What Does ‘Making It’ Actually Mean?

I caught myself thinking this today: I’m 31 and I haven’t ‘made it’ yet...

I’m still running my business out of my spare bedroom. I’m still the only employee. I’m still working 12+ hour days, weekends included, to keep everything going. Next year, Coconutacha will have been around for a whole decade, and I started wondering… what do I have to show for it?

Well, actually… quite a lot.

A Business That Evolved With Me

When I first started CoconuTacha, I wasn’t selling the creative clothing and illustrated goodies you see today. Up until 2020, my business was mainly logo stickers, wedding stationery, and business labels - and I didn’t even think about designing apparel again! But over time, my style, my passions, and my audience changed.

Since 2021, I’ve launched 20+ exclusive clothing collections celebrating creativity, self-expression, and individuality. And I’m just getting started - Spring/Summer 2025 is already in the works!

A Supportive Creative Community

One of the biggest joys of this journey has been the people I’ve met - fellow illustrators, small business owners, designers, and art lovers who just get it. I’ve met so many of you at markets, through DMs, and in my Patreon community (now over 800 strong!). The encouragement, kindness, and support I’ve found here is something I never take for granted.

A Life That Works for Me

I might not have a big warehouse or a fancy office, but my business pays my bills, my mortgage, and my wage - and it allows me to have the flexibility I’ve always dreamed of.

✔️ I get to wake up and do what I love every single day.
✔️ I can take a break whenever I want (Mochi loves this part).
✔️ I can book time off when I need it.
✔️ I’m my own boss.

So why was I being so hard on myself?

What Does ‘Making It’ Even Mean?

For the longest time, I thought ‘making it’ meant having a huge studio, a big team, and a never-ending waitlist of customers. But now?

I think ‘making it’ looks different for everyone. For me, it means:
✨ Loving what I do and getting paid for it.
✨ Having creative freedom and working on my own terms.
✨ Being part of an incredible, supportive community.

And honestly? I think that’s something to be really proud of.

A Reminder for You

I see so many creatives putting themselves down for not being where they think they should be. But if you take a step back and look at your journey, you might realise - you’re doing better than you think!

If you needed this reminder today, I hope it helps. And if you’re still figuring things out, you are not alone. 💖

What does ‘making it’ mean to you?