Business in making

I am going to Paris this week
So I am talking about this photo shoot all the time, right?  Today at 4 AM, I even started drafting the locations where I'll take those photos.  And another thing: I am going to Paris this week.  And I just had this genius idea - why not do a photo shoot in Paris? Of course, next to the Eiffel Tower.But also in some little charming Parisian streets, classic French brasseries, elegant gardens.. However, the photos from Paris are good for marketing and for socials, yet they do not really stick... More, more, more!!!!
Developing my website & photo shoot reflection
I Today I finally woke up at 4 AM to start creating things.  Painting at 4 AM without coffee is an inspiring thing, but not today.  So I took my laptop, opened my website, and decided to make its audit from the clients' perspective.  It was missing some clear information, and it clearly was not very entertaining. It is still quite quiet, but it's already better.  I transferred some of the FAQ questions to the main page of the website so that people can find their answers more intuitively. I also... More, more, more!!!!
Oh, also I decided that I will sell mini books!
I have been writing little stories or reflections since I remember myself.  Romans, novels, comics, poems... any many other genres I just don't know how to call.  So I will use my website to publish my works!  I already started to write the first book specifically for Camambert.  It's about the reasons to live :D Camambert is quite existential.  So we are currently at the reason number 96. More, more, more!!!!
Today is the day. I will make first product photos. Come on!
I just cannot and shouldn't wait any longer.  I literally sabotage the entire idea.  Whyyyyy Here it is: procrastination on live.  But I will overcome it. That's why I started this Diary of the Founder. I will document it all the way, including these moments of laziness and procrastination. I am also a human, and I want to see how growing a business works for ordinary humans.  Okay, let's move slowly.  If I do not want to do a photo shoot with myself because I do not want to do... More, more, more!!!!
I have to create a new routine
My old routine of 5 AM Club didn't come back after 3 weeks of vacations in August. Now I wake up at 6-6:30 and that's a totally different story. You don't get a chance to connect to the same pure night energy that's still in the air around 4:30-5:00. That's what is really charging me for creativity. This energy, silence, and a purity of space. I definitely need to get my 5 AM time back. That was cool. And productive. These days I add some products, from my earlier designs.... More, more, more!!!!
Looking for a new supplier
I feel like I need to expand my catalog faster. I already have the material; I already have the drawings, the concept, and everything. But now, I literally need to add some business to my art. That's the difference between drawing for yourself and trying to size it up. I also received an email from Google Merchant Center saying that my products are now being displayed in Google when someone enters the relevant search. It's wonderful because now I may receive some additional free traffic. Sympa!  I also found many... More, more, more!!!!
Chilling day
Today wasn't productive. I don't think that I even have done anything at all for the business today. I was lazy, I was chilling, I was enjoying boredom. I was also painting and crafting and it brought me a lot of pleasure. It feels so good to work with hands after years in front of the laptop. Even though I feel rested, I also feel the guilt for chilling and not doing "something efficient". I can, of course, fight that feeling from the high philosophy horse, but also I can... More, more, more!!!!
6 AM - 10 AM creative work shift
Okay, let's bring some energy back after 3 weeks of vacation!  What are we going to do today? Photo shooting, but that's later in the day. What can I do right now? Let's start by writing a to-do list. Check the stats in Google Analytics Create a content plan for Instagram  Create a separate YouTube channel Revive TikTok Re-arrange the room to create a new working and creative space for Camambert Move all the cardboard boxes -> handmade Barbie houses to the gallery to clear up space Paint, paint, paint ... More, more, more!!!!
Back to work!
This year I got to experience real French cliclé and took a vacation for almost the entire August!  What a pleasure!  I haven't been on vacation in two years, oh my god. To be fair, I thought I would paint more, but instead I got really absorbed in handmade crafting, and now I spend hours every day decorating and creating Barbie houses from cardboard boxes. This is so fun!  And it allowed me to expand the horizons of my own art vision!   I am going to make socks and jewelry... More, more, more!!!!
