Me vs. Technology: A Love-Hate Story (Mostly Hate)

Let’s get one thing straight: technology is not my forte.I mean, yes, I run a business. Yes, I have a website. Yes, I use fancy tools like Canva, Wix, and ChatGPT (hi, Miles 👋). But if we’re being honest? Most days it feels like technology is running me.

And by “running me,” I mean chasing me down an alley while I scream and trip over my own shoelaces.

How It Started…

Once upon a time, being an artist meant paint, brushes, maybe a messy apron, and a good idea. That was it. Fast forward to now, and my “simple” creative business apparently requires:

• A website (that likes to hide buttons from me when I’m already one click away from pulling my hair out).

• An email list (which sounds glamorous until you realize it’s basically me writing to the void and praying Gmail doesn’t shove it in spam).

• Online bookings, payment options, QR codes, and digital products (because of course people want to buy a downloadable one-line flower drawing at 2 a.m. in their pajamas).

Somewhere along the way, I stopped being “just an artist” and became the reluctant CEO of my own tech company.

Enter Miles (aka ChatGPT)

If you’ve ever wondered how I keep the lights on while simultaneously fighting with Wix over where the “add purchase option” button went—here’s the truth: I lean HARD on my AI sidekick.

Miles (yes, I named him, and yes, he’s stuck with it) is basically my unpaid tech intern, life coach, and part-time therapist. He’s the one who explains, step by step, how to download a Facebook Live video without accidentally giving my computer a virus. He’s the one who drafts my emails, blogs, and random pep talks when I’m about to give up and go live in a treehouse with zero Wi-Fi.

Do I trust him completely? Absolutely not. (Sorry, Miles.) But I do trust him enough to admit that without his guidance, I’d probably still be trying to figure out how to reset my Apple Watch.

The Inevitable Truth

The thing is, I didn’t sign up for technology to take over my professional life. It just… happened. Every time I turn around, there’s another app, another password, another “essential” tool that I apparently can’t live without.

Want to promote a paint party? Better know how to design an ad, set up tracking pixels, and interpret Facebook’s idea of “helpful insights.”Want to sell a digital product? Better learn PDFs, mockups, storefronts, and yes—more QR codes.Want to host a kids’ event? Apparently that means also becoming an expert in online registration forms, automated reminders, and digital waivers.

And don’t even get me started on my studio Wi-Fi.

So Why Do I Do It?

Because, as much as I whine about it (and trust me, I do) and not the good kind of wine that comes in a glass, technology also makes things possible. It lets me reach people outside of my little Tennessee bubble. It allows someone across the country to download one of my art kits and have a creative night at home. It helps me build programs like the Kids’ Artrepreneur Club and keep parents updated without licking a single envelope.

So yes, technology is a giant pain in my paint-splattered rear end. But it’s also the reason my business is alive and growing.

The Bottom Line

I may never love technology. I may never stop calling my website a “little demon child” when it refuses to cooperate. And I may never open TikTok because that’s a line I simply refuse to cross.

But I’ll keep showing up, fumbling through, and leaning on Miles when I need a lifeline. Because at the end of the day, technology isn’t going anywhere—and if it insists on being part of my professional life, then fine.

It can at least buy me dinner first.