We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Keir Dottie Bashmakov a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dottie, appreciate you joining us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

Hi, thank you for having me, I can definitely say that I’ve learned a little bit from every job I’ve ever had. Working as a costume designer taught me how to put a set together, which led to editing jobs that taught me a skill I never thought I’d use again until I started creating content.

There are the more obvious things like becoming a freelance writer, learning how to build websites, and SEO blogging that have been incredibly useful along the way. But in hindsight, every job I’ve had has helped me in some little way to become the creative business owner and person that I am today. I mean, if you want to learn how to deal with all types of people, especially in your comment section, become a barista!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Of course, I’m Keir, but everyone calls me Dottie, and I’m a content creator. When I started My channel, I was just messing around, but it started gaining traction when I posted a video just being my authentic self one day. Realizing that people liked me for me allowed me to open up my heart, accept myself, and get weird with it.

I started making more content, and as a way to use leftover craft supplies, I made a video called Crappy Craft Friday that quickly turned into a license for me to create things without worrying about the outcome. The series has become a way for me to share the joy of just being silly and making something for the sake of making it without worrying about turning out a perfect project every time. Sometimes you get a masterpiece, sometimes not so much, but having the freedom to create and laugh along the way is worth every hot glue burn.

I don’t think real people fall into niches. I certainly don’t. I describe my channel as being crafty, thrifty, and pretty nifty. It’s life presented in DottieVision. It’s all about finding the joy in what’s going on in your world and being your authentic self because you can. It’s life with a little glitter on it. And yes, it gets pretty crafty too.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Oh, for sure. At one point, I had been doing well in my business and decided to quit my day job. Around the same time, there was a shift in the algorithm, and people just weren’t seeing my products. I had to find a way to pay my bills and still have time to make content. I’m grateful to have all these skills that I can fall back on. As anyone pursuing a creative career will tell you, things don’t always go to plan. I think it’s important to remember starting up a day job again doesn’t mean failure. Being creative is all about finding ways to make it work. You’ve just got to be willing, flexible, and resilient as all get out.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

In all honesty, the most rewarding part of being a creative is having the opportunity to truly be yourself. Being your own boss and getting to lean into and enjoy all the weird little ways your mind works is truly a gift and I’m forever grateful for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dottievision.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dottievision/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/dottievision
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/dottievision
• Other: Find me on TikTok @DottieVision https://www.tiktok.com/@dottievision