I decided to name things in a more obvious way: compromise
I decided that it's time to help my future customers to navigate the website and to see how it influences conversion.  This website is entirely artistic. So I named categories as if I would be in front of my target audience already: products were called "Wow, what", there was a Superpuff Support Agent Room tab, and some of the other categories could only be found if you click "More".  That was not intuitive and not obvious. I never wanted to be obvious. I wanted to be creative.  But I realize... More, more, more!!!!
The Founder Museum
Hohoho, the next task was just announced!  To understand myself better, I am going to discover the following things about myself: a company whose customer service you admire a logo a quote a product design a café with an atmosphere you love a website a packaging idea a photograph a painting a business model a handwritten note anything that makes you think, "I want my company to feel like this." Let's start one by one. a company whose customer service you admire Oh, definitely Smiirl. But only 50% of it.... More, more, more!!!!
Imagine it's August 2036
I have 20 mornings until I am back to my usual routines. I need to make these 20 mornings as meaningful to me as possible. I decided to make this exercise: imagine that it's August 2036 and my business has succeeded. What do my days look like? Here are the questions that I got: What does your ordinary Tuesday look like? Where do you wake up? What problems do people pay you to solve? Who works with you? How do your customers describe you? What parts of today's life have... More, more, more!!!!
Workaholic on vacation: what to dooooo?
Hello, Dear People!  I am on my first vacation in 2 years, and I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. It's not the type of vacation where you go somewhere because I don't have the money to get away and enjoy another environment, so instead, I am hosting my family who still live in my home country. They come to my place for 3 weeks. I am not sure if it's a refreshing vacation or another job, but that's a choice that I made, and I am seemingly happy with... More, more, more!!!!
Vacation
Camambert is going on a 3-week vacation! Not from creativity, quite the opposite. Camambert will free some time (a lot of time) to finally paint as much as Camambert wants. And whenever Camambert paints, it becomes a new design, available in the store, hehehe!  Stay tuned :D    Paris, see you in 2 hours!  More, more, more!!!!
I connected WhatsApp Business!
Ladies and gentlemen, what a productive night!  Not only did I connect Pinterest integration and launch my first Facebook ad, but I also just created an account on WhatsApp Business!  So cool!  It's really convenient for communication, and I know that it increases trust.  Also, it significantly facilitates partnership communications, and I hope to have many :)  So please, starting from now, do not hesitate to contact Camambert via WhatsApp!  Woohoo!  What else can I do to facilitate cross-plaftorm leads generation and further engagement?  I definitely need to collect my... More, more, more!!!!
I launched my first Facebook ad!
This was truly unexpected as I didn't want to market anything before my website is perfectly stylish and ready.  Well, technically, it is ready. The products are there, the checkout is configured, all the integrations are set up. However, I feel that the customer experience, if it needs to start now, wouldn't be optimal and as smooth as I want it to be.  As someone who works in customer relations for 8+ years, I know as anybody else how important is a intuitive interface, clear website navigation, and defined call... More, more, more!!!!
Welcome to Pinterest, Mr.Camambert!
Hey hey hey  So it's 00:01 AM (PM? at night!) on Sunday, and I just submitted my product catalogue for verification to be synchronized with the Pinterest account for Entreprises.  Every day I wonder what else I can do to improve my website.  For now, while there are no ads and almost no traffic, I have some time to make arrangements, organize things the way I want them to be, etc.  Design the optimal customer experience.  And simply write funny custom emails. That's probably my favorite part :)  So yes,... More, more, more!!!!
I spent 3 hours doing SEO-optimization and finally connected Shopify Payments!
Oh wow, 3 hours spent on SEO-optimization. That's really fun when you do it for your self-expression project.  You write all those texts that later will touch the screens of people out there. Many various people. All around the world.  This realization brings me chills. I checked Google Analytics, and my website is visited from these countries, mainly: the United States (80%), France (15%), Ukraine (2%) and Nigeria (1%). Very interesting!  I do not do any ads, so that's where people naturally find my content from. And everybody wants to... More, more, more!!!!
