Colorful Creatives: Socials in Bloom

Happy Friday!

This week’s Colorful Creatives feature is Cheyenne Huffman of Socials in Bloom. Cheyenne is passionate about helping ambitious entrepreneurs craft quality brands that help their businesses thrive! Her positive attitude and go getter attitude are infections and inspire others to take a leap of faith even when not feeling 100% confident. Cheyenne shares her journey of discovering her passion, leaving her full time job, and building her business. I hope you enjoy learning more about this girl-boss and find her to be your new business bestie! One of my favorite quotes from Cheynee:

“It really doesn’t matter if you have it all figured out in high school or not because it will come together if you don’t give up trying.”

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Cheyenne Huffman | Socials in Bloom

Website socialsinbloom.com

FB SocialsinBloom

IG SocialsinBloom

IG cheyenneinbloom

Twitter Socialsinbloom

1. How did you get started as a virtual Branding, marketing and web designer?

I started working right out of high school as a Pre-K teaching assistant in a child care center. At first, I absolutely loved my job, but I could always feel that there was more I wanted to do with my life I just wasn’t sure what exactly. Two years into the job I was miserable, I loved the kids, but the adults made me feel like I was back in high school and there really wasn’t much opportunity for me to grow there. The center had also begun to struggle as a whole, we were cycling through staff members and losing students at the same time, it became harder and harder to know if our jobs were secure and that had us panicking.

I met my best friend, Kya, (aka my blessing in disguise) during this time and she introduced me to the world of Copywriting and Marketing. I was instantly curious about both and started doing some research. She helped me look up online courses and get started on the right path. Fast forward through a few months of studying and I landed my first unofficial client. Her sister approached her saying she was starting her own blog and needed a website designed and some catchy content created for it and Kya introduced her to me. It was the perfect first project and I had so much fun with it.

After that, I started drifting from studying just copywriting and marketing to web design as well and soon things were feeling good. I knew I wanted to start my own business, but I was worried I wouldn’t be good enough or successful because I was so new and didn’t have much experience yet. I was afraid that because I didn’t have a college degree people would overlook me and not take me seriously. So I kept studying and doing little projects here and there and just continued daily life at the childcare center. Well, let’s just say I got my wake up call when a year later the child care center shut down and left me without a job.

I knew I could go apply for other jobs and find something, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was a sign that it was time to start my business. I planned everything out and established my vision and Socials in Bloom was born! It isn’t an extravagant story but it was hard there for a while and without the help of my friend and a little kickback to reality I wouldn’t be where I am today. I have met some amazing people and continue to meet amazing people on a daily basis and I am so content and happy with that. I love what I do and the fact it gives me a chance to explore other passions along with it. I am excited about the future.

2. Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I would like to say that deep down I always knew there was more I wanted from life, I just didn’t know what it was yet. I found that I didn’t take a lot of interest in the classes at school or even career fairs, because I didn’t want a traditional job.

All of my friends were studying for these great jobs in art, science and law careers and for me, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted, I knew I had a love for writing and wanted to publish a book and I also knew I loved my graphic design classes too but I never thought of them in a career setting. I’m still not sure why. It wasn’t until I graduated high school and started hearing more and more about people beginning their own businesses that really tied everything together for me. Part of me still wants to write that novel don’t get me wrong but I’m glad that things turned out the way they did because I have found my passion. So I always try to tell others that it really doesn’t matter if you have it all figured out in high school or not because it will come together if you don’t give up trying.

3. Are you full time on your business?

Yes! I am full time on my business. It honestly happened on a whim. I was in the process of researching starting a business and putting the pieces together when the center I worked for closed. I kept applying for other jobs but nothing stuck and eventually I just turned back to my business ideas and made them reality.

4. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve had to overcome with owning your own business?

Probably the periods where business is kind of slow which do happen more often than talked about. Things change so as business owners you’re always needing to switch up your strategy and find new ways to reach people. It’s hustle all the time but it’s worth it to be working for yourself and fulfilling your dreams.

5. What is your favorite & least favorite “hat” to wear as a business owner?

Gosh, I wear so many hats haha! I think that is definitely my favorite “hat” though is having the freedom to explore as many passions as you want. I definitely fall into the multi-passionate entrepreneur category and I love being able to explore my interests and try new things out.

6. How did you reach your potential clients when first starting your business?

I have reached clients through Facebook and Instagram mainly. I will find clients in groups where they are searching for specific services, through friends who recommend me, and my social media posts. It’s definitely always changing and I am learning so much on a daily basis because you never know how effective a certain method will be until you see the traction and impressions from it. I am someone who is about authentic connections and growing my business organically so I don’t invest a bunch in paid ads or anything like that. I prefer to talk with people and reach them through the content I post.

