Pride and Passion

Since this is a long, overdue post, imma just let my fingers fly.  No backspacing (unless there's a serious spelling or grammatical error).  I am happy.  Happier than I have been in I don't know how long.  And now that I've typed that, I'm stuck for what to say next because I don't want it to feel like bragging.  Why is it that I'm more than okay with sharing when things are shitty, but when things are going well, I hold back? Misery loves company, perhaps?  If you'll excuse me for a moment, I'm going to have a smoke and think about what I want to say next.  On a side note, I wear yoga capris in the house all the time and head out for smokes whilst wearing them.  Did you know that when you have a bum leg, the cold doesn't affect that leg? Yes, my leg is still messed up from the quad accident. Completely numb, but at least some of the swelling has gone down.  Annnnd.....smoke.

The response to my store has been incredible.  I feel blessed.  Humbled.  Blown away. Insert any other word here that is a synonym for grateful.  People tell me how much they love the colours, the layout, the selection etc. and each comment puffs up my shoulders a little higher (which is good, because then it makes my boobs look a little smaller).  This is the hardest I have ever worked in my life and yet it doesn't feel at all like work.  I look forward to my days off because it means free time in my store to get extra things done.

We have a family room set up, off to the side of the till area.  It has a couch, fridge, microwave, toaster, DVD player etc.  It is meant to entertain the kids when I have them in the store with me.  When the kids aren't in the store, you would very rarely find me hanging out there, save for eating a quick bite of lunch.  During store hours, if I am alone, I am working. I'm straightening racks, tagging new clothes, steaming wrinkled ones or re-organizing shelves.  I sweep.  I mop.  I clean windows.  I do whatever I need to do to make my store always look the best that it can.  Besides my children, I have never had so much pride in something and I am in love with this feeling.  This sense of accomplishment that I DID THIS.

I recently had a brainstorming session with the local radio station, with regards to branding my store and what direction my radio ads will take.  One of the questions asked was along the lines of how did the store come to be (I was nervous so I can't remember the exact question).  But I remember answering "Oprah".  When I went to see her back in April (I make that sound like she and I had lunch together), she hammered home the point of "What is your purpose in life?" and each time she asked that question, the little ball of fire grew bigger in my stomach.  I knew then and there that teaching wasn't for me and opening my own store was what my future held.  I just didn't think it would happen as fast as it did, but when this location opened up, I had to jump on it.

This past month that the store has been open has been the best month of my life.  There have still been downs, along with the ups.  We're doing yet another med change to continue levelling me out.  But everything that has happened has been nothing short of exciting.  Meetings with the radio station.  Talking with distributors and finding the best products to carry.  Meetings at the bank.  Being invited to client appreciation nights that blew my mind (and filled my stomach).  Mike and I spitball on a daily basis of how much further can we take this business.  Franchising.  Online.  Other businesses.  I love it.

Three years ago, I started Sweet Baby K.  I started it because I saw a need for cute girly accessories in PA.  I started it because I wanted to be able to be at home with my children.  I NEVER would have guessed that it would lead me to being the entrepreneur that I am today.  Initially, I felt funny using that word to describe myself, but that is what I am.  I'm not someone that bought into someone else's business model.  I didn't buy into a franchise and am working for a boss.  I saw a void in the market and filled it myself.

And I am damn proud of what I have created.