Saying No Made Room for My Best Work

I don't share much about the journey of my studio - Overlays Studio - other than the main pointers. But let's talk a little more today.

Last month, I closed two deals—one for $9K and one for $6K. One's already finished, and the other is in the final draft. Sounds pretty good, right? Yes. Especially since I don't look for clients often—most of my work comes from close referrals, some direct requests, or projects that feel creatively exciting or, honestly, pay really well :)

Why? Because I don't want to juggle too many things or spend my day stressed out. Also, whenever I'm introduced to a client, they usually want to work with me—not an "agency" involving multiple people. That's why I mostly run my studio solo or work as a consultant helping other companies' design team.

Me at my studio studio focus on design tasks—anything from branding, illustration, 3D, web dev, even physical products or anything creative enough to catch my interest.

Sometimes, if I'm not really interested in a project, I quote more than usual. And still, they agree. I still remember an early mistake—I invoiced $1200 instead of $120 for an illustration, and the client didn't even question it.

Right now, I'm sitting in my studio with just three projects open. That's it. Two years ago? I had around Ten projects open.

Back then, I said yes to everything—wedding agency rebrands, crypto startup pitch decks, wellness coaches who wanted "something like Apple but warmer." My calendar was chaos. Every notification felt urgent. Because when you freelance, saying no feels like turning down survival.

I was fully booked for years. My bank account stayed steady. But I was exhausted—in a way sleep couldn't fix.

I remember staring at a mood board from an essential oils client who kept sending random Instagram screenshots as "inspiration." My coffee had gone cold. And I thought: I'm trading my creative energy for projects that will be forgotten in six months.

That's when I started saying no.

The shift felt impossible. Turning down a $3K job triggered every scarcity fear I had. Empty weeks felt like failure. Other designers posted packed schedules while I wondered if I was sabotaging myself.

But here's what nobody tells you: saying no creates space for better yeses.

The clients who came started respecting my boundaries because I had them. The projects aligned with what actually excited me. I wasn't just executing someone else's vision anymore.

I started working on a small 3D movie project. I began exploring new creative territories. And finally—I dove deep into game development.

That game project had lived in my head for years. Cute cozy 3D art, some hand-drawn texture and animation, weird mechanics. I used to sketch characters during boring calls, imagining soundtracks while adjusting kerning.

Now I spend after work hours most of the time on it. Learning Game engine. Getting stuck on code and loving it.

It's unpaid. Unfinished. And it reminds me why I became a creative.

The hardest part hasn't been money—it's unlearning that being busy equals being valuable.

Sometimes I still wonder if I should scale. Build a "real" agency. Then I remember that Tuesday with the essential oils client. If you're tired—really tired, not just sleepy but hollowed out—maybe it's not a sign to push harder. Maybe it's a sign to push back.

Maybe success doesn't require burnout. Maybe freedom beats a full calendar. Maybe your best work comes from protecting your energy.

Today, I've got three projects open. One pays bills. One challenges me. One feeds my soul. I wake up excited to work on all of them.

That's not just something. That's everything.

Your best work isn't hiding in your hundredth project. It's waiting in the space you create by saying no to your ninety-ninth. The world will always demand more. But creativity thrives on less noise, more intention.

That dream project you keep postponing? That's your creative soul reminding you why you started.

Make space for it. Because the work that matters most is the work that makes you feel most alive.

---

Note - I updated my studio website with more details - Overlays Studio