t i m i n g
I spent the last 3 1/2 years working the front house of a shop and the back house. The first two and a half were the warm up to this year.
Last year at this time, I would have never thought I would be here.
I wasn't sure of my place in this business and I seriously considered leaving it. I hadn't found my place in it yet. I had spent the 8 months prior to this new shop, praying about what to do. Seriously, praying about it, everyday. I have a degree, I have professional experience. I would have been ok leaving this job. I would have missed painting furniture, but I could do it for myself- like I have been doing since I was 13.
It wasn't until the day I saw the current shop. I called Saint and then my mom, then my friend Kathy within minutes of leaving. I knew I needed to take the leap. The people that knew me the best, knew that I wasn't happy and hadn't been for a long time. They knew the in's and out's of my situation. Last year at this time, I didn't like myself that much. But in retrospect- thinking about it, it was more situational than anything. I can say that now, a year out- because I think that now more than ever, I am happy. I am much more myself, than I have ever been maybe in my whole life.
Not to say that this leap wasn't super duper, duper scary!
I can safely say that the last two years I have learned so much about myself. Before this year, who I didn't want to be. And this year, a total clean slate.
Every single day I get an email, I am not kidding -It always goes something like this-
"I love the group you have at your shop, I follow all of you, I love that you all seem so happy! How do you do this?"
I never really know how to answer this question but in my head I have thought about it a lot.
It came to me just about a month ago, why this group works so well.
We don't really need each other.
How do I explain this...everyone is strong on their own. We don't need each other. We are all ok on our own but we like working together.
People there is so much freedom in this! As artists, standing next to each other, appreciating one another but not depending on one another!
I love the group at the store. I am thoughtful about it.
I love the group at the store. I am thoughtful about it.
This brings me to "timing".
This isn't a typical shop. We don't don't order everything. 80% of what is in the store is found and recreated by artists. And because the store is The Modern Cottage Company, most of it needs to be done by me.
But, I can't be at the store-find-buy supplies-pick up-fix-paint-market-merchandise this scale of a shop. It is not possible. Especially how busy it has been. Like blow my mind busy.
So I am stepping back a bit and taking another leap.
I won't really work at the shop anymore.
{at least I am going to try this approach for a while}
AH!
Well, I am there several hours everyday anyway. I will still be in charge of buying, merchandising, marketing and the overall look of the store. But there is no way I can work the "front of the house, and the back of the house" anymore. At least in busy season.
Did I ever mention I have two young kids?
Enough said.
So I am going to focus way more on buying trips, the website, my blog, painting, the windows of the shop, maybe doing some staging, and classes with Amanda. This is more than a full time job in itself.
The timing is right.
I could not ask for a better group at this shop. I am so thankful that we all get to do what we love and have fun doing it.
{photo source whitelightsandlatenights via Pinterest}
