On April 4, 2016, Blessed Little Bungalow was born. I had no idea what was in store for me as I embarked on this life-changing entrepreneurial journey!
Five years ago, I just purchased my second home in San Antonio, TX and decorated the entire house within a week of closing. My family and friends came to visit expecting to help me unpack boxes, but surprisingly walked into a completely decorated home without a roll of bubble wrap or packing tape in sight. Having always believed that I would someday work for myself, my mom asked, “when are you gonna do this for real?” and that was just the nudge I needed to take a leap into the unknown.
When I started BLB, I had one objective: to create something that would serve as a personal creative outlet while also allowing myself to professionally serve others.
Now don’t get me wrong, it was a lot easier said than done. First, I had no experience other than painting and buying furnishings for my own home. The imposter syndrome was strong, but I leaned into where was with the determination that I’d gain confidence along the way. Second, if I was going to be seen as a professional, I’d need to start off that way. I gave myself 90 days to create a business name, logo, domain, website and social media pages filled with professional photography and an authentic brand. As a marketer-by-day, this piece came easily, and I was proud to hire Black and women designers, photographers and fellow marketers to help me build each piece, brick by brick. Lastly, having a passion for personal finance, wealth building and financial freedom, I wanted to build a brand on the belief that it was possible to have a beautiful home you love without breaking the bank. I made that BLB’s mission and promised myself it would never change. On launch day - 4.4.16, my first of many blog posts, “BLB & Me” went live, and the rest was history. The clients came trickling in one by one, the followers went from 180 to 18,000 and my confidence in “doing this for real” grew one home at a time.
Looking back on years of homeownership (the third time is truly a charm) and five years of entrepreneurship, I’ve learned so much. Here are five lessons and pieces of advice I’d offer the 2016 me and any aspiring entrepreneur looking to take their little side hustle to the next level:
No one is you, and that is your power. So own it! Your talent and value are UNMATCHED. You are your only competition. Do the work and don’t worry about what others are doing, they aren’t running the same race. Create and stay in your own lane. Comparison is the thief of joy. Focus on your journey, your authenticity and being yourself. After all, that’s what’s going to separate you from the rest anyhow.
Give yourself the same grace you give others. You don’t know it all and you never will. Whether a novice or expert, you’re not perfect and you’ll make mistakes. Forgive yourself. Be gentle with yourself. Be patient with yourself. Rest, regroup, recharge and try again. Every single thing you have experienced up to this point has prepared you for this moment, the good and especially the bad. Embrace it and allow it to build you for the better.
Prune your life of the unproductive. Your hustle and grind are no match for wasted energy and time. Use every ounce wisely. Prioritize. Delegate. Eliminate distractions. Create systems, processes and habits that fuel you, not exhaust you. Figure out the hard stuff and outsource things if needed to make room for what you’re good at, love and enjoy. And most importantly, watch the energy around you. Make sure it’s only elevating you and your business, not pulling you away or bringing you down.
Focus on the good, but don’t ignore the bad. When they go low, you go high, be the bigger person, stay positive and all that jazz, yeah yeah…but don’t be a fool. Say ‘no,’ unapologetically. It really is a complete sentence. Be picky with your clients and be brave enough to fire the bad ones. Be willing to walk away from the money if the job does not align with your timing or values. Trust your gut. Remember your worth. And protect your peace, no matter what.
Stop playing small. There’s nothing to gain from shrinking yourself to please others or stroke your fear and worry’s ego. Don’t play down your natural strengths. Just because they come easy to you doesn’t make them any less valuable. Stop holding yourself back with self-doubt and limiting beliefs. Feel and acknowledge the fear, but do it anyway. You’ve got this. And you’re just getting started.
To my veteran followers and support system that have supported Blessed Little Bungalow from the very beginning, THANK YOU. To the newbies that may not have witnessed all of my growth but have joined in on the fun, THANK YOU. And to my BLB clients from across the country that continue to trust me, value me and believe in me, even when I don’t believe in myself, THANK YOU. Every single one of you have contributed to Blessed Little Bungalow’s five years of success and I’m so grateful to have you on this journey with me.
So what’s next for BLB? So many have asked when I’m going to hang up my marketing day job, pursue BLB full-time, hire a team and take this thing (interior designer, lifestyle influencer and content creator) to the next level. You know, “do this for real?” Well, I’m working on it. God willing. Moving back to the east coast closer to my loved ones and the majority of my clients, purchasing another home and planting roots was the first step. Once the finances and timing are right, and a few more stars align, I’ll be ready. And even if I’m not, when the universe whispers, I’ll answer. But until then, stay tuned. The possibilities are endless and I’m so excited for what’s to come. The ‘next chapter’ is always the best part of the story….and I’m truly just getting started.
Be blessed,
ACG