We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Megan Thomas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Megan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I left my corporate job of 13 years in late 2019, and started Mind Over Matter Publications. The only reason I have been able to go on this amazing journey is due to my supportive husband. Kyle didn’t see the full picture at first, but he believed in me. So he took on all the financial burden to give me the space and time needed to develop the family business.

Working for someone else, I wrote when I had the time. Today, I utilize my extra time wisely. There is a huge learning curve plunging into the literary world as well as a first time small business owner. I also had to build my pen name, Angel Lee, at the same time too. It’s different working for yourself vs someone else. Even now there is doubt sometimes, but I have to drown it out. I rely on project management experience, and hope the risks are worth it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have always had a passion for writing. A child can have a big imagination if it’s fostered in the right way. My grandmother was a writer, that got passed down to my mother and then me. My family moved from my hometown of Marion, SC to Atlanta, Georgia during middle school. Living in a larger city gave me access to many opportunities. I attended Henry W. Grady High School (now known as Midtown High School). There I enrolled in their Communications Magnet Program; theater concentration.

Being exposed to the fine arts through programs like the Alliance Theatre’s Reviewers’ Circle was great me. I was given the ability to write reviews, be a part of theatre productions, and many other things attending that high school. In college, even though my major was biology, I participated in plays, etc. Changing my major to history my last year in college only opened me up and exposed me to various topics.

Essentially I’m a tv & movie loving, bibliophile, Words with Friends enthusiast, anime obsessed, nerd lol.

Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?

I’m a “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” type of girl, and I had to discover quick about other ways to earn cash. At first, I thought I would just be publishing my books. I imagined myself on the the NYTimes Best Sellers List, and living off those sales for a few months. BOY, WAS I MISTAKEN! Me debuting at the start of the pandemic, I had to navigate virtual business in a new way. Social media is a great tool, but without the comfort of in-person book appearances I was counting on, this was all new territory.

Delving into aromatherapy with products like my #AmWriting Collection has created more ways to make money. This has led to candle workshop partnerships with businesses like the Ujamaa Bookstore, and hosting private parties across Indianapolis. I started with the goal of helping authors self-publish, and now have expanded to business coaching all types of business owners. Fundraising is also a big source of income. Fundraising with orgs like Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., Cordell & Friends, Micah’s Voice, Indy Juneteenth, along with some political campaigns helps keep the doors open.

In 2021, I began searching for store placement. I am in a few stores around the country with more expansion later this year. I have my products in nail shops, and I work with a few realtors on customized closing gifts. My aromatherapy private label program in which businesses get to create scent around their brand. My journal program assists with designing and printing journals for other companies.

I print through Amazon KDP, and one of their guidelines is if you print with them, you have sell that item on their website. This has been paying off in ways I didn’t think possible. So many people go to Amazon for personal and business, and now they have access my inventory. My products being listed also means I don’t have to manage it. When people order through Amazon, they print and ship on behalf of Mind Over Matter.

Thinking outside of the box has kept my business afloat.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Being around other creatives is something special to me at the moment. I was on the hamster wheel of work, family, sleep, repeat for over a decade, and I felt stuck. Having the courage to leave and pursue my own path was terrifying, but it has been extremely fulfilling.

Coming back outside during the pandemic made me realize I missed interacting with people. Mingling with other people who have an affinity for being creative fills my cup.  Participating at vendor events like Melanin in May opened me up to various possibilities as a small business owner. I am energized, and I get to vibe with some talented people.

Another thing that is rewarding is business coaching. I get to converse with people on a weekly/monthly basis about their business(es). I love learning about other processes as well as helping them succeed. It inspires and encourages me to continue to be open and receptive for myself and business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mompublications.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mom_publications?igshid=9tecy6qweyiw
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/MOMPublications/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MOMPublications
• Other: https://linktr.ee/MindOverMatterPublications