3 Years of Fellow Studios - Stevie Hucker

How separating Fellow from my personal life nearly killed my mental health, why I'm grateful for the challenge, and how things look 3 years in.

I've spent the past 3 years chasing balance while building a business from scratch. I have failed more times than I care to count. If you know me personally you would have heard me say "I don’t think we ever really find balance.” Everyone's idea of balance is different, and maybe outside influences impact what we believe our work/life balance should look like. 

We are told and taught as business owners that separating your business from your personal life is imperative for your mental health. I can wholeheartedly say that chasing this concept nearly broke me mentally, then throw in raising a family and the crippling mum guilt on top of  'what things SHOULD look like' it was more than I could handle .  

3 years in and I am consciously learning everyday about how I can get the best out of myself to build a life I want to live.

I do believe that spending time getting to know yourself well, and becoming self aware will be the greatest gift in your business and life. Ask yourself,  What makes you happy? What motivates you? And of course what is your 'WHY'? Without a 'WHY' fulfilment will be lacking.

When I dug deep, I discovered that separating Fellow from my personal life actually did not serve my mental health. Fellow is a passion that I am grateful to have made into my job, it's an extension of who I am. I know our consumers well because I am one of THEM.

In my business I believe for it to thrive it needs two heads, one emotional being that knows what our consumer wants and needs, who loves to create and keep things fresh (the feeler),  and one that is the 'logical' being, usually the mirror you dont want to look into, but has your figures sorted and can make unemotional decisions. It's extremely hard to wear both hats, sometimes I can, but most of the time I outsource the 'logical' thinker because often I can not remove myself from the emotion. I have intentionally surrounded myself with these 'logical humans' because I learn from them daily.

I am happiest when I am creating, building and hustling (she loves a hustle), my mind is busy, my energy is big, and honestly if I don’t have an outlet where I can direct that energy, I get bored lol. I like the chaos of 'Mum' and 'business' and I think that's all OK - because that's who I am. Fellow is a part of our family.

Now don’t get me wrong, with the chaos and hustling there are many failures and MANY moments of falling in a heap. It's easy to show a highlight reel but it's just not reality. I have incredible support for these times, and I'd be lost without it. It's easy to get stuck on the constant challenges (sometimes daily) , but honestly if there is one thing you can count on in life it's a challenge, it's a constant, so really we just need to welcome it and go right through the guts of it to grow.

Resilience is a severely underrated quality to have, believe me you will need it. Having thick skin is a necessity and I do not joke when I say, I have fallen on my ass more than most I'm sure of it. My superpower is, nothing holds me down for too long. ('get up baby')

I opened a Fellow with zero idea of business, it's also probably taken me longer to learn than others (I'm only assuming this) I found business coaches that 'got me' and pushed me, and I love learning. I had the vision and I jumped before I was ready and I'm still learning on the job. But I love this process, I invite the challenge for growth, I would not have it any other way.

As we approach Fellows' 3rd birthday we are still growing, I'm still learning, and I am wholeheartedly committed to building the best version of Fellow for our members and our team.  I adore being raw and real with you all and I can not wait to see what this next year brings.

Stevie.

Founder Fellow Studios