7. Do you feel you need to educate people on what you do?

There are definitely times when I have to educate others on what I do. It’s mostly family and family friends because a lot of them are not familiar with social media management, but it’s honestly not a big deal to me at all. I love talking about what I do, it’s my passion so I feel privileged when I get the chance to share what I do with others.

8. How do you stay motivated?

It can be hard to stay motivated at times but I have some incredibly supportive people around me who inspire me and pick me back up when I am feeling a little lost. Other than that, I always make sure I am staying productive and caring for my mind. Personal development is essential as well as resting your mind. It’s really good to take breaks and just have some time to do something you enjoy and be with loved ones.

9. What are you working on right now?

Oh my gosh, I have some incredible projects in the works right now! My best friend and I actually just launched a project together on International Women's Day which went incredibly. We decided to start a Facebook community for female entrepreneurs and business owners called Flourishing Forward. It’s basically a community that teaches us as women how to not compare and contrast but how to link arms and step into the women were meant to be, together. It’s all about supporting one another and inspiring growth while still offering a bunch of business tools and resources to learn from. We have a lot of ideas in the works so I can promise you it’s definitely going to be different than any other community out there so we’re thrilled to see it take off and meet some incredible people along the way.  

10. Where do you look for inspiration?

I look for inspiration all around me. I guess it depends on what is happening that day and why I am in need of inspiration because my best friend inspires me a lot, I also like to browse Pinterest to find some things that inspire me and just reading/ listening to podcasts!

11. Where is your favorite place to work?

My Favorite place to work is actually at the beach. Weird right? I love vacationing but being able to catch up on some work while staring out at the ocean and feeling the breeze is the best.

12. How do you start your Monday?

I like to start my Monday off with a cup of coffee and reviewing my plans for the week and make any changes I feel are necessary.

13. What are some colors you are connecting with right now?

I am currently obsessed with rose gold, blush pink and peach!

14. What are some of your favorite textures/ materials?

I would have to say marble is always my go-to

15. If you could travel anywhere in the world for inspiration, where would it be and why?

Probably Montana or Hawaii. I know two completely opposite places. But I have always wanted to visit both and for me, I love scenery and nature so it would be nice to escape to somewhere and be out in nature to regroup. I also love photography so I’d love to photograph some locations out that way. And for Hawaii. I am obsessed with the beach and that has been the beach I’ve always wanted to go to. Both would inspire me in different ways but spark incredible adventures and memories!

16. What’s your favorite season and why?

I would have to say Spring is my favorite season because there is so much happening in those months. The air is getting warmer and clearer, the skies are brighter, flowers are sprouting and blooming and it just feels like a fresh new beginning. I love that feeling.

17. What is something you could not live without?

Hmm, That is a tough one. I am going to sound totally cliche but I would probably have to say my computer or phone if we’re talking about objects. Because, it’s where I do most of my work at and I really don’t go anywhere without them.

18. What’s your favorite thing to do in Virginia?

I actually have three favorite things to do in Virginia. I love going to the drive in movie theater, going to bookshops and I really enjoy going to basketball/hockey games!

19. As a busy business owner, how do you avoid burn out?  

I make sure that I am taking breaks throughout the day and not overworking myself. It’s so easy to get burnt out on things and I always find if a certain project is stressing me out I will pause and regroup or work on something else for a while. I also like to read motivational quotes and listen to music to give my mind a break for a bit.

20. What are you looking forward to in 2019?

I am looking forward to seeing the heights my business can reach this year and the places I can go. I love helping other entrepreneurs and their businesses strive so I can’t wait to see the incredible people I get to work with this year. Other than that I am just excited for the possibilities of growth and change and discovering who I am each day.

21. What is a piece of advice you would tell your past self on the first day you started your business?

I would remind myself of the excited, empowering feeling it gave me to finally have made my dream become a reality and then I would tell myself to always carry that feeling around and never let go of it. Because business can be hard, it can be discouraging and it can be exciting but if you can hold onto what it felt like on that first day it will help you to keep going. I want to wake up every day feeling excited and empowered and know that I am making a difference in the lives of others.

21. Any inspirational books you recommend?

Absolutely! Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

22. Anything I missed that you want to share?

I just want to thank you for the incredible opportunity to speak with you about my journey. It’s been such a pleasure getting to know you and your business and sharing a bit about mine.

Colorful Creatives: & She’s Brave / Brave Girl Club

Happy Friday! Only twelve days left till Christmas, and even through I’ve been swamped this week with work, I’m full of holiday spirit! I finally checked out Frosty’s Christmas Bar and wow that place really is a winter wonderland! I went to Frosty’s with my amazing and talented cousin Michelle to celebrate her graduating from Northeastern Illinois University and becoming an elementary school teacher. Proud cousin moment! It’s amazing to be around other strong, confidant women that have found their calling and that are pursuing their passions. Wishing you the best of luck on this new chapter of your life Michelle!

