turn your creative longing into your passion project.

(without quitting your job or waking up at 4am — unless you want to)

Meet Marcela

Hi, I'm Marcela (c = tz), your passion project kickstart partner. I am also Libra, an ambivert (in many life situations) and ambidextrous (in tennis only).

I know the BIG question on your mind is: "How the heck do I start?"

You have these amazing creative ideas you want to turn into a passion project, but…

You struggle with too much to do because YES is your word of choice.

  • You say YES to starting work early and finishing up late.

  • You say YES to cooking dinner every night.

  • You say YES to a friend to review her new book.

  • You say YES to yet another volunteering opportunity, your fifth.

  • You say YES to taking care of your inlaw’s anxious and incontinent dog, just for a week.

I help people like you in full-time jobs to kickstart your passion projects and get your daily dose of creative nourishment so you feel joy, excitement, and pride in your accomplishments.

You’ve probably already tried…

  • Venting to your spouse, friends, and even your goldfish, Rebecca, but pure venting isn't helping. 

  • The opposite - keeping it all in because talking about it feels exhausting, and you're tired of hearing everyone’s advice and opinions.

  • Setting aside time on Thursday afternoons, only to find yourself napping or mindlessly scrolling on your phone because you’re too drained to be creative.

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

I used to be that person in a full-time job with countless ideas, like becoming a golf instructor, a massage therapist, a photographer, and a plumber (you know, on the side).

I wanted to work on my passion projects, but something or someone was always begging for MY attention.

“How the heck do I start” was my question.

Without the answer, I was stuck. It was frustrating.

here’s what changed.

I wanted to create something of my own, something I could be proud of.

And I wanted to feel JOY.

  • I read many articles with generic advice and didn't see myself in any of those.

  • I listened to motivational talks, but my brain was overheating.

  • I took Fridays off from work, but my mailbox exploded on Mondays, and I ended up working extra hours over and over again.

  • I paid for Gestalt therapy sessions. Role-playing, seriously? Not for me.

None of these worked… Until I read The Artist's Way.

I started journaling after reading Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way.

The first few months were HARD. You know that sensation when you're sitting down, but your mind is racing like a Formula 1 car on the Monaco circuit? That was me.

My brain had a blast reminding me to finish the communication plan at work, review my friend's book and critique that resume of a friend's daughter looking for her first job.

The arguments between the old and aspiring new me went like this:

Me 1.0: I promised to help my sis with her pilates poster today. 

Me 2.0: I know, but I’m journaling.

Me 1.0: What if I help her first and then journal?

Me 2.0: Hm….I could do that, I guess. Done and dusted.

Me 1.0: Yes! And right after I can login to work email to sort out my mailbox before new emails arrive. Wait, perhaps I should start working on the presentation about Health and Art that I committed to.

Me 2.0: Oh, just shut up!! I’m journaling.

And journaling I was!

So, I realized, if I can stick to this, what else can I do?

With my momentum going, I got so intrigued by this question and started exploring and mastering:

  • Personal values

  • Behavioural patterns

  • Time and perception of time

  • Workload and perception of workload

  • Boundaries

  • New routine

  • Feeling good

Absorbing the knowledge from books and coaching I figured out that…

Space is one of my values and so I decluttered the entire home, room by room, which, as a huge bonus, also cleared my mind. Holy smokes, that feels great!

  • Having more space allowed me to add more time to my journaling routine which is now my untouchable creative space. My husband is totally supportive.

Every day, I take a few tiny steps towards my passion projects, and here’s what happens:

  • My brain stops telling me what I should be doing instead.

  • Saying no to people and things that don't serve me and my passion projects is now easy. I know what’s important to me. 

This led me to become a creativity empowerment coach, career guide and mentor, an article writer, and an Etsy store owner, for now.

Starting your passion project begins with knowing yourself better.

My approach helps you:

  • Understand your values and what's important to you.

  • Discover what you gravitate towards.

  • Identify what you need to implement and let go of to create space.

  • Guide you from a confused mind to clarity and from being scattered to having structure.

  • Say YES to the things that serve you and NO to the things that don’t.

I'm a certified coach by the International Coaching Federation with a full-time organizational career background (three decades, who’s counting). I completed training in Motivational Interviewing and will sometimes use its techniques.

I understand where you’ve been, but more importantly, where you’re going.

I am excited to see what you say YES to.

Some Fun Facts About Me

I am obsessed with photographing birds and have no problem:

  • Walking around a park in circles to get the perfect shot (yes, my husband is happy to join me; ask him!)

  • Standing beside a blooming tree for hours to capture a bird feeding on its nectar (no, my husband is not happy to join me).

  • I write bird-inspired life articles on Medium, which only my friends read because they have to.

  • I love playing tennis, but as I age, a 30-minute game has become ideal for me without feeling my hip joints. I prefer not to be so intimately aware of my anatomy.

 Ready to start?

If you're interested in working with me 1:1, sign up for a consultation call below. This call is a casual conversation where you can ask questions about working with me. During this time, I will also assess if my coaching is a good fit for your needs.