We recently connected with Sydney Khan and have shared our conversation below.

Sydney, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

This thought crosses my mind often, when I am juggling multiple projects mid week and my brain feels like it is just going to fry. As a self employed and self motivated artist, the goals I have and the deadlines that I face require and rely on my inner focus and fortitude. I often think about the challenges that come with a more structured 9-5 job, I paint this picture of commuting and engaging in small talk and then coming home and closing the chapter on that part of my day. I know that there is more that happens in a more traditional work environment, but my imagination fills in the blanks when I think of more traditional forms of work.

Overall I am happier being self employed and running my own business. I never really fit into the demands that are required when you are on someone else’s timeline and I don’t have the patience for office politics. I don’t like jumping through hoops or adhering to static and antiquated hierarchical ways of managing and relating to people.

I like to take days to walk through the woods and lay in the sun and end the day painting and answering a couple of emails. I also love the fact that I can wake up and make a cup of tea and settle into a full work day at home with my dogs and the freedom to hit a yoga class midday or switch up the energy. I like making my own schedule and I do encounter a lot of stress and challenges, but the reward and fulfillment from completing a project or embarking on a new timeline fills my spirit up more than the stress and obstacles ever will. I get to make choices and decisions with more autonomy and freedom and that is the greatest gift on this self directed path.

Overall I have found what works for me. I know that we have programmed to believe there is an authority outside of ourselves with all the answers. We have the questions and we have the answers. I have experienced what i like and what I don’t like and that has informed and guided my journey as a small business owner and artist. The more you understand yourself and your needs you will find or create the environment unapologetically and never look back. You will be more motivated to follow your intuition and your own path without needing to be validated by people on paths that are not aligned with your unique energy, values and habits.

Sydney, 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 am a self taught artist and business owner. I am a treasure collector and sell at multiple brick and mortars throughout Washington. I can also be found at local events selling vintage clothing and handmade jewelry. I am exploring ritual sculpture art and nature installation pieces. I practice different healing modalities in different forms of energy work. My work is a connection to the physical and spiritual. A bridge between the natural and supernatural, a conversation with myself and a visual exploration of the journey.

My path is not conventional, it strays outside of boxes and colors outside of the lines. It feels hard to explain because I am so used to following my spirit as my guide which can be challenging to translate. My work lies in liberation and connection. My intention is to spark and stoke the fires within other creators and free thinkers. The journey is the art.

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

I have had to unlearn self doubt. For a long time it felt like an excuse to hide. An excuse to not make work. An excuse to believe that I was not an artist. An excuse to stay uninspired and frustrated. I also know that overly identifying with any identity can be detrimental to the creative process as well. Let yourself bloom and blossom. our spirit and soul is drawn to passions like a bee to honey. Let that unfold organically.

Self doubt made me feel isolated and hidden. I felt like a butterfly that just refused to come out of the cocoon. Your heart is meant to be shared with the world, everything that lights you up. That makes you feel alive and free. Of course there are some things which are secret and sacred, but the insecurity and fear that came with sharing my work circled back to me not feeling worthy of taking up time or space. Or stepping aside because someone else’s work was “better” than mine. We are all on different parts of the journey and are all inherently worthy to be seen and loved and accepted.

Breaking free and through these aspects of doubt and negative self talk have vastly improved my connection to my work and community. The work becomes more fulfilling and exciting. The depression clears with the expression. Creativity is a lifeline when you have sailed out into open waters and can’t find your way back. Self doubt clears when you stop apologizing for your gifts and express them.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I had dabbled in jewelry making and selling vintage clothing for about five years prior to doing this work full time. A majority of my income comes from my vintage business at this moment. It is a stepping stone leading me closer towards being fully supported by my art and energy work. During the pandemic my partner and I really shifted into doing this work full time, we reached out to shops and did events. We started establishing our online businesses and spending time strategizing together. We committed time and energy consistently to building out and creating our side hustle to our main gig. it takes time and patience and the scaling might push you to your limits.

We started out listing items online and just doing events. Fast forward three years and we are now we are stocked by over five local shops and are considering opening up our own shop/art studio workspace. We still do events and list online and can afford to have an employee help us with our responsibilities and business goals.

My advice would be to go for it and make sure that you are showing up in person just as much as you show up online. It’s easy to get discouraged when online sales are not where you thought they would be, but meeting people face to face and connecting makes a profound difference in getting your work and message out there. Finding community and networks of like minded and hearted people will keep you sustained and energized to continue forging your own path. reaching out to partner with local business or host a workshop are great ways to connect with community. Getting creative when things aren’t working out will strengthen your problem solving abilities.

Ultimately you will reach a crossroads and make decisions about your future depending on where you are at you can plan and scale for this or you can just jump. Both options are great and depend on your comfort levels. I have gotten pretty used to having my back against the wall and scrambling to get creative and generate revenue, at this point in my business it is an opportunity to get creative and figure something out. So far I have been able to figure it out every time, this doesn’t mean I am doing everything perfectly but I am in motion and I am consistent.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sydneykhan.com/
• Instagram: @_sydneykhan and @etheric_vintage