The CEO, the Maker, and the Hustler: It’s All Me
Running a One-Man Business Means Wearing Every Hat—And Owning Every Win.
Running a business on your own is often romanticized as the ultimate expression of freedom—being your own boss, setting your schedule, pursuing your passion.
And while all of that is true, there’s another side to it that doesn’t get talked about enough: the constant hustle, the weight of responsibility, and the ever-looming shadow of burnout.
From designing and crafting each piece to shipping, marketing, sales, customer service, and everything in between, there’s no team to delegate to, no one else to shoulder the weight.
It’s just me, wearing all the hats and juggling every ball in the air.
It’s me cleaning the toilet, and it’s me adding oil to my power hammer and tools.
Here’s the truth about my journey: I didn’t start with seed money, venture capital, or angel investors. There were no big funding rounds or safety nets—just bits and pieces, crumbs really, and a whole lot of determination.
Every step I’ve taken has been bootstrapped, built from the ground up with whatever resources I could pull together. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s taught me resilience, creativity, and how to make the most out of very little.
This journey hasn’t been about instant success—it’s been about grit, passion, and believing in what I’m building, no matter the odds.
Some days, it feels empowering. I get to shape every aspect of this business with my vision, pour my heart into each piece, and connect directly with the people who appreciate what I make.
But other days? It feels like the entire world rests on my shoulders, and I can’t set it down, even for a moment. If I stop, everything stops. There’s no safety net, no one to pick up the slack.
And that’s the hardest part—knowing that every step forward is entirely up to me. It’s the late nights, the long hours, the bills, the endless tasks.
It’s the pressure of knowing that every success—and every mistake—lands squarely at my feet.
Burnout creeps in when the grind overtakes the passion.
It’s not just about working long hours (though those definitely play a role); it’s about feeling like I can never step away.
The to-do list never ends. There’s always an email to answer, a project to finish, or an errand to run.
If I run out of something, I don’t just send a request to a purchasing department.
I am the purchasing department.
Whenever I go out of town for work, my entire shop comes to a halt. With no one to step in and keep the studio running, it means everything—from production to potential sales—comes to a standstill. It’s one of the challenges of being a one-person operation, where every moment away can mean missing out on opportunities to grow and keep things moving forward.
Now, you might be wondering why I haven’t hired anyone.
The truth is, I’ve tried—many times.
But finding reliable help has been a constant struggle.
It’s rare to find someone who consistently shows up on time, let alone has the training or expertise needed in my niche field.
No one cares about my business the way I do, and I don’t expect them to.
I’ve even lowered my expectations to just asking for the bare minimum, but unfortunately, that’s proven difficult to get as well.
On top of all that, labor is incredibly expensive, and I’ve come dangerously close to going into debt trying to make it work.
If I’m being completely honest, working 60-100 hours a week with no days off has been burning me out in ways I didn’t expect.
I take good care of myself, and I am grateful to have the stamina to keep going, so it’s not the physical labor that’s taxing.
For me, burnout feels like a loss of connection—not just to the work, but to myself. The joy that fueled me in the beginning can start to feel like a distant memory, buried under the weight of responsibilities.
And that’s the hardest part—when the thing you love becomes the thing that exhausts you.
So, I’ve pivoted.
Despite the blurred lines between work and life, I’m learning to find balance and rediscover the joy that inspired me to start this journey in the first place.
The CEO, the Maker, and the Hustler: It’s All Me.
Every success I celebrate, and every challenge I face comes down to the same person—me.
Owning every loss *and* win is both empowering and exhausting, a constant balancing act between chasing my passion and managing the relentless demands of being a one-person operation. The wins reignite my drive, fueling me forward, while the losses can leave me completely drained.
I’ve celebrated some remarkable victories on this entrepreneurial journey, but I’ve also shouldered the weight of countless losses.
I’ve owned every single loss, but from this moment forward, I’m claiming nothing but wins.
As I look ahead to 2025, one word keeps coming to mind: reinvention.
It’s more than a theme in my life—it’s a mindset, a call to embrace transformation and step boldly into new opportunities, projects, and changes that lie ahead.
This next year will be about taking what I’ve built, what I’ve learned, and what I’ve experienced and reshaping it into something even more meaningful, creative, and aligned with who I am and where I’m headed.
Reinvention isn’t about abandoning the past; it’s about evolving, finding new ways to approach challenges, and unlocking the potential in what’s already here.
It won’t be simple, and the effort won’t diminish, but it will bring a much-needed sense of relief and clarity to my life.
I’ve come this far, and there’s no way I’m stopping now.
I’m thrilled to be working on some truly incredible projects that feel like a culmination of everything I’ve been striving for.
I’m making space for growth, for learning, and for the unexpected twists that make the journey worthwhile.
Change can be daunting, but it’s also exhilarating. The opportunities I see on the horizon have me feeling energized, inspired, and ready to push boundaries—both creatively and personally.
2025 is going to be a year of building, dreaming, and daring to do things differently.
I’m filled with hope as I look toward the horizon, excited for what’s next and ready to embrace the opportunities and possibilities that lie ahead.
I’m just so glad you’re here with me.
How are you embracing changes in your life this coming year? Let me know in the comments.
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pssst! The Damasteel Chef Invitational takes place tomorrow!
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