Sarah Van Raden
A potter’s perspective on prioritizing family, walking away from a 10-year career, and slowing down to pursue healing.
Words: SARAH MAGIDOFF
Photographs: KRIS LEBOEUF
WHAT DOES “SLOW ENTREPRENEURSHIP” MEAN TO YOU?
SVR: It means focusing my creative energy towards that things that make me feel inspired, happy and benefit both my business and my life.
TALK ABOUT A TIME YOU CHOSE TO PRIORITIZE SOMETHING PERSONAL OR MEANINGFUL OVER THE DEMANDS OF WORK. HOW DID THAT DECISION MAKE YOU FEEL?
SVR: I often have to prioritize my family over my business. I was in a career before that which allowed me no flexibility. I was determined that this career change, and owning my own business, would give me the license to be a more involved mom, wife and friend. I created a loft at my studio where my daughters can hang out a play. I have a wonderful staff who help pick up the slack when my daughters need me. I also try to be transparent with my retailers and my customers when things are going to take longer than I had hoped. This takes the stress and anxiety away and lets me focus my energy on my family.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, YOU HAD A HEALTH SCARE THAT YOU POWERFULLY SHARED ABOUT IN AN INSTAGRAM POST (LINK). COULD YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT STORY, AND THE UNEXPECTED POSITIVE EFFECTS IT HAD ON YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?
SVR: I began having chronic panic attacks which, seemingly, came out of no where. I knew that I was under a lot of stress trying to be a working mom but I didn’t realize how detrimental that stress had been to my overall health. I developed an autoimmune disease which ultimately stopped me in my tracks and forced me to abruptly stop working at the career that I had worked for 10 years to create. It was paralyzing in many ways but it also made me realize the toll that all those years had taken. I knew that I would never be able to go back to that job and that I needed to figure out something else that would help me provide for my family while allowing me to prioritize my health.
TO THE SLOW ENTREPRENEUR, MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH ARE NOT OPTIONAL. WE BELIEVE THAT MAINTAINING THESE ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES ALLOWS US TO RUN SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS AT PEAK PERFORMANCE. WHT DO YOU DO TO MAINTAIN YOUR HEALTH, AND WHAT TIPS CAN YOU GIVE US FOR MAKING IT A PRIORITY?
SVR: I have started eating better, cutting out the foods that I know are terrible for my auto-immune disease such as gluten. I also try to take time to be quiet and calm. Be this at work, at home in bed after my daughters go to sleep, or simply pulling the car over to have a half hour to sit on a park bench a breath. Life is so fast and chaotic that I have to force myself to slow down or I simply wont. A couple mornings a week I will fit in a half hour of yoga or stretching which always sets my day up right.
DO YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO GUARD YOUR FREE TIME? WHAT DISCIPLINES DO YOU OBSERVE TO ENSURE YOUR BOUNDARIES ARE MAINTAINED?
SVR: Free time is tricky both as a mom and an entrepreneur. I find that when I have free time from my family I often go into the studio and when I have a break from work I am generally spending it with my family. I have gotten pretty good at squirreling away moments and small amounts of time for myself, but I would love to figure out a good way to have more free time that is mine alone. Something to strive for.
WHEN NOT WORKING, HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR FREE TIME?
SVR: My husband bought a small fishing boat last summer so we spend a lot of time exploring the rivers and lakes around Oregon when the weather is nice. We also have a community garden that we spend quite a bit of time at. The girls and I love creating fairy habitats and making arts and craft projects. I also love the time I get to spend with my friends, either going to thrift stores, playing with clay at my studio or getting dinner and drinks.
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU?
www.instagram.com/notary__ceramics
www.pinterest.com/notaryceramics
Sarah is the founder of Notary Ceramics. Notary’s minimal and handmade ceramics are made in the Pacific Northwest from clays sourced locally from the region.