I Quit My Job and Survived Year One

10 lessons I learned going full-time as an artist

On February 7, 2025, I logged out of Outlook, Zoom, and Slack for the last time. I turned in my equipment, closed my laptop, and walked away from my role as Director of Marketing without a clear roadmap for what came next.

I would love to say this move was carefully planned, strategic, and perfectly timed. It wasn’t. I left because staying felt unsustainable. I was burned out, deeply unfulfilled, and closer to a breaking point than I was willing to admit at the time. Leaving wasn’t a bold career pivot as much as it was an act of self-preservation.

I also wasn’t jumping into total chaos. I had just released an album that was starting to gain traction, a few freelance projects through Crossfade, and something I hadn’t had in a long time: time. Still, the months that followed were rough. From February through August, I tried a lot of things to see what would stick. It was uncomfortable, humbling, and far from glamorous.

Things didn’t start to click until I made a hard decision to narrow my focus. I committed fully to music, not just as a singer and songwriter, but as a producer, curator, and tastemaker. When I locked into a consistent live streaming schedule that Fall, everything shifted. Momentum built, community formed, and I stepped into a role I hadn’t expected but earned: DJ.

Now, one year later, I finally have clarity about where I’m going and what I’m building. Looking back, I can see the wins, the surprises, and the realities no one really prepares you for when you decide to bet on yourself.

So I pulled together 10 lessons from my first year as a full-time artist. If you’re considering a creative life, already in it, or quietly questioning your own next move, I hope these help. These are in no particular order.

---

1. Your story is a tool

Sharing your lessons, wins, and struggles instead of only polished results resonates more deeply and builds connection faster than any marketing push. People love being part of a come-up story. Showing what is at stake naturally draws them in and creates investment.

2. Not everyone will show up for you

The people you expect to have your back won’t always be there. Learning to navigate that without losing steam is part of building resilience and focusing on those who truly support you.I’m incredibly blessed to have an inner circle that truly loves and supports me, but most of the support beyond that comes from people I’ve never even met in real life.

3. Consistency is a superpower

Showing up, day after day, even when it’s hard, compounds in ways that talent alone can’t. Your reliability builds trust, momentum, and opportunities that only reveal themselves over time.

4. You have to get comfortable accepting help

No one builds a creative life entirely alone. Learning to let others in, whether it’s guidance, support, or resources, multiplies what you can achieve and keeps you from losing the plot.

5. If you’re a “jack of all trades,” start with one

You can do a lot, but focus is what turns skills into impact. Choose one area to lead with and master it, then layer in your other skills. I call this an “umbrella focus.” For me, music is the focus, while videography, photography, design, and branding support it. My profiles highlight music, but my content shows everything else I can do. Keeping a clear core focus has made everything else flow.

6. Community amplifies growth

The people you surround yourself with multiply your reach, perspective, and opportunities. Engaging with supporters, collaborators, and peers accelerates learning and impact in ways going solo never could.

7. Building a creative life from scratch rarely feels comfy

Growth and comfort don’t usually coexist, especially in the beginning. Most of the time, you’ll be figuring things out on the fly, and that uncertainty is exactly where progress happens. Every time things get particularly tough, I tell myself, “this is just what the moment calls for.”

8. Patience is everything

Progress often comes in invisible stages, and quitting too early can mean missing your breakthrough. The night before my live stream blew up, I had no viewers and ended early, feeling like all my effort was wasted. If I hadn’t gotten up and done it again the next day, I would have missed the moment that sparked the online success I have today. Patience and persistence matter more than we realize.

9. Your corporate network still matters

The relationships and connections you built before leaving aren’t wasted. They can open doors, provide guidance, and give support in ways you might not expect as you build your creative path.

10. Boundaries are critical

Even when you’re doing work you love, without limits it’s easy to burn out. Setting clear boundaries around time, energy, and creative focus protects your work, your well-being, and your momentum.