwhelmed creative to confident business owner.
1. Structure: AKA Creative Freedom's Secret Weapon
For the longest time, I thought structure would strangle my creativity. Ugh, routines? Timers? Asana and Notion boards? I rebelled.
But guess what? Once I embraced a simple, flexible structure — think themed workdays, weekly planning, and blocked-out creative hours — I had so much more mental space to dream, shoot, and scale.
Each day, you have a plan. You know what to do — and it feels liberating, not limiting!
2. Discipline: The Less Sexy Sister of Motivation
Motivation is cute. But discipline is who actually shows up to work with you.
I stopped waiting for the “right mood” to create or pitch or post. Instead, I decided: every weekday at 10am, I’m a business owner. No one else was going to build my dream for me. I had to show up — not perfectly, but consistently.
And yes, there are still oat-milk-flatwhite-in-bed days and crazy call time shoot days. But discipline is my anchor, even when the waves get choppy.
3. Finding a Mentor: Someone Who’s Walked the Path Before Me
Game. Changer.
Having a mentor in the industry is like switching from a paper map to Google Maps. Suddenly you can see the turns, the shortcuts, the danger zones. I’ve been blessed with two incredible mentors who not only taught me how the industry works but also held up a mirror to remind me who I was becoming.
If you want to move faster, go with someone who’s already trekked the mountain. Trust me on this.
4. Speaking Kindly to Myself — Especially When Things Fall Apart
Not every project lands.
Not every pitch gets a reply.
Not every discovery call turns into a client.
And in those moments, it’s so easy to spiral — to question your worth or wonder if you’re cut out for this.
But I’ve learned to pause, reflect, and speak to myself like I would to a dear friend:
"It’s okay. That was really brave. You showed up. You learned something. Let’s try again."
Every opportunity is a chance to grow — not just creatively, but emotionally and professionally.
And here’s something that’s helped me stay grounded: 99% of rejection in this industry is business-related.
Budgets shift. Teams change. Brands rebrand. New guidelines appear.
It’s not about you.
Kind self-talk isn’t just about being nice to yourself — it’s about staying in the game when things feel hard.
Because resilience isn’t loud or flashy. Sometimes, it’s just a quiet voice that says, “Try again tomorrow.”
5. Monthly Discomfort Dates: Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone
Every month, I do something that makes me just a little bit uncomfortable. Pitching a dream client. Raising my prices. Launching a new idea before it’s “perfect.” Talking to strangers on the street.
My latest one? Rock climbing — and yes, I’m afraid of heights!
Discomfort is the price of growth — and the more often you face it, the less scary it becomes.
(Still scary. Just... familiar scary.)
And the best part? You can tap into those scary moments later when you need to feel confident and empowered. Proof that you can do hard things.
6. Running My Business Like a CEO, Not Someone With a Side Hustle
The moment I stopped talking down about my business and achievements was the moment everything started to shift.
As women, it’s so easy to minimise what we do — to brush it off as “just a little thing” or doubt whether we’re really good enough to own our success. We’ve been conditioned to play small, to stay humble, to wait until we’re invited to the table.
But we deserve so much more.
I started making decisions like a CEO — setting goals for myself, tracking income, looking into ISA and investing, delegating tasks, and fiercely protecting my time. I realised: you don’t have to wait until you’re “big enough” to act like a CEO.
You become the director of your company by acting like one.
That’s when everything changes — when you start saving more money, maximising time with your loved ones, and choosing clients who respect your value.
Here’s the truth I’ve learned the long, messy, beautiful way:
You don’t become successful by accident. You build it — through choices, habits, mindset shifts, and a whole lot of courage (plus coffee… lots of coffee).
None of these changes happened overnight. But brick by brick, they helped me step into the business (and the woman) I always dreamed of being.
So if you’re standing at the beginning of your own next chapter — overwhelmed, unsure, maybe even doubting your worth — let this be your nudge. You’re not “too late.” You’re not “too small.” And you are absolutely not alone.
The future CEO version of you?
She’s already in there.
You just need to start showing up for her, one brave choice at a time.
Jenni x
