By the time my second son was born, I had resigned my position at work and became a stay-at-home mom. My oldest was now 18 months. With putting them both in daycare, which my company had a facility on premise, and while I still would come out ahead, it really wasn’t that much considering my drive time, wear-and-tear on the vehicle (about a 45-minute drive one way), and my time with my babies. My husband had a good job with all the benefits, so it was decided I would stay home. I LOVED (and still do) staying at home with the kids. But make NO MISTAKE, that shit is HARD! For me, the most difficult was not being around like-minded adults having meaningful conversations. It can be isolating, and I started becoming lonely. I just felt I had something else to give. I needed something more in my life.
So, at the same time I was changing my way of thinking (showing other’s more appreciation) I had a need of doing something ‘more’ with my life. I needed a sense of purpose beyond being the best mother I could be. If Danny didn’t die I would probably be content with staying at home with the kids. Him dying changed my whole perspective on life. I really must think him and my kids for this company’s start. If those two things didn’t align in my life at the time they did who knows where I would be.
The business started very slow. I just didn’t have the time to dedicate. Life with 2 toddlers is insane. My husband’s company had some major changes and I then needed to go back to work part-time. That gave me even less time to dedicate to the business. And…….what do you know? I became pregnant with baby boy number 3. My pregnancies aren’t all that ‘friendly’. With all 3 I had high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia with my first) and towards the end of my 3rd pregnancy I ended up quitting my part-time job at the bank. My last baby arrived, and I now had a newborn, 3-year-old, and 4-year-old WHEW! Once again, my business was put on the ‘back-burner’.
While my littlest guy was around 8 weeks I had to make the decision whether to go back working part-time or really dive in and make this business work. I didn’t come as far as I had to just give up, so I decided to jump in.
That’s what I did when I first started. I just did it! I jumped right in feet first. THAT was my mistake. Ya see I’m the type of person that gets this idea, this vision, and just hurries and does it, hoping that it will work out. Don’t do that. Don’t be me. Research and learn before you do. When I first started I had no real focus. Even when designing. I would just throw something out there and ‘hoped’ it would sell. That is called “hope marketing” and it doesn’t work, trust me! I am still learning to slow down and research first but I’m now self-aware of my weakness and am doing better lol.
When I started again I kind of started from scratch. I learned about product photography (although it's still my nemesis’s and needs work), branding, target markets, search engine optimization, product descriptions, promotions, advertising, etc (there’s a lot). As soon as I was able to learn more and implement those strategies I began seeing results. While my company started in late 2013 it wasn’t until 2016(thanks kids) that I was able to really put in the work. One of my biggest goals was to ‘retire’ my husband from his 9-5. In 2017, about 1 ½ years after I really devoted the time, my husband quit his job and now works alongside me. He even started his own supply company.
I look back and can’t imagine not taking the chance. I can’t believe I almost ‘gave up’ because I couldn’t find the time. I thought it had to happen right then and there! I posted a graphic the other day from Earl Nightingale that I will close this post with. He said, “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway”.
Whatever you do… Do it with Love!
