Last Friday, I closed out the week with a hot cup of tea in my sunroom, joined virtually by fellow friends and creatives Emery Tran & Prerana Gurubasavaraj. This month’s Community Coffee Chat theme was focused on how creatives are balancing their dream projects with full-time careers in vastly separate fields.
We talked about corporate career pivots and creative ones, noticing and healing from burnout, time management, facing the fear of being seen (by family, coworkers, and the internet), and what it looks like to redefine success for ourselves (as creatives who are also navigating 9-5 jobs).
Join for our next event “Live Conversation with Tips from Dead People’s Mary McGreevy” on Friday 6/12 from 12-1pm PST! Click here to add it to your calendar. Free and open to the public.
5 Takeaways from Our Conversation
Community Coffee Chats is a casual conversation series with entrepreneurs, creatives, storytellers, and small-business owners in the Tomatokind community.
Here are our takeaways from our sit-down with Emery Tran, full-time designer and part-time podcast host, and Prerana Gurubasavaraj, full-time regulatory affairs manager and part-time content creator (Paid subscribers can go straight to the full conversation by clicking the video above):
1. Don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself.
Because, life is meant to change you. Iteration is the process of becoming who you are today, and who you become tomorrow. You are allowed to evolve, and that includes: how you make money, how you share your talents, who you choose to spend time with, art you choose to create, and so forth.
You are meant to change, so don’t resist it. Your creative pursuits and 9-5 jobs are no different. Instead of beating yourself up about that recent pivot, consider welcoming what’s next!
2. There’s no such thing as “enough time” or “perfect routine”.
Yes, consistency is important, but listening to our intuition is even more important. While some part-time creatives have very regimented production schedules (filming short-form content on Tuesdays from 9-11pm) to navigate the constraints of their full-time jobs, that doesn’t work for everyone. Sometimes, it’s just what works this week, and that is perfectly fine. Remember, you’re pursuing your creative dreams because you want to, not because you have to. It’s supposed to be fun!
3. It’s your choice who and when to share your creativity with.
Because, creative expression is scary. Many of us wait years to share our creative sides with our family, 9-5 coworkers, or even friends. Because, our creative work is not just work. It is our identity, our world views, and our inner universe. The good part, though, is that we get to choose when and who we want to be brave with. Some of us have parents who are the staunchest supporters of our creative work. Others of us prefer to keep our creative expression far from our families. There’s no one right answer.
4. Chasing external success metrics will burn you out.
So, try shifting to measures that are more sustainable and authentic to you. For example, in lieu of focusing on “likes” on social media, ask yourself: “Am I proud of what I created?”, “Did this feel good to make?”, or “Did it resonate with even one person?”
The juggling act of pursuing multiple life-callings is hard enough. So, let’s not impose external metrics that are misaligned with our values. Instead, take a moment to reflect on your goals with each endeavor and redefine your own markers of accomplishment.
5. First and foremost, create the thing for you.
Here’s a challenge: create it for you first. Be selfish. Ignore “the market", and just let your creative expression guide your pen (or paintbrush or key strokes). It may be helpful to consider: “What if your creative work exists to satisfy you and only you? And, it just so happens to help or inspire others? What if your job was not to serve and provide?”
If the above was true, would you create differently?
You can now listen to our full conversation by clicking the video above. And…
Join for our next event “Live Conversation with Tips from Dead People’s Mary McGreevy ” on Friday 6/12 from 12-1pm PST! Click here to add it to your calendar. Free and open to the public.
With zeal and gratitude for this creative life,
Vanessa Li
About Emery & Prerana:
Emery is a UX designer, community builder, and creator behind From Remey: A Voice Journal, a podcast and blog documenting her evolving career, creative pursuits, and life in transition. She began her career in the art world, working with internationally renowned artists including Betye Saar, as well as curators from institutions like LACMA and MoMA, before transitioning into design. Outside of her full-time work, she helps foster creative community in San Francisco through events, collaborations, and conversations that bring people together.
Prerana is a regulatory affairs manager who guides digital health products, including software and AI-powered tools to-market, safely and responsibly. She’s worked in the space since 2018 and sees it shaping the future of healthcare. Outside her 9-5, she’s the creator and storyteller behind @dessertdigestplus, a space documenting recipes, cultural traditions, beauty, and the everyday rhythms of life in Orange County. “It’s a creative outlet that’s grown alongside my career.” Prerana also works in real estate, guiding family and friends through one of the biggest decisions of their lives: buying or selling a home.
