I’m starting to interview all the people that I admire. The ones that inspire me. The ones I hope to emulate someday. I want to know how they did it.. how they got from where I am to where they are. And I want to know how they continue to do it.. how they make it work day in and day out.

from the Creatives Project, meet Kathleen.
(All photos and content are courtesy of Kathleen Shannon.)

Kathleen Shannon is an ad agency senior art director turned freelancer turned brand consultant. Her approach to capturing, shaping and sharing overlaps her profession, her life and her blog. Kathleen’s layered-modern-messy-adventurous-authentic aesthetic pervades everything from her clothes to her home to her food. She’ll follow a whim from the foothills of Mount Everest to a reality show audition just to have a good story to tell.

Kathleen’s experience advising freelancers and startup businesses on how to blog, brand, market themselves and just get plain organized, have made her a sought after guest blogger, peer advisor and most recently, speaker.

Go on, say hello:

• Personal Blog: www.jeremyandkathleen.blogspot.com
• Professional Blog: www.braidcreative.com
• Twitter: @andkathleen
• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/braidcreative/

1. So. What do you do?
I do a lot of things but if I had to narrow it down to a couple of things I would say that I am a creative consultant who also executes branding. I am a blogger and a storyteller.

2. What other jobs have you held? Can you briefly describe your career path over the years?
I graduated (with a degree in Fine Arts, Emphasis in Visual Communications) from The University of Oklahoma I got a job as a designer at a local alternative weekly newspaper. I was designing black and white print ads for jewelers and seedy plastic surgeons. But I met a lot of really cool people at that job and had a few really fun projects (like helping to style and design a special fashion section). After a year I was recruited by an advertising agency. I worked my way up to senior art director there where I developed and designed branding and promotional campaigns for everyone from the NBA Hornets to not-so-seedy plastic surgeons.

3. Sometimes the hardest part is just choosing a path to pursue, how did you narrow down your options and decide what to pursue?
I was always really artistic and creative growing up but I had a passion for science. When I went to college it was either art or pre-med. I ended up modeling my choices after that of my big sister. We have the same degree and even worked at the same ad agency for years together.

4. What was your biggest fear when you left your previous job?
It was kind of scary giving up the title and clout of working at an ad agency. I was scared that I was flushing years worth of experience down the toilet to chase a silly dream.

5. What were the biggest (or most unexpected) challenges you faced a. being employed, b. freelancing and c. starting your own business?
Being employed: Here’s the deal. When I was in college all I wanted was a job. And I had a really great one - but sometimes no matter how fabulous your job is on paper - work is still work. That was challenging.

Freelancing: I was surprised at how much I relied on validation from my peers and creative director. Freelancing at first was awfully lonely and scary.

Starting my own business: I’ve stepped it up a notch from freelancing to starting my own business. What’s tricky here is that I’m smart and I’m creative but I’m still trying to figure out how to think like a business woman. For so long the reward has been in loving what I do - but now I’m trying to find a way to make serious bank (and not feel guilty about it).

6. What do you love most about your job now? What is the hardest part?
I’ve shifted from designing to consulting and coaching. I was surprised to learn how much I love helping and inspiring other artistpreneurs and microbusinesses. The hardest part is to not think about my business all. the. time. I constantly finding that balance between work and play.

7. Do you ever feel burned out creatively? If so, how do you combat those feelings?
Yes. God, yes. I have found the only way to combat burn out is to create even more. I’ll work on a project that’s just for me (like the Nepal series where I traveled, documented, designed and shared my experience trekking to Mt. Everest Base Camp). Or I’ll listen to some new music - cook a new meal - or clean out my space.

8. When juggling your blog, websites, social networking addictions, clients and family, how do you stay balanced? How do you keep all the plates spinning?
I’m truly passionate about capturing, documenting, shaping and sharing everything. I’ve learned how to create this grey area between life and work and blogging that allows me to get a lot done all the time. I’ve also learned how to say no - I say no to anything I don’t want to do.

9. Do you have any advice for young creatives in regard to discovering and pursuing your passion?
I recently read the book Outliers (you should read it too). There is a specific chapter where it talks about how it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at anything - it’s about the equivalent of 10 years. So I would tell young creatives to keep on keeping on - eventually you’ll get to 10,000 hours. Over those 10,000 hours you will have lots of success and lots of disappointment but you’ll come out the other end feeling like an expert. There is nothing better than that feeling but know that it takes time and stick-to-it-tiveness.

Beyond that - make sure to let the world know what your passion is. Blogging is a great way to do that. People will want to help you succeed if they know what you’re working towards.

10. What’s next?
Aside from world domination? I’m working on an eBook series on how to Freelance. I’m really getting into creative coaching and consulting through Braid to help other creatives be authentic and work better. And I just booked a trek to explore the Carpathian Mountains in Poland next summer!

Thank you Kathleen! If you’re on your own creative journey and would like to share your story, send me a message. I’d love to hear from you!