We had the good fortune of connecting with Joyce Latson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joyce, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I must say that my work life balance has been a roller coaster ride! At the start of business, things were a little slow. I was just learning the business so I was able to still have time to have my 8 to 5, focus on myself, friends, and family. As business began to pickup about a year or so in, I was still able to do these things but it started to get more challenging. I would find myself not being able to answer personal calls as much and by the time I’m done at night, I’m too tired to call back or it’s just extremely too late. Now that I am almost in my third year of business, I had to tell myself to slow down and take a breather from time to time. Last year during the pandemic, business really picked up especially because I was designing face masks. I had time for absolutely nothing and I was fortunate that my family and some of my friends would come keep me company while I worked or helped in the process. It was our bonding time. I was also working from home with my 8 to 5 so it was a little easier to focus more on my business. Even though this was the case, I abandoned focusing on myself. I found myself beginning to get burned out, I wasn’t as motivated as I once was, and I couldn’t find the drive or the energy to come up with new ideas and products. I completely put the needs and wants of others before my own peace of mind and I had to stop. I was truly on a downward spiral headed to straight to defeat. So I had to learn how to say no. I had to learn to stop working at a decent hour so that I had time to unwind before going to sleep at night. I had to learn to organize and work around and prioritize ahead of time to be able to spend time with family and friends. The balance made me feel so much better physically and emotionally. I’m not on constant go-mode as I once was. Yes I still go get it, but I make time for me and my mental and physical health. The work comes out better and neater and I come up with fresh ideas. I really had to stop and start over and it’s ok to do that. The balance taught me that it is ok to start over and come back better than before.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I must say that I’m most excited about the new products that I am going to add on to the list. I am also excited about where my business is going. There are endless possibilities that a person that does customization can do and I’m always up for the challenge. I wouldn’t even call myself a professional per se, but I know some of my customers think otherwise. I honestly thank God for this given talented that he placed inside of me and the passion to pursue it. It by far is not easy! I’ve messed up many shirts and cups. I’ve had to unstitch masks and tutus. No, it is not easy. I really had to slow down and focus on what I was doing instead of focusing on, “ok I have to get this done quickly.” I pride myself in customer service and time efficiency, but I know that it has to be done right rather than getting it done fast. I wouldn’t give anyone anything that I would not wear and I stand by that. I’ve learned so many lessons in these three years. Take a break would be one of the main ones. Sometimes we go so hard that we don’t stop and take just a little time for ourselves. We all need mental and physical breaks. It’s what keeps us able to keep going. Just take a step back and breathe if only for a moment. I want the world to know that Juice’d Out is a brand that’s going places. I want the world rocking Juice’d Out whether that be a shirt, a cup, or just a keychain. I want the world to know about Juice’d Out and its vibrancy. The pineapple is very significant for me. It’s not just a fruit for me. To me it represents to always wear your crown, always be sweet, and to always stand tall. This is what I remind myself of to keep going when I have to deal with the challenges of this business and I just had to incorporate it into my logo!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Montgomery, AL has so much history to explore here! It’s known for the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the new Equal Justice Initiative and much more. So if my bestie was down to explore Montgomery, we could go on a tour downtown! After that we could get some good soul food from a couple of places. Mrs. B’s, Simply Southern, or Sally T’s. Now as far as night life goes, downtown Montgomery has some nice bars and sometimes with a live band. If not downtown, BB King’s in the casino is a great place to unwind, dance, and just have a good time

!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my family. I have the BEST support system that I could ever dream of, especially my parents. My mom has spent a many of days in the “she shed” with me to ask me if I needed help or if there is anything that she could do for me. She didn’t have to do that. She works looong hours and she still finds the time to come help me even if she just picks up a broom and sweeps the vinyl scraps off the floor. It means the world to me. My dad always makes sure I have everything I need. He has delivered and mailed off plenty of packages for me and he has picked whatever is on my list so that I didn’t have to go anywhere. I owe them so much for the love they show me each and everyday. My sisters and niece always keep me company if they just sit and vibe to music with me, cut out a piece of fabric, or just give me advice. They don’t know how many days they have saved me from complete meltdowns from the stressors of life. My sister in Delaware always sends texts or calls just to let me know how proud of me she is, or just to tell me how far this is going to take me, or just to simply say, “I love you”. She helps me even from hundreds of miles away. As I shed tears saying all this, I thank them for all they have done to make things just a little bit easier for me. I thank them for standing in for me some days and being places that I couldn’t at the time. I thank them for understanding me when many didn’t and wouldn’t. I’m just truly grateful for the supportive and loving family that I have.

Instagram: @juicedoutcreations

Facebook: facebook.com/JuicedOutCreations

Image Credits
Nero Johnson MG Images

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.