My Entrepreneurial Journey

I want to note before we get started, success probably doesn't mean the same thing to me as it does to you.  It's different for everyone.  ;)

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My mom and I were dreamers.  We would talk about business ideas and plan every step of the way, but then we would end the conversation with "That's what dreams are made of.".  Because of this mindset growing up, I struggled to really believe that entrepreneurship was possible for me.  I began following in my mom's footsteps, focusing on learning all I could about computers, Microsoft suite, and the skills that I would need to work in an office.  

I was a dreamer, but naturally I was also an optimist.  So I did have phases of inspiration flow and I would work for a while to bring something to fruition.  A few times I did well, but struggled with a stable mindset through it all and consistency was lacking when life would get hard.

In 2006ish I did fairly well with Avon, but I didn't handle my money well.  I had a number of loyal clients, and a few businesses that would allowed me to put brochures in their office/lobby.  I don't recall exactly how long I sold Avon, but I do believe it was about a year.

For a short time, I made paper beads and sold the jewelry that I made on Etsy.  Very few sales came from this, but I LOVED making the paper beads and jewelry, so I kept up with this until I became pregnant with my son.  The paper bead making turned to paper crafting and creating fun little paper creations like bird houses, ornaments, cards, and Valentine's gifts.  I tried selling my creations and had a couple of sales, but nothing consistent.  At this point I wasn't really educating myself on how to market what I was doing.

After this I tried a digital scrapbooking business that I gained zero sales from, a candle / wax company that the only customers I had was my mom, and a couple of close friends.  With these 2 businesses crashing so hard compared to the responses I had from Avon, I was lost and discouraged and just stuck with focusing on my full time job.  After all, by this time I was a single mom with a little boy to raise and I needed to get serious.

So for a while I did focus on my career.  I would still craft and create and make things as gifts.  By this point many of the people that knew me knew that I was pretty crafty and would ask for something special. This inspired my entrepreneurial side and my mom and I started brainstorming some other ideas for Etsy businesses.  She was blowing and painting eggs, and we both loved the idea of putting together craft kits for others to try new crafts.  So I helped her open an Etsy shop where she had 2 sales over the course of a couple of months.  She continued to create and kept her spirits high, but not too long after this she was laid off from her job, diagnosed with cancer, battled for about 4 months before leaving this earthly realm.  <3

I grieved hard, and during this time I wasn't taking care of myself.  I was barely getting dressed each day, and had just began working from home.  I was driving to get coffee one day and I saw a Paparazzi Jewelry sign on the back of someones car.  It really caught my attention and I looked it up when I got home.  I just felt like it was a sign.  I was in transition and really wanting to get out of the job that I was in and had just watched my mother's life slip away so quickly right before my eyes.  It was glaringly obvious that LIFE IS SHORT and all I have is NOW!  SO I signed up and ran what I call a successful business for 2 years.  I had a team of individuals that I loved to work with.  They were motivated and so was I.  I LOVED doing live videos on Facebook and I had a number of people that looked forward to my lives for the laughs and games that we would play.  It was such a fun time!  The sales were great, and I just poured the extra right back into the business or into my team.  I had a large inventory (I still have some). 

I went through a really rough breakup from a really rough 5 year relationship.  The break up took everything out of me and I needed to focus on myself and healing.  I no longer had the drive to do LIVE videos.  I just wanted to focus on healing and learning to love myself again.  I still had my full time job working from home, and doing this allowed me to begin to learn yoga and do things that made me happy and healthy.  I took a solo trip to the beach for a day, I made new friends, took myself on dates, cooked healthy dinners for my son and I, planned game nights for us to create a new normal in our life.  I discovered Grace & Frankie on Netflix.  I also developed some very strong friendships that helped me along this path.  It really was a true time of healing.

During my time of healing I discovered the gifts of painting, sketching, and doodling.  Doing these things was healing in themselves.  I was expressing myself through my drawings and painting and it was just... freeing!  Not long after this I developed a strong friendship with my now husband.  We would talk daily through texting and soon began dating.  One of the first gifts he gifted to me was a huge box full of art supplies.  Things that I didn't have to support my creation.  He expressed his belief in my gifts verbally and with the gift.  Once we moved in together he would make sure that I had time to do my art.  And if I wasn't taking time to do it, he would encourage me to.  

My husband also knows and understands my strong desire to be a successful entrepreneur and he continues to show his belief in me.  I became unemployed during the pandemic, and I have been gifted the opportunity to work on developing exactly what I want.  I've been doing that, but my consistency continues to lack.  Or that's what my ego likes to remind me of.  But I know that all of my endeavors have taught me lessons that I need in order to get to where I want to be.  I'm also reminded... it's not about the destination... it's about the journey.

