Clocking Out of My 7–3:30 Job and Clocking Into My Dreams: The Reality of Running Two Businesses While Teaching Full-Time

By Natacha Augustin | Founder of 2 Creative Being Kreations & 2 Natural Roots

Ever clock out of work and clock right into your dream?

Welcome to my life!

I'm Natacha-a full-time educator, creative entrepreneur, and proud founder of not one, but TWO businesses: 2 Creative Being Kreations (2CBK) and 2 Natural Roots (2NR).

Some people go home after work and relax. Me? I go home and start my second shift.

And sometimes, my third!

Between teaching high school students, managing two businesses, creating products, sponsoring a crafting club at my high school, responding to customers, packaging orders, updating websites, and trying to find time for myself, my life is a constant balancing act.

But here's the thing: I love what I'm building, even on the days when I'm exhausted.

This is my story of juggling a 7:00-3:30 career, two businesses, and a dream that refuses to let me quit.

My Day Starts Long Before 7:00 AM

Let's talk about what people don't see behind the scenes.

My alarm goes off at 4:30 AM.

Not because I'm naturally an early bird, but because I have responsibilities waiting for me.

As a high school educator, I have approximately a 90-minute commute to work. Before most people have finished their first cup of coffee, I'm already getting ready, driving, and mentally preparing for the school day.

Teaching isn't just standing in front of a classroom delivering lessons.

It's lesson planning, grading, managing classroom behaviors, communicating with parents, supporting students, attending meetings, and making sure every student has an opportunity to succeed.

I take my responsibility as an educator seriously.

But when the school day ends at 3:30 PM, my responsibilities don't magically disappear.

That's when my entrepreneurial brain switches on.

And trust me, that switch doesn't come with an off button!

3:30 PM: The Teacher Clocks Out, but the Entrepreneur Clocks In

While some people are thinking about what to cook for dinner, I'm thinking about customer orders, product designs, inventory, social media posts, and which business needs my attention first.

And remember, I still have that long commute home!

By the time I arrive, I've already spent hours teaching and traveling.

But 2 Creative Being Kreations isn't going to build itself. Neither is 2 Natural Roots.

So I get to work.

Some evenings, I'm designing a new T-shirt.

Other evenings, I'm pressing shirts, creating journals, making personalized gifts, or preparing customer packages for shipment.

And on other days, I'm updating product listings, researching marketing strategies, building my websites, or learning how to use new technology to make my businesses more efficient.

Let's not forget the emails, bookkeeping, customer messages, and endless business ideas that seem to arrive right when I'm supposed to be going to sleep.

Does any of this sound familiar?

If you're a woman building a business while working full-time, I know you understand.

Two Businesses, Two Missions, One Woman With Big Dreams

People sometimes ask why I run two businesses while maintaining a full-time teaching career.

The answer is simple.

Both businesses represent different parts of who I am.

2 Creative Being Kreations: Creating More Than Products

My passion for creativity inspired me to build 2 Creative Being Kreations, a business where I create meaningful products that tell stories, celebrate culture, and inspire confidence.

From statement T-shirts and beautifully designed journals to greeting cards, notebooks, and personalized gifts, every creation begins with a purpose.

I don't want to sell something just because it looks pretty.

I want my products to mean something.

My Mission: Helping Women Feel Strong and Seen

Behind every hand-pressed T-shirt and thoughtfully created journal is the heart of 2 Creative Being Kreations.

My positioning statement is simple:

“I help women going through a hard season feel strong and seen with hand-pressed shirts and journals.”

This is more than my business elevator pitch.

This is my purpose.

Because sometimes the strongest woman in the room is also the most exhausted.

She's the one everyone depends on.

The one who keeps showing up.

The one who answers, "I'm fine," even when she's carrying more than people realize.

Maybe she's a teacher.

Maybe she's a caregiver.

Maybe she's an entrepreneur.

Maybe she's dealing with grief, financial pressure, health changes, a relationship ending, or simply a season of life she never expected.

Maybe that woman is you.

And if it is, I want you to know something:

You deserve to feel seen, even when nobody realizes how much you're carrying.

