We were recently interviewed by the beautiful ladies at Aisle Academy to get some perspective on what we’ve learned since launching Flourish Calligraphy We are so grateful to be connected to so many encouraging, like-minded and tenacious industry professionals, having the opportunity to join this community has been an amazing experience! Feel free to take a peek at a few of our answers! (You can read the full article here)
WHAT'S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE SOMEONE HAS GIVEN YOU?
Learn to say "no." When we first began our business, we wanted to take on the absolute maximum amount of work in order to get our name out there and build up our portfolio base. Since we both work full time and have lovingly cultivated this business in our spare time, we both started feeling burnt out, rushed for time and pressed for results. We weren't sure how we would be able to maintain this pace long-term. This piece of advice has helped us prioritize our projects, and although we never want to turn down a prospective client, we know how important it is to commit to and prioritize orders to ensure that each project is done to the very best of our abilities.
WHAT'S ONE PIECE OF WISDOM YOU'VE LEARNED ALONG YOUR BUSINESS JOURNEY THAT YOU'D LOVE TO SHARE WITH OTHER ENTREPRENEURS?
It's so important to get to know your community. Lauren has been a huge advocate for professional growth in this business. Putting yourself out there (especially when you're new on the scene!) can be daunting and overwhelming, but we have had the good fortune of connecting with some truly wonderful industry leaders and it's helped us tremendously to gain our footing. Not only are we grateful for the professional relationships we've forged along the way, but we're also thrilled with the number of friendships that have blossomed as a result... both in person, and via our connections on social media! Many people in our lives don't understand the pressures that arise with being involved in this industry, and being connected to so many like-minded professionals has been a blessing.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING YOUR OWN BOSS?
Although it's the most challenging role either of us have ever undertaken professionally, there is no greater satisfaction than being able to pursue our creative passions while earning an income. We get to do something we love EVERY day, with as much flexibility or pressure as we choose. We take pride in our success, and are constantly challenging ourselves (and each other) to strive for better. This has already been such a rewarding endeavour, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to do this work!
HOW DO YOU LOVE TO SPEND YOUR DOWNTIME?
Aside from being business partners, we are also sisters-in-law and, more generally, best friends for life. Our downtime spent together almost exclusively revolves around food and family, from Sunday dinners at the Polidoro house to perusing all of the pretty things at Chapters with Starbucks in hand. We love to fuss over pretty baby things, decide on our cheesecake selections before ordering our appetizers, and spend time with our loved ones who all live within a 20-minute radius of our homes in the country. We know how lucky we are to live this life, and are grateful beyond words for the chance to experience so much of it together!
Photography: Megan Laura Photography