Look, I didn’t set out to have two cats teach me how to run a business, but here we are. Charlie and Bean, my chaos gremlins in tuxedo fur, have a PhD in reminding me to slow the hell down, take up space, and stop letting hustle culture eat my soul.

Charlie, with his ‘feed me now’ paw tap on my face while I’m deep in edits, and Bean, who demands 11am snuggle breaks like it’s her job, don’t care about deadlines or client emergencies. They care about the moment they’re in. And if you let them, they’ll teach you why you should too.

Lesson 1: Presence Over Hustle

Charlie will literally plant his entire large cat self on my desk, blocking my screen like, “Ma’am, it’s lunch time.” Bean will meow at me until I stop working and crawl into bed for a nap cuddle because, apparently, that’s what we’re doing today.

At first, I saw these interruptions as annoyances, things getting in the way of my to-do list. But slowly, I realized these were reminders that rest and presence matter. The edits can wait. The world won’t implode if I take 15 minutes to lay down with Bean or watch Charlie flop into the sunbeam like a seal.

When I take those breaks? I’m a better editor. A better business owner. A better me.

Lesson 2: Ask for What You Need

Charlie doesn’t hesitate to ask for what he wants. He will paw at me, follow me around, and make sure his needs are met, boldly and without hesitation. Bean is the same. If she wants attention, she’s getting it. No guilt. No shame.

Imagine if we did that in business. If we asked clients for clarity. If we set boundaries without apologizing. If we said, “Hey, I need a break,” without spiraling into guilt.

Charlie and Bean don’t wait for permission to get their needs met—and neither should you.

Lesson 3: Rest is Productive

They nap like it’s a sport. They stretch, yawn, flop, and rest. No guilt, no “I should be doing something.” They just rest.

Meanwhile, we’re over here trying to prove our worth by how tired we are. Working late, skipping lunch, ignoring what our bodies are screaming at us because hustle culture told us we should.

Charlie and Bean taught me that rest is not the reward for getting work done. It’s part of the process. It’s where creativity bubbles back up, where burnout is healed, where ideas that feel good are born.

Lesson 4: Live in the Moment

I spent so much of my life living in the past or the future—anxious about what was or what could be. But cats? They don’t care about yesterday or tomorrow. They care about right now.

Taking a break to sit in the sun, enjoying a snack without guilt, stopping work to play or nap—these are small moments that add up to a life you actually want to be living.

Charlie and Bean forced me into the now. And once you learn to be here, really here, you realize how much of life you’ve been missing.

Lesson 5: Take Up Space

Charlie is a big boy, and when he wants to be seen, he will be seen. He’ll stretch out, take over the desk, and exist in whatever space he’s in with complete confidence.

How many times have you made yourself smaller in business, afraid to take up space, afraid to ask for your worth, afraid to say what you really think?

Be like Charlie. Take up space. Take what you need. Don’t apologize for existing fully and comfortably.

Final Thoughts: The Real Main Character Mindset

Charlie and Bean have no idea they’re teaching me these lessons. They’re just living. Fully. Boldly. In the moment.

And maybe that’s the real CEO mindset.

Your work will still be there after your nap. Your clients won’t fire you for taking lunch. Your creativity will flow better if you give yourself time to breathe.

Want a Business That Feels Like You?

If you’re tired of feeling burnt out or disconnected from the business you’re building, you don’t have to figure it out alone. I offer 1:1 mentoring for photographers and editors who want to grow a business that feels aligned, sustainable, and fun (without hustle culture running the show).

If you’re ready to build a business that supports your life (and not the other way around), let’s chat.

✨ Click here to learn more about my mentoring services.