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

Rachel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I’ve always been a creative at heart, so yes, I am very happy that I can earn a living doing what I love. Working online from home has its pros and cons, but I love the excitement that comes from being your own boss. The sky is the limit with what you can achieve—and it all has to do with the creative things you love most!

Now that said, I have definitely wondered what it would be like to have a regular job. I have had my own business since I was 16, so I never got a “regular” 9-5 job. It would be very different for sure!

Rachel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I got into the blogging industry before I even turned 18. It all started because I wanted to earn a living through my craft—crocheting. As I looked online, I could tell that those who earned the real money from crocheting were the ones who designed and shared patterns (rather than selling individual items). It has been quite a journey since I first started Desert Blossom Crafts. It took me a few years to find my footing in the industry and start making money, but once I did, there was no going back. I now have 3 blogs (littleredpiano.com and gingerdivine.com are the other two) and each one allows me to share my passions in a unique way! Between the 3 websites, I get to create crochet designs, recipes, and sheet music.

Entrepreneurship is something that runs in my family, so one thing I’m proud of is the fact that I can continue that legacy. Someday I hope to teach my children that with hard work and determination, they can start their own business and follow their dreams like I did!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, one of the best parts about being a creative is that I get to inspire and help others. For example, it is so rewarding when I make a video tutorial that my audience appreciates. I have one video in particular that gives my best tips for crocheting a certain difficult stitch pattern. I have had numerous people comment on that video telling me they were in tears over learning this technique, but my video “saved” them. Those comments inspire me to keep going and keep creating helpful content.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One hard lesson I had to learn is that blogging is not ALL about creativity. When I first started blogging, my biggest focus was on creativity. The designs I worked on were all about me and what I thought was unique. However, this approach doesn’t always bring in an income. Eventually, I learned that I had to use what my audience wanted as a baseline for my creativity. I rely heavily on SEO (google search) and Pinterest to bring in visitors. So now, I look for the trending things people are searching for on those platforms before deciding what I content I am going to make.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://desertblossomcrafts.com
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/desertblossomcraft
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6wopwMVP7AGxN4WGX7CeRA
• Other: Secondary Websites: https://littleredpiano.com https://gingerdivine.com