I’ve been on this earth for nearly 40 years and am rethinking entirely “what I want to be when I grow up”. I’ve had an interesting path to this point - venturing in and out of traditional work, grad school, different cities and places, and over the past couple of years, creative work. One thing I know for sure: regardless of where I end up over the next few years, I will keep making. Creativity is a critical part of my process for problem solving, positive mental health, and expression.
Always creating.
I’ve spent the better part of 2024 researching and soul-searching on “what I want to be when I grow up.” It feels cliché and immature to be in a spot where I don’t know what type of job or work I want to be doing, but I found myself deep in a rut regarding this after leaving my part-time contract in May 2024. I researched everything from roles in the nonprofit space to IT / Cyber security roles around artificial intelligence and data governance. While I’m grateful for the time, space, and financial freedom to do this life-review, it was a trying and sometimes very disheartening exercise.
For most of my career-building adulthood I’ve been in math-based or data-based work. I chose this path for two main reasons: ease and practicality. In doing so I had inadvertently placed myself in prime positions for being in a quite lucrative career of data projects, in a “sexy” job as a data scientist, and even working for my “dream” company, Tableau. This was great for me for many, many years. Until it wasn't. Burn-out hit me hard, felt like out of nowhere, although in hindsight I should have seen it coming, and it knocked me off my game for a long time.
It took working again, thankfully in a part-time, short-term contract, to get a taste for a paycheck again, and to start rebuilding trust. Trust with myself primarily in that yes, I can have a job, balance my mental and physical health, and have a healthy relationship again with my screen time. It took working again for someone I knew would help hold me accountable to not burning out again, not falling into those same habits that dragged me so hard into a rut of resentment towards all things tech. I’m so grateful for my caring network to allow for this type of personal experiment.
With this trust starting to build back up, I started looking for a job all while spending a lot of time researching through Youtube, Coursera, informational interviews, and books. I tested out varying ideas for a new career, outside of data, or data adjacent, before landing on something that had been nagging on me for a while, but I was pushing away out of fear.
When people try and guide one another in finding careers they ask about likes and dislikes, what motivates you, etc. When I was 17-18, picking out a college major, I didn’t know enough to know anything at all, really. Of course I thought I did. Thought I had a lot of things figured out, and while some younger folks truly do, I was not part of that group. I picked Math because it was easy for me. It’s how I naturally worked through the world, so it made sense to do it. I picked Italian because it felt romantic, and while I knew I wasn’t going to use it for work, I could have those romantic feelings until I got a job, which I did, right out of college, because of my Math. That job set me on a track for more choices that at the time felt like the “easy” path. I always stayed close to Rochester, data, my career at Paychex, and so on. I bounced around. To some it might have looked like I was a risk taker and always “trying new things”, but in reality I took very calculated, mostly conservative risks and kept landing back on data, data, data.
Opening JA Murphy Designs was truly the only non-data, big risk I took. Through it I learned how to create, something I had never really cultivated. Prior to JA Murphy Designs I hadn’t really had hobbies outside of reading. I hadn’t picked up knitting until January 2022, shortly before opening the business. In 2022-2023 I taught myself the Cricut, heat pressing mugs / tumblers, printing cards / postcards, design work, making earrings on a laser engraver, resin earring design, more knitting, in particular hats, and more. In 2024 I picked up sewing, and specifically quilting, with the help of my great aunt and all her tips / tricks. All of this to say that while the business won’t be what it was, and selling will look quite different in the coming years, I wouldn’t have traded this time. I am proud when I think of all I learned, both about making and about myself. I’m grateful for my friendships cultivated in doing all of this. I’m proud and grateful of my growth as a perfectionist and learning to let go of a lot of the mental sh1t that used to drag me down.
I decided I was ready for a steady paycheck again after testing the waters with my contract. This time though, I wanted to be thoughtful and deliberate, and not just doing the stuff I already knew how to do just because that’s the less-scary path. It took me the entire summer and a lot of really hard talking-to-myself conversations before I landed on going back to school for my second masters, this time in Mental Health Counseling at St. Bonaventure University. The program is part-time and online, allowing me the freedom to also work full-time while I determine if this new path is the one I want for my longer-term plan. With that, I’m also working as a data analyst for a software company, Bill. These next 2-3 years are going to be different for me. They’re going to shift the business to be more of a hobby. You’ll still hear from me, you will still be able to shop Zazzle / my handmade items. I’ll still blog and keep the website up when I can. JA Murphy Designs won’t be over, but will certainly be different, again.
