Claire Dubois
Aug 31, 2026
I burned out running my Etsy shop and let it die
It started as candles for friends. Then I had a product go a little viral and suddenly I was doing 300 orders a week from my apartment with my partner helping on weekends. I stopp…
Sign up to read the full story
Community reactions
In short
My Etsy shop grew until I stopped sleeping and could not open my laptop. After burnout and suspension, I rebuilt it on a smaller scale. Earning less with real limits has given me back a life I actually enjoy.
There’s a comeback in this one. I reopened it as a much smaller shop. 40 orders a week max, one product line, shipping twice a week. I make less money and I'm a…
Read the full story
React, comment, and connect with people who get it.
More stories
Cut at the final callback, again
Twelve years of theatre training and four final callbacks this year have brought four rejections. I hide the hurt on the ride home. With savings running low, I am questioning whether loving this dream is enough to keep going.…
Lost my scholarship and I'm a first-gen student
My grades slipped while my mom was in hospital, and I lost the scholarship keeping me at university. The appeal was denied. As a first-generation student facing $11,000 a semester, I feel like I am letting everyone down.…
A client owes me $6,200 and stopped replying
A startup still uses my design work but has stopped answering a $6,200 invoice. That money was two months of rent. Borrowing from my sister hurts, and I am left questioning the trust that made me skip a deposit.…
Join the community
Read the full story
React with sentiments, leave comments, and connect through real shared experiences.