What I’ve Been Up To (And What 6 Months of Building Has Taught Me)

Why I Took a Step Back

One of the biggest reasons I started this journey was for more freedom—freedom over my time, my focus, and what I choose to build. And recently, I actually leaned into that.

I took a step back from posting, not because I was losing momentum, but because I was using that time to learn, build, and explore something new behind the scenes. When I first decided to retire and give this a go, I knew I wanted to build more than one income stream. So that’s exactly what I did—and now I’m happy to be back after successfully launching my third.

The Unexpected Benefit: Time Freedom

Time freedom is something I honestly didn’t think I’d ever have when I worked my 9-5. I thought I’d always be tied to business hours, income decided by others, and assignments that came with the job. I dreamed of having the freedom to decide what I wanted to do each day.

While I’m not quite where I want to be yet, I am building this on my own terms. And that matters more than I expected.

What I’ve Learned On This Journey So Far

The most important thing I’ve learned is that I can actually do this. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I could. Something totally new and different from anything I’d done before seemed like a dream — until I decided to jump in, do the work, learn the skills, and just start.

That doesn’t mean it was easy. I had to ask AI how to do almost everything along the way. But I figured it out, and now I can say I’ve built some real, valuable skills across three separate brands.

Here’s what I’ve learned in the last six months:

• Website building and compliance
• SEO and blog content writing
• Pinterest marketing
• Email marketing and automation
• Digital product creation
• Branding and design
• AI tools and platforms
• Social media strategy
• Setting up a business (LLC, insurance, and more)

The Mindset Shift

One of the biggest hurdles in starting something new is simply believing you can. Especially when you’ve spent decades working for someone else, the idea of creating something entirely your own is, let’s be honest, a little terrifying. But it’s not impossible, and it’s actually a lot of fun and very rewarding.

You don’t need to know everything to start. You just need the right mindset and a decision to learn as you go. And here’s the key distinction: you have to start doing, not just learning. I used to think I needed everything figured out before I began. Now I know that starting is how you figure it out.

It’s also okay to take it slow or pivot when needed. This doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s journey.

Where I’m At Now

Currently I’m focused on growing all three brands, with plans to keep expanding when the time is right. I have a lot of ideas—and for the first time, the freedom to pursue them.

If you’ve ever thought about starting something of your own, let this be your sign. You don’t need a perfect plan or a tech background. There’s a quote I love: what you want is on the other side of fear. Don’t let fear keep you from the life you truly want. Just decide what that looks like and take action.

If you’re curious about starting an online business or want to learn more about digital marketing, grab my free guide or reach out with any questions. I’m always happy to help. Contact me HERE.