Faith Over Fear: How Kelsey Hart Built a Business That Reflects Her Soul

Kelsey Hart turned trials and side hustles into a powerhouse digital agency: Creative Honey Badger. What began in survival mode blossomed into a values-driven business helping scrappy startups and small business owners feel seen, supported, and professionally branded. In this Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Spotlight, Kelsey shares how embracing imperfection, leaning into relationships over ads, and leveraging AI transformed her hustle into a thriving creative studio. Her leap from fear to founder wasn’t overnight—but every messy pivot shaped the mission: to make the digital side of business feel less overwhelming and more empowering for the builders starting from scratch.

Hi, Kelsey Hart! Thanks for joining us today. Tell us about your business. Who do you serve, how do you serve them, and what's the impact that your business and work makes?

At Creative Honey Badger, we help small businesses, startups, and scrappy visionaries build bold, professional online presences—without the overwhelm. We specialize in custom web design, branding, fully managed hosting and care plans, and strategic marketing that’s rooted in relationship and trust. Our mission is to simplify the digital side of business, so our clients can show up confidently, knowing their brand and website reflect their values and their vision. We’re here to support the entrepreneurs who are building something from the ground up and need someone in their corner who gets it and can make the messy middle feel manageable.

Tell us about the moment you finally felt like you went from wantrepreneur to entrepreneur.

That moment came when I stopped waiting for “perfect” and chose to leap. I made the decision to go full-time with CHB, leaving behind part-time gigs and safety nets of my full-time job. I realized that building something on my own terms—something that aligned with both my creative skillset and my deeper calling—wasn’t just a dream. It was possible, and I was already doing it. The clients were there. The vision was clear. I just needed to own the role and take up space as a real entrepreneur. That mindset shift changed everything, especially when I started calling myself the founder/business owner of Creative Honey Badger, instead of referring to my business as my side-hustle. 

Describe the moment or period in your life/career that motivated you to make the entrepreneurial leap.

CHB was born out of a season of survival mode and reinvention. I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur and had trialed and failed many approaches prior, mainly because I was holding onto fear and afraid to go 'all-in'. I had already been freelancing for years, but I knew I was being called into something bolder and that it was time to take that leap of faith and go all-in.  I wanted to build an agency that didn’t just offer services, but offered strategy, support, and real-world results—especially for small business owners who are often overlooked by traditional marketing agencies. I saw the gap, and I decided to fill it.

Describe a tool, service, or software that has been a game-changer for your business. How does it contribute to your success?

Embracing AI has been one of the most transformative decisions I’ve made for Creative Honey Badger. From automating internal workflows to generating first-draft content and speeding up the strategy process, AI tools allow me to work smarter, not harder—especially as a solo founder managing chronic health challenges - my time and efficiency is critical for the day to day operations. On the client side, I integrate AI into the implementation process in a thoughtful, strategic way—using it to spark ideas, optimize SEO, and build systems that support long-term growth. It’s not about replacing the human element; it’s about enhancing creativity and efficiency so I can show up more fully, both in my business and for my clients. Technology is a blessing and we shouldn't be afraid of it and use it to help us grow and be efficient. We should embrace the tools and resources at our disposal! Because it is truly critical when operating a business to learn to use these optimized tools, resources and platforms to set you one step ahead of the game. 

We know that success is very often a non-linear path. Tell us about a failure, pivot point, or lesson that changed your course or direction and helped to get you where you are today.

My journey started with a passion project, evolved into a small side hustle, and eventually got tucked away when I thought I “wasn’t ready.” I went on to start several other ventures—some fizzled, some flopped—but each one taught me something invaluable. I failed forward, again and again, until I found the sweet spot that became Creative Honey Badger.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is this: “Choose your hard.”

There’s always a hard—whether it’s the hard of stepping into the unknown or the hard of staying stuck in the mundane. Are you going to choose the hard of chasing your dream with faith, or the hard of living in fear and regret? Are you going to choose the hard work of building your business, or the hard weight of working a 9-5 that drains your spark?

Whatever your path, choose your hard wisely—and know that every messy attempt, every pivot, and every small victory is adding up to something bigger than you think. Don’t quit when it feels like you’re failing. Let those moments refine you. Because failure isn’t the end—it’s often just the doorway to your next breakthrough.

What unconventional strategy did you employ that significantly impacted your business?

I built my business almost entirely on referrals and relationships—without running a single traditional ad. I show up in networking groups (both online and off) as myself, genuinely connect with people, and offer value without expectation. That authenticity created a ripple effect. I’ve leaned heavily into community, strategic partnerships, and staying visible through real conversations, not cold pitches. The CHB brand is built on trust, and that trust has translated into long-term client relationships and word-of-mouth momentum.

What’s something you wish you knew sooner that you’d give as advice for aspiring or newer entrepreneurs?

"Done" is better than perfect. You don’t need a perfectly polished brand, a 12-month plan, or a flawless funnel to start. What you do need is discipline, clarity, consistency, and the courage to take messy action. People aren’t hiring you for perfection—they’re hiring you for results, for connection, and for your unique magic- the same goes with starting a business. Don’t wait until you feel “ready.” You become ready by starting.

Want to dive deeper into Kelsey's work? Learn more in the links below:

• Visit Creative Honey Badger's website: creativehoneybadger.com
• Connect with Kelsey Hart on LinkedIn: Kelsey Hart
• Find Creative Honey Badger on Facebook
• Follow Creative Honey Badger on Instagram @creativehoneybadgerag
• Find Kelsey on Tiktok @thefearlessbadger