The Art of the Reveal: Navigating Business, Family, and the Slower Pace

There is a unique kind of vulnerability that comes with being a "solopreneur." When you are the one researching the recipes, hand-pouring the wax, wrapping every bar of soap, and managing the spreadsheets, the line between "the business" and "the person" doesn't just get blurry—it practically disappears.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how much of that "person" I should share with you. I usually take an "honest to a fault" approach; however, knowing how not to cross the business line is a bit of a guessing game for me some days!

Finding the Line In the world of small business, we’re often told to be "authentic." But authenticity is a tricky balance. I love sharing the wins (and even the losses sometimes)—they all have a purpose in my journey. I also love sharing the lifestyle side of things: the joys of family life, the lessons learned at home with three kids and a husband, and the chaotic beauty of being a grandmother for the first time.

But then there are the days that don't make it to the grid. The days where the physical demands of production meet the reality of getting older. Lately, those days have been a bit more frequent.

The Beauty of the Slow Down If I’m being honest, the last few years have been defined by a bit of frustration. I’ve hit a wall of exhaustion that sleep doesn't quite fix, compounded by the slower pace of a recession. Between the office work and the creative demands of Fosters Fields, I’ve had to face a hard truth: I can’t always keep up with my own mind!

I’m learning (slowly, and sometimes stubbornly) that slowing down isn't the same as giving up. It’s actually a form of respect—respect for the craft and respect for the body that allows me to do it. When I move slower, I notice the way the soap smells on the curing rack or the way the colors blend to create the swirls. And sometimes, I realize in the process that I forgot to turn off the wax warmer three days ago and spoiled the soy wax! Some days, I make a point to slow down and simply enjoy the process again.

Why I Share (and Why I Wait) I want you to know the person behind the soap because I believe that when you buy handmade, you’re buying a piece of someone’s time—an actual part of their heart and soul. However, I never want the "behind the scenes" to feel like a pity party.

Sharing the struggles isn't about looking for sympathy; it’s about solidarity. It’s for the other women out there balancing a "day job" with a dream, or anyone navigating the shifts that come with a new decade of life. It's about knowing when to slow down and realizing it’s perfectly okay to do so.

Looking Ahead This week, I’m focused on a few personal priorities and an appointment I need to attend. It was a bit of a surprise turn in an otherwise normal day a few weeks ago, reminding me that sometimes life requires us to shift our focus.

I’ll be diving a little deeper into how things are going in this week’s Friday Founders Journal, so keep an eye out for that if you want the "unfiltered" version of the journey.

Whether it be for business or life, the journey is full of bubbles, flames, family, and laughter. Thank you for being part of it with me. Whether you've been here since the kitchen-hobby days or you're just joining the fold, I'm glad you're here.

Carrie