(image from brit.co)
This quote speaks to me so much. Without a doubt, the most important things in my life are in the people that are in it. This last year has been one of the hardest in my adult life and it has also reminded me so much of the absolutely amazing and inspiring friendships I am so lucky to have. True friendships support you and challenge you and push you to be your very best self.
Today I wanted to talk about some of my entrepreneur friends. I am not only grateful for these women but I am so inspired by them in their professional ventures…
Kristy at Kristy Dooley Photography:
My friend and co-worker Kristy not only rocks family and newborn sessions but in the last year she started regularly shooting high school senior portrait sessions and is amazing at it! Like I asked her if she could re-take mine just because she is so amazing at capturing the senior’s genuine smiles, style, and personalities. I think mine would not look quite the same though, LOL. But really, she is one of those people who comes up with an idea and totally goes for it and I have learned so much from her.
She runs a successful business partly because of her amazing business brain that helps her work smarter not harder. I am someone who tends to be very disorganized with paperwork and accounting and her systems have taught me so much.
There is nothing Kristy can’t figure out and we spend a lot of time learning how to do something tricky on our computers by watching YouTube videos. Kristy is always expanding her knowledge and skills by taking workshops and classes that allow her to learn about something new while also building upon her talent as an amazing photographer. She is also a wonderful example of someone who juggles a lot but always has “time” to take a walk in the sun or catch up over a cup of tea…a true “Juliet“. <3
Kari of Happy Go Lucky Travel:
My friend Kari who is a programmer by day and vegan baker extraordinaire by night has recently decided to start a new venture sharing about her love and expertise with travel planning. When Kari decides she is doing something she does it 100% and as someone who likes to do a lot of things but not always very well, I am so in awe of this!
Not only does she have a family and a full-time job doing things on a computer that look like a completely foreign language, but she also loves painting, drawing and teaching herself how to play the banjo while watching Avett Brothers videos. She is one of the most self-motivated people I have ever met. Last year she made a commitment to walk up Mt. Philo every day on her lunch break and you better believe she has done it. In addition to doing all these things, she is an amazingly supportive friend who helps me talk through lots of things even if she totally hates talking on the phone a million times a day.
Elisa at Corduroy & Pine Interiors:
My friend Elisa juggles a young family of three and a local interior design business. Anytime I call Elisa she is like “hold on a sec, I just need to set down my paintbrush”. She has amazing style and I love that she is able to factor in aesthetically pleasing designs that are also family friendly.
Elisa is one of the kindest people I know and she is always up for an adventure even if it is just to the grocery store. She was my nightstand of the week guest poster last week if you would like to learn more about her and see her book recommendations and her freshly painted bedroom wall. 😉
Who is inspiring you this week? I would love to hear! <3
This is so kind!
I just finished the Michelle Obama book, Becoming, and she was largely on my mind this week. She really highlighted that we can all get to desired places in life, even if those places are unexpected. We are all capable (I wish I could highlight/bold/underline that word a thousand times). Sometimes we need a reminder or even a push to get ourselves out of our comfort zone and to keep trying new things.
So she was inspiring me but that was until I read this post! Gen, you are so kind and thoughtful. You always are cheerleading your friends on and that to me is the most inspiring piece of my day. Wouldn’t the world feel so much lighter if we all practiced this kind of kindness? A kindness that fills your heart every day! <3
This comment!!! You are so wonderful Emily, and thank you so much for sharing all of that, it means so much to me. I so agree about Becoming, it was such an amazing and inspiring read! Sometimes it it is easy to see things everyone else is doing and it makes you feel like less, but really, we can all shine in different and unique ways, and that is what make the world go round. 🙂 Excited to catch up soon! xoxo