My Biggest Source Of Inspiration This Week

This story really begins a little more than a year ago, when I received a care package from my mom. I can’t remember everything that was in it, but I do remember thinking that it was a genius idea to send comfort to a girl who had just left her steady job and had no idea when she would see her next paycheck. As I have been declaring publicly for almost three years now, food always brings a smile to my face.

But beneath the bags of Sour Patch Watermelons, Starburst Jelly Beans and Twizzlers – oh by the way, I have a sweet tooth – there was something much more meaningful in the box. An inspirational message to mark the new stage in my life.

Source

“She packed up her potential and all she had learned, grabbed a cute pair of shoes and headed out to change a few things.”

At the time, I was just excited to put it on my desk as a source of comfort on the days where I questioned my decision to leave The Agency. Now, one year later, I have come to appreciate what the message truly represents.

Female entrepreneurialism.

The quote itself can apply to a number of different stages in life but its creator, Leigh Standley of Curly Girl Design, is the embodiment of a rockstar female business owner. Her work has been spotlighted nationwide and truly promotes the message that Jill and I strive to convey through this blog: that it is possible to do what you love, be successful and make a living (a la Barbara Winter).

Source

In the process of rediscovering Leigh’s work this week, sparked by the celebration of our one year anniversary, I stumbled upon an abundance of additional inspiration, which Leigh offers in the form of cards, calendars, mugs, wall plaques, coasters – you name it and it’s probably available! I wanted to share a few of the quotes that resonated most with me, and have actually led to the accomplishment of some pretty big goals on my 23 in 23 list.

• “Any given moment can change your life. You just have to be there.”
• “Sometimes ‘right back where you started from’ is right where you belong.”
• “One of the hardest things to realize,” she said, “is that our ’someday’ is right now.”
• “We must absolutely do what we love,” she said. “Or we run the risk of doing nothing at all.”
• “The world is full of people who will go their whole lives and not actually live one day. She did not intend on being one of them.”
• “Since things don’t always go right, it’s nice to have someone like you on my left.”

And a sneak peek at one Leigh just recently announced on her blog for spring:

• “The real secret to the fabulous life is to live imperfectly with great delight.”

I couldn’t agree more! I am so inspired by all of this wisdom and wit created by Leigh. She shares more about her day-to-day on the Curly Girl Design Blog and – of course I can’t resist mentioning – is on Facebook and Twitter.

I have no reason for sharing all of this with you other than pure excitement and invigoration over the story of another female business owner who found her passion, made it “work” for her and hopes to spark a positive mentality for women everywhere.

And with that, I’m off to buy another “cute pair of shoes” and head out to change a few things.

Do you know someone who turned a creative passion into a business?

We’d love to hear the stories of other entrepreneurs you admire who make their passion “work” for them.

Dream Bigger,