Jess, founder of Planned by Jysla, had done everything right.
She got good grades, went to a reputable university, took a degree in engineering and business. An Asian-family-approved career progression. Her family members were looking forward to her making good money at a typical corporate office in Sydney. However, Jess never intended to use her degree. She wanted something different.
“I was a people pleaser, I did everything that people wanted and I did it with a smile,” she said. “But once I hit my late 20s, frustrated and exhausted, I realised I was not living my own life and took some drastic (ok, not really) steps to rediscovering myself.”
A Fair Trade
Since childhood, Jess has recognised creative tendencies in herself. At the age of 14, Jess discovered Photoshop and started volunteering for creative projects at school. That was also the time she got into photography, which she pursued professionally for over 10 years.
When it came to building a career, however, Jess realised she didn’t like working for or with other people. She yearned for doing what’s fulfilling, even when that meant she wouldn’t make as much money as she would in a regular 9-5 job.
“That seemed to really annoy other people, but as long as I could pay my bills by living a life I loved, frugally but comfortably, that seemed like a fair trade to me.”
It was in her mother’s semi-converted garage that the Sydney-based creative set up a little home studio called Planned by Jysla. Jess wanted to make stickers, so she started learning how to draw, challenging her old belief that “you either could draw or you couldn’t.”
“I was so happy working towards a future that felt right and true to me. Even though I was making exactly $0 from my shop at that point, I was determined.”
Scaling the business
The business slowly took shape.
Working from the family’s garage was convenient, but it was dark and cold. So Jess made it her next goal to move into a bright and warm studio space. In April 2019, Jess documented her first vlog on her YouTube channel.
Now, her channel has grown to over 10,000 subscribers, and Jess is working from a new, light-filled studio, hosting intentional journaling workshops and joining local markets.
Planned by Jysla’s signature products are decorative stickers with a signature character as a bear named “Herbie.” The studio also sells vintage-inspired washi tapes, planner inserts and printable systems.
Jess also helps small businesses with content creation, photography and videography.
“I’ve since replaced my go-to phrase ‘I can’t even draw a stick figure’ with ‘drawing hands are hard,’ but most importantly, I proved to myself (and hopefully the world) that there are so many things you can do if you just get out of your own way and stop telling yourself excuses,” she said.
“And now, it gives me so much joy and purpose to create business and motivational content that helps people do the same.”
“This life and work are unpredictable and stressful, and the hours are very long. It’s certainly not for everyone, so I want to help anyone else that wants to walk this path.”
Contact
Website: https://plannedbyjysla.com/
Photos: Planner by Jysla
Words by: Nina Nguyen
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