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Creative insecurity at work after starting a side project

· 3 min read

Ever tried to launch a fresh Instagram page while your coworkers are still figuring out how to pronounce “creative” without sounding like a robot? That’s exactly what happened to our hero, who decided that life was too short for boring office décor and launched a graphic‑design page. The office reaction? A mix of “Why?” and “Can we use your username?” that left our protagonist feeling like they’d accidentally opened a portal to a world of judgment and unsolicited suggestions.

The Dilemma​

Picture this: a creative agency, a handful of tight‑knit friends, and one person with an unstoppable urge to grow their design chops. After a while, the idea of a side hustle took root. The Instagram account was born, and the first post was a triumph. But when the coworkers saw it, the office turned into a full‑blown brainstorming session:

“Why did you start a new page?”
“Can we help you pick a cool username?”
“What should the profile pic even be? And why are you using the same account?”

Our hero felt a strange cocktail of fear and sadness, thinking, “Did I just let my own friends turn into a swarm of copy‑cats?” They worried about being judged, about the possibility of being “stolen” or duplicated, and about how this would affect their standing at work. The emotions were real, and the uncertainty was… well, a little ridiculous.

The Crowd’s Reaction​

Below is what the office “crowd” had to say—reimagined for a chuckle:

  • “It sounds like they’re vibing with your idea, not stealing it.”
    A gentle reminder that the world isn’t a zero‑sum game and that a little inspiration is just good design practice.

  • “Yessss, thanks for the pep talk. I needed to hear this. 🙃”
    Because sometimes the biggest hurdle is convincing yourself that the fear is just an awkward dance partner.

  • “Are they copying you? I don’t quite understand the story, but sounds annoying!”
    A meme‑ready question that highlights the confusion between “copy” and “inspire.”

  • “I started an Insta creative design page, and the next day they kept asking why I decided that. Then my friend suggested I post something ‘now!’ and even asked for a username and a profile pic. I felt shadowed and scared that I’d fail creatively.”
    Classic “I’m not the only one” moment that turns into an existential crisis.

  • “Ahh okay, so it seems like they’re liking your work! What’s your role at your job? Make sure they’re not actually copying you and try to take it as a compliment. You could also make your page private unless it’s a work‑related one.”
    Practical advice wrapped in a supportive tone, because we all need a little reassurance.

TL;DR​

Our creative hero launched an Insta page, got a barrage of “Why?” and “Can we help?” from coworkers, felt like they were being stalked by copy‑cats, but eventually realized they were just being inspired (and maybe a little jealous). Bottom line: keep your creative flow, guard your sanity, and remember that the only real competition is your own pixel‑perfection.