We had the good fortune of connecting with Paige Sparkman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paige, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
My approach to balance has changed recently, because I would prefer to work really hard now, so my later years can be enjoyed. In my world, sometimes balance means taking a Monday off, and working through the weekend. Other times it means having a slow, enjoyable morning and working late into the night. The beauty of working for yourself is creating your own hours, and I absolutely love that flexibility. Finding the balance oftentimes means being selfish, and that isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but it’s critical.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I like to bridge the creative and organization gap between needing a designer and someone to take care of the small bits and bobs that come with running a business both online and off. I haven’t always felt like a creative being, but being able to create for people and their dream jobs has really changed the game. When creating professionally it’s important to remember that the customer needs to be happy with the end product, not you. Being open to criticism and feedback is a critical skill to build as a creative professional. I’ve learned to jump in when I feel the spark, and back off when it’s feeling forced.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love a good coffee shop, and Denver has so many awesome ones, my favorite is inside of the Tattered Cover Bookstore on Colfax. A good wander around some books with a coffee is just the perfect way to start a morning. I would make sure to bring them to one of the cities many beautiful parks to enjoy our never-ending sunshine. We would need to get some delicious Mexican food, because it’s such a staple in our food scene. My favorite is El Toro, AKA The Greasy Taco, a place I’ve been going since I was a child. A visit to a small and quaint mountain town is a must, as well as visiting one of our many music venues. I would dedicate each day in the week to a different neighborhood, each has it’s own character to offer.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My significant other, Brandyn, is the person who always encourages me. He levels me out, and brings the fun and calm. When I’m looking for a reason to quit, he knows exactly what to say. Not only does he support me in everything I do, but he supports who I am. He knows when to push, and when to tell me to take a break. He’s been the only person in my life who has seen me grow into this woman, and it’s so refreshing to have the person I love be my absolute best friend and partner in crime.

Website: https://www.epaigesparkman.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paigesparkman/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizardsparks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paige.sparkman.3

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM9LdKDSwZx-iDR4gX59Bag

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