Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
It is not always easy managing work and family life. My boys are both under 3 years old so I have to give them most of my attention during the day and try to set aside the evenings to work on my business. It’s a constant balancing act!
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
That feeling of holding my finished blanket samples after months of development was surreal. I was so excited that my little idea had actually turned into a reality. As I was about to launch my website however, I remember thinking that after spending all this time working on a product that I absolutely loved, would other people feel the same way?
One of my favourite quotes is “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will” by Suzy Kassem. I had to push forward and believe in my product. With this in mind, I reached out to one of my favourite brands, who produce beautiful keepsake baby milestone journals, to see if they would want to use one of my blankets in their product styling. They had a huge following on Instagram and I didn’t think they would respond to a brand new small business. However, they did reply two days later saying they would love to collaborate and how beautiful and intricate the designs were. I soon began to gain my own following and as the numbers grew, I knew I had found my little niche.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Being my own boss means I have the flexibility to work on my business when I want to. Family is my priority so being able to spend quality time with my husband and two young boys means a lot to me. Finding the motivation to complete the tasks I have set myself (usually once the boys have gone to bed) can be challenging at times. Unlike my corporate office days where tasks and timeframes were clear cut, working for myself is often unpredictable and requires a completely new mindset.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
I am excited for more babies to be snuggled up in their keepsake baby blankets and hope to grow the Cherished Bubs range with the release of some new designs in the next year.
Visit the Cherished Bubs website to find out more and to view their full range of beautiful blankets and muslin wraps. You can also follow the Cherished Bubs journey on Facebook and Instagram.