You deserve something that reminds you how far you've come.

And you deserve to celebrate the fact that you're still here, still growing, and still standing.

That is the heart behind my Still Standing Collection.

When a woman wears one of my Still Standing shirts, I want her to remember that whatever she's going through, she has the strength to keep moving forward.

When someone writes in one of my journals, I want those pages to become a place for reflection, healing, gratitude, and growth.

And when someone purchases a meaningful gift, I want the person receiving it to feel seen, appreciated, and loved.

I'm not just creating products. I'm creating reminders of who we are, what we've overcome, and what we're capable of becoming.

2 Natural Roots: Helping Women Embrace Their Crown

My second business, 2 Natural Roots, is another passion close to my heart.

As a Sisterlocks™ Brand Ambassador and natural hair entrepreneur, I have spent years helping clients care for their Sisterlocks™/Brotherlocks™ and embrace their natural beauty.

This journey has taught me that hair care is about so much more than appearance.

It's about identity, confidence, patience, and learning to love yourself through every stage of your journey.

From loc maintenance and consultations to natural hair care education and products, I strive to provide services and resources that support healthy hair care practices.

And as I continue expanding my education in loc cranial prosthesis and hair loss solutions, my mission is becoming even more personal.

Both businesses allow me to serve others in ways that reflect my own experiences, creativity, and values.

But managing both while teaching full-time?

That's a different story!

Let's Talk About the Part Social Media Doesn't Show

Entrepreneurship looks beautiful on Instagram.

The finished T-shirts.

The professionally staged product photos.

The pretty packaging.

The exciting announcements.

The smiling business owner celebrating another sale.

But let me tell you what doesn't always make it into the picture.

The nights when you're too tired to finish an order.

The weekends spent working instead of relaxing.

The business expenses that arrive before the sales do.

The creative ideas you can't bring to life because there simply aren't enough hours in the day.

The moments when you question whether all your hard work is paying off.

And sometimes, the tears that come from being overwhelmed but refusing to give up.

I am one woman wearing many hats, and some days those hats feel incredibly heavy.

I am an educator.

I am a business owner.

I am a creator.

I am a daughter.

I am a lifelong learner.

And somewhere in the middle of all those responsibilities, I'm still trying to take care of Natacha.

That's the part of entrepreneurship we need to talk about more.

The Struggle Between Being Tired and Being Determined

There are evenings when I walk through my front door, and all I want to do is sit down.

No computer.

No Cricut machine.

No heat press.

No customer messages.

Just silence.

But then I remember why I started.

I remember that little girl who came to the United States from Haiti at 12 years old without speaking English.

I remember learning a new language, navigating a new culture, and working toward opportunities I once could only imagine.

I remember earning my college degree, becoming an educator, and continuing my education because I believed there was always room to grow.

That same determination is what keeps me building my businesses today.

I've worked too hard to stop believing in what's possible.

But I'm also learning an important lesson.

Rest is not the enemy of success.

Sometimes, the most productive thing I can do is close my laptop, step away from the craft room, and give myself permission to recharge.

Because I can't pour creativity, encouragement, and energy into everyone else if I'm constantly running on empty.

What Teaching Has Taught Me About Entrepreneurship

One thing I didn't expect was how much my career in education would help me become a better entrepreneur.

As a teacher, I've learned to plan, solve problems, communicate clearly, adapt quickly, and remain patient when things don't go as expected.

And believe me, those skills are essential when you're running a business!

Teaching has taught me that not everyone learns at the same pace.

Entrepreneurship has taught me that not every business grows at the same pace.

Some products sell immediately.

Others need better marketing.

Some ideas turn into successful collections.

Others become valuable lessons.

But just like I tell my students, progress requires practice, patience, and persistence.

I'm still learning.

I'm still experimenting.

And I'm still figuring out how to work smarter instead of simply working longer.

Building a Dream Doesn't Mean Having Everything Figured Out

I want to be transparent about something.

I don't have a perfect business schedule.

I don't always post consistently on social media.

