Multi-hyphenate

Last week, I found myself carefully framing illustrations for a gallery exhibit.

Yes, my illustrations. The ones I’ve called ‘just a hobby’ for decades.

It started with a casual conversation after dropping off the kids. A friend asking if I wanted to exhibit some prints alongside other artists in his space.

I responded the same casual way - ‘sure, why not?’ - as I’ve always approached my art since I was getting in trouble for drawing in school books.

But then something shifted.

I watched him thoughtfully discussing formats, frames, carefully considering each piece, treating these illustrations with an intention I’d never allowed myself to give them.

And it made me wonder: How often do we downplay parts of ourselves because they don’t fit neatly into our professional narrative?

As a brand strategist, I often see this pattern with clients. We edit ourselves, hiding the unique elements that could actually set our brands apart.

We try to fit into what we think our business should look like, rather than embracing what makes us distinctive.

Yet here I'm catching myself tucking away a significant part of MY own story because it didn’t perfectly fit the box I had designed for my career.

Here’s what I’m learning: We don’t have to choose. We don’t have to make ourselves smaller or neater or more easily categorized.

Our seemingly unrelated passions often inform each other in unexpected ways - as people and as brands.

Sometimes it takes someone else treating your work like it matters to remember that it always has.

So here’s to embracing all the parts of our professional identity - even (especially!) the ones we’ve labeled ‘just’ hobbies.