Meet Shelby Milleson | Small Business Owner

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

Hi Shelby, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I first of all wanted to start my own business I could do on my own time because I was not able to get a job at the time. In 2020 I was in a serious life threatening car accident with my newly wed husband of 41 days. He did not survive, sadly. I was left with a severe head injury, a compound femur fracture, and many other internal injuries. One of the biggest side affects I felt initially, it had gotten better, but won’t go away, is fatigue. It is crucial for me to take a nap and relax my brain. I was going crazy just sitting around not being able to help my family with the cattle, so I thought, “I am going to start my own business that is a boutique because I love them so much.”

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 am most proud that I am where I am with what has happened to me in the past. When I say I have a severe head injury, it doesn’t look like it at all. The way I walk, talk, and think don’t even seem possible for me to have went through that trauma. With that severe head injury I can still run this business and I hope to grow it and maybe make this my career as it would be easy for my trauma and I could rest more.

It has not been easy as I get defeated that I am not doing a good job and should jsut give it up, but then something good always immediately comes up. I’m trusting the Lords process in where He is leading me to. My community and family usually pick me up when I am feeling defeated. Sometimes in unknown ways.

I have learned that I am just starting out so it’s okay that I make mistakes. I have bought items or went to markets that were not the best, but that’s all just a part of starting out and part of learning what is needed. Starting your own business isn’t easy and it takes time.

I would want the world to know that no matter how hard your past is, don’t play a pity party and just go forward with life like nothing bad has happened to you. That is how I choose to live life. I don’t for people to feel sorry for me so I choose not to share my past struggles with them. For example, my life has gone like this: 2018 found and lost my father in an ATV accident, 2020 got married, 2020 lost my husband, also in 2020 almost lost my life and now have severe head trauma. There are a lot of small other issues I have faced but I don’t want people to know those things about me. I want people to look at me and think, “Wow, her life has just gone so perfectly. Look how happy she is.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Honestly, I would just want to hang out with my family and some friends. A trip to the mountains for a hike would be good to get out of the small town I live in to see some beautiful scenery. I love adventures, so anything spontaneous would be my way to go. I love to check out any new places that I have never been to. Sale barns are always interesting because there are some people there with interesting pasts and stories to tell.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that I would want to give a shout-out to, but I’ll keep it smaller. First, my mom stayed with my from the night I was in my accident to when I finally left Craig Rehabilitation. She also has allowed me to keep all of my items for my business in her basement and has helped me along that way. For my business, my older sister has played a huge part in helping this business grow and keep going. When I am supposed to be resting and napping, she takes over on getting clothing organized and helping with the website. I also have a huge family that has helped and encouraged me along the whole way. Spiritually they have made me stronger. I have two people who made me stronger when I was feeling especially down and that is my uncle Marshal and my neuropsychologist Dr. Barry from Craig Hospital. They gave me hope for my future and encouraged me on this new idea of my own business.

Website: https://hatcreekboutique.com/

Instagram: @hatcreekb

Facebook: Hat Creek Boutique

Image Credits
Danja Barber Photography