The journey over the last 3 years has been quite wild and all over the place, but in today's world, it's easier than ever to make your mark and earn income at the same time.  I discovered "done for you" content that lead me to utilizing some of the done for you coloring pages that I invested in and turn them into Shrink Charm Kits for kiddos.  I created a number of FB communities in order to teach what I was learning from the "done for you" community, also known as the PLR community.  I've learned more about affiliate marketing and have learned to incorporate that into Expressions to bring in some extra income.  I have an Etsy store where I sell Procreate Stamps that I've created along with a number of other digital products.  My current endeavors on top of Expressions right now, is Mini Van Go Studio.  

My reason for continuing this journey, no matter how many times I fail, is because I enjoy being home with my family.  I enjoy being able to homeschool.  I love creating and learning new things and sharing my knowledge with others.  When I think of my entrepreneurial journey my "nope" self wants to tell me "Really, when are you gonna give up already?" but giving up isn't an option.  I'm enjoying this journey... every step of the way.  Every opportunity for me to express and share something with the world is a blessing, and I'm so grateful for the many opportunities that are available.

If you are in a situation that you could use some extra cash or are interested in your own entrepreneurial journey, I'd love to chat with you.  The entrepreneurial life can be designed however you choose.  Don't worry I won't push any specific idea on you.  I love brainstorming all the possibilities that there are based on the gifts and interests you already poses.  I would love to share what I know if it could save you a little time and trouble.  Let's connect and grow together.  

Breaking Family Ties

I was raised in a home that believed FAMILY WAS EVERYTHING and our family gatherings were sacred, it was a place of appreciation for one another and fellowship.  When I say family I'm talking 2 -3 generations gathering for a meal.  However, the separation between my family and I began with the passing of my grandfather.  

Witnessing the separation between siblings while he rested fairly peacefully for the last few hours of his life on this earth, it was confusing and hard for me.  Seeing them fall apart because of disagreements on inheritance and other things that I still don't fully know or understand.  At such a sensitive time, that's what they were worried about.  I was in my late 20's and still quite naive, but I believed something like this would never happen... not in MY FAMILY!

I only recently became aware and fully understand now why this family meant so much to my mother, and why she raised me to believe this way as well.  She was a single mother and during her rises and falls in life, her family supported her a lot through her struggles and she felt so much love, respect and appreciation for all of their support that she raised me with that same belief.  They were the same for me growing up.  I have many fond memories with each of my family members of them being a very loving figure in my life!

I'm not here to bash or bad mouth my relatives.  People change, grow, things happen, feelings get hurt.  I am here to share my belief that being "family" doesn't excuse you from the struggles of life, but it also doesn't mean that anyone has a free pass to disrespect or mistreat you either.

The 2nd stage of my separation from my family began when my mother passed away.  It was made very clear to me on several occasions that the relatives that I was raised to respect were great life supporters for my mother, but they weren't for me.  The respect was obviously not mutual.  My feelings were hurt, I shut down and I stopped visiting as often.  I did this all without communicating with anyone.  For all I know, the only person that knew my feelings were hurt was me.

The final stage happened when my grandmother passed away.  There was no communication with me about anything regarding her passing, the memorial service, or the grave side service.  I was extremely hurt and angry and I sent an email to one of my uncles declaring my anger and disappointment in being related to him.

That anger has been hanging around in me for quite some time now.  Repressed anger really isn't good for our physical body or our mental health.  So let's get back to my earlier point.  After acknowledging all of this anger, I've been having to come to terms with some things to help me let go of that anger.  

#1 My here and now is worth more than the outburst of emotions caused by past situations.

#2 My relatives experienced losses just as much as I did, I acted out in ways that I'm not proud of and I'm sure they did as well.  It didn't serve me and vice versa... no need to point fingers when I have my own mess to clean up.

#3 Not everyone is meant for me or to be a part of my life and vice versa.

#4 Your actions may have disappointed them just as much as their actions disappointed you.  When expectations are not communicated it can cause some of the nastiest feelings.

#5 Mama, I'm so glad that the "family" was there to support you in your life, but family has a new meaning for me.  😉

I do still believe in family and how important it is... an example, my husband and children are my number 1 priority.  During these years of separating and breaking these "family" ties I have added new family members, or I also like to call them tribe members.  Individuals that serve amazing purposes in my life, supporting me in many ways, and I am always looking for opportunities that I can be of service and support to them in their lives as well.  

Were you raised in a household that believes FAMILY IS EVERYTHING?  I'd love to hear from you on this topic over in our Expressions - The Community.