Jessica Cockroft is the owner of Petrichor Living, where she offers SEO content writing, copywriting, social content creation, and farm goods. She’s a self-proclaimed growth fanatic fueled by pursuing personal growth and growth for her clients.
- When did you start freelance writing? I took my first copywriting course in 2020 and started working online right away!
- Where are you from? Born, raised, and currently living in Norman, Oklahoma.
1. You’ve said you’ve felt fragmented as an online entrepreneur. Can you explain what you mean by that?
I’m not an avid puzzler. But lately, I’ve enjoyed spending some time on the floor working on some with my kids. We spend hours browsing the loose pieces, finding clues to help us bring them together.
Fragmentation looks a lot like an unfinished puzzle. The pieces belong together. You know they do. But without a concerted effort, they’ll remain detached from one another, and we won’t get to see the whole picture.
In my body, that often translates to feeling rushed and scattered, like I’m pulled in a million different directions at once. It’s a dozen different projects that aren’t related, each one demanding my attention. Fragmentation is the compartmentalization of the different pieces of my life.
“Fragmentation is the compartmentalization of the different pieces of my life.”
-Jessica Cockroft
2. And what do you think led to that fragmentation?
One of the trickiest parts of being an entrepreneur is that we see opportunity everywhere. I’ve had so many business ideas over the years that it’s been hard to focus on any of them! But that’s not been the only factor driving my fragmentation.
We live in a culture that urges us to turn every hobby into a side hustle and every side hustle into a 6-figure business. Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with either of those. But when a capitalistic drive that doesn’t promote personal happiness and fulfillment pressures us, it can lead to burnout and an abandoning of self.
“When a capitalistic drive that doesn’t promote personal happiness and fulfillment pressures us, it can lead to burnout and an abandoning of self.”
-Jessica Cockroft
3. What was it about the fragmentation you experienced that was problematic? Why did you want to do something to change it?
It’s like the not-so-funny joke about all the balls we try to juggle as working moms. Keep everything up in the air. Stay balanced. Drink enough water. Have a hobby. Grow your business. Play with your kids. Invest in your spouse.
It was too much, keeping all the different pieces of ‘me’ afloat. Balance was elusive. Recognizing the ways this pattern was impacting my mental health and happiness drove me to make a change, starting in my mind.
4. And what did you decide to do to move toward a more unified life?
The first thing I had to do was start thinking about it differently. It needed to be specific to ME, which is important to note for your readers. What I’ve found works for me isn’t prescriptive for everyone because we all tick in our own ways.
“Balance” was too demanding for me to pursue.
I gave away the juggling balls and started working on the puzzle of Me instead. My pace slowed as I worked to understand what regulated my nervous system and how I could organize my life around that. I took the time to dream years down the road, journaling and strategizing about the big picture (which was the opposite of my old MO of having an idea sparked and running with it.)
At that point, anything that distracted me from the big picture got cut. I deleted old accounts and domains I’d been sitting on or dabbling with. Rebranding my company to cover the range of interests that fit my long-term vision started to bring a sense of wholeness.
5. How are you feeling about the changes you’ve made so far?
I’m really, really happy with the progress I’ve made. Mindsets are tough to change, so I take every personal victory seriously and celebrate it as such!
6. What advice would you give to other online entrepreneurs, specifically freelance writers, who are also feeling fragmented and want to make shifts, but aren’t sure where to start?
First, I would tell them they’re not alone and their feelings make sense. And I would cheer them on for recognizing it, calling it out, and determining to take action!
Second, I’d advise them to get a notebook, pen, and their favorite drink. They should go to whatever setting they need for inspiration and just sit for a moment, breathing in the hope for a more unified self and a brighter future. And then, they dream.
Unfortunately, many of us have taken on ideas of what we should want and have no idea what we actually want. Giving yourself permission to bring your authentic self to the exercise is crucial.
Write everything down, unfiltered. Let yourself bounce back and forth if you need to, listing the pros and cons of Choice A vs Choice B. The first goal is NOT to find a solution. The first goal is to get to know the deepest part of self and what you truly want from life. Once you succeed in that, the road map will become clearer.
“Many of us have taken on ideas of what we should want and have no idea what we actually want. Giving yourself permission to bring your authentic self to the exercise is crucial.”
-Jessica Cockroft
7. Now let’s rewind a little bit, when and why did you become an online entrepreneur?
Well, step one of me finding myself was recognizing, as a 27-year-old mom of 3 young kids, that I wanted a career! I’d been discouraged from pursuing one early in life, and, like I mentioned earlier, I took on other people’s expectations as my own. I already knew I had a knack for writing, and working online meant I could maintain the freedom needed to raise my kids, so it made perfect sense.
8. What all do you offer now through your business, The Petrichor Life?
As I write this, I primarily offer my content and copy services. SEO blog packages are my bread and butter, with web copy and social media content creation comprising the rest of my deliverables. I’m not opposed to other types of content, but I highlight those.
The long-term vision includes the other pieces of Me, which are homemade and farm fresh goods! We’re spending 2024 testing various projects like processing animals for friends and family and producing baked goods. My goal is to slowly work towards being a viable direct-to-consumer food producer.
9. What are your favorite things to do when you’re not working?
Oh gosh, so many things! Hiking and camping are my favorites. I’m already itching to break out the tent, even though there’s snow on the ground as I write this! Nature is my happy place, so I’m pretty much game for it if it’s outside.
10. Lastly, what are you planning for 2024? What should we keep an eye out for?
This year is all about growing my online presence, working out details on the farm side of Petrichor, and developing some digital offerings around my brand values of authenticity, presence, and growth.
In my honest opinion, my audience doesn’t need another guide for hacking social media algorithms! But a workbook on speaking authentically as a cottage food brand or getting your joy back as a solopreneur? I hope to bring more insights like that to overworked business owners.
Where can you find, follow, and learn from Jessica?
- Website: Petrichor Living
- LinkedIn: Jess Cockroft
- Instagram: @this.petrichor.life
