I Was Told I Couldn’t Make Money With Photoshop. Ten Years Later, I’m Still Creating.

On finding myself through art, rebuilding my creative business, and why I’ve stopped trying to squeeze my entire personality into one niche.

In 2016, someone told me I couldn’t make money with just Photoshop.

And looking back?

I think that might have been one of the most important things anyone ever said to me.

Not because they were necessarily trying to inspire me.

But because I loved creating, and I wasn’t ready to give that up simply because someone else didn’t see the possibilities.

By that point, I’d already taken three different Photoshop courses between high school and college.

And somewhere along the way, I’d completely fallen in love with it.

Not just the software.

Not just graphic design.

But the feeling of creating something from absolutely nothing.

Taking an idea in my head and turning it into something visual.

Experimenting with photographs, colors, textures, and designs.

Spending hours creating without even realizing how much time had passed.

And sometimes, simply getting lost in a project because it made everything else in my mind feel a little quieter.

Long before I understood branding, marketing, or running a business, creativity was already part of who I was.

I wasn’t thinking about finding the perfect niche.

I wasn’t planning an entire business strategy.

And I certainly wasn’t thinking about algorithms.

I was just creating.

Because I loved it.

Because it gave me something meaningful to focus on.

And because sometimes art felt like one of the few places where I could completely be myself.

Fast-forward ten years.

I’ve built websites, explored photography, created digital artwork, designed products, written blogs, developed apps, and rebranded more times than I’d probably like to count.

And somewhere along the way, I’ve learned something.

Sometimes building your personal brand and finding yourself are actually the same journey.

Because as I’ve changed, my creative work has changed with me.

And I’m finally learning that maybe that’s not a bad thing.

It Started With Photoshop, an Old Laptop, and a Lot of Curiosity

When I first started creating online in 2016, I didn’t have some elaborate setup.

I had an older laptop.

A basic website.

Creative ideas.

And the determination to figure things out as I went.

Photoshop had already become one of my favorite creative outlets.

I loved being able to transform photographs, create digital designs, and experiment with things I couldn’t necessarily accomplish through traditional materials alone.

And honestly, I could spend hours doing it.

I’d sit down to work on one idea.

Then another.

Then another.

And suddenly an entire afternoon had disappeared.

Sometimes I think that’s one of the things I love most about creativity.

It gives my mind somewhere to go.

As someone who struggles with anxiety and overthinking, I know what it’s like to have a constant collection of thoughts running through my head.

But when I’m really absorbed in something creative, I can sometimes focus on the colors, the composition, or the idea I’m working on instead.

Art doesn’t cure my mental health conditions.

But it’s been a meaningful outlet for me.

And back then, I didn’t need someone else’s approval to enjoy making something.

I was creating because I wanted to.

Before my creativity became a business, it was something that helped me connect with myself.

And I think that’s the part I never want to forget.

Then Came the Pressure to Choose One Niche

If you’ve ever researched how to build an online business, you’ve probably encountered this advice.

Choose a niche.

Stick to one topic.

Find your target audience.

Be consistent.

Don’t confuse people.

And look, I understand why businesses use niches.

Having a clear focus can help people understand what you offer.

It can make marketing easier.

And it can help potential customers recognize whether your products or content are relevant to them.

But here’s the problem.

What happens when the person behind the brand has more than one passion?

Because I’ve never been someone who only enjoys one thing.

I love graphic design.

Photography.

Writing.

Mental health education.

Creative self-care.

Animals.

Digital art.

Technology.

And experimenting with new ways to turn ideas into something meaningful.

Apparently, my brain decided one hobby wasn’t enough.

So it collected approximately seventeen.

And naturally, I eventually found ways to turn several of them into businesses and creative projects.

But for a long time, I worried that having too many interests would make my brand confusing.

Should I only focus on photography?

Graphic design?

Mental health?

My products?

My apps?

My rescue advocacy?

How was I supposed to choose one thing when all those things were genuinely part of me?

And the more I tried to force myself into a perfectly defined niche, the more disconnected I sometimes felt from why I started creating.

When One Niche Starts Feeling Like a Box

Here’s something I think multi-passionate creatives understand.

