We love ourselves a good quote and so we asked our community to share their favorite quotes and affirmations with us and we’ve highlighted some below.

Jenny Smiley | Destination Wedding & Elopement Photographer

“If your dreams don’t scare you, they are too small” – Richard Branson This quote has stuck with me over the years. I worked in the architecture industry for 7 years prior to starting my business and I was feeling a sense of complacency sitting at a desk day after day dreaming of bigger, greater, things. This quote made me realize I had bigger dreams and at the time, I wasn’t doing anything to pursue them. There was more to my life than a 5ft x 5ft cubicle and endless deadlines. Once I started my photography business in 2018, I felt the fear for the first time. Instead of letting the fear hold me back, it pushed me forward. To this day, I read this quote and I continue to ask myself if my dreams are big enough and begin taking to steps to make them happen. Read more>>

Suzanne Akin | Designer, Crafter, Adventurer

“The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Create It” – Abraham Lincoln I’ve never been one to take things at face value or to accept the path in front of me if I know it’s not the right path for me to take. I remind myself of this quote often. If I can’t find a solution to a product I want to offer or the right selling opportunity, then I try to create it. It’s how I got started making and selling my own beanies. I couldn’t find a manufacturer that offered the capabilities and minimums I needed for my business, so I made my own. Now it’s the best part of my brand in my opinion. Read more>>

Vicki Maunz | Jewelry Specialist- Custom Design- Vintage Jewelry

Right now my mantra is “Fortune sides with him who dares.” I think there are a lot of lives left unlived because of fear of failure. My greatest fear is not living my life to the fullest and this quote reminds me to step out of my comfort zone and push myself towards my dreams everyday. Read more>>

Jenna McKinlay | FLEUR DE LIS, Custom Paperie

I opened up my brick and mortar boutique in 2011, and the first thing I did for decor is put a quote on the wall: “As a matter of fact, I rather feel like expressing myself now” – Audrey Hepburn. Not only is Audrey my fashion muse, but I love this quote and it was perfect for my type of business. Expression through greeting cards, notes, custom invitations to events, and a multitude of gifts. I was also expressing myself at a scary time in my life of starting a new business at the age of 26. Such a risk financially and a large sacrifice of time and energy. I had an opportunity to express myself in the boutique build out and reaching out to different vendors to offer my clients and decorate my shelves. Artistic expression has always been important in my life – in fashion, stationery, decor, and in relationships. If you are not expressing your true self and your unique genuine ideas, then who are you expressing to people?. Read more>>

Andrea Cummings | Animal Lover, Relationship Builder, and Ops Manager

“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations” For us this means illustrates the hardship of the pandemic for our business and personal life. This quote reminds us to keep working hard, with purpose and intention to best serve our clients, no matter how hard the industry gets. It is heart-breaking to see small businesses close during this time because we know how hard-working, courageous, and resilient we have to be to make the decision of starting your own business to see it all crumble away. We know that we often need to go through the storm to see the rainbow and that is what we strive for every day!. Read more>>