Klaviyo - customizing my email marketing
I hate to be boring. And I don't like to be bored, even though I recognize the utility of being "usefully bored". I truly believe that this dopamine vacuum is that creates space for the Creation. I know that my painting hours are later on. Basically, any hours of the days are the painting hours because I am an artist. But I am also trying to become an entrepreneur. So I need to define some "cognitive hours", as I call them, when I can do some real business work. But... More, more, more!!!!
5 AM Club is back in the Game!
Hello dear People!  I feel like today I've connected to the same Univers server that I was on when I launched this Project, and I feel truly blessed about it, hehehe.  It's 06:17, and I already configured the expedition terms and conditions for the EU market, customized the clients' account interface and button names (omg, it's going to be so fun), and set the rules for order cancellation. Not bad, not bad.  The most important thing is that I start to have clarify.  I see a bit better what I... More, more, more!!!!
Cross-sell and upsell - today's lesson
Today I am learning how to integrate cross-sell and upsell into my store.  Because once you see one personage, you will want to collect the entire world!  Also, I painted a new character today and already turned it into a design for a T-shirt!You can check it out already.  Generally, I am very drained emotionally today.But I am doing my best. From my bed, mainly. Well, as they say, sometimes your 100% looks like this.  The app for cross-sell and upsell has been installed!  I am trying the Freemium version of... More, more, more!!!!
It's time for Google Ads!
Since I publish my first products, it's time to let the world know about them!  I know pretty well how ads work on social media, but I've never set an ad on Google, for your proper website. It's very interesting to learn!  Okay, I was learning, learning, but now I am stuck because I don't have enough money to place a test order as a customer, because I spent all money on T-shirt samples :D What an interesting life of a growing small business. Nobody wants to place the first... More, more, more!!!!
I published my first products!
I just couldn't wait any longer!  Yes, the photos are still generic, but I'll make the real products photos within next two weeks. My first products are my mug Je m'appelle Camambert and a T-shirt "Ça va, toi?" Go check it out!  And in the meantime, I will upload three more products! Youpiii! It's happening!    I uploaded a crop-top hoodie with my old drawing from Germany "War Ich?"Nice. I just checked online and my products are available, oh my god!!! I've' uploaded first black T-shirt: with the design "Tribe"... More, more, more!!!!
Spontaneous Friday afternoon note, June, summer, sun
I've no idea yet what this note is going to be about, but the previous experiences have proven that this free flow of consciousness results in bright ideas and pure insights. I am full of artistic inspiration, but I am a bit lost regarding the entrepreneurship side. Also, as I am building this business from scratch and on a strict budget, I now have to wait until my next salary to order a sample of a hoodie (omg, you are going to love that design!), pullovers, and other T-shirts. I have... More, more, more!!!!
Back to 5 AM Club: Hello Google Analytics!
07:17 Yes, it's a bit confusing to start writing 5 AM Club notes at 7 AM, yet, it's better late than never. I had to manage my energies, my tasks, and my 3 professional activities. It took me 45 minutes and now I am fully back in the game. I decided to come back to 5 AM Club smartly, and started not with designing apps but Google Analytics. I need to understand better the traffic on my website. Free traffic, ladies and gentlemen!  I know I am supposed to pay... More, more, more!!!!
Choosing my future products
Building my first catalog... Scary but exciting!  More, more, more!!!!
My first sample T-shirts have arrived!!!
15/07/2026 Today, my first T-shirts have arrived! My own clothing! My own designs!  Mom, I am a designer!  An artist!  Wow!  I feel so happy, I cannot believe that it's happening. In two weeks, I'll have a product photo session for the website, and then I will be able to start all the marketing campaigns and sales!  This whole thing is incredible. I am so happy that I just started to act.  Through unknown to the stars.  Woooow  My first T-shirts!!! More, more, more!!!!
