A love note from our future selves.
Starting something new (a job, a business, a relationship, a move, a school, etc) can be exhilarating. But what about BEFORE you say YES?
Whatever you’re new at, it’s helpful to remember that most likely you’ve been here before.
We’re humans after all, with human brains and human hearts and a desire to live life to its fullest. With that, comes some fear and stress and nerves.
We asked our panelists of Creative Conversations (ps, grab your ticket HERE) what whey would have told their pre-launch selves and here’s what they had to say. Spoiler alert, no one’s advice was to turn back, give up the ship or stop what they’re doing.
No matter where you are in your own journey to purposeful work, life or love, these words will deliver you a little love.
Reena Goodwin, Founder of Facteur PR has been an inspiring one to watch over the years. She opened a sweet office in Ohio City, had a daughter (with a new babe on the way) and has worked on some very inspiring projects from the grand re-opening of the Agora to content campaigns within The Van Aken District.
Her advice? Start sooner.
I can definitely relate to that one. Cleveland Flea took shape at precisely the right time but I also spent way too much time keeping my dreams on hold, waiting for the ‘right time.’
Heidi Rolf is inspiring in many ways, and I should know. Heidi was my first employee at Indie Foundry, the design firm I founded that would later morph into my own coaching practice for Female Founders. She immediately increased our stock price when she joined- with her expert eye in photography and design.
But one of the other amazing qualities Heidi possesses (that I’m always trying to learn from) is that she advocates for herself while not taking you for granted.
When she decided she wanted to work for herself, she took me out to dinner and presented a six month plan to me about how this would NOT mean the end of our partnership or relationship or my business. She knew that her decision would radically change my life, but she still advocated for it anyway.
And we’ve worked together so much since, and are really strong, even after our ‘break up’, haha.
Alex Mazzurco knows a thing or two about starving- both literally and figuratively. She owns a company that helps women love their bodies AND not starve. She helps women heal their relationship with food. And in turn, with themselves.
And she’s built a business out of it.
Before you take the plunge, it’s really natural to imagine what the worst case will be like. I mean, it’s the job of your brain to keep you safe and well-fed, after all.
But most of the time, the worst case scenario doesn’t ever happen, and even if it does it’s never as bad as we thought it would be.
I’ve got a serious business / personal crush on Jolie Ankrom. I can’t remember when I began following her but her Becoming Jolie instagram gives me life. She has a way of sharing her internal journey as a professional creative in such an intimate and authentic way.
I’ve never once thought of her as less than super capable, so it’s reassuring to know that even SHE doubted herself.
We often look out at the world and think to ourselves, “Well, they’re just better than me, that’s why they’re successful.” And that’s not the true story. Beyond the borders of instagram and before any of us had any followers we were just people figuring out how to make it work.
Jolie dives into the deep end in so many ways- as a partner, as a mother, as a designer and a business owner. And also as someone who is not afraid to talk about the stuff that makes many people fall silent- mental health, the difficult moments of partnership and motherhood, racism, taking meds for mental health and more.
She’s our keynote speaker at CCC and we can’t wait to hear more of what she has to say.
Emily Roggenburk shared an image and a story of grit the other day on her instagram. It was a less-than-glamorous side of her usually chic business. She had to pull apart and fix her apparel printer inside her family’s warehouse where her design studio is housed. It wasn’t fun and pretty (or air conditioned) but there was something absolutely magical about it- a woman fixing something under less-than-ideal conditions because it had to be done.
That’s business sometimes. That’s actually business MOST times when you’re really swimming around the deep end.
Her moment of struggle became a moment of pride. And that, to us, is worthy of an entire discussion.
It’s hard to imagine anyone hating on Janae Bryson. She’s one of the kindest, most thoughtful business owners I’ve met. She’s calm and clear-headed and just plain good at creating beautiful content.
But this is the thing. The better you get, the bigger you grow, the more impact you have the more hate will come your way. And that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
Sure, it’s excruciating when a client fires you. Or you have to fire a client. Or someone calls you out on social media. But it’s also what comes with the territory of becoming your best self.
Giavonna Evans knows a thing or two about being herself. When you take a look at her personal instagram, it’s hard not to feel both intimidated and inspired at the same time. This woman is herself. And she’s strong- both physically and mentally.
From her short, candy-colored hair to that plank pose I just can’t help but think to myself, “Could I possibly possess even just 1/100th of that power someday?”
She’s a force, and I think that it’s precisely because she’s being her- unapologetically.
Courtney Ottrix is all about faith. And jumping in full steam ahead. She’s knocking out some of Cleveland’s coolest events and reporting what’s cool from her own lens and Cleveland is loving it.
It’s easy to see that commitment is one of Courtney’s strong suits- particularly around family, marriage and partnership but for sure that philosophy doesn’t end there.
Her faith and willingness to jump gives everything she does the energy it needs be successful.
Jill Vedaa wants to open another restaurant- something we absolutely can’t wait for.
It’s easy to experience self-doubt on your way to making something big happen. I mean, you care, right? Sometimes you’ve just got to remind yourself that what you’re doing is not only correct but it’s exactly what you should be doing at the very moment, no matter what fear might be telling you.
The first time I saw Marcia Craggett was on instagram on a friend’s post. That friend is McKinley Wiley of The Dark Room Co. And they were presenting their latest collaboration- styling and photography sessions for a personal brand shoot.
Her long, flowing dress and glowing smile caught my attention. And since then, I haven’t been able to turn away from not only the visual side of her brand but also her words. I’m captivated and inspired by how she truly makes women feel beautiful behind the camera and with their own personal style.
It’s reassuring to think that even she doubted herself and had drama leading up to the starting of her own blog / business.
Here’s to hoping I can get her input and help on my own conference style for Creative Conversations!