Sometimes having one niche feels comfortable at first.

It gives you structure.

A direction.

And a clear idea of what you’re supposed to create.

But over time, that same structure can start feeling restrictive.

Especially when your interests naturally evolve.

Maybe you started as a photographer.

But then discovered graphic design.

Then writing.

Then digital products.

And eventually realized you enjoyed creating things that connected all those interests.

Do you ignore everything else because it doesn’t fit your original niche?

Do you start over every time you discover something new?

Or do you allow your work to evolve?

I’ve asked myself those questions more than once.

And I think part of my frustration came from believing that every change meant I hadn’t figured out what I wanted.

But maybe that wasn’t the problem.

Maybe I was simply growing.

Outgrowing a creative direction doesn’t mean the original direction was a mistake.

It might have been exactly what you needed at that point in your life.

And now you’re ready for something different.

Every Brand I’ve Built Represents a Different Chapter of My Life

When I look back at all the different brands and projects I’ve created, I don’t just see business ideas.

I see different versions of myself.

The photographer who loved exploring nature.

The artist experimenting with digital design.

The animal lover who wanted to advocate for rescue pets.

The writer who wanted to talk about mental health.

The millennial reflecting on adulthood, nostalgia, and the strange experience of trying to figure everything out in your 30s.

And the creator who eventually began building apps and digital wellness resources.

Each chapter reflects something that mattered to me.

Something I was learning.

Something I loved.

Or something I wanted to understand better.

Some projects grew.

Some changed direction.

And some eventually became part of something bigger.

But I don’t think those earlier chapters were wasted.

They helped me develop skills.

Discover interests.

And understand what kind of work felt meaningful.

My past brands weren’t necessarily failed versions of my business. Many were chapters that helped me become the creator I am today.

And I think that’s a much kinder way of looking at growth.

My Instagram Journey Was Part of Finding Myself, Too

Social media has been a complicated part of my creative journey.

I’ve used Instagram to share artwork, photography, personal reflections, and different parts of my business.

And over the years, I’ve learned a lot about what I enjoy sharing.

But I’ve also experienced the pressure to become whatever social media seems to reward.

Post consistently.

Make reels.

Follow trends.

Show your face.

Be more outgoing.

Engage constantly.

And somehow create content that keeps people interested while also running everything else behind the scenes.

As an introvert with anxiety, that wasn’t always easy.

For a long time, I felt more comfortable keeping the focus on my work rather than myself.

Staying behind the brand felt safer.

But eventually, I started sharing more of my story.

Why I create.

My experiences with mental health.

The meaning behind my artwork.

And the person behind the designs.

That helped me become more comfortable expressing myself.

I started realizing that my personal experiences weren’t necessarily distractions from my brand.

They were part of the reason my work existed in the first place.

But I also learned that I didn’t want to spend my entire creative life chasing an algorithm.

Because eventually, constantly worrying about engagement started taking away some of the enjoyment.

I was putting so much effort into figuring out what platforms wanted that I sometimes forgot to ask what I wanted.

And that realization was important.

Social media helped me become more comfortable sharing myself. But it also helped me recognize that I don’t need social media to define who I am as an artist.

That’s part of why I’ve been putting more energy into my websites and Substack.

I want to connect through stories.

Meaningful content.

And the things that genuinely inspire me.

Not just whatever happens to be trending.

My Brand Started Making More Sense When I Stopped Separating Every Part of Myself

For a long time, I treated my interests like they needed completely separate identities.

Photography belonged in one place.

Mental health in another.

Creative products somewhere else.

And my personal reflections?

Those needed their own little corner, too.

But eventually, I started noticing something.

There was a common thread connecting almost everything I created.

Comfort. Creativity. Compassion. And finding ways to make difficult moments feel a little more manageable.

My mental health writing came from wanting to help people feel understood.

My creative wellness resources came from recognizing how meaningful art had been in my own life.

My Cozy Critters came from wanting to combine comforting characters with gentle reminders and creative activities.

My rescue advocacy came from caring deeply about animals and wanting to make a difference.

And my photography?

That’s another way I slow down, explore nature, and reconnect with something I enjoy.

