E37 Transcript
You know those moments—maybe you’re staring at your sewing machine, or your messy studio, or your computer, and you just mutter under your breath, “Why am I even doing this?” Yeah…we’ve all been there. And if that’s you right now, stick with me, because this episode is exactly for those moments.
Over the last few episodes, we’ve uncovered some pretty important stuff— the practical, sometimes invisible, but oh-so-important pieces of running a creative business. We’ve talked about really understanding your market, keeping in touch with your audience in meaningful ways, and even tackling that behind-the-scenes work—the stuff no one sees, but without it, your business would kind of…implode.
But today…well, today is the episode where we answer the age-old question: “So now what?” When the market is slow, uncertainty is high, and it feels like you’re spinning your wheels…how do you actually keep moving forward without losing your way—or, let’s be honest, your sanity?
And here’s the deal—I’m not talking about the usual “hang in there” or “trust the process” platitudes. Today we’re going to dig a little deeper. We’re going to take a fresh look at your why—the real reason you started this creative journey in the first place—and see if it still has the power to pull you through the slow spots. We’ll also glance at your vision for your creative practice and your small business and figure out what, if anything, needs to shift so you can actually stay on track.
By the end of this episode, my goal is that you’ll have some clear ways to navigate this slow or uncertain stretch—so that when things pick up again, you’re not scrambling to catch up. Instead, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running, fully aligned with why you’re doing what you’re doing.
I call this “Staying the Course” and it can difficult when your head is saying “Why bother!” So, let’s dig in and discover how to stay the course and build your business in slow times.
Let’s talk a minute about why Staying the Course matters—especially when it feels like everything is slow, uncertain, or just…stuck.
When markets feel sluggish or your progress isn’t visible, it’s really easy to get tempted to pivot…or worse, just throw in the towel entirely. You know the feeling—you start thinking, “Maybe this isn’t worth it. Why am I even doing this?”
So to prove I am not immune to this either, let me give you a very recent example from my own life! Only last week I was extremely frustrated with what I was doing that day. I won’t go into the details but suffice it to say I was mad, I was hot, I was definitely throwing a temper tantrum and said to myself, “This is NOT want I signed on for! Maybe I should just go get an 8-to-5 in an air-conditioned office. Show up, do the work, go home. No decisions, no responsibility…” I’m laughing as I say that!
And if anyone who knows me is listening, you’re laughing right now, because you know that would never actually work out. You know exactly how badly that would go!
Here’s the core idea: ‘staying the course’ isn’t about stubbornness. It’s not about grit for the sake of grit. Staying the course is about three things, in this exact order: clarity, alignment, and intentional action.
Let me say that again. Staying the course is about three things, in order: clarity, alignment, and intentional action. So let’s look at those:
Clarity—Are you still on the path that actually matters to you? Is this still the direction you want to go, or has it just gotten messy, uncomfortable, or inconvenient?
Alignment—If you’ve strayed a bit, or maybe a tactic isn’t working anymore, are you still in line with your bigger vision? Maybe you adjust the approach, but the destination doesn’t change.
Intentional action—Once you’ve clarified and aligned, you can take deliberate steps forward. This isn’t random hustle; it’s purposeful, grounded movement.
It can be messy. I can be uncomfortable. But if it’s still aligned, trust it! And speaking of messy and inconvenient…let’s go back to my temper tantrum. The temptation was real. I thought about just walking away entirely. But here’s what I realized: temporary discomfort doesn’t mean the vision isn’t worth it. You don’t throw out the whole thing because of a short-lived storm. Sure, make temporary adjustments if you need to —maybe move the set up, take a break, adjust the schedule—but if your vision still matters, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
And this is where the garden analogy really comes back to life: Think of your business like a garden. You planted seeds, you tended them, and maybe right now the garden isn’t exploding with blooms. But underground, the roots are still growing. Some seasons are slow—it doesn’t mean the seeds were a mistake. Now’s the time to check in: do these plants still resonate with you? Do they still excite you? But it’s not the time to dig up every seed just because one of them is taking longer to bloom than you expected…or because the weeds are a little overwhelming.
So, how do you actually do this? How do you stay the course without losing your motivation or sanity?
First and foremost, let’s get really clear on why we’re doing all of this in the first place. Because here’s the deal: your “why” can’t just be a surface-level platitude. It can’t be, “I like fabric,” or, “I just like making things.” Those are fine, but they won’t carry you through the storms, the slow markets, or the days when nothing seems to be moving.
Your why needs to be deeper—it needs to pull you forward when the spotlight is off, when no one is cheering, when the weeds are taking over, and the sun is blazing down on your little patch of garden.
Here’s my surface-level why: I wanted a life where I had control over my time, a location-independent lifestyle, financial independence, and a creative career that included multiple income streams. I wanted the freedom to focus on what mattered to me, to go where I wanted when I wanted, and to help other creatives do the same.
But my deeper why? That’s where it gets really personal. Creativity isn’t just a business for me—it’s a lifeline. Sewing, creating with fabric, experimenting with textures and patterns—it calms me. It relaxes me. It gives me stability in the middle of chaos. My connection to fabric is more than craft; it’s part of my mental, emotional, and even physical well-being. And staying connected to it—that deep, true connection—helps everything else fall into place. The deeper I understand that staying true to my love of fabric will help me be a more centered and “well” human, the better things will work out for me.
So here’s the exercise for you: grab a notebook, your phone, or some sticky notes, and really dig into these questions:
• Why did you start this business in the first place? What impact did you hope to make?
• Is your original vision still exciting and relevant?
• What did you want to feel and experience through your business?
• If things haven’t gone as planned, does your vision need adjustment?
• What elements do you want to pull forward, leave behind, or add anew?
