I recently celebrated a significant milestone: 5 years in business! This journey has been filled with valuable lessons, incredible experiences, and unimaginable growth, both personally and professionally. Here's a look at what I've learned and a glimpse of what’s to come!
Daily Routine & Time Management
I’ve found that setting a balanced and consistent routine is essential as an entrepreneur. While each day can look vastly different, waking up at the same time each day has proven to be incredibly valuable, helping to set a positive tone for the rest of the day. My morning routine usually includes taking my dog, Captain, on a walk to get coffee or a Diet Coke, depending on what I'm in the mood for. After that, it's off to the office to tackle whatever is on the agenda for the day.
Relationships & Mentorship
Building my network and nurturing personal relationships have been essential!I love attending needlepoint retreats and stitch meet-ups, whether in-person or virtual. Spending time with other stitchers helps me feel less isolated and allows me to connect with others who share my passion for needlepoint. I’m also able to gain a deeper understanding of the industry and get to know my customers on a personal level. These experiences continually remind me of how expansive and fulfilling this industry can be, and I can’t believe how many friendships have grown out of this journey!
One of the best pieces of advice I received early on was never to be ashamed of accepting help. Over the past five years, I’ve learned to collaborate with professionals who are leaders in their fields and can provide expertise in the areas of my business where I’m less experienced. This teamwork allows me to focus on designing and building my product offerings, while benefiting from their invaluable knowledge and skills.
Mental Health & Finding Balance
Maintaining my mental health and well-being has been one of the most challenging aspects of growing my business. The stress of being a business owner is real! I prioritize attending therapy weekly and advocating for the mental health management and medication that works best for me.
Like many of us, I definitely work over 40 hours every week, so something I've implemented this year is Summer Fridays where I try to end my Friday at Noon at least every other week. This allows me to truly recharge between weeks and helps prevent burnout. Finding time to recharge also keeps me inspired - a day on the beach to clear my head can bring about the best ideas! As a solo entrepreneur, it's easy to get consumed by your business. To help with this, I recently created a bucket list and set the intention to check off at least one item a year. The most recent check mark was a concert at Red Rocks (complete with a hot dog, of course)!
Building the Brand & Setting Goals
In today’s social media-driven world, maintaining a consistent yet genuine brand can be hard! I only design items that I personally love and believe will resonate with you all. As my business continues to grow, I’m striving to show more of myself even beyond my designs so I can connect with you all more personally and continue providing products and experiences that we can enjoy together!
I absolutely love what I do and am so grateful for the opportunity to continue growing my business. One of my future goals is to open a studio space in St. Petersburg, providing a physical place to connect with all of you.
Celebrating the Successes
Hitting the five-year mark, feels truly incredible! Celebrating both big and small wins keeps me motivated and makes every day feel like a party. It’s too easy to sweat the small stuff, but recognizing achievements keeps me striving for the next milestone, big or small.
I wouldn’t be where I am without your support and to show my appreciation, we’re hosting our most-anticipated studio sale next week! We’ll be offering semi-flawed items at 30-60% off. Stay tuned for more details!
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