Burnout, Breakthroughs & Building a Business That Fits Your Life

Like so many who grew up in a small town, I had that moment when I decided to move to the big city to “find myself.” I’ve always been a creative person—not just in the typical way of taking photography and art classes, but in a way that had me and my friends trying to remake High School Musical shot for shot just for fun. That creativity, paired with my love of business, marketing, and design, led me to study advertising.

I loved what I was learning, but I quickly realized I hated the culture. The messaging was all about hustle—working late nights, sleeping at the office, chasing awards—and I knew that wasn’t the life I wanted. I wanted to build a life around what I loved while still having time for my family. The defining moment came when I lost a close friend unexpectedly in my fourth year of university. It reminded me how short life is and made me question everything.

Despite almost dropping out, I finished my program at the top of my class and found joy in a social media internship with the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. That led to a whirlwind of change—moving from Toronto to Peterborough, getting a job, quitting that job to go full-time in my business with just $500 in contracts, getting married, buying a house, and becoming a mom.

The Hustle That Led to Burnout

For the next eight years, I was “hustling”—but on my own terms. I built my freelance business into a social media agency, serving clients across North America. My family grew, and we moved even further into the country, chasing the dream of a slower, more intentional life. From the outside, it looked like I had it all—bonfires by the fire pit, a community beach down the road, space for my kids to explore, and a thriving business.

But on the inside? I was burnt out. My clients needed me. My growing team needed me. My family needed me. And I had nothing left for myself.

I kept pushing, believing I was in a “growing pain” stage—that if I just stuck it out, things would eventually even out. But then came October 2023, when everything changed.

The Breaking Point (Literally)

One day, I filled a hot water bottle as I always did. But within minutes of sitting down, it exploded, leaving me with second-degree burns on 8% of my body. As I sat there, in excruciating pain, I had a moment of clarity: this isn’t sustainable. I was literally working from bed with burn wounds because my business needed me too much. I had built something that wasn’t serving me—it was draining me.

Burning Down My Business to Rebuild It My Way

That moment forced me to make a decision. I closed the agency side of my business and shifted my focus to what truly brought me joy: helping small-town small businesses thrive. That passion is what got me into marketing in the first place—seeing local businesses in my hometown and imagining the possibilities of what they could achieve.

I turned my energy toward my Social with Kat Club, a membership program where I help small businesses make social media fun, effective, and doable. In the last year and a half, over 90 businesses have joined. I also experimented with workshops, programs, and services that truly light me up, including taking on one full-service management client where I handle their email marketing and social media.

Marketing That Fits Your Life (Not the Other Way Around)

The biggest lesson I learned? Marketing needs to be sustainable. It needs to fit into your life, not take over your life. Whether you’re balancing a full-time job, kids, or just the everyday demands of being human in 2025, your marketing strategy should work for you. That means having systems, support, and fun built into it.

That’s why I launched Social Goals, the Podcast—a project that had been sitting on my vision board for years. I’ve always loved sharing advice and strategies, and this podcast is my way of helping small businesses take control of their marketing in a way that feels easy, exciting, and aligned with their lives.

Before, my life looked perfect from the outside, but now? Now, I’m actually living my dream life. And I can’t wait to help you build yours.