Episode 157: The Perspective of Time & Rethinking How We Use It with Isabella Boss
Time is one of those things we’re all chasing, wishing we had more of, or wondering where it went. In this conversation with Isabella Boss of Bee Creates, we talk honestly about what time really looks like when you’re building a creative business in the margins of life during nap times, after bedtime, and in the middle of seasons that don’t always feel easy or ideal. Bella is a stay-at-home mom of two little ones under three, a surface pattern designer, illustrator, educator, and business owner, and her perspective on time felt both grounding and deeply encouraging.
When Life Gets Fuller, Time Gets Clearer
One of the most refreshing parts of this conversation is Bella’s reminder that while motherhood didn’t give her more time, it did make her more intentional with the time she had. Sometimes when life feels fuller, we become sharper. We get clearer on what matters, more efficient with our energy, and more protective of the small windows we do have. This episode is a reminder that being busy doesn’t automatically mean you’re blocked it may simply mean you need to become more honest about what matters most.
If It Matters, You’ll Find a Way
Bella shares so openly about how her art and creative work are not just “extra” things she squeezes in they’re part of what keeps her feeling like herself. That thread runs through the whole episode: when something matters deeply to you, you begin finding little ways to make room for it. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s meaningful. We talk about making use of nap time, evenings, support from a spouse, and even tiny pockets of time that don’t look glamorous, but still count.
Seasons Change, and So Should Your Expectations
This conversation also holds a lot of compassion for the seasons where things don’t look the way you hoped they would. Bella shares honestly about postpartum depression, hard seasons, and what it means to accept that not every chapter of life is going to hold the same capacity. That’s such an important reminder for creatives: different seasons require different expectations. You are not failing because this season looks different. You are simply living a real life.
Sometimes the Most Powerful Thing Is Letting Something Go
We also talk about releasing the things that no longer fit. Bella shares about closing her product-based shop so she could focus more fully on art licensing, a shift that came not from failure, but from clarity. Sometimes we think success means continuing to add more and more, but often the healthier, wiser move is to let something go. Your business should support your life, not compete with it. And making space for what matters sometimes requires saying no to what no longer aligns.
Time, Timelines, and the Myth of the Perfect Moment
Another part of this conversation I loved was Bella’s perspective on timing. There is rarely a perfect time to begin. Life keeps moving, things keep changing, and often the only way forward is to start before you feel fully ready. We talk about the pressure of timelines, the way years can feel like they disappear, and why working in smaller chunks—like 12-week goals—can bring more clarity and momentum than trying to map out an entire year at once. There’s wisdom here for anyone who feels behind, delayed, or stuck waiting for a better moment.
A Gentle Nudge to Begin
At its heart, this episode is for the person who keeps saying “someday.” Someday I’ll write the book. Someday I’ll start the class. Someday I’ll pitch the work. Bella’s encouragement is simple and strong: if you’re waiting for a sign, this is it. Hard things will still be hard later. The perfect time may never arrive. But your life is happening now, and your creative work is allowed to take up space in it now, too.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Time doesn't magically appear in a new season. What changes is how intentionally it gets used. When life is full, the goal isn't to find more hours, it's to get honest about what matters and build small pockets of time around it.
Different Seasons ask for different expectations. A hard season, such as postpartum burnout, moving or focusing on your mental health, isn't failure. It's a signal to adjust the pace and give yourself permission to simplify. The next season always comes, even if you can't see it yet.
When something truly matters, it tends to show up, sometimes in a nap window, sometimes at night and sometimes in tiny moments here and there. Passion doesn't require perfect conditions, just a willing moment.
Delaying can be wisdom or fear. Wisdom feels peaceful and clear, while fear feels heavy, guilty and avoidant. Hard Things don't get easier just because you wait. So when it's fear, name it and take one small step anyway.
Letting go is underrated. Saying yes to one direction often means saying no to another. Your business is allowed to fit your life, your space, your energy and your priorities. There's no perfect timing. There's only choosing and making it work from there.
From her Bay Area studio, Bella Boss creates vibrant illustrations and surface pattern designs inspired by food, travel, and celebration. A mom of two, she finds joy in crafting color-filled art that is playful and relatable. Her work spans licensing and creative collaborations across the stationery, gift, and apparel industries—all with the mission to help everyone Have a Colorful Day. In addition to her client work, Bella teaches on Skillshare and leads The Greenhouse, a membership community supporting creative entrepreneurs as they grow sustainable, joy-filled businesses.
Website: https://www.bee-creates.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bee_creates/
Classes: https://www.skillshare.com/en/r/profile/Bella-Boss/951512836
Membership: https://www.thegreenhousemembership.com/
