How I Ditched Waitressing and Built a Digital Business with Canva

If You Told Me This 10 Years Ago…I would be making money with Canva, I would have given them one of my WTF are you talking about looks. Let alone making enough money that I never have to be a waitress AGAIN! Thank goodness this happened to me because I didn't want to be 65 years old and still waitressing.

Several factors contributed to my decision to become a full-time digital business owner. However, my skills, passion, and the impact of Covid-19, combined with my coach (and friend), have led me to where I am today. So let's get into the nitty gritty!

Heads-up! Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a few bucks (or maybe just a few cents—but hey, it adds up!). I only share things I actually use and love, and this helps me keep doing what I do. Total win-win, right?

Why I Needed a Change

Let's talk about the WHY? The why for me was I wanted better. Better for me and better for my family. I am 56 years old and have pretty much been a waitress all my life. I got married to my high school sweetheart, and we had a child, so of course, I was thrown into the workforce right out of high school.

Back then, without an education, you didn't have many job choices, so waitressing was it. Plus, I was an excellent waitress and enjoyed it, so why not? However, this is how people become comfortable and are unaware that they can do better.

The Truth About Life as a Waitress

After many years of waitressing, my body was telling me I needed another career choice, but I kept going. I was always in pain and when I would get home I would just crawl into bed and sleep away the pain. As a mom, working and being in pain all the time was not fun. I masked it for years and always knew I needed to do something different in my life.

The Blogging Spark

Someone told me I should blog about all the things I do with my kids and I was WTF is blogging, so I did my research and BAM my world opened up a bit for me. I found an outlet for my creativity. Yes, writing was scary for me because it wasn't my forte, and English wasn't my strongest subject. But I started and it became a thing- I enjoyed it.

For a couple of years, of course, it was just a hobby but then companies began reaching out and wanted me to write about their products. So I became a review blogger and got some cool shit over the years.

How I Met Canva

I became friends with a blogger named Kelly from Kelly's Thoughts On Things. She took me under her wing and taught me a lot about blogging. I also started blogging for her, creating images for her blog, and that's where I fell in love with Canva. After discovering Canva and the art of creating, I found myself immersed in learning how to make visually appealing images.

I’ve Always Been a Matchy-Matchy Girl. I like to match colors-clothing, furniture, room decor, everything, and I've always had to match. So this was the perfect road for me.

I started as a part-time image designer. I started creating Canva designs for other bloggers, and then I fell in love with social media. That's when things turned around, and I began making money by creating social media images for people and even some local businesses. Now, granted, I wasn't making a lot of money, but it took off some of the financial pressure I had at that time.

COVID Changed Everything

I was a blogger for about five years when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I knew I couldn't waitress much more, I was 50-something years old. My body was yelling at me every day WTF PAM! So, I started doing virtual assisting for others and loved that type of work as well. I found my THING!

I had my favorite people I would follow online and Sadie Smiley was one of my fav's. She was all about blogging and making money- she was talking my language so I stalked her for a while. Then she was offering a monthly coaching call for $50 a month so I signed up. That is when my life changed.

The Opportunity That Shifted It All

I learned a lot from her coaching, but I wasn't doing the things because I made other things a priority in my life. What changed was that she was looking for someone to help her launch her business, and I said, ‘Me, I can do that!' I was sure she would say no, but she didn't. That is where my online entrepreneurship journey began.

I helped her on the backend of things and was learning something every day- did I know what I was doing, not really, but I took the time to learn. After almost four years, that business is still going strong and I'm so proud I was part of that. Was it easy…heck no but it sure has been worth it.

The Push I Needed

Sadie not only hired me, but she also wanted me to succeed, so she pushed me way out of my comfort zone and wanted me to start my online digital business. She asked me what you're passionate about…it didn't take me long to answer “creating in Canva”. She told me to go all in and learn everything I can so I can teach that to others. Guess what I did that and now I make a FULL-TIME living (better than waitressing).

Now the journey wasn't easy, and yes, several times I wanted to give up, but I didn't. I did take my time, though. I did doubt myself, my skills, and my ability daily. I put myself through far more problems than I needed to, but in the end, I did it, and I am incredibly proud of myself.

From Canva Lover to Full-Time Digital Business Owner

I wouldn't be where I am today without Sadie's advice, throwing me over cliffs, and my skills. If you ever want to learn about making money with your skills online, then you need Passive Income Pathways in your life!

Now I run two memberships, have several courses, a successful Facebook Group, a thriving YouTube Channel, and this is just the beginning. I am building my empire and enjoying every moment. Yes, I still doubt myself, and yes, it is hard, but it pays my bills, and my body is not in constant pain. Plus, I see only growth happening. I made more money in the first three months of this year than I did all of last year. Yep I did!

I will be sharing more about my digital business progress, but if you'd like to create beautiful designs, I highly suggest learning Canva. Here is a beginner video that will help you understand the front page of Canva.

Please join my Facebook Group-Create & Sell Digital Products and I have so many Canva videos on YouTube, and if you want that EASY BUTTON on getting into the digital business my membership the Template Treehouse will help you get started.

Here are some Facebook Groups to join to help with your Business Growth

• Passive Income Sadie Smiley– learn how blogging can turn into $$ by adding products, courses, and membership
• Teachers Pay Teachers with Beth Ann– Want to Create Educational Printables and SELL THEM!
• Digital Planners with Samantha Stringer Interested in creating Digital Planners?
• WP Basics Guide | WordPress for Beginners Diane will walk you through WP/Kadence.
• Build Digital Product with Amanda Learn how to sell on ETSY

TOOLS I USE!

• My Platform (the heart of my business) SUBTRIO (Try for 30 days for FREE)
• Email- I use Subtrio but also recommend Mailerlite or Flodesk
• Helps me write my BLOG POSTS- Right Blogger
• The Best Hosting service I ever had- BigScoots
• Where I get my domains NameCheap
• I learned how to CREATE an online business- The Passive Income Pathways aka Sadie Smiley (PIPs) is where to start- if you are serious about making money online then sign up for Blog to Membership-LITE MEMBERSHIP