I’m up early this morning. Too early. 6am literally woke me up and told me to get out of bed and get to work so that I can enjoy time with my family later. We’re going to see Santa, watch Norfolk’s Grand Illumination Parade, and have time with friends. Tomorrow we’re going to go walk the Botanical Garden lights with our family. Being up early in the house by myself has me thinking a lot about the upcoming holiday, my family and friends, my business… just everything.
It’s been some kind of incredible year. I’ve learned so much about being a business owner – mostly from friends who will offer advice when I have questions. I’ve learned so much about myself, my resilience, my perseverance… just who I am as a person. It’s funny – when you start a business, you can feel yourself doing something awesome. You know that you’re embarking on this incredible journey, and you’re putting an incredible amount of faith in yourself and your capabilities. I think what I didn’t realize, and am now so thankful for, is that you also put a lot of faith in those around you to build you up, to make you better, to keep you going, to pick you up when you’re down and to cheer you on when you’re going full-force.
Owning a business is hard. Those of you that own small businesses understand that – figuring out financial projections, taxes, payroll, employees, work/life balance, how to spend your money to make money – all of it. And in the midst of it, I opened a second business with my one of my best friends (go check out www.isoalt.com to see pretty things and awesome inspiration), because I might have just a little bit of crazy in me. I think a small business owner has to have that feeling of success never being enough – always looking ahead, always thinking about what the next step is. I think you have to fight for what you want, and be able to dream for your future. I’m a big dreamer – I always have been. You have to remember to take time for yourself, your family, your friends, but in the midst of that, you have to be okay with your intense work weeks, your crazy 12-hour photoshoot days, and late nights (or early mornings) writing blog posts to make those dreams really happen.
Piper Prewitt inspires me to dream. This kid, for as crazy as she can be, always has an amazing story, an incredible idea, or some wacky made-up scenario about what her life is going to be like when she grows up. I want to dream like Piper does in the picture above (courtesy of the fantastic Valerie Demo).
In the spirit of thankfulness, I want to let you each know that I’m thankful for you. You read this blog, you support Misty Saves the Day and ISO:ALT, you love on my husband and my kids, you encourage me to be better. You let me be creative with your businesses to market them better. You listen. You’re attentive. There’s been a lot of negativity in the world lately. I understand – change is always scary, no matter what the change is. I don’t want to bring that negativity to anyone. Someone called me a beacon of sunshine once. I’m not sure that’s entirely accurate, as I tend to have a far more sarcastic demeanor than I would qualify a beacon of sunshine to have, but it’s always with a small bit of hope. I want to find the positive in things. I have always dreamed big and believed in myself and those around me – it’s how my mind works.
Thanksgiving is less than a week away. Christmas is a little over a month away. 2017 is just around the corner. I’m going to hold on to this thankful spirit for my family, my friends, my clients – everyone that I surround myself with, no matter what the season. I’m unbearably sentimental. I can’t help it.
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