Today we're talking about our history with small business...and the journey to now.
...Back before my current childcare career and normal day job- I wanted to be a receptionist. AN office job with plenty of bookwork and computers and then hopefully getting into graphic design and advertising.
I went to tafe and attempted to juggle 2 young children and a Cert in Business and admin. The accounting side REALLY got to me and the numbers were just hubble bubble on the page so I swapped to business studies.
Once finished I couldn't find a job!
....Cue the depression and VERY low self esteem. The constant rejection after having so much time off to raise my children was very damaging to my self worth. But I found some confidence in myself, and got interested in burlesque rockabilly and roller derby.
Obviously with rockabilly came my obsession with cherries!!
I sought to buy myself some shoes and didn't like the price tag so i created my own. Once those shoes became popular on the streets, and creating some for friends and family- a business page and website started.
Three years later i got onto importing popular brands of rockabilly gear and going to markets. I LITERALLY couldn't keep up with demand as at this point i was back searching for a job, we moved house, i miscarried and my other little man started prep. I needed a job to save myself staying home all day and drowning in my own thoughts and sorrow.
I was so time challenged creating so many pairs of shoes but Then got a job and continued the study obsession now moving onto my career in children Education. I studied my cert 3 and then diploma while keeping my little business afloat and working full-time. The business side i was Pretty well solo but with the odd family member helping pack or bag and tag or post.
I got an alter ego, started blogging and found little peace with my working life now that i had finished studying. After working for a few years- creating all the shoes and accessories, studying and making time for my husband and kids.. I then miscarried at work.
I could not give any more time to my business than i had, From sewing before work, to gluing in the arvo to replying late at night. I stopped creating, stopped replying to people and skipped work until i could face it again.I unpublished my page, cancelled my I website and left my office as is.
__________________
I wanted to study again and build this dream of having a shop. So onto more study and this time it was a cert4 in small business management and then onto a diploma of social media marketing, which isn't complete yet to date.
I am however now raising my third boy ( miracle baby) and hes 7 months old.
Working in the childcare industry and with childcare friends we saw the rising need for sustainable resources and natural play, and I hope to fulfil that through this business down the track, we have some stepping stones and stock is just one of those.
Ive never really had a clear vision of what i wanted to become or where i wanted to be (besides a shop owner) and I had the opportunity to buy a ready made business but the result is not the same nor is the process :)
We want to create a baby.... we want to go through all that we need to go through and learn to come out the other side successful. I don't say this often but Im damn proud of the journey and where we are right now!
Who knows what the future holds
We have written down our goals and dreams but we are just happy in this moment, where we are right now and what we are doing with my life right now.
The passion hasn't faded and now i am just able to exert my energy and time in something i feel so strongly for. BABIES & children and the journey to motherhood!!
XX