What’s your biggest accomplishment? It’s hard for me to say what my biggest accomplishment is, because I think everyone defines success in a different way. For me, getting the opportunity to travel has always been something that’s been important to me, so getting to visit new places around the world always feels like a huge accomplishment. I also consider myself very lucky to have started a business that I genuinely enjoy putting a lot of my time and effort into, so I would have to put that at the top of my list as well. Many people would consider finishing my Masters Degree my greatest accomplishment (I am studying Public Health at Michigan State’s College of Human Medicine), so I guess it depends on who is asking!
What’s the biggest lesson you have learned since launching? The biggest lesson I have learned since launching my Etsy shop is the importance of marketing. The amount of work you put into your business is important, but it is also important to put just as much time into promoting and marketing your business. People need to see and connect with your brand in order for your business to grow. One of my favorite parts about being a part of the online creative community is getting to know other creative business owners, and learning from them.
What’s your advice to someone interested in starting their own business? My advice for someone interested in starting their own business would include two parts: 1. make sureyou have a clear idea of what you want to do (I had a lot of trouble with this initially, and it took some time to focus my business), and 2. go for it! If you have a vision, and work hard enough at it, you can become successful at it! Also, don’t hesitate to reach out and learn from others that have already started a business that can help you get started. I had a lot of trouble figuring out the logistics of owning your own business (taxes, budgeting, hiring, etc.), but found some amazing people to help guide me.
Where do you receive inspiration? A lot of my inspiration comes from my everyday life. I dream up new designs while I’m laying in bed, walking outside, or picking out flowers at the farmers’ market. If I’m looking for something specific, Pinterest is always a great resource to get creative juices flowing (as long as I stay focused instead of looking at too many cupcake recipes!)
If you could have one famous entrepreneur as your mentor who would it be? If I could have one famous entrepreneur as my mentor, I would most certainly choose Kate Spade. I admire everything about her company: her branding is flawless, the products are gorgeous, and she was able to grow a small line of handbags into a huge retail company. (Also, confession: I am obsessed with almost everything Kate Spade.)
Do you feel your life is balanced between work life and your personal life? Right now, I consider myself very lucky to feel that my life is balanced between my work life and my personal life – but I also don’t yet have children, and I know that the dynamic will change when I settle down in the next few years (which I am absolutely excited about). I work very hard at my job, and often find myself working late into the night, but the best part about owning your own business is that you can take a break to go get ice cream whenever you want!
Soundbytes:
What is your indispensable gadget: My iPhone – work, music, e-mail, a camera, and staying in touch with all of the important people in my life all in one
What’s your favorite app? I’m a little bit obsessed with Instagram – I love following accounts of travelers (check out @WorldWanderlust) and dreaming up the next vacation I want to take!
What’s your favorite account to follow on Twitter: This probably sounds crazy for an entrepreneur, but I don’t have a Twitter! (Which I realize makes me a little bit of a hypocrite after that marketing advice, but I just haven’t yet developed a talent for coming up with good tweets!)
What’s your favorite item in your closet: My pink and white striped Kate Spade ‘Celina’ dress.
Learn more about Laura and her company check out her Etsy. Stay connected with her via social media Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram
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