It Hasn’t Even Crossed My Mind” — Why I Don’t Have a Backup Plan for My Creative Dream

“What are you going to do if this whole dream of yours doesn’t work out?”

It’s a question almost every creative entrepreneur hears at some point. Sometimes it’s asked with concern. Sometimes curiosity. Sometimes doubt.

But when I heard that audio, my answer felt immediate:

It hasn’t even crossed my mind.

And that isn’t arrogance.
It’s alignment.

This Was Never a “What If”

I didn’t start turning old, forgotten books into one-of-a-kind journals as a backup plan.

I started because I couldn’t ignore the idea anymore.

As an illustrator and upcycler here in Canada, I’ve always believed that old things still hold value. Worn covers. Vintage pages. Stories that once meant something to someone. Most people see a discarded book as clutter.

I see potential.

Every time I transform a once-loved hardcover into a handmade upcycled journal, I’m not just creating a product. I’m preserving history. I’m keeping something beautiful out of landfill. I’m giving someone else a place to write their own story.

That isn’t a side hobby.
That’s purpose.

Building Something That Matters

There’s a big difference between “trying something” and building something.

Trying sounds temporary.
Building sounds intentional.

When I create my handmade journals, magnetic bookmarks, enamel pins, and art prints, I’m not experimenting to see if it sticks. I’m laying brick by brick — product by product — toward something sustainable and meaningful.

Creative businesses don’t grow overnight. They grow through:

• Late nights designing

• Learning SEO and Shopify optimization

• Filming Reels and TikToks

• Packaging orders by hand

• Showing up even when engagement is low

• Believing when sales are slow

Dreams don’t fail because they’re unrealistic.
They fail when people stop showing up for them.

And I’m not stopping.

Why There’s No Backup Plan

People assume you need a “realistic” alternative.

But here’s the truth:
When you build something aligned with who you are, quitting feels more unrealistic than continuing.

Upcycling books into journals combines everything I love:

• Art

• Storytelling

• Sustainability

• Nostalgia

• Craftsmanship

It’s not random. It’s not impulsive. It’s layered into who I am as a creative person.

So when someone asks what I’ll do if it doesn’t work out…
My brain genuinely doesn’t go there.

Because I’m not waiting for permission.
I’m not waiting for perfect timing.
I’m not waiting for guarantees.

I’m building until it works.

The Reality Behind the Confidence

Confidence doesn’t mean it’s easy.

There are moments of doubt. Slow months. Algorithms that don’t cooperate. Products that don’t sell the way you hoped.

But belief isn’t the absence of fear.

It’s choosing not to let fear make the decision.

Every journal I make is a small act of belief:

• Belief that sustainable art matters

• Belief that handmade still has value

• Belief that people want meaningful, one-of-a-kind pieces

• Belief that creativity can become a full-time path

And every time someone chooses one of my upcycled journals to hold their thoughts, sketches, goals, or memories — that belief grows stronger.

If You’re Chasing Something Too…

Maybe you’re building a small business.
Maybe you’re creating art.
Maybe you’re quietly working toward something that feels bigger than you.

If someone has asked you what you’ll do if it doesn’t work out, let me offer this:

You don’t need a backup plan for something that feels like purpose.

You need persistence.
You need patience.
You need courage on the days it feels slow.

Dreams aren’t unrealistic.
They’re just uncomfortable for people who don’t have one.

As for me?

I’ll keep turning forgotten books into beautiful, functional journals.
I’ll keep turning waste into treasure.
I’ll keep showing up.

Because the possibility of it working out is louder than the fear of it not.

And the idea of quitting?

It hasn’t even crossed my mind.

Ready to Hold a Story in Your Hands?

If you believe in chasing creative dreams…
If you love sustainability, nostalgia, and one-of-a-kind pieces…
If you want a journal that’s as unique as the thoughts you’ll fill it with…

Then you’re in the right place.

Each of my handmade upcycled book journals is created from a once-loved hardcover, thoughtfully transformed into a durable, beautiful space for your ideas, sketches, plans, and memories.

No two are ever the same.
And once they’re gone, they’re gone.

👉 Browse the current collection of one-of-a-kind upcycled journals here:
[Shop Handmade Upcycled Journals]

Thank you for supporting small, sustainable art and for believing in creative dreams — including mine.

— Nicole