In another life we lived on half an acre at Mt Macedon. A gorgeous house surrounded by a luscious, flowering garden. I loved everything about that garden and spent many long hours maintaining it, and as many hours sitting on the balcony admiring it.
It always used to amuse me when I’d overhear conversations about low maintenance but fast growing gardens. It’s an oxymoron. If something is fast growing it can’t be low maintenance. It’s not a thing. It’s nonsensical.
There’s a direct correlation with design agencies. If you want something to grow, be robust and healthy, you have to be there to maintain it. Maybe not as much physically but certainly mentally. It is not a part-time gig.
To be sustainable, businesses need maintenance, just like gardens, because they’re continually changing and evolving.
The needs of clients have changed. The needs of their end customers have changed. Tech has changed. Workplaces have changed. And our competitors have changed.
So it’s not wrong to ‘think’ business 24/7. What’s dangerous is to think of work in isolation from anything else.
Recently I heard life should be like a fruit bowl: a ‘good’ fruit bowl includes a variety of fruit.
Likewise life needs a mixture of activities for balance.
Not everyone should be a business owner, and that’s OK
Being a business owner and the responsibility that comes with that is not for everyone. Not everyone sits comfortably with the 24/7 responsibility.
For some, the stress of responsibility leads to burnout and mental and physical ill-health. Designers who flourish as employees stumble at business ownership. That’s because we’re not clones. Everyone has their secret power, the skill is uncovering yours.
So what
Two points to end with.
Regardless of what social media says, not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur, a founder or a business owner and that’s absolutely OK. I don’t think enough people say that.
If you are a founder and your business is on your mind 24/7, maybe that’s reality. The skill is being able to push it to the back of your mind sometimes. Remember the fruit bowl.
If you are reading this during November 2026, the Never Not Creative Mentally Healthy survey is open. Please take 30 minutes to share your experience working in the creative industry. We only ask every 2 years. Everyone is always super-interested in the results. We only get the results from participation and the more voices, the more robust the results.
Please support the survey by doing it and sharing it with others.
What do you think?
What have I got wrong?
As always, happy to discuss further, just email Carol
Carol Mackay
Want more insights like this? Subscribe below. (And tell your friends )
The Design Business Review is Australia’s only online design management magazine. It’s professional development information written specifically for Australian designers by Australian designers. Best of all, it’s free.
