Notes From the Messy Middle: Sticker Companies and Spilled Waffles

Hey friends, welcome back to Notes from the Messy Middle.

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I was so encouraged by the response to my very first episode yesterday that I couldn’t help but come back and keep sharing. There’s something powerful about being at a stage in my career where I not only have lived experience to draw from but also get to connect with fellow consultants, writers, and small business owners who are on their own creative journeys. Your support means so much. It gave me the push I needed to hop back on after a long, busy day of work.

If you’re new here, I’m Erin Gregory. I am a writer, strategist, storyteller, and, on most days, a referee between children. When I’m not working or writing, you’ll usually find me in the garden for a little dirt therapy, sneaking in a run with my dogs, cheering on one of my three girls at softball, or hanging out with my main squeeze (who also happens to be the producer of this show).

This podcast is about the down and dirty process of creating work that matters. It is about the stumbles, the tears, the late-night doubts, and the tiny wins that eventually lead to moments of clarity. In the first episode, I introduced my book Living on Purpose and shared the opening section, the wake-up call that made me realize I did not even recognize my own life anymore. Chaos had taken the wheel, and I was caught in the middle of it.

Before I dive back into the book, I want to pause on something that keeps coming up for me. The messy middle is not just the stretch we rush through on our way to something better. It is the place where the real work happens. It is where progress is made. It is where we uncover who we are, what we value, and what kind of life or business we want to build.

So if you are in the middle of something right now, whether overwhelmed, exhausted, or simply in that unfinished in-between, I want you to hear this: there is light ahead. The process is messy and slow, but showing up matters. Even when it feels impossible. Even when it is loud and sticky and covered in spit-up. That is the work that counts. My children are living proof that something beautiful can grow in the middle of chaos. That is how this book was born.

A Glimpse from Living on Purpose

Here’s a piece of what I shared on the podcast this week:

Down the hall, I hear the shower running. Mike is in the bathroom, getting ready for his workday. My workday started an hour ago. He will walk out in clean clothes, smelling good. I am already covered in spit-up and syrup. I am not bitter. Not really. I chose this life. But my need to control everything works against me… [listen to the podcast for the full excerpt]

When I read back the section I shared today, I felt it all over again: the chaos of mornings with little ones, the exhaustion of trying to keep it all together, the guilt of handing a crying baby to child watch so I could squeeze in work or exercise, and the relentless pressure to do it all and to do it well.

But looking closer, I can also see the growth that was hidden there. That version of me did not feel strong or certain, but she was learning. She doubted herself, and because of that, she struggled to trust others. She tried so hard to carry everything alone. And yet every burnt waffle, every YMCA morning, and every tearful drop-off was shaping her. Teaching her. Forcing her to look in the mirror and rediscover who she was. Preparing her to become someone new, someone who could finally give herself grace and lead with purpose, not perfection.

And that is why I keep sharing these stories. Because your mess matters too. Even when you feel like you are unraveling. Even when you cannot see the bigger picture yet. You are building something with every step, every stumble, and every small victory. One day you will look back and realize the very moments that felt like breaking you were the ones that were building you.

This show is produced by Mike Gregory at https://www.undergroundfunkmonk.com.

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Erin Gregory Creative is the studio of Erin Gregory, a writer, marketing strategist, and full-time communications and branding consultant for mission-driven organizations.

She’s also the host of Notes from the Messy Middle, a podcast on Substack exploring creativity, communication, and intentional living. Her work connects personal growth with strategic storytelling, helping people and brands speak with more clarity and purpose.

Read more at www.eringregorycreative.com or connect on LinkedIn.

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