Meet Codi Chen | Writer & Co-Creator of HeartWorks Writing

We had the good fortune of connecting with Codi Chen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Codi, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
My work-life balance was seemingly nonexistent when I started my entrepreneurial journey. I didn’t exactly plan to open my own business, but after the company my wife (Renee) and I both worked for closed suddenly, we lost the majority of our income. On top of that, Renee was recovering from surgery then and wasn’t yet cleared to work. While we were searching for jobs, living off the little savings we had, I decided to branch out and see if any of the other companies we worked alongside previously would benefit from the technical writing services I was doing for the other company.

After meeting with some of the company owners and explaining our specialized mental health technical writing services, they decided to hire me. My wife and I operate as a team, and together we started our business, HeartWorks Writing. Our schedule was quickly packed, and we decided to put our faith and all that we had into building this business and staying afloat.

We created a job industry that didn’t exist before, so navigating how to run a business and developing policies and procedures from scratch kept us very busy. I became hyper-focused on our work, terrified that we would lose our house and everything we had worked so hard to build. We worked twelve-plus hours a day, seven days a week, for months on end. I wore the #teamhustle label proudly, which led to massive productivity but also incredibly stressful burnout.

We looked honestly at our life and decided to downgrade our lifestyle to increase our inner peace and happiness. We rented out our newly built three-bedroom home, moved almost two hundred miles away to Austin, TX, and rented a five hundred square foot apartment. Although the change in living situations was drastic, the freedom we felt was euphoric. We had the insight when we started our company to work entirely remotely, so moving away from our clients was no big deal.

Over the years, creating a work-life balance has been challenging. The work we were doing dealt heavily with child abuse and traumatic experiences, and I could feel myself becoming less and less excited about the work we were producing. I knew the work was important, but I was exhausted and dreading each day. When we moved, we decided that our peace was the number one priority no matter what. I was honest with Renee about how I was feeling, and we made a plan to sell assets to our company’s technical writing department.

After selling that portion of our company, we were free to explore other avenues that sparked interest in our lives. Now, we work in a more creative realm, writing books and working with individuals, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits, helping them with their writing needs. We don’t take on work that does not align with our mission or values, and we have really worked not to overschedule ourselves.

I’ve found that I must be stern with myself and my schedule in order to create time just for me. I love writing, and the work that I do, but my wife is great at reminding me to stay present in the moment and close my laptop when I’ve been in front of the screen all day. I measure my work-life balance by how peaceful and fulfilled I feel each day.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We often get clients due to the personal connections we make within our community. Whether through fellow entrepreneurs, artists, or word of mouth, we want our clients to know and deeply understand that their story and mission matter.

Currently, we offer copywriting services, editing, book coaching sessions for any phase in the writing process, and content coaching for those starting their social media journey or who need fresh ideas and direction for their business. We also lead different groups throughout the year, such as wRITE to Heal, where people dive into different themes and explore their own inner thoughts and world. We have also designed a Memoir Mindset course, where we have helped individuals start writing their memoirs.

We have also been contracted to ghostwrite someone’s memoir, as well as several children’s books. These clients have incredible stories in their hearts but struggle to put it all on paper or round out the details past first drafts.

One question I’ve been asked repeatedly is how I feel about the immersion of AI writing programs taking business away from me. The truth is, I understand how these tools can be very beneficial for entrepreneurs starting out in their journey and when writing isn’t their strong suit. Especially when funds are tight, I understand the need to use free tools as much as possible. However, I ultimately know that the copy I write outshines anything AI produces. I know that the books I write cannot be generated by AI alone, and the personal touches I create are unmatched. Using my inner peace as a compass, I know that the opportunities that are for me will not miss me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many incredible spots in Austin to visit!

To eat & drink:
Sawyer & Co. for their delicious cajun food and adorable outdoor patio. My favorite is their crawfish etouffee.

Sa-Ten for their overall vibe and delicious teriyaki tofu plate with kale salad and potato salad.

JuiceLand for their Rehydrator Smoothie.

Barley Swine for their chef’s tasting menu (sweet memories here of celebrating the sale of our first business!).

K BBQ for their all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ. I lived in Korea for a few years, and their food is something I miss all the time.

1618 Asian Fusion for their Xiaolongbao and delicious cocktails.

Civil Goat for their seriously delicious coffee and pet goat at the Cuernavaca Dr. location!

Salty Sow for their charcuterie boards.

To shop:
The Little Gay Shop is full of queer books, magazines, apparel, accessories, and a whole community of amazing people. You can even join their monthly book club!

BookPeople for all of their books, accessories, coffee shop, and the whole vibe. I could hang out there all day.

Volunteer:
Raasin in the Sun is a multicultural art nonprofit organization based in Austin! Raasin in the Sun is dedicated to educating, inspiring, uniting, and regenerating communities through cultural arts and environmental initiatives. They are committed to representing creative works and advancing the inclusion of various people, especially women and people of color. Through diverse partnerships, Raasin in the Sun spurs economic development, promotes social change, and improves the physical environment through creative placemaking.

Visit:
2324 Studios for their markets and art gallery. A fantastic collection of local artists selling their creations!

Something Cool Studios for their mosaic shops and gallery.

Harvesting Hope mural at Huston-Tillotson University. This incredible piece inspires hope and highlights environmental injustices East Austin has faced throughout history.

Bolm Road Mural Project off Bolm Rd. to see 900 feet of murals spanning five blocks, recently featured on the PBS Special, Muraling Austin.

Be Well murals at the Lamar Underpass (South of 5th Street). These were made during the pandemic to share positive, uplifting, and informative messages to promote physical and mental health.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not be where I am today without my amazing wife, Renee. Without her guidance, love, support, and encouragement, my life would be very different. She has been essential to the development and success of our business and the reason why I am able to maintain a work-life balance. We work as a team, and she is wonderful at reminding me to close my laptop and re-join the rest of the world now and then.

Also, I would love to shout out my moms, Louise & Kim, who have always been there to support my ideas, artistry, and dreams. This past summer, my father passed away, and I’ve spent several months at my childhood home in Michigan. They’ve provided a space of refuge, a place for me to grieve and heal. Their support is invaluable.

Website: www.heartworksw.com

Instagram: @codielizabeth ; @heartworkswriting

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/codichen/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/codielizabeth8/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL14Dkz6FK8alVm-ZVMEbxYSgdF7OJcYap

Other: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/heartworkswriters