Those interests aren’t identical.

But they’re connected through my values.

And maybe that’s what my brand needed all along.

Not one tiny niche.

But a clearer understanding of the person connecting everything.

You Can Have Multiple Passions and Still Create a Cohesive Brand

Here’s something I wish I’d understood earlier.

A personal brand doesn’t necessarily have to revolve around one specific product or topic.

But it does help to have a recognizable purpose.

For me, that purpose has gradually become clearer.

I create things that encourage comfort, creativity, self-expression, and mental wellness.

Sometimes that comes through writing.

Sometimes through digital artwork.

Sometimes through journaling resources.

Sometimes through apps.

And sometimes through little animal characters that make difficult emotions feel more approachable.

The format might change.

The platform might change.

And the projects might evolve.

But the meaning behind them can remain connected.

Of course, I still need to think about how I organize everything.

A brand with multiple interests can become confusing if people can’t understand what it offers.

That’s why I’m learning to create clearer sections and connections between my different projects.

But I no longer think the answer is to abandon everything except one interest.

Maybe brand consistency isn’t about making the same thing forever. Maybe it’s about having recognizable values even when the things you create change.

And that feels much more natural to me.

Rebranding Doesn’t Automatically Mean You’ve Failed

Can we talk about how intimidating rebranding can feel?

Because sometimes changing a brand makes it seem like you’re admitting something didn’t work.

You redesign a website.

Change a business name.

Update your products.

Move to another platform.

Or shift your focus.

And suddenly you’re wondering whether people will think you’re starting over because you’ve failed.

I’ve experienced that fear.

But over the years, I’ve started viewing rebranding differently.

Sometimes a brand genuinely needs improvement.

Maybe the website is difficult to navigate.

Maybe the products aren’t reaching the right people.

Maybe your message isn’t clear.

Or maybe the direction simply doesn’t reflect what you want anymore.

Those are reasonable things to evaluate.

Changing something isn’t automatically a failure.

Sometimes it’s an intentional decision based on what you’ve learned.

And sometimes it’s simply recognizing that who you were five years ago isn’t exactly who you are today.

Rebranding doesn’t have to mean erasing your past. Sometimes it means taking what you’ve learned and building something that fits your present.

That’s how I want to approach my creative business moving forward.

Not constantly starting over because I’m afraid something isn’t perfect.

But making thoughtful changes when they genuinely help my work grow.

My Business Has Become More Personal Than I Ever Expected

When I started experimenting with Photoshop, I wasn’t thinking about building an entire mental wellness-focused creative brand.

I just loved making things.

But life changes.

We experience things.

Learn things.

And sometimes discover interests we never expected.

My own mental health journey became an important part of my creative direction.

I began writing more about anxiety.

Depression.

Self-care.

Overthinking.

Boundaries.

And what it’s like trying to build a meaningful life while managing difficult experiences.

And eventually, those conversations became part of the work I wanted to share.

Not because I suddenly had all the answers.

But because I wanted to create resources that might help someone feel understood.

That’s part of why AbbyJuli.com has become such an important space for me.

It’s not simply a place to display products.

It’s a reflection of the things I care about.

Mental health.

Creative expression.

Learning.

Personal growth.

And making comfort a little more accessible through art and storytelling.

I also have The Millennial Mind, where I explore adulthood, nostalgia, and the experiences of our generation.

And my Cozy Critter Studio projects allow me to experiment with combining creativity and technology.

They might look like different projects from the outside.

But to me, they’re connected.

They’re all ways of expressing different parts of myself.

I Don’t Want My Creative Business to Become Another Source of Burnout

Here’s something I’ve been learning lately.

Just because I love creating doesn’t mean I need to create constantly.

And just because I have a business doesn’t mean every moment of creativity needs to become productive.

Sometimes I get so caught up in ideas that I forget to slow down.

There’s always another product.

Another blog post.

Another website improvement.

Another app feature.

Another idea I want to try.

And before I know it, I’m feeling overwhelmed by things I originally started because they made me happy.

That’s when I have to remind myself why I began.

Not the money.

Not the followers.

Not the numbers.

But the feeling of creating.

