Recently, I shared a post on social media with a carousel of some very old (and many cringe-worthy) photos of the early years of business. I was surprised at the many comments and so I thought I’d share it here, in a more permanent spot too…
It wasn’t until I was working on the content for my first surface design workshop last summer that it occurred to me that by the time I was 31, my design work was sustaining my whole family. It surprised me, once I realized how old - or how young - I was. I started Kate & Birdie in 2004. I was 25. I had no idea of what I was doing, no framework growing up of women starting their own businesses (in manufacturing and international trade no less). Just a lot of gumption and determination, and perhaps some youthful energy (and maybe a little - or a lot - of naivety). I got to experience my biggest and wildest dreams. Dreams I had as a kid of immigrants who had middle school educations, sand since I was as young as I can remember. I feel like I’ve lived a six lifetimes since then, and have shifted my work and business over the years (autoimmune diseases and all). Pivoting here and there and getting to try new things and take on new work projects.
Now as part of it, I get to encourage and champion others through consulting and workshops while they take on creative endeavours and pursue dreams too. All these years later, entering a new season and feeling that shift again… in an exciting way, and I get to see what kind of creative inspiration comes next.
