We’re already ten months into 2018, and one thing is certain – it’s definitely been a year of transition. A year of uprooting and planting, acceptance and denial, tears turned to laughter, failures and successes, rain and sunshine. If there is one thing I can already take from this year, it’s that no season lasts forever and that there is always a new opportunity coming. This isn’t only true for my own life but also the lives of my friends. This year, I’ve seen many of them move, quit jobs, get engaged and married, lose loved ones, have children, and start a new degree. All transitions which are certainly challenging but in the end, bring so much hope and new blessings.
This is the case for one of my dear friends, Kathleen Johnson. In October of last year, she made the big decision to quit her 9-5 job. A year later, she has started her own business, in which she gets to be creative daily and do what she loves. Kathleen’s story and pursuit for something more is one of the many reasons I wanted to feature her as October’s woman of the month!
Kathleen has a bachelor’s degree in Sound, Light and Live Event Technology. This all the technical aspects of shows, concerts, conferences etc – from the engineering side of things to management. And though she enjoyed her degree, the job she had wasn’t working for her lifestyle and mental health. “It was horrible and I hated it”, she says. “I took some time to rest and recharge and one of the ways I did that was to try lots of new crafts. I fell in love with felting, which rekindled my previous enjoyment of sewing and embroidery.” With that, an idea to begin her own business was sparked. Now that her business in textile crafts is up and running, she has decided to go back to college to study Arts, Craft and Design.
“All of my training up to this point has been in engineering and technology so my thinking is very linear. In order to bring a new level of depth and professionalism to my pieces I need to re-train my mind in how to think more openly. I’m hoping this one-year course will teach me some of the basics of drawing and design while also getting the creative juices flowing.”
Kathleen started setting up her business, Pure Sheep, in January of this year. Her plan with the business is to make and sell needlefelt and embroidery artwork, with bits of sewing as well. What I personally love about Pure Sheep is that the products are eco-friendly and ethical. Kathleen’s hope is that each product brings joy to the hearts of her customers. This is her favorite part of the business – getting to create new things every day, and make little pieces of work that bring smiles to people’s faces. This is what makes her feel accomplished. “It’s really rewarding to see your improvement from piece to piece and to see the joy it brings others when they receive their item.” She also loves working from home and being the master of my her time.
In terms of the downsides, Kathleen says it can get a little lonely being at home on your own all day. “You need to be really self-motivated to get your business off the ground, which if I’m honest, I’m often not.” However, she is hoping the new course she has started will give her some new creative friends who will encourage and support each other to keep moving forward.
During these times which can be more isolating, Kathleen says her relationship with Jesus keeps her going when life gets tough and she doesn’t want to get up out of bed. “He reminds me of the bigger picture and gives me strength to face the day. When I’m feeling low He reminds me of how much He loves me and how much He paid for us to be family. I still have plenty of bad days but without him I don’t know where I’d be.”
Her husband is also a huge support her daily. “When I’m doubting whether or not I should even be attempting this business he encourages me and reassures me that this is the right path for me and for us. He jumps in with housework when I’m feeling overwhelmed and he always points me back to Jesus, the ultimate support and motivation for both of us.”
Starting your own business definitely isn’t easy. It takes time and commitment. I asked Kathleen how she kept a good balance with her personal life while starting her business: “For me, it’s making sure that I can get enough work done in a day to justify taking it easy that night or weekend. Summers are tricky because everything is so fluid and you just want to be out having a good time, but it’s important to make sure that you’re still working hard. Being at home is great because you can take a break with a bit of housework or a cuddle with the dogs and hours of your day aren’t lost to a commute. I can go straight from finishing a project to making dinner which is great!”
Kathleen has many dreams and goals for her life, so she says it is hard to decide which ones to actually strive for. Currently, her career goal would be to get Pure Sheep to the level where it’s actually providing regular income. “It doesn’t have to be masses but if I could contribute towards the bills or pay in to a holiday that would be a major achievement.” She also says she would love to be more fit. “I have a very basic level of fitness but I would like to be stronger so that I can work a full day without getting tired.” She is currently keeping active by walking her dogs at least once a day (but often twice), and also cycles to college as much as possible. Some of her other goals is to have a vegetable patch and loads of animals when she is older. Sounds like she will be living the dream indeed!
The eco-friendly and ethical standards for Pure Sheep are also lived out in Kathleen’s daily life. She uses all-natural beauty products and has been trying to get all of our household products into the same camp. “I just LOVE PHB’s products. They’re a family run UK business that makes all natural make-up, hair care and skin care products. I love their make-up, aloe vera & rose moisturiser, and deep conditioning hair mask. Everything smells amazing, is 100% natural, vegan and cruelty free. They’re just amazing!” I know which products I need to try next!
If you’ve been thinking of quitting your day job and starting your own business, or even want to get a side hustle started, Kathleen has some great advice for you: “Get the help and find community! It’s tempting to want to do everything yourself, but you’ll burn out too quickly. You end up not actually accomplishing anything because you get distracted by smaller details. Keep the big picture in mind and focus on getting your service or product to a really high standard. The rest will come around.”
I hope Kathleen’s story can encourage you to keep chasing your dreams. To never settle for less, and make a change if you’re not happy with where you are. I’m a huge believer that there is a career and purpose out there for everyone. Even when it’s getting tough, keep pushing forward because it just means you’re nearly there. So go out and be dream-chasers, goal-achievers, and live your best life!
To see the beautiful work Kathleen’s been working on this year, follow her instagram page, @pure.sheep, and like her page on Facebook! And definitely take a look at her shop on Etsy, PureSheepCrafts, and maybe even treat yourself to one of her beautiful creations! 😉