Sometimes my to-do list is longer at the end of the day than it was when I started.

There are days when one business gets more attention than the other.

And there are times when my personal life requires me to put everything else on hold.

But I'm learning that building a successful business isn't about doing everything perfectly.

It's about being intentional with the time and resources I have.

I've started embracing tools, automation, digital products, and creative technology to help me streamline my workload.

Because the goal isn't to stay busy forever.

The goal is to build something sustainable that will eventually give me more freedom, not less.

My Dream Is Bigger Than a Paycheck

I am grateful for my teaching career.

Education has been a major part of my identity and my journey.

But I also envision a future where my businesses provide the financial stability and freedom to choose how I spend my time.

I dream of growing 2 Creative Being Kreations into a recognizable brand that celebrates Black culture, creativity, faith, and resilience.

I dream of expanding 2 Natural Roots to help more women confidently navigate their natural hair journeys, including those experiencing hair loss.

I dream of creating resources that help educators, entrepreneurs, and creative women turn their knowledge and talents into meaningful opportunities.

And yes, I dream of eventually retiring from teaching knowing that I have built something of my own.

Not because I don't love education.

But because I believe we can love one chapter of our lives and still desire another.

I am not just working toward retirement. I am working toward freedom, purpose, and legacy.

To the Woman Building Her Dream After Work

This part is for you.

The woman who works eight hours and comes home to work on her business.

The woman who creates products at her kitchen table.

The woman who packages orders after everyone else has gone to bed.

The woman who is learning marketing, technology, finances, and customer service because she can't afford to hire a whole team.

The woman who sometimes wonders whether she's doing enough.

I see you.

And I want to remind you of something.

Your dream is still valid, even if you're building it slowly.

You don't have to launch everything this month.

You don't have to compete with someone who has a full-time staff and a six-figure marketing budget.

You don't have to sacrifice your health to prove how badly you want success.

Your journey is your journey.

And every small step matters.

That product you finally listed?

Progress.

That one customer who loved their order?

Progress.

That evening you spent learning a new skill?

Progress.

And that night you decided to rest instead of working until midnight?

That's progress, too.

Welcome to the Journey Behind 2 Creative Being Kreations

Through this blog and my YouTube journey, I want to share more than beautiful products.

I want to take you behind the scenes of what it's really like to build two businesses while maintaining a full-time career.

You'll see the creative process, the product launches, the mistakes, the victories, the late-night ideas, and the lessons I'm learning along the way.

I'll share my journey as a teacher, crafter, entrepreneur, and woman determined to create something meaningful.

Some days, we'll talk about T-shirt designs and journals.

Other days, we'll talk about marketing, building a brand, time management, and the realities of entrepreneurship.

And sometimes, we'll simply talk about life.

Because behind every handmade product is a real person with a real story.

And this is mine.

Let's Build Something Meaningful Together!

If you're an educator with a side hustle, a creative entrepreneur, a woman starting over, or someone who believes it's never too late to follow a dream, I invite you to be part of this journey.

Here's how you can support and connect with me:

• Shop with purpose: Discover statement T-shirts, journals, and meaningful gifts at www.2creativebeing.net.

• Follow my creative journey: Join me on social media and YouTube for behind-the-scenes content, product launches, crafting inspiration, and real conversations about entrepreneurship.

• Subscribe to the blog: Be part of a community of women building dreams while balancing real-life responsibilities.

• Share your story: Tell me in the comments: Are you building a business while working full-time? What has been your biggest challenge? I would love to hear from you.

Because this journey isn't just about me.

It's about creating a community where we encourage each other, celebrate our progress, and remind one another that our dreams are worth pursuing.

I'm Natacha. Teacher by day. Creative entrepreneur by evening. Dream builder every single day. And around here, we're not just making things.

We're creating with purpose, building with passion, and turning our dreams into something real.

Welcome to 2 Creative Being Kreations. We've got something to create!

With creativity and purpose, Natacha Augustin Founder & Creative Force of 2 Creative Being Kreations (2CBK) www.2creativebeing.net

Still creating. Still growing. Still standing.