Ideas hunger and a goal for summer
I think I am running out of ideas because I am having limitations of my non-profile education and of absence of knowledge. i need to put something in this brain. i need some food of impressions. I will read books. I will participate in webinars. i will pay more attention to the things around me. i will become the real artist of being. Not a bad goal for summer.   More, more, more!!!!
Monday reflections : art
Alright, I’ll practice this new trick with spontaneous notes, I like how my mind works with it. You sort of…. Just start! But it’s better than writing it in Notion and then transferring once per week to my blog on the website. If I write my stuff directly via Shopify, I don’t feel like I can close the tab before finishing my thought, and I cannot finish my thought without achieving measurable results. So it’s working - wonderful!  What can I do for my Project today? Let's estimate my emotional, physical,... More, more, more!!!!
Manufacturer’s search and find
I am struggling to find a manufacturer for my clothing. A few quotes that I received do not match the budget I have. I simply cannot pay for manufacturing same price as I though lt ill have in the end of all. i am lost, i definitely doing something wrong.  But if other brands can do it, I can do it too. I just need to be smarter. My criteria for the manufacturer are that it’s cotton, made in the region, quality printing or broderie. I will Google now again, maybe I’ll have... More, more, more!!!!
Calm Sunday - the 5th of July
It’s a spontaneous note. Out of content queue, out of context, and, if possible, free of judgment. Peace and love. Calm. i deserve piece. Yesterday I reached my emotional peak and I am now recovering. Voila, business-owner is also a human :)  More, more, more!!!!
Self-calming moment. And that's okay.
17/06/2026 05:48I am definitely having an activity crisis, and I know exactly why. And I am going to solve this problem today. I cannot create when my space is attacked. My creative workspace is under undesired attention shelling, and I feel like I am out of control. When I am out of control, I usually freak out, disappear, and create a new life from scratch, without any links to the previous one. That’s how Camambert and many other personalities were born. It’s okay, my dear. You are under stressful conditions,... More, more, more!!!!
Tak tak tak, reset, and let's go!
16/06/2026 05:25 AM It’s probably been 5-6 days since I last did anything for my Project because the energies are disturbed, so for the past two days, I stopped even trying to do something and decided to reset. It’s been beneficial, but also the only way, because my Project is built on passion and on inspiration, and not entirely on discipline. I’d even say not at all. Okay, I will write a to-do list from scratch, as my previous to-do lists have been effective, but at some point, they got... More, more, more!!!!
It's time to paint
14/06/2026 05:06 Recently, the 5 AM Club was more like a 2 AM Club, which is significantly different. But it’s okay. The body knows when to wake up, right? It’s been 3 days since I haven’t done anything about my Project, imagine. But I have completed some important missions, worked on my lovely regular job, improved my apartment, visited an art performance and art exhibition, etc, etc. I lived! That’s also an important part of the way. I have to get that creative energy from some good impressions. I haven’t... More, more, more!!!!
I love my new sewing machine!
12/06/2026 09:08 Today I woke up at 7 AM, and I feel so wonderful about it. It’s a luxury to be able to sleep that long! And I got this luxury today. I have absolutely no regrets about not being in the 5 AM Club today. I am already hyperactive. Nice when I get to rest. This rest has really reset me, so even though I’ve recently woken up, I’ve already done my lovely regular job and cleaned the apartment, so I can dedicate the entire day to painting and... More, more, more!!!!
Fidelity program, my first sewing machine, and one day in Paris
11/06/2026 03:18 Somehow, my 5 AM Club got rescheduled for 1:30 AM tonight, which was not necessarily in the plan because I have an intense and long day in Paris ahead. But we do what we have to do. My sleeping patterns are like my drawing styles. Wildly out of my control. Since I am very efficient at night, I’ve already done all the work for the day for my lovely regular job, and it’s not even 3 AM at that point. You see why I am doing Camambert? I... More, more, more!!!!
