A Millennial Trying Her Best-ish While Running an Online Business

Because apparently surviving adulthood wasn’t challenging enough, I decided to become my own boss… while still having a regular job.

Remember when we were kids in the ‘90s and thought being an adult meant having everything figured out?

A steady job. A house. Financial stability. Maybe a little extra money for fun things.

Yeah.

That was adorable.

Fast-forward to my 30s, and here I am running an online business, working a regular job, managing multiple websites, creating digital products, designing artwork, building apps, and trying to remember whether I’ve actually eaten lunch.

And somehow, I’m still wondering what I want to be when I grow up.

Welcome to being a millennial entrepreneur.

Where we’re all supposedly building our dream lives, but half of us are exhausted, Googling things we learned yesterday, and questioning our life choices at 3 AM.

I Didn’t Exactly Plan on Becoming an Entrepreneur

I’ve always been creative.

Art, photography, graphic design, writing, crafting — if it involves making something, chances are I’ve probably tried it.

I’ve been building my own little creative businesses since 2016.

And let me tell you, it’s been a journey.

Different business names.

Different websites.

Different products.

Different ideas.

Lots of trial and error.

And approximately 500 moments of wondering what on earth I’m doing.

Over the years, my creativity has evolved into what I’m building today with Abby Juli Journal, The Millennial Mind, my Etsy shop, and Cozy Critter Studio.

What started as wanting to share my artwork has grown into a whole collection of blogs, self-care resources, digital products, and apps.

Sometimes I look at everything I’ve created and think, Wow, I actually built all this.

Other times, I look at everything and think, Why did I give myself so many responsibilities?

Both feelings can exist at the same time.

Being Your Own Boss Sounds Fun Until You Realize You’re Every Employee

Here’s something nobody really prepares you for when you start a small online business.

You’re not just the owner.

You’re the graphic designer.

The writer.

The photographer.

The website developer.

The marketing department.

The customer service representative.

The social media manager.

The person fixing technical problems at midnight.

And occasionally, the employee having an emotional breakdown because the website layout refuses to cooperate.

Plot twist: They’re all me.

And because I still have a regular job, running my creative business happens between work shifts, household responsibilities, errands, and whatever energy I have left.

Some days, I feel incredibly motivated.

Other days, opening my laptop feels like another responsibility on an already endless to-do list.

Which is ironic because creating things is supposed to be one of the activities that helps me relax.

Somehow, I managed to turn one of my favorite hobbies into another thing I occasionally stress about.

Very millennial of me.

The Internet Makes Running a Business Look Way Easier Than It Is

You know those posts?

“I made $10,000 in my first month selling digital products!”

“How I quit my 9-to-5 and became my own boss!”

“Make passive income while you sleep!”

Meanwhile, I’m over here celebrating when someone actually clicks on one of my Etsy listings.

Because here’s the reality that doesn’t always make it into those success stories.

Sometimes you spend hours designing something, creating mockups, writing descriptions, researching keywords, and promoting your product.

And then?

Nothing.

No sales.

No favorites.

Maybe a handful of views.

And you start questioning everything.

Is my artwork good enough?

Am I promoting it wrong?

Does anyone actually want what I’m creating?

Should I try something else?

Should I just give up?

I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit.

But I’ve also learned that online business success isn’t always as simple as making something and putting it on the internet.

There’s marketing, search visibility, competition, timing, and a lot of learning involved.

And sometimes, even when you’re doing your best, things just don’t take off immediately.

A lack of sales doesn’t automatically mean a lack of talent.

That’s something I’m still trying to remind myself.

The Rebranding Never Ends

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about myself, it’s that I’m constantly evolving.

And apparently, so are my businesses.

I’ve changed names.

Redesigned websites.

Reorganized shops.

Changed products.

Experimented with different platforms.

And started over more times than I can count.

Sometimes I wonder whether I’m being persistent or just really bad at leaving things alone.

Maybe a little of both.

But there’s something I’ve realized.

Not every version of your business is meant to be the final version.

Sometimes you start with one idea and discover something completely different along the way.

Maybe the artwork you originally wanted to sell turns into self-care resources.

Maybe your blog becomes a place where you share more personal reflections.

Maybe your creative hobbies evolve into developing apps.

Or maybe you realize a particular platform just isn’t working for you anymore.

I’m learning that changing direction doesn’t necessarily mean giving up.

Sometimes it means growing.

And sometimes it means recognizing when something is taking more energy than it’s giving back.

The Social Media Struggle Is Real

Can we talk about how exhausting it is to promote yourself online?

Because apparently, creating the actual product is only half the job.

Then you’re supposed to photograph it, make a