What to Do When You Have Zero Commissions on the Calendar…

After kicking off the year with a whopping $100K in just a few months, you’d think I’d be riding that momentum straight into summer, paintbrush in hand, calendar packed. Instead? I found myself staring at a blank schedule, wondering what happened.

Spoiler: I know exactly what happened.

I burned myself out.

The first part of the year was a whirlwind—nonstop painting, nonstop outreach, nonstop content. I sprinted through the weeks, checking boxes, meeting deadlines, keeping the engine running at full throttle. And then… Missouri spring hit. The sun came out, the chickens needed feeding, the garden was calling, and suddenly, painting for clients didn’t feel like the top priority anymore.

It wasn’t just the weather or the animals, though. I wanted to be around people I genuinely enjoy—family, friends, the kind of folks who don’t ask for project revisions.

When commissions slow down, I always ask myself the same thing: Is this the universe nudging me to do the things I’ve been pushing aside? The personal projects. The ideas gathering dust in the back of my mind. Like finally picking up canvas painting again, just for me.

Still, the excuses crept in:
“I’m just not motivated.”
“Maybe it’s a slow season around here.”

But let’s be honest—those are soft landings we give ourselves when we're resisting the real work. Motivation isn’t some magical breeze that shows up when we need it. It’s more like a muscle that needs constant movement to stay active.

So now, I’m taking the quiet as a cue. Not to panic. Not to spiral. But to reset. To dig into the things I’ve been meaning to explore, to recharge with intention, and to remind myself that a lull doesn’t mean failure—it’s just part of the rhythm.

After all, gardens don’t grow overnight. Neither do fresh ideas. But both need space, light, and a little less hustle to bloom.