A strong, heartfelt thank you to all who have supported my creativity over the past couple of two and half years, in the form of encouragement, purchases, and feedback. Without you I don’t know where I’d be.
Updated: January 1, 2025
Previous Abouts
Stories evolve. Perspectives shift. I like to keep things fresh, but I also find growth shows up in the written history. Here I’ll be keeping my previous “Abouts”.
Contact Jess
If you are contacting me regarding a specific order, please do NOT use this form. Instead see the Shop Policies. There is a special form there.
JA Murphy Designs was started
to create things for communing and inspiration
Since June 2022, when JA Murphy Designs LLC was officially founded, I’ve been wandering through the world of self-employedness. It all started with 10 Zenspo (TM) designs, sold originally through print-on-demand. Since the launch of the initial design line, I’ve created 100+ designs, developed several entirely custom gift bundles, learned how to bring all production & logistics in-house, re-outsourced (Zazzle), and have rebranded / re-released with major overhauls my website 4 times. Since the very beginning I’ve been supported by family, friends, other creators, and each customer who stops into the City of Rochester Public Market booth. I’ve been overwhelmed by perfectionism, lists of things I want to try and make, and often times fear this is all going to fail. When those feelings pop up, though, I remind myself of the people I’ve connected with over the past year. Often times complete strangers. Strangers who have said things like “I feel like you’re making these [designs] for me.” and “We should be friends because we share so many hobbies.” These types of interactions mean a lot to me as a small business owner. I’m full of gratitude for all the support, feedback, and kindness I’ve experienced over these months of in-person selling.
It’s my distinct hope the community gets two things from my designs: joy (maybe in the form of a chuckle or laughter) and feeling seen. It’s my goal to reach people who maybe aren’t normally reached. Touch their souls and hearts in ways maybe not normally touched. Help them feel special and loved. It might be in the form of a sarcastic mug design about crime shows, or it might be a serious sticker for encouragement. They might not remember who designed it, but it’s my hope when they interact with my designs on whichever media they choose they feel lighter, connected, and a bit happier.
Empowering Freedom
This has meant giving myself the permission to experience freedom: freedom of movement, financial stability and freedom, flexibility, and autonomy in choices. This is both directed towards the self and also empowering others to find the freedom in their lives. This shows up as: offering stories, but not demanding action, letting go of things not being done “my way”, and most importantly, remembering everyone has their own context and shit they’re dealing with, and meeting them where they’re at in terms of communication and support.
Integrity
Quite simply, doing what I say I will do, when I say I will do it (or communicating otherwise). This needs to be expanded to also include setting boundaries around what I’ll say I’ll do and when. This will show up as me standing by my product, as an employee, maker, writer, and designer.
Cultivating Peace
I’ve been practicing mindfulness around what it is I can control versus what it is that I need to learn to adapt and live with. Empathy, compassion, “staying curious”, and staying present are all part of this process. This shows up in the form of mindfulness and awareness, which I’m hoping will be a strong pillar in my career & business, as I create space between a trigger and the reaction or habit.
Wholeness
All of the above come together - I am my business and my work. This is ingrained deeply in my personality. I need work that allows me to live the above values, is aligned with what energizes me, and promotes a healthy, holistic balance. Yes, I want to make money, but I also want my life to inspire my work and my work to inspire others (or at least let them know they’re not alone).
JA Murphy Consulting LLC ®
JAMC was started in June 2020 as a consulting business addressing data strategy and needs in nonprofits. In April 2021, all client contracts and projects were complete, at which point the business was dissolved as a registered LLC in the state of Pennsylvania. During the time between April 2021 and June 2022, Jess Murphy - owner / founder / chief data officer, was employed at Tableau (a Salesforce company) and all JAMC operations were concluded. As of June 2022, the name of the business, “JA Murphy Consulting LLC”, is a federally registered trademark and usage of the said trademark requires written approval from the owner of the trademark, Jess Murphy.
Contact Jess directly using the below options regarding any previously completed contracts as it relates to the business of JA Murphy Consulting LLC®.
