How I Keep Myself on Track as My Own Boss

Working for yourself means freedom—and a lot of responsibility. You’re the only one with the full picture. This post is about how I navigate that freedom, keep myself on track, and learn along the way.

Why fun matters

I think that to be successful in any job, it has to be fun—maybe not everyone’s idea of fun, but something you enjoy doing. The work brings you into the present moment and keeps you engaged. Having fun at work is what makes long days feel like the best days. Motivation isn’t hard to find when it’s something you want to be doing.

When I’m having fun is when I’m the most creative, intuitive, and in my flow state. In general, I’m having a blast—but sometimes, when I’m tired or in my head, I have to pull myself out and remember that my life is painting murals, dancing on a pool deck, and teaching people to swim. It’s not serious work.

That’s not to say I don’t take it seriously—but I always have the best results when I zoom out, focus on the present moment, enjoy what I’m doing, and try my best to ensure others are enjoying my presence as well. Whether I’m leading an aqua class or painting a mural for a small business, I’ve learned that showing up with intention and a sense of joy creates a ripple effect. It’s about contributing something meaningful and elevating the energy in whatever space you’re in—not just checking off tasks.

Leading with passion, not profit

There’s a risk when turning your passion into your livelihood. It adds pressure when your art and creativity have to pay the bills. But I remind myself: if I do my best work—bring passion, effort, and a positive attitude to every mural—the money will come.

In the first year, especially, I think it’s important to have other ways to support yourself—ideally, flexible jobs—so not all the pressure is on your art. Early on, any chance to show what you can do is worth taking, even if it’s not well-paid. My thinking is: why would someone with a higher-paying project trust me if there’s no way to see what I’m capable of?

I always strive to have the mindset: I’m fortunate to get to do what I love and be compensated for it. And over time, I’m slowly but surely getting compensated more and more.

Using tools wisely

I’ve heard it said many times—and I agree wholeheartedly—there’s never been a better time to start a business. In the age of technology and AI, you can teach yourself almost anything.

Personally, I’ve fully embraced ChatGPT as a tool in my workflow. I truly believe I’m reaching my goals in at least a third of the time it would have taken without it. And because I’ve taken the time to train it well, it’s in tune with how I write emails, mural proposals, and website updates. It helps me accomplish admin tasks in a fraction of the time. When I’m unsure how to help a swim client or need pricing advice, it’s an incredibly helpful learning tool.

AI literacy is part of the future—even in art. But there are limits. I’ve run into situations where I relied too heavily on ChatGPT when I should’ve spoken to an expert in person or explored other options. And while it can be useful in the creative process, I believe it’s essential that my art comes from my own creativity. There’s a difference between human-created art and AI art—and that distinction matters to me.

Remembering that I make the rules

Every step of working for myself has required adjustments. I have to remind myself to stay present, learn from each job, class, or client, and continually adapt and make things better. Whether it’s how I structure swim training, organize my schedule, or approach getting new clients, I’m constantly tweaking the process.

What’s helped me the most is taking the time to decide what I want from my business in the future—and then making decisions in the present that align with those goals. I imagine the freedom of choosing my schedule, doing fewer high-paying jobs instead of overworking, and being an active, happy member of my community. I picture starting a family and having the flexibility to spend time with them exactly how I want to—because I make the schedule of my life.

To get there, I try my best to act like that version of myself now. That means saying no when needed, avoiding distractions, not taking on more than I can handle, and adjusting how I do things—over and over again. That process of learning and improving little by little has been the most rewarding aspect of this journey so far.

Being your own boss is an interesting position to be in—but I personally really like it. I do things how and when I want, and that freedom makes all the responsibilities—and everything that comes with them—worth it.

If you’re also building something of your own, I hope this encourages you to stay playful, trust your path, and keep rewriting the rules until they fit the life you want. It’s all in the making.