Let me be clear: Q1—why did you start this and what impact did you want out of it—is vital. This is where your deeper connection lives. For me, it’s the creativity itself, the calm, the joy of fabric, the outlet for anxiety and stress, the freedom that comes with being my own boss.
Make no mistake, being your own boss comes with a whole different set of stressors, but it includes stuff that I have a level of control over and that makes all the difference to me. That deeper understanding is what will actually guide you to stay the course when the market is slow, or to pivot when it’s time.
Try journaling, sketching a mind map, or even just talking it through with a trusted friend. The important thing is to really feel it and not just intellectualize it. The answers aren’t about checking a box—they’re about connecting to the parts of your business and craft that actually sustain you.
Oh - Shameless plug here: if you need a community where you can get feedback and talk things through, I can’t recommend The Maker’s Path highly enough. It’s my membership where fabric creative just like you and me can join together and support one another when the going get tough! I’ll link it in the show notes. Virginialeighstudio.com/themakerspath.
Because here’s the truth: if you understand and hold onto what you truly love about your fabric craft and why, you’ll have the clarity and resilience to stay the course—or adjust it—without losing yourself along the way. And that, my friends, is the kind of why that carries you through the tough spots.
Alright, now that you know why you started, and what really matters to you, it’s time to take a hard look at your vision. Not in a scary, judgmental way—but in a let’s get honest and practical way. Let’s take the reflections you just did and turn it into a practical evaluation.
Ask yourself: are your current actions actually moving you toward that vision - however slowly? If you’re inching forward, even with tiny steps—celebrate that. Seriously. It’s progress. Slow wins are still wins.
If the answer is yes, and that vision still lights you up, keep going. Be patient. Cheer for yourself on—maybe even take a little victory dance through your studio when no one’s watching. That momentum matters more than it seems.
But if the answer is no…then it’s time for some clarity. What needs to shift? Is it your product offerings? Your audience focus? Maybe it’s your marketing approach. Or—and here’s the big one—does the vision itself need to change? Do you need a new map entirely, or just a course correction?
Be honest - it’s perfectly okay if the original vision doesn’t fit anymore. You’re not failing—you’ve grown. You’ve learned more about yourself, your skills, your energy, and what really matters. And if frustration has you ready to throw everything out…pause. Take a breath. Don’t toss the whole thing out over a temporary inconvenience. Ask yourself: Does my deeper why still hold? Is there value in what I set out to do? If your “what and why” still hold, work through it and figure out what needs to be done. Then it’s about adjusting the path, not abandoning the journey. That is what ‘staying the course’ really looks like.
I call this vision triage: pull forward what’s working, leave behind what’s outdated, and add in what feels aligned now. This isn’t just busywork—it’s a way to make sure your actions, your business, and your energy are all pointing toward the things that actually matter to you.
Once you’ve done this, you’ll have a clearer sense of direction. You’ll know whether it’s about patience and persistence, or about a strategic shift that keeps you aligned with your evolving self. And either way—you’re staying the course, not drifting aimlessly, and that is exactly what will carry you through the slow seasons.
And once you’ve done that little triage, then comes the hardest part for many of us: trusting the journey.
Because staying the course doesn’t mean things suddenly get easy. Slow periods are not a sign to panic; they’re actually perfect opportunities to pause, reflect, and take small, intentional actions. Think of it as the universe giving you some space to catch your breath and check in with yourself.
And remember those hidden, behind-the-scenes actions we’ve talked about in earlier episodes? The quiet building, the experimenting, the things nobody sees but everything depends on? That’s exactly what I mean. Staying the course isn’t about sitting still—it’s about acting, but acting from a place of clarity, alignment and purpose.
Case in point: my little temper tantrum I mentioned earlier. Yes, I had my little pity party. Yes, I stomped around my studio muttering my dissatisfaction with life in general. But then I got over myself. I stepped back, took a deep breath, and looked at the bigger picture.
I realized that I was indeed on the right path—but the path isn’t all unicorns and sunshine. There will be rocky stretches, uncomfortable stretches, and downright maddening moments. And this? This particular frustrating situation? Temporary. A hiccup. Not a reason to scrap the whole vision.
A few of these spots, a handful of messy days—they’re the price I’m willing to pay for a life where the majority of my time is spent living my why—both the surface why and the deeper, soul-soothing, fabric-loving why. And recognizing that balance? That’s trusting the journey. It’s leaning into patience, reflection, and the slow-but-steady work that actually builds something lasting.
Let’s bring it down to some practical steps you can actually do today.
Even small actions matter—they compound over time, and they’re what turn reflection into real progress. You don’t need a huge, dramatic overhaul to make a difference. Start with something simple:
journal or map out your why and your vision. Really get it on paper.
Look at your current offerings, your projects, what you’re putting energy into—and ask yourself: does this align with the vision I want to hold?
Then, make a few decisions: what do you leave behind, what do you evolve, and what do you want to experiment with next?
Nothing has to be perfect. It’s about clarity, alignment, and momentum. A little bit now sets you up for a lot more later.
Remember, slow periods aren’t setbacks—they’re opportunities. Opportunities to reflect, reset, and strengthen your course. Deep introspection now makes your next moves smarter, your vision clearer, and your decisions more intentional. ‘Staying the course’ isn’t about stubbornly clinging—it’s about honesty, alignment, and trust in the journey you’re on.
As you take these steps, you’ll be better prepared for the moments when the market picks up, when your audience is ready, and your business is ready to shine.
So here’s my little challenge for you this week: carve out ten minutes to map your vision, answer at least one of those reflection questions we talked about, and then share one insight with me—I’d love to hear what you discover.
Because the work you do behind the scenes, the thoughtful pauses, and the intentional actions—they’re all part of staying the course and building something that actually lasts. And isn’t that what we really want?
