Meet Sharon Glassman | Designer/Songwriter, Smile Songs musical greeting cards and gifts

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sharon Glassman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sharon, what role has risk played in your life or career?
As an introvert, I’m a deep listener. Listening to what folks say – and don’t – has led me to take a lot of risks in my life and career. Because I pick up on the things folks are craving. And want to be of service, to address that problem, to deliver that thing.

So far, so awesome, right? But there’s thing challenge: I tend create things a few years before they become trendy to a larger population.

Creating something new is risky. And scary. Earlier on, I’d think: “I’m all alone here creating (insert new thing), I must be doing something must be wrong.”

But over time, I realized I needed to risk failure, to go through the discomfort of being kinda out there. And keep working ’til the sound of crickets to turn into the sound of “Heck, yeah, this is so awesome!” Which it has.

Most recently, I was ahead of the curve in using QR codes to make musical greeting cards and gifts. Folks who told me early on: “People will never use QR codes!” And while I heard what they were saying, this time, I didn’t listen, or change course. And that has made all the difference for me, personally and professionally.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m the designer and songwriter of a line of musical greeting cards and gifts that combine my original art and messages with songs I create to amplify the feel-good powers of each design. My mission: to help folks share a smile. Feel celebrated for their best self. To feel not alone. And to be able to send these positive messages to the folks they love.

Creating eco-friendly products, where I can, is really important to me. I’m also committed to being of service to my audience, which in my case meant creating a product that aligns with our smartphone-fueled lives.

For both these reasons (and practical ones, too), I use QR codes to make my products sing instead of plastic chips. Being detail-oriented and highly-sensitive, I choose each design element of every QR code to match the song it plays as best I can.

I’m most proud of the shouts of happiness I hear from folks as they interact with my products at maker markets and stockists as they try them out and order them.

I’m also proud of the way Smile Songs share happiness across generations. I’ve had a young kid tell me, “This is so awesome!” while their parents are also looking stoked. That feels like I’m accomplishing something truly positive. I’ve also had the honor of seeing kids on the spectrum enjoy the mix of kindhearted people and animals on my designs and the songs they sing.

Now for the challenging part! The path from illustrating my first original stories at my parent’s table as a grade school kid to now has definitely been tough at times.

As an introvert, I grew up hiding when other folks were having a good ol’ time, Said no to a dream job as an NYC fashion journalist because I was too scared to interview people. Absorbed society’s message that I needed to “get out there” and enjoy, when my real role was to “get in there” and hear what folks were craving in this busy, buzzy world.

It took me quite a few twists and turns to get to the place where I am now, professionally and personally. Discovering the word “introvert” in Susan Cain’s book “Quiet” literally changed my life. Embracing vulnerability as my superpower in a culture that celebrates strength, has been another life changer for me.

And moving to Colorado really changed everything. I moved to a town folks call The Brooklyn of Boulder from Brookly, NY. And in my experience, where New York City was a place where you had to go through a dozen flavors of No to get to a Yes, Colorado for me has been a place where every “crazy” idea I float has been met with love. And respect. And beautiful. arrays of Rocky Mountain YES.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First of all, we’d walk. We’d walk around Lake McIntosh in Longmont and take in the view of Longs Peak. Then we’d head down to the Aspen Moon biodynamic farm in Hygiene and check out their farmstand and farm animals. Next, we’d stop at The Mountain Fountain, a general store that’s been in business since the 1940s, Depending on the temperature and time of day, we’d get an ice cream, a sandwich or a coffee and settle down in the mix-and-match porch furniture between the bicycle racks and the building. Next? My favorite post office in the world: The Hygiene, PO. We’d pick up some new LOVE stamps (yep, this is an introvert’s idea of a good time, ya feel me?) and maybe even mail something with the help of the nicest postal team around.

From there, we’d grab a car and pop over to Lyons, stop in at Mainstage Brewing. Check out their makers’ market (or work it, depending on the week), grab a pizza.

If my companion drives better than this still-timid former New Yorker, we’ll head up to Snowy Peaks Winery in Estes, stopping along the way to take pictures of the view. And yes, even the touristy Estes Park rock. It’s so cool!

At Snowy Peaks, we’ll listen to some tunes by local musicians, sample the local wines and foods on offer. And stay a couple days in an Air B n B so we can hike a bit of RMNP.

Then it’s home sweet home to finish out the week introvert-style, reading, cooking, listening to KGNU and KRFC and sitting on the back porch, so we can play music for, and hang out with, our neighbors and their dogs.

Hey! When is this happening? I really wanna go 🙂

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Ms. Sarah Schwartz, my mentor and confidante, colleague and friend. She’s always there when I need her. And checks in even when I think I don’t. We’re a fast-talking, paper-fueled mutual support system. My life is so much richer for knowing her. Sarah, this shout-out is for you.

Website: https://smilesongs.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smile_songs

Youtube: https://bit.ly/SmileSongsYouTube

Other: I’m super excited to have been invited to be on the new Tailorie app. At the time of this writing I can give you this early access link: https://testflight.apple.com/join/nuPuCDqk Per the founders: “Tailorie is a new mobile app to help you find brand and product recommendations, tailored to you! Share, discover, and enjoy quality recommendations without ads, affiliate links, or hidden agendas.” If the app has launched, you can find wherever you get your fave apps. The vibe feels genuine and very user positive, imho 🙂

Image Credits
All photos: Sharon Glassman