Jessica Comingore Donais
A creative director’s perspective on designating periods of social media hibernation, creative experimentation in the kitchen, and slowing down to enjoy a hobby.
Words by SARAH MAGIDOFF
Photographs by LAURE JOLIET
WHAT DOES “SLOW ENTREPRENEURSHIP MEAN TO YOU?
JCD: To me, slow entrepreneurship means honoring one’s own pace as a business owner, and understanding that self care is not a luxury, but rather a major part of one’s success. In short, slow entrepreneurship is the antidote to burnout.
TALK ABOUT A TIME YOU CHOSE TO PRIORITIZE SOMETHING PERSONAL OR MEANINGFUL OVER THE DEMANDS OF WORK. HOW DID THAT DECISION MAKE YOU FEEL?
JCD: In the midst of some of my largest deadlines last year, I decided to take a long weekend away to visit with family. In years past, I would have felt incredibly guilty and likely would’ve foregone the trip to be at my computer, perfecting a presentation until the eleventh hour. But in recent years, I’ve experienced a significant shift in my priorities. I’ve realized that life doesn’t end with you wishing you spent more time working. It ends with you reflecting on the times you spent and memories you made with those you love.
TALK ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU SACRIFICED YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE SUCCESS OF YOUR BUSINESS. IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND OFFER THAT PERSON ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
JCD: Let’s just say my entire 20’s. For nearly a decade, I put my work, my identity through my work, and my success as a result of my work before just about everything else in my life. It pains me a bit to look back on, but I also know that I wouldn’t be the person I am at the place that I’m at had I not gone through that chapter. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself, “you are more than what you do.”
WHEN NOT WORKING, HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR FREE TIME?
JCD: Being in the kitchen is when I find myself happiest and most at ease. I find that it scratches a creative itch that I just can’t scratch with work. I think it’s a combination of the hands-on aspect of cooking, and the fact that there is no expectation around a particular outcome. It’s one of the few places that I allow myself to experiment and be judgement-free. When not in the kitchen, I’m typically outdoors walking, hiking, or soaking in nature.
WE’RE ALL ABOUT WORKING SMARTER, NOT HARDER. WHAT SHORTCUT(S) OR HACKS HAVE YOU IMPLEMENTED THAT HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR ENERGY WELL, RECLAIM MORE OF YOUR TIME, AND REACH YOUR GOALS WITH EASE?
JCD: Last year, I started designating each day of the week to specific morning and afternoon tasks, so I know what to expect and can reserve my energy accordingly. For example, mornings tend to be reserved for creative design work since that’s when I’m the most alert and creative, while afternoons are dedicated to calls and email correspondence. This has also helped nip procrastination in the bud by not having as much wiggle room to roll an unfinished task over to the next day.
WHAT UNORTHODOX BUSINESS PRACTICE HAVE YOU PUT IN PLACE TO HELP YOU MAINTAIN WORK-LIFE BOUNDARIES?
JCD: I’m currently taking a “winter hibernation” from social media. I find it tricky to be fully present in my experiences (or my work) while simultaneously trying to document or share it, and it feels important to me to experience this current chapter of my life in private. I’m sure I’ll hop back on in time, but I’m waiting for it to feel like a “want” rather than a “should.”
HAVE YOU HAD TO MAKE ANY PROFESSIONAL SACRIFICES IN ORDER TO HAVE MORE FREE TIME?
JCD: I would say the biggest sacrifices have come as a result of owning what I’d like my life to look like, and building a business that supports that. This may mean passing on a project that excites me because it requires an expedited timeline that I know I’d have to overwork myself to meet. Or turning down the opportunity to scale, as a larger overhead inherently means less flexibility in my schedule.
HOW DOES YOUR BUSINESS LOOK DIFFERENT NOW THAT YOU’VE LEARNED TO SLOW DOWN?
JCD: It looks (and feels) a lot more intentional. Whether that be the number or type of projects I take on, the speed at which I execute them, or the way in which I manage them. It involves a lot less guilt, and a lot more honoring of my needs and limits.
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU?
www.instagram.com/jessicacomingore
www.pinterest.com/jessicacomingre
Jessica is the founder of Marbury, a boutique branding studio specializing in refined identities and brand alignment for creative entrepreneurs.