By far the most common conversation we have with the folks we interview is about work-life balance. Starting a business or pursuing a creative career makes finding work life balance really tough because there is no clear start and end to one’s work day. We’ve shared some of our conversations on the topic below.

Amanda Morton | Costume Concept and Illustration | Story and Design Research Assistant

I used to have a terrible work-life balance. When I was younger I focused heavily on work to my own detriment. Now that I focus on having that balance and keeping a sustainable pace I’m in a better place. Balance for me is having my needs met and fulfilling my creative duties. Read more>>

Briony Albert | Dancer and Choreographer

The dance industry is constantly changing; one minute you are at home mopping the floor, the next you are out on a world tour! The thought of booking a holiday in two months time with the prospect of missing out on an audition or job sends me out in hives! Read more>>

Sarah Kim | Audio Engineer & Music Producer & Songwriter

Working in LA has fundamentally shifted my perspective on work-life balance. As an audio engineer, music producer, and songwriter, I often find myself working through the night and juggling a hectic schedule. In my early career, I prided myself on regularly enduring sleep deprivation and irregular eating habits, believing it was part of paying my dues and putting in hard work and tears for the industry.  Read more>>

David McCracken | Writer, Filmmaker, Educator

Learning to say “no.” So much has been made about saying “yes” to everything. I was raised Catholic in the Midwest, so saying “yes” to everything was burned into my DNA. Saying “no” made you feel guilty. Saying “no” was rude. Read more>>

Surui Guo | Writer/Director/Cinematographer

The concept of work-life balance, especially in the demanding and often unpredictable world of film, has been an evolving journey for me. In the early days of my career, I found myself completely immersed in my work, often at the expense of personal time and relationships. Read more>>

Quin Cody | Restaurant Owner

The concept of work-life balance, as presented by our country, is something we struggle with regularly. I’m not sure it actually exists as something obtainable, but rather as something we strive for. As self-starting entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry, the traditional notion of work-life balance doesn’t exist for us, or at least not in the terms most people would understand. Read more>>

Carolina / Paco Montestruque | Artists & owners of Montestruque jewelry inc

As parents running our own business, we didn’t think much about balance in the beginning. We were too focused on handling the demands of parenthood and entrepreneurship while keeping our customers happy. But as time passed, we learned that balance is crucial, especially as artists. Read more>>

Element Zhang | Tattoo Artist

As a tattoo artist, the evolution of my work-life balance over time has trended towards equilibrium, though it took me a long time to find this balance. In the early stages of my career, I was completely immersed in refining my skills, often spending extended hours at the studio. Read more>>

Dr. Mallory Feinberg-Hewitt, D.C., Dr. Jack Hewitt, D.C. n/a | Chiropractor

Kinesis Chiropractic and Physical Medicine began somewhat spontaneously. After meeting in chiropractic college and practicing in separate offices for a couple years, we got married in 2012. Soon after, Jack left his job as an employee at a very busy practice in Orange County to be able to pursue a different approach to patient care. We joined together in practice in Los Alamitos and Kinesis was born. Read more>>