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

Hi Lauren, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
When I started my small business, things were, as expected, slow. Balance was easy. I could walk the dog, sleep a little longer, spend time with friends and take time off. I had the ability to work when I wanted to, which was exactly what I hoped for. The new energy from my business gave me a “yes” mentality. I could do anything, and I did. Over time, balance has become nonexistent and it’s scary. When a small business becomes a successful business, at least in my case, it meant less dog walks, less sleep and less time for the little things I so enjoyed. It’s an interesting place to be in — reflecting on your humble beginnings and mind-numbing growth and yet, I’ve found that I miss the initial balance. I miss the freedom and flexibility of a business at its roots. The strike of a pandemic only led to more work and less time off. This has brought me to a point where balance is not about saying yes, but about saying no — saving my energy for dream work, committing only to the necessary and setting boundaries for myself and my clients. Running a business can be lonely and when you lose yourself in the work, you lose any sense of balance. So to those who are still new in business, I say, enjoy it and work hard without overworking. To those with growing pains like myself, I say, set those boundaries, use your “no” and don’t forget to live your life. Don’t forget why you started your small business.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’m an SEO copywriter for creatives — photographers, web designers, florists, planners, etc. I’m most proud of creating this business from scratch. I had no mentors or workshops. I figured it out on my own, and while I wouldn’t recommend it, it’s my story now.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
1 week in Fort Worth would be full of dining, walking and exploring. We would start out at the Stockyards with an iced tea from a local shop. From there, we would browse the shops and eat dinner at Joe T. Garcia’s. The next day would consist of a trip to the Water Gardens with coffee at Sons Coffee, followed by a hike at Tandy Hills. We would visit the Trinity River, eat at Eatzi’s and take the dog over to Mutt’s Cantina.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to thank my husband, Gwyn. He lets me spend our evenings talking about work, he watches the puppy when my meetings seem to last all day and he runs our household while I run the business. He is the only reason I’ve stayed afloat.

Website: https://saltedpages.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltedpages/

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Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/saltedpages/_created/

Image Credits
The Bledsoes Photography

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