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This one’s personal.
I launched SpinningSilk Multimedia first as a side gig and the moved to a full-time small business with good intentions—but in hindsight, the timing wasn’t right.
What started as a creative outlet during a hard season slowly turned into a full-time business I wasn’t prepared to manage. And while the work itself was meaningful, the emotional and financial strain taught me some of the most important lessons of my career.
SpinningSilk Multimedia (early 2000s) – Closed
The name came from the image of a spider spinning silk—delicate, intentional, and web-based. It felt poetic and purposeful, and that metaphor stuck with me.
I co-founded the business during a season of intense grief, going through a family miscarriage and several other family losses.
We offered:
• Web design and development
• Event and business photography
• Logo design and some print work
Our first client was her father’s garage-building business. We also did work for churches, nonprofits, and even a sister agency of Outreach North America, World Witness. We began transitioning from static sites to platforms like WordPress and Drupal. I also enjoyed local networking groups and Chamber of Commerce events—where I felt like I was building real community.
But underneath the momentum was emotional fatigue.
We were both grieving. We were pouring ourselves into the business when what we really needed was space to heal. Financially, we stretched ourselves thin—renting office space, joining member organizations, and trying to grow faster than we should have.
When my ex-wife left, I lost both a partner and the person who helped run the business side. Depression hit hard. I tried to keep things going, but I was overwhelmed. Eventually, I had to let go of SpinningSilk—and it hurt.
What I’d Do Differently Today
• Keep it as a side business, not full-time, until a solid foundation was in place
• Focus on lower overhead and digital-first systems
• Separate emotional healing from business building
• Use financial tools like Found, contracts, and clear onboarding from the beginning
• Define success by sustainability—not just momentum
The Takeaway
I don’t regret SpinningSilk. I learned a lot. I served some great people. And the name still carries meaning.
But I now know:
• A business can’t carry the weight of your grief.
• Success starts with health—mental, emotional, and relational.
• It’s okay to say: “This wasn’t the right fit for me at that time.”
I carry those lessons into how I work with clients today—with empathy, structure, and healthy boundaries.
Coming up next: Day 5 – When the Fit Just Wasn’t Right (D&M Restoration)