The Many Hats I’ve Worn: How My Journey Through Teaching, Photography, Tech, and Hustling Shaped the Entrepreneur I Am Today

Taylor The Creator Web Designer
Dec 16, 2025
3 min read

If there’s one thing about me, it’s this:

I’ve never been afraid to work.

I’ve never been afraid to evolve.

And I’ve never been afraid to start over — again and again, if needed.

My journey hasn’t been straight, traditional, or predictable. But every twist and pivot has shaped the business owner and leader I am today.

Let me take you back.

I Started as a Teacher — And Learned How to Serve With Heart

Teaching was my first love.

It taught me patience, empathy, and the power of showing up consistently for others.

In the classroom, I learned how to:

Break down big concepts
Support people through frustration
Celebrate progress
See potential even when someone doesn’t see it in themselves

Those skills still influence me today — in how I guide clients, explain strategies, and help people feel confident in what they’re building.

Photography Taught Me How to See the World Differently

Photography came next — a creative chapter that showed me how to capture moments, stories, and emotions through a lens.

Behind the camera, I learned:

Perspective
Timing
Creativity
Branding
The power of visual storytelling

What I didn’t know then was that photography was subtly preparing me for web design, branding, and creating digital experiences that feel intentional and beautiful.

Corporate Tech Gave Me Structure (and a Crash Course in the Real World)

After photography, I stepped into corporate tech — a world that came with big expectations, tight deadlines, and little room for error.

I learned:

Systems
Processes
Project planning
Team collaboration
Communication at scale
How tech truly powers business

Working in tech gave me a foundation I didn’t know I needed. It taught me how to operate inside structure — which helped later when I had to build structure for myself.

But I’ve Also Been a Waitress, an Uber Driver, and a Professional Hustler

Let’s keep it real: I didn’t always have stable jobs or a clear plan.

I’ve waited tables.

I’ve driven for Uber.

I've had air mattress nights.

I’ve picked up side jobs just to make ends meet.

I’ve been in seasons where I had to hustle extremely hard — not because I wanted to, but because I had to.

And in those seasons, I learned:

Humility
Adaptability
Work ethic
People skills
Grit
The art of figuring things out on the fly

Those roles built the backbone of the entrepreneur I eventually became.

Not glamorous work — but honest work.

And honestly? That work shaped me the most.

The Thread That Stretches Through Every Chapter: My Drive

If there’s a theme to my journey, it’s this:

I have always pushed myself.

I have always reinvented myself.

I have always believed I could achieve more — even when my circumstances didn’t show it.

Every job, every pivot, every late night, every “start over again” moment taught me something vital.

I learned:

How to teach
How to create
How to use tech
How to serve
How to hustle
How to lead
How to trust myself

It all came together in the most unexpected way — preparing me for entrepreneurship long before I had the courage to claim the title.

Why I Share This

Because people often see the success, the professionalism, the CEO energy — and think it was always this way.

But it wasn’t.

I built myself through:

Detours
Failures
Side jobs
Reinventions
Unplanned chapters
Faith
Grit
And a dream I refused to let go of

I am proof that your path doesn’t have to be linear to be meaningful.

You can be all things.

You can start over.

You can pivot.

You can grow.

You can build something extraordinary out of a journey that looks nothing like anyone else’s.

And If You’re In Your “Hustle Era” Right Now…

Please hear me:

This chapter is not wasted.

You are learning.

You are growing.

You are building the skills that your future self will rely on.

Your journey — no matter how messy, unconventional, or unpredictable — is preparing you for something bigger.

I’m living proof.

And if I can weave teacher → photographer → corporate tech → waitress → Uber driver → CEO into my story…You can absolutely build something beautiful from wherever you are.