I Don’t Do It All
A few weeks ago, I got a message on LinkedIn from someone I didn’t know. Her name was Beth. She’s an expat. A freelancer. A mom of two. A fellow marketer.
And she reached out because of a blog post I had written.
She told me that her friend Philippe had sent it to her. Philippe and I hadn’t spoken in decades, but his mom used to be the directrice of the French school I attended as a child in Chicago, and for a couple of years, she picked me up and brought me to school every day, along with her two sons. That was over 30 years ago.
Apparently, Philippe has been reading my blog, saw something in it that reminded him of Beth, and decided to connect us.
That’s the thing about writing and putting little things out into the world: you never know where they’ll land.
A Conversation That Sparked Something Unexpected
When Beth and I spoke, it felt instantly familiar.
Two moms. Two freelancers. Living in different countries but orbiting the same messy, creative, overloaded universe of parenting and professional life.
She works in content strategy. I work in marketing operations. But we’re both trying to find the space between client deadlines and kid pick-ups to do work that matters — and maybe even carve out time for personal projects that have been gathering dust in the back of our brains.
Beth told me she dreams of writing a children’s recipe book; one that makes vegetables more approachable and fun for kids.
That struck a chord.
Because about three years ago, long before I started pocket nibbles consulting, I had a half-baked idea to write a kids’ book of my own; one that connects bodily functions to fruits and veggies.
You know the ones: Beets turn your pee pink. Asparagus make it smell really funny. Beans make you fart. And don’t get me started on what happens when you eat corn on the cob. Ever heard of a corn race?
It made me laugh at the time, and it still does. I imagined a silly, science-based book that makes vegetables feel less intimidating for kids, a way to make curiosity and experimentation part of food discovery.
When Beth told me about her project, I dusted off my idea and floated the possibility of collaborating: I write the goofy vegetable book, and she contributes recipes at the end. Who knows? Maybe one day.
The Question That Hit Home
Toward the end of our call, Beth asked me something:
“Chloe, how do you do it all?”
It’s a question I’ve heard before — and one I’m always hesitant to answer. Because the truth is:
I don’t.
I absolutely do not “do it all.”
And I definitely don’t do it all at the same time.
What you see, on my blog, on LinkedIn, or from the outside, is not the full picture.
It’s a rotating mosaic of priorities. My client work always comes first. But when that slows down, I find time for other things:
- Building the Lead with Intention mentorship program
- Forging a European Marketing Ops community
- Writing blog posts (like this one)
- Dreaming up veggie-themed children’s books
But not all at once. Not every week. And definitely not with any consistency.
In fact, I knew from the start that pocket nibbles wouldn’t be a blog with weekly posts or a business that churns out the same offers every quarter. I write when I’m inspired. I build when I have energy. And I let things pause when I need rest or focus elsewhere.
This is not a flaw. It’s the model.
And it works because I designed it with intention.
How This Ties Back to pocket nibbles consulting
The name pocket nibbles came from my childhood. My mom always kept little snacks tucked in her coat pockets (popcorn, carrots, clementines) ready to calm a cranky kid during a city walk or museum visit. She called them “pocket nibbles.”
Decades later, I still use the phrase with my own kids. And when I started my business, I realized it fit what I wanted to offer:
- Snack-sized support that makes a big difference. Structure that creates breathing room. Small things that add up.
So when I say I don’t do it all — I mean it.
But I do try to show up with presence, purpose, and permission to let things ebb and flow.
Because that’s what sustainable creativity and freelance life require.
And if you’re trying to juggle client work, kids, creative ideas, and global WhatsApp chats with family — know this:
You’re not alone.
You don’t have to do it all.
And even one small nibble at a time can lead somewhere beautiful.
