Ever feel like your best-laid plans got buried under snow days and two-hour delays? Claire opens the door on a week where parenting, weather, and work collided, and uses that chaos as a real-world lens on creativity, marketing, and small business stamina. We explore why calling yourself a “creative” or “business owner” can feel awkward at first—and why owning those words matters when your output depends on energy, focus, and a steady pulse of content that actually helps people. We get practical about the content grind: the hidden steps behind a single Instagram post, the mountain of iCloud files and Google albums, and the messy pipeline from idea to publish across a website, newsletter, podcast, and partnerships. Claire shares the small systems that lower friction—lightweight asset libraries, better naming, and simple editing choices—while staying honest about the gaps. This isn’t hustle worship; it’s an inside view of how local media gets made in real time, under real constraints, with kids napping in the next room. The heart of the conversation lands on boundaries and focus. When your brand is personal, the laptop follows you to bed and weekends blur. We talk about choosing one idea to finish, resisting shiny object syndrome, and giving new experiments like Patreon a clear filter: ROI, joy, and a plan you can actually keep. There’s vulnerability too—imposter syndrome without a formal marketing degree, the guilt of always being “on,” and the hope that longer days and spring light can coax creativity back to a confident rhythm. If you’re a mompreneur, creator, or local business owner trying to build something real while life keeps moving, you’ll feel seen, learn a few workflow tricks, and leave with permission to make one thing great today. If you’re building something while juggling real life too, you’re not alone. Follow along on Instagram @the.columbiamom 📸✨ if you’d like to see more, stay inspired 🌟, and join the journey — chaos 🌀, creativity 🎨, and reheated coffee ☕ included. Support the show 🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom 🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know! 🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!
