Fun fact, apparently I'm a coffee snob

Welcome to a new era.

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Last Wednesday morning, I zipped to Safeway at 8:30 am in desperate search of diapers (for our adorable 10-month-old) and coffee beans (for myself). Full picture: I was exhausted. Our son had woken up to nurse not once, twice, or three, but four times the night before.

As I stumbled half-awake through the grocery store aisles trying to ignore the growing lack-of-caffeine headache, I had an epiphany:

I didn’t need to wait to get my coffee fix. There was a Starbucks right in front of me.

But then the deeper realization hit:

I didn’t want Starbucks. I wanted the 65% decaf, 35% regular americano with the delicious Kicking Horse beans that I make for myself every single morning at home. I realized I was a coffee snob.

Who’s to blame? My husband.

Andrew is as meticulous, patient, and thoughtful as they come. If you’re into the enneagram, Think number 1 Perfectionist meets number 5 Researcher – he *will* learn the best possible way to (insert his latest hyper-fixation hobby here). When he gets into something… he is ALL in. 

When coffee became Andrew’s thing, our at-home barista setup became bougie. We have an espresso machine with a separate bean grinder and a scale to weigh the decaf and regular beans to create the *exact* level of caffeination to suit your fancy.

At first I rolled my eyes. And now I love it. (I love him).

This also means that even in my most sleep-deprived state, I don’t want Starbucks anymore (no shade to the ‘bucks, I promise). But it no longer cuts it when I can make the most perfect drink at home.

This silly little coffee anecdote is the perfect introduction to The Heart Behind It and the new era of my business.

At the end of 2023, I hit full-blown burnout. There was so much that *was* working (the coaching clients, the design projects, the income) that I stopped working.

I entered maternity leave needing a complete break from the busy-ness. And I returned to work four-ish months later knowing that the old way of doing things wasn’t going to cut it. I couldn’t work 10-hour day or say yes to all the projects. My priorities are flexibility and time freedom: the ability to be present with my family and serve my clients as deeply as possible.

It was time to let go of what no longer served me re-build with meticulous (and intuitive) intention.

Here’s what has shifted:

• Samara Bortz Creative no longer exists. This business served me well for 4 years (fun fact: I launched EXACTLY 4 years ago today, on November 1 2020!), but I’ve said goodbye to web and brand design work. (Excepppppppt for select projects in tandem with my copywriter business bestie, which I cannot wait to share more about).

• My brand is now Samara Bortz. (hi, it’s me!). I am a business coach. My offers teach my heart-centred method to intuitive business growth, offer design, sales, marketing, scaling, and mindset. 

This pivot means:

1. Doing MORE of the coaching work that gives my clients incredible results in their businesses and lives.

2. Having the capacity to serve my community with free content (this newsletter! My podcast launching on December 1st! Instagram!).

3. Honouring my need for spaciousness in my life. Being a mom first, entrepreneur second.

4. *Fully* embracing an intuitive, soft, regulated, and feminine approach to business growth. And, guiding my clients along this journey to create businesses that actually feel (and do) good.

SO, I’ve officially swapped my Grande extra-hot Americano Misto for my 65/35-caf Bortz-Barista Americano: the beverage (and business) that’s tailor-made for this phase of life.

Inside this newsletter: The Heart Behind It, I’m sharing my journey through intentional entrepreneurship with you: the lessons, the shifts, the strategies – all told through (unfiltered + imperfect) stories.

Thanks for being here!

Cheers, xo
Samara

PS – my new website launched today!! *cue confetti and nostalgia* It would mean the world if you checked it out.

Exactly 4 years ago, Andrew and I were popping champagne in celebration of the official launch of Samara Bortz Creative Design. What a journey.

My first-ever “brand photo.” I still kind of love it. Shot by the one and only Andrew Bortz (yes, he had a photography-obsession era, too 😉)