Okay, so you might be wondering, “What does a two-bedroom rental have to do with business?” Stick with me because this story might just change the way you think about running yours.
But first let’s rewind a bit…
The High Start, Low Finish
2024 came in HOT for my business and went out… ice cold.
I was deep into done-for-you consulting (which I loved for the branding and website updates), but somewhere along the way, it all just stopped clicking. The inquiries dried up. The money disappeared.
I went three months without income.
Zero. Nada. Zilch.
(And yes, ouchie doesn’t even begin to cover it.)
And in the middle of this already stressful time…..boom, life plot twist. My husband got a promotion, which meant: we had to move. Fast.
We were house hunting in winter (rookie mistake) with a family of five in tow and basically nothing within budget. Every listing was either overpriced, too small, or just plain tragic.
Until… we found her.
A gorgeous rental with mountain views and natural light for days, but only two bedrooms.
The math was not mathing, but the vibes were vibing. So we said yes.
Making It Work, and Then Some
Moving into this house was like business therapy. It forced us to get scrappy, let go of nice but not necessary, and focus on what actually made us feel good and function well.
The bunkbeds? A hit.
The togetherness? Kinda sweet.
Less to clean? PRAISE BE.
It wasn’t perfect, but it worked, and it made me wonder:
What if I did the same thing with my business?
What if I stopped trying to build a “perfect” setup and instead focused on what actually worked for me right now?
So I did.
Downsizing My Business – Emotionally and Logistically
Step One: Letting go of my inner critic
I’ve pivoted more times than I can count. Want a quick highlight reel?
- Dropped out of college to go full-time with photography
- Shifted to web design
- Became a photography coach
- Pivoted into consulting
- Launched a podcast and mom brand
- Came back full-circle to designing for wedding pros (aka my soulmate niche)
I’ve always been the type to pivot when things feel off, but going back to something I once did? Oof. That one stung.
It felt like a business walk of shame.
But after journaling, I realized: screw it.
Who cares if it’s something I’ve done before? I’m great at it.
I love it. And people need it.
So why not go all in again?
Step Two: Channeling “Block Your Ex” Energy
You know that moment when you block your ex, clear your camera roll, and start fantasizing about your glow-up era?
Yeah, that’s the energy I brought into my backend systems.
I looked around at all the tech, subscriptions, and to-do lists eating up time, money, and mental bandwidth, and I Marie Kondo’d the crap out of it.
I kept only what truly served me:
And said a dramatic goodbye to:
- Flodesk – LOVE them and I’m still a partner, but I paused while I realigned who I was speaking to and what I was building.
- QuickBooks – With a stripped-down business, I could track manually for now and save that monthly fee.
- Google Workspace – Back to a good ol’ free email. No shame.
- Captivate – I paused podcasting, so no need to keep the expense. I’ll be back when the time’s right!
It might not look like a big list, but removing those tools felt like breathing again.
I finally had the space (mentally and financially) to rebuild on a stronger foundation. I was stripping away from a past version of myself.
The Big Takeaway
Downsizing our home showed me that more space doesn’t equal more happiness, and in business, more stuff doesn’t equal more success.
Cutting the fluff (in my house and my biz) gave me space to see what matters.
I stopped chasing “busy” and started chasing impact.
I stopped managing everything and started nurturing the right things.
Less pressure. Less noise. Way more clarity.
So if you’re feeling stretched too thin or like your business is taking more than it’s giving…
You might not need to do more.
You might just need to let go.
Present Day: Post-Downsize Life Update
Okay so I’m writing this in the summer of 2025, and wow… what’s happened since we moved back in February?
SO. DANG. MUCH.
I know that feels a little dramatic but like… it’s not.
Here’s what came out of that whole “downsizing my house and my business” era—and why I’m never looking back.
I finally niched down to website + logo design for wedding industry professionals. And let me tell you:
NICHEING MAKES MARKETING 1,000x EASIER.
I’m no longer talking to everyone and reaching no one. I’m talking to my people—and they’re actually listening.
Showing up feels so much more impactful.
It’s not this “scream into the void and hope something sticks” vibe anymore.
Now it’s like: oh hey, I made this for you, and people are actually responding with “YES I need this.”
It hits different.
I hit my first $15k month.
I KNOW money doesn’t equal worth or value—but also like…
HOLY $H!T.
To go from three months with $0 income to this?
It’s not just the number—it’s the alignment behind it. I built that from a clear place.
Clarity and focus = next level.
There’s no more overthinking 73 offers or wondering if I should be a coach or a designer or a strategist or a unicorn or a potato.
I know what I do. I know who I do it for. I know how I help.
Confidence? Through. The. Roof.
When you’re operating from alignment instead of chaos, you show up differently.
I feel like I got my groove back.
Scratch that—I got a whole new damn rhythm.
It’s wild what happens when you stop trying to be everything and instead start building from what actually works for you.
Downsizing wasn’t just about square footage, it was about making space for what matters.
And honestly? This is just the beginning.
But Before You Go…
If we haven’t officially met yet …. hey, hi! I’m Michaela. I work with business owners ready to invest in a brand and website that do more than just look good, they convert, connect, and grow with you.
If you’re into honest business advice, kind encouragement, and the occasional “okay but let’s be real” moment you’re gonna feel right at home here.
Here are a few ways we can hang out more:
→ Need a website that doesn’t make you cringe?
I design Showit websites that are both strategic and scroll-stopping—so you can finally have a site that feels like you and works like magic.
Check out my Showit design services here.
→ Just need something simple that still gets the job done?
My Bite-Sized Website is a one-page powerhouse: perfect if you need something quick, professional, and built to convert—without going full custom.
Peep the Bite-Sized Website option here.
→ Want to DIY your site but need a solid head start?
Templates are coming soon! I’m creating Showit templates for business owners who want beauty, strategy, and simplicity without the custom price tag. Stay tuned!
→ Love this post? The blog is full of more goodness.
From branding clarity to website tips to running a business when your brain feels like scrambled eggs… I’ve got you.
Catch up on recent posts here.
You can also always reach out directly—send me a DM on Instagram or email me at thedunndesignco@gmail.com. I’d love to hear about what you’re building.
Talk soon,
Michaela
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