The way Photoshop gave me an outlet.

The enjoyment of making something from nothing.

And the comfort of getting lost in a project simply because I loved doing it.

I still want my business to grow.

I want to make sales.

Reach readers.

And create meaningful resources.

But I also want to enjoy what I’m building.

I don’t want to sacrifice the joy of creativity in the process of turning creativity into a career.

And that means learning when to pause.

When to experiment.

When to rest.

And when to let an idea remain something I create just for myself.

What I’ve Learned About Building a Brand That Grows With You

If you’re a multi-passionate creator who feels boxed in by traditional branding advice, here’s what I wish someone had told me earlier.

• Start with what feels meaningful. What do you genuinely enjoy creating, even when nobody is watching?
• Find the connection between your interests. Your projects don’t need to be identical, but shared values can help people understand your work.
• Give yourself permission to experiment. You don’t need to have your entire future planned before you begin.
• Make changes intentionally. Rebranding can be helpful, but you don’t have to redesign everything whenever self-doubt appears.
• Let your story be part of your brand. People may connect with the experiences, ideas, and values behind what you create.
• Choose platforms that fit your strengths. You don’t have to use every social media channel just because someone says you should.
• Don’t measure your worth through analytics. Business results are useful information, not a judgment about you as a person.
• Keep space for creativity without pressure. Not every hobby needs to become another product.
• Remember that your brand can evolve. The person you are today won’t necessarily be the same person you are ten years from now.

I think the biggest lesson is recognizing that growth doesn’t always happen according to a perfectly organized plan.

Sometimes you discover what matters through experimenting.

Through mistakes.

Through starting over.

And through noticing which parts of your work continue to feel meaningful.

Sometimes clarity comes from creating, not from spending years trying to plan the perfect brand before you start.

A Letter to My Future Business Self

Dear Future Me,

I hope when you’re reading this, you still remember why you started.

Not the followers.

Not the website traffic.

Not the number of products in your shop.

And not the pressure to constantly keep up with everyone else.

I hope you remember Photoshop.

That old laptop.

Those early creative ideas.

And the feeling of spending hours making something simply because you loved doing it.

I hope you remember the version of yourself who didn’t need a perfectly organized business plan to enjoy being an artist.

The one who created because it felt meaningful.

Because it was fun.

And because sometimes art gave her a little room to breathe when life felt overwhelming.

I hope you’ve continued learning.

Continued experimenting.

And continued giving yourself permission to explore new things.

But I also hope you’ve learned when to rest.

When to close the laptop.

When to enjoy your pets.

When to take a walk with your camera.

And when to create something simply for yourself.

If your business has changed again, that’s okay.

You’ve changed before.

You’ve rebuilt before.

You’ve explored new ideas before.

And you’ve learned that not every change means you made a mistake.

But please remember something.

You don’t have to rebuild everything just because you’re having a difficult day or feeling uncertain.

Sometimes the answer is to keep going.

Sometimes it’s to make a small adjustment.

And sometimes it’s to take a break before deciding what comes next.

I hope you’re still creating things that make you proud.

Still writing about the experiences that matter to you.

Still caring about animals.

Still finding comfort in nature.

And still helping people feel understood through the things you make.

I hope your business has grown.

But more importantly, I hope you’ve grown in ways that make your life feel meaningful.

Because success isn’t only about how much money you make.

It’s also about whether you’ve created a life that leaves room for the things you love.

So if things feel difficult right now, remember where you started.

You didn’t begin because you knew exactly what would happen.

You began because you loved creating.

And that reason still matters.

You are allowed to pivot.

Allowed to learn.

Allowed to rest.

And allowed to begin a new chapter when the time is right.

Just don’t forget to enjoy the journey.

With love and a little creative chaos,

Your Past Self

A Little 3 AM Thought From a Multi-Passionate Artist…

Sometimes I think about how different my creative journey might have been if I’d listened to the idea that I couldn’t make money with Photoshop.

Would I have stopped creating?

Would I have treated art as something that wasn’t worth pursuing?

Would I have ever built my own websites?

Started blogging?

Created digital products?

Or explored app development?

I don’t know.

But I’m glad I kept going.

