I didn’t set out to start Heartwood Agency. At first, freelancing was just a way to pay the bills...I didn’t set out to start Heartwood Agency. At first, freelancing was just a way to pay the bills...
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I didn’t set out to start Heartwood Agency. At first, freelancing was just a way to pay the bills while I looked for my next job. But before long, I had more work than I could handle on my own. The turning point came when I realized I couldn’t keep treating this like a temporary solution. I either had to commit fully — or walk away. My wife and I had a long conversation. Everything felt temporary until I gave it a name, a purpose, and a real sense of direction. I chose the agency model because it created space to grow — not just for me, but for the people who’d eventually join. Heartwood would be “an agency that cares more than really makes sense on paper.” The moment I made that mental shift, everything changed. If you’ve made a similar leap — what was the moment you decided to go all in?
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The network for creativity
Join 1.25M professional creatives like you
Connect with clients, get discovered, and run your business 100% commission-free
Creatives on Contra have earned over $150M and we are just getting started