Episode 021: From Crystal Healing to Author Success - Building Your Creative Empire with Jessica Florence
I am so excited to share this conversation with you! My beautiful friend Jessica Florence has been all over my FYP lately, and for good reason - this woman is building an author empire that combines everything I love: ADHD entrepreneurship, crystal healing, and that authentic energy that just draws people in.
If you're a creative entrepreneur who's been struggling to balance your artistic vision with the boring business stuff, Jessica's journey is going to give you so much hope and some really practical strategies.
When You Stop Writing for Others and Start Writing for You
Here's what I absolutely love about Jessica's approach - she completely ditched trying to write what she thought people wanted and instead created what she calls her "book babies" from all her favorite things. Her Onyx series combines fantasy, romance, crystals, and nature-based magic because those are the things that light her up.
Her latest book, The Rising Quartz, features a protagonist healing through inner child work with the help of quartz crystal energy. And you know how I feel about clear quartz - it's the master healer that amplifies everything! Jessica literally embedded this healing journey into her character's story, complete with quartz crystal body modifications. Sign me up, please!
"I was like, let me take all my favorite things in the world and make a book baby out of them," she told me, and I felt that in my soul. When you align your work with what genuinely excites you, people can feel that authenticity from a mile away.
The ADHD Entrepreneur's Guide to Creative-Strategic Balance
Okay, this is where Jessica absolutely blew my mind with strategies that actually work for our neurodivergent brains.
First, the Maslow's Hierarchy Check-In. When her creativity isn't flowing, she doesn't force it. Instead, she works through Maslow's hierarchy of needs: "I check in if I'm not feeling creative because creative's at the top, then I go okay, well what are my other needs that are not being met? Do I need to feel secure in my home? Do I need social connection?"
This is so much better than beating ourselves up for not being "on" all the time!
Then there's the persona approach. Jessica steps into "Jessica Florence the author" like Clark Kent becoming Superman. This separation protects her personal energy while letting her show up professionally. I've been using this approach myself - there's "Melanie at home with her family" and "Mindset Melanie helping entrepreneurs" and it's been a game-changer.
And here's a hack I'd never heard before: Jessica plays video game music (Mario, World of Warcraft) while working because games are designed to keep you focused for extended periods. The music occupies part of her ADHD brain so she can focus on writing. I'm definitely trying this!
Building Your Growth-Minded Community
Jessica said something that really stuck with me: "You need people surrounding you who also want to grow and move and evolve. It doesn't have to be the same pace, but you can't be stuck and have people not moving forward when you're trying to climb a mountain."
This is so important for us as entrepreneurs! You want people on your team and in your circle who see feedback as information, not criticism. Who get excited about trying new things instead of staying stuck in "that's not how we've always done it."
Jessica also taught me about energy dominance - whose energy is strongest in the room? When she goes to book signings now, she maintains her high-vibe energy instead of letting other people's stuff bring her down. The result? The right people naturally gravitate toward her, and the energy vampires stay away. It's like having energetic boundaries!
Dealing with Rejection Sensitivity (Because We All Have It)
Listen, if you're neurodivergent, you know rejection sensitivity is real. Jessica's approach is so refreshingly honest: "I almost have to be like this delusional audacity in love with myself where I just literally put on headphones and shut out everybody else."
She keeps two mantras on repeat from her support system:
Her friend's unwavering belief: "If anyone can do it, you can"
Her husband's observation from therapy: "I don't know how she does it, but she just creates magic"
But here's the key insight that I want you to really hear: You have to find your validation from within. "I am complete in myself. I do not need others' validation," Jessica said, "but I've worked really hard to get to that place."
This isn't toxic positivity - it's genuine self-work that takes time and practice.
Why Your Marketing Feels So Hard (And What to Do About It)
Okay, this part made me feel so seen. Jessica explained that as creatives, we're so connected to our work that we assume everyone else gets it too: "In my brain, especially when I'm writing and trying to promote my book, I think about the story like I'm so connected and aligned with my story that it's almost like I assume everyone else should know it too."
Sound familiar? We get so deep into our zone of genius that we forget other people need context!
The solution? Separate your artistic brain from your marketing brain completely. Jessica is building a team to handle messaging and marketing so she can focus on creating. If you're not there yet financially, at least recognize that these are two totally different skill sets and give yourself permission to be learning marketing while being amazing at your craft.
Self-Care That Actually Makes Sense
I loved hearing about Jessica's self-care routine because it's so practical and designed for her specific needs:
Talking to people energizes her - she has specific people she can call to "bounce" ideas and get into flow state. Bath time is sacred time - she made sure her bathtub was gorgeous when they renovated because it's her recharge space. She's protective of her media consumption - no anxiety-inducing content allowed.
And when she has excess energy? She swims laps. I love this because it shows how self-care isn't one-size-fits-all. You have to figure out what actually works for your brain and your body.
The Business Evolution That's Working
Here's what's really exciting - Jessica is building what she calls a "keyless business" where she's eliminated every possible point of friction. She's got a team handling her non-strengths, and she's created these gorgeous special edition book releases with foiled covers (featuring her own artwork!), sprayed edges, and quarterly subscription boxes.
This isn't just pretty - it's smart business. She's created predictable revenue through her Patreon while giving her readers something beautiful to look forward to every month.
The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything
The most powerful part of our conversation was when Jessica talked about shifting from "I have to do what people want" to "I can, so why not?"
When I challenged her thinking (yes, I was the pink-haired mindset coach she mentioned!), she realized there was literally nothing stopping her from bringing her authentic energy to everything she does. That permission to be fully herself didn't just transform her business - it transformed her life.
And honestly? That's what I want for all of you reading this.
You know what I love most about Jessica's journey? She's proof that you can build a successful business by being completely, authentically yourself. You don't have to fit into someone else's box or follow someone else's formula.
If you're feeling inspired to start your own creative venture or want more strategies for building a business that works WITH your neurodivergent brain instead of against it, I share weekly insights in my newsletter. Because the world needs more authentic entrepreneurs who aren't afraid to combine crystals and business plans!
Connect with Jessica Florence
Ready to dive into Jessica's magical worlds? Here's where you can find her and her beautiful books:
All of Jessica's books are available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, with signed paperbacks available on her website. And definitely check out those special edition releases - they're as gorgeous as they sound!