Super hilarious FAQ page or Why you shouldn't ask me what's going on
09/06/2026   04:15 AM : Yesterday, I naturally skipped the 4 AM Club, and I feel like it has reset the whole system. Very good. I’ve done some things yesterday, however! Checked Shopify apps for my store, explored fidelity programs, connected one, customized it, very nice. Then, I also found out my SIREN and SIRET numbers, and opened a Pro bank account for my business separately. I will connect it to Shopify thing in the morning, which will activate the possibility of making payments. I also checked the available Zapier... More, more, more!!!!
And I painted, and painted, and painted again
07/06/2026 15:08 And I painted and painted and pained again. Nice. At this point, I don’t even request from myself any commercial development. As long as there is a canvas or two that go out of my brush, I’m good. I also had breakfast in the castle and volunteered at the marathon. If that matters :) Great day, overall. I will prepare my freshly created working space and do something Camambert. I don’t know yet what, but that's exactly the good moment to write a little to-do list. Allez! More, more, more!!!!
Resting and painting
06/06/2026 13:32 I am writing only now because even though there was a 5 AM Club tonight, I didn’t work, didn’t write any to-do lists, didn’t work on any websites, therefore I didn’t even think of writing this diary. I simply took a coffee, spent time observing the rising sun, played with my cat, made an aquarelle painting on a canvas, and went back to sleep until 11 AM. The journey is both working and resting, creating and getting inspired. I’ll work on my Project today, but it will be... More, more, more!!!!
Morning in the associative garden in Paris
05/06/2026 I woke up at 04:43 AM. I just didn’t think of writing. Today is an exceptional morning. I woke up in the cabin in the association garden in the suburb of Paris. So fun. It was planned in advance, well organized, and I slept in warmth and with a wonderful vibe. Really reminds me of the old, good Ukrainian dacha. I had a great time. I had a great time, I slept well, so now I am full of energy, and I am ready to create! 08:45 This recharge... More, more, more!!!!
48 hours in Paris
04/06/2026 05:29 Today I’m going to Paris for work, so I’ll have less time for my Project today, but I’ll do my best to dedicate some time to it in the morning. And I am totally occupied with lovely regular job activities, I’ll take care of marketing, since I can do it from my phone. Chaotic founder diary is coming, hehehe. Okay, let’s start this day by writing a to-do list. It starts to be my tradition/ritual, and it calms me down. It feels so good and comfy to be... More, more, more!!!!
This entire project is an act of self-manifestation!
12:32: As I had an important personal mission yesterday, I couldn’t dedicate my 5 AM club to my Project either on Monday or on Tuesday. But that’s life, we have to find a balance somehow! But I still wrote a to-do list for today, and I will do my best to… do my best :D I’ll be very transparent: some of the tasks have simply migrated from the previous days. But I think it’s better to let the tasks migrate and accomplish them when it’s their time, than to only... More, more, more!!!!
Vulnerability mixed with aggression
29/05/2026 04:14: Fall asleep again. 06:26: Today I decided to add some technology to the process. As my bank proposes a Manus subscription, I will use this agent to help me navigate through SEO and all the beginner’s stuff. We started with brand identity, but I've had a brand name for a while, and I probably even have the final logo. Then, he mentioned the target audience. Of course. That I should understand my target audience's interests, demographics, purchasing habits, etc. Who are my people? Definitely some informal ones. Both... More, more, more!!!!
5 AM Club
28/052026 07:29: I am from the natural 5 AM club, sometimes the 4 AM club, so when the sun is up, it’s my lunch time already. I created this Substack to document my business journey because I am now creating a micro-entrepreneurship in France, and I am going to create my clothing and accessories. I initially started to document this journey in the video format on Instagram, but honestly, it is probably impossible to find a more ungrateful thing to do. So I am upgrading my level, and I am... More, more, more!!!!
First day on Substack, day 4 on Shopify
My first morning on Substack: business in making. How’s it gonna go? There are a few things that have contributed to the fact that I am on Substack today. First of all, I finally kicked myself off Instagram. It’s been a while since I had to do it. Instagram has a very toxic and draining environment, and it is not good for my mental health to be there regularly. It really depends on how you build your algorithm, though. But that’s not the point. Instagram is an uncle who walked... More, more, more!!!!