Not because everything worked out perfectly.

It didn’t.

I’ve experienced setbacks.

Changed directions.

Made mistakes.

And spent plenty of evenings wondering whether I was doing enough.

But I’ve also learned things I never imagined I’d learn.

I’ve created projects I’m proud of.

Discovered new interests.

And found ways to connect my creativity with the things that matter most to me.

And maybe that’s what I want people to understand about being a multi-passionate creator.

We’re not always changing directions because we can’t commit to anything. Sometimes we’re changing because we’re still discovering what we’re capable of.

I don’t think every artist needs to follow the same path.

Some people find one creative focus and spend their entire lives developing it.

And that’s wonderful.

Others explore multiple interests.

Combine skills.

And allow their work to evolve over time.

That’s meaningful, too.

There isn’t one perfect way to be an artist.

Or to build a business.

Or to discover who you are.

For me, creativity has always been connected to personal growth.

The things I make often reflect what I’m learning, what I care about, and what kind of person I’m becoming.

And I think that’s why my brand has changed so much.

Because I have.

The person I was in 2016 isn’t exactly the person I am today.

I have different experiences.

Different interests.

Different priorities.

And a deeper understanding of what I want my creative work to represent.

But that doesn’t mean the earlier version of me got everything wrong.

She helped build the foundation.

She learned Photoshop.

She experimented.

She created.

And she kept going even when other people questioned what she could do with those skills.

I think she deserves a little credit.

And maybe that’s something we should remember when we look back at our earlier creative projects.

Not every chapter needs to be perfect to be meaningful.

Sometimes it simply needs to lead us toward something else.

I didn’t find myself by choosing one niche and staying in it forever. I found parts of myself through every creative direction I explored.

And maybe I’ll keep discovering new parts of myself.

Maybe my business will evolve again.

Maybe I’ll develop new skills.

Explore different mediums.

Or create something I haven’t even imagined yet.

I don’t know.

And surprisingly, I’m becoming more comfortable with that.

Because I don’t need to know exactly what the next ten years will look like.

I just want to keep creating in ways that feel meaningful.

Keep learning.

Keep growing.

And keep building a life where creativity remains something I genuinely love.

Still an artist.

Still a photographer.

Still a writer.

Still a creator.

Still a little all over the place sometimes.

Still doing my best-ish.

And still grateful that I didn’t give up on Photoshop just because someone questioned whether it could become something more.

Sometimes finding yourself doesn’t mean choosing one version of who you’re supposed to be. It means giving yourself permission to keep becoming.

And for me?

That’s exactly what creativity has helped me do.

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A Little Self-Reflection for My Fellow Multi-Passionate Creatives

If you’ve been feeling disconnected from your brand, creativity, or the direction you’re taking, here are a few questions worth considering.

1. What did I love creating before I started worrying about money, followers, or business growth?
2. Am I trying to fit my interests into a niche that no longer reflects who I am?
3. What values or themes connect the different things I enjoy creating?
4. Am I considering a change because it genuinely feels right, or because I’m comparing myself to others?
5. How can I build something sustainable while still leaving room for curiosity, creativity, and personal growth?

You don’t need to have every answer right now.

And you don’t have to abandon your past to begin a new chapter.

Sometimes finding clarity means looking back at what has always mattered to you.

A Gentle Reminder

I am allowed to have more than one passion.

My creative journey doesn’t need to look like someone else’s.

Changing direction doesn’t automatically mean I’ve failed.

I can build a recognizable brand without restricting every part of my personality.

And I deserve to enjoy creating, even when I’m building a business.

Your brand can evolve with you. And sometimes the most meaningful thing you can create is a life that reflects who you’re becoming.

Let’s talk: Are you a multi-passionate artist or creative business owner who’s struggled with choosing one niche? Have you ever rebranded, changed directions, or rediscovered something you loved creating years ago? I’d love to hear your story in the comments.

For more reflections on creativity, self-discovery, mental health, and building an art business your own way, visit AbbyJuli.com. You can also explore my creative wellness projects through Cozy Critter Studio.

Ten years later, still creating. Still evolving. Still figuring it out.

— Doing My Best-ish