Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
The brand Baiji has always been about balance. In fact, the tagline is “Beyond Balance” to capture the spirit of maximising your time and presence in every day.
Besides running Baiji, I work a full-time job, produce my own podcast, and look after my nearly-2-year-old child. My schedule’s fairly packed. Luckily, being organised is my greatest strength. I give myself a highly structured routine while allowing room for imperfection. If there’s unfinished laundry or plates still in the sink, it’s not the end of the world.
My husband also supports me, not only mentally, but as my champion helping me at fairs and on designing a lot of Baiji‘s brand. He even created Baiji‘s logo.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
My biggest challenges have been around my own confidence in running my business. I had to overcome a lot of self-doubt about its purpose, about what success means to me, and around taking the plunge and getting my idea in the open. I’m not naturally an outgoing person, and it took a lot of energy to put myself out there, starting conversations with strangers, and attending events in-person. The more I invest in my business, the better I get at breaking through the negative thoughts. I am becoming more confident each day.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
One of the cons is the lag between doing hard work and seeing results. It can feel like you’re shouting into the void about something so amazing but no one will listen. That can be tough. But it makes you more resilient to rejection. If you push through, you realise how perseverant you can be.
The biggest and best pro about running a business is when someone understands your brand and loves your product in the exact way you hoped they would – and they make a sale. There’s no better feeling in the world!
Hopes and dreams: What next?
My aim this year is to get my teas into stores around East Sussex. Provided I get enough traction, I might look into other teas or product lines. The more people who can see Baiji and know what we offer, the more people we can help bring balance.
Visit the Baiji website to find out more and check out their Blog. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