On that note of strong, confident women. Meet Lizzie, graphic designer, social media guru, and branding extraordinaire for & She’s Brave and the Brave Girl Club. Sometimes life puts you on a completely different path than you expected and while it may not always be great, there’s usually a reason and a silver lining. For me, this year had it’s ups and downs, but meeting Lizzie was a silver lining. Lizzie was an instrumental part in building my confidence to finally start my own business. Since we both went through the process of becoming entrepreneurs around the same time, it’s been awesome to reach out to each other for feedback and support. Her online community The Brave Creative | A Community for Brave Girls with Big Dreams actually inspired me to start Colorful Creatives, as I was connecting with other like minded creatives in her group. One of the best things about Lizzie is that she is so authentic. She knows who she is, what she likes and shes not ashamed to just be herself. I hope you enjoy reading about Lizzie’s journey to becoming her own boss and living her best life!

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Lizzie Benson | & She’s Brave / Brave Girl Club

IG andshesbrave

IG bravegirlclub

Pinterest bravegirlclub

FB andshesbrave

1. How did you get started with & She’s Brave and Brave Girl Club? Do you have an educational background in your field?

I started a blog my freshman year of college as a creative outlet. I quickly found a wonderful community online and started to get more serious about blogging, social media, etc. Over the years, I taught myself a ton about social media strategy, marketing, and graphic design as I worked on my own website and social channels. My junior year of college, I started marketing my services as a virtual assistant and social media manager. I found a couple wonderful clients quickly and worked with them for a number of years. I was earning a degree in Journalism, but had figured out through my side gig that I was much more interested in marketing, PR, and social media than I was traditional news journalism. My senior year I applied for a social media internship at my university’s communications department. I never heard back about it until I got a phone call like 3 months later from the head of the marketing department. She said that the person who was running the social media internship had passed along my info to her, and they wanted to meet with me to see if I’d be interested. Long story short, I got the internship in the marketing department and it turned into my first full time job after graduation. I worked there for a year and a half, then at the beginning of this year, I moved to Chicago for another job in social media. I was still working on design, blogging, and my own brand in my free time. The new job turned out not to be a good situation, and it gave me the push I needed to pursue my own business(es) full time as of October of this year!

2. Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I never in a million years thought I would end up as an entrepreneur, mostly because I always thought it was at odds with my creative sensibilities. But I should have known, because as a child I was constantly making crafts or marketing services to my poor family members to make some extra pocket money. I used to paint shiny pennies with glittery clear nail polish and sell them as “lucky pennies” for 50 cents. Now that’s a good profit margin!

3. Do you work a day job or are you full time on your business? When did you know it was the right time to go full time on your business?

Just over a month ago I took my business full time. To be honest, I had no idea if it was the right time or not. It had been my side hustle for over 5 years and while I had a distant dream of someday being my own boss, I definitely didn’t think I’d paid enough dues to make that a reality as a 24 year old. However, I was working a job that made me miserable every single day and it was increasingly becoming a worse and worse situation. I knew I needed to change courses, but the idea of interviewing around and finding just another 9-5 job that I knew I wouldn’t be 100% passionate about bummed me out so much. I started saving up all my extra money (which was no easy feat, I’m a total shopaholic) and having long conversations about finances and plans with my boyfriend and with myself. I realized there would never be a time where it felt 100% right to take the leap, so I finally just had to do it. And I’ve been so blessed to have seen my hard work pay off in the past month.

4. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve had to overcome with owning your own business?

My main one right now is time management. Working from home every single day and setting your own schedule is wonderful, but it can be easy to lose focus and not know what to spend time and energy on. I remember waking up on my first day as a full time business owner and sitting down at my desk, ready to work - then having absolutely no idea what I was supposed to be doing. I had so many to do lists but all the things I wanted to accomplish turned into a spiraling black hole in my mind. Being organized and learning how to be a good time manager are invaluable skills as a business owner.

5. What is your favorite & least favorite “hat” to wear as a business owner?

My favorite hat to wear is probably that of the creator. As in, I love being able to sit down at my computer and work on creative things that fill up my soul and know that I’m helping other amazing business women build beautiful brands and pursue their own dreams and goals. My least favorite hat is definitely the accountant. I hate math and I hate thinking about taxes and cash flow. This is definitely the first thing I’m going to outsource when I get to that point.

6. How do you stay motivated?

By reminding myself how incredibly lucky I am to be doing what I do now. Sometimes when I get bogged down or overwhelmed or frustrated it’s easy to fall into an ungrateful mindset. When that happens I take a second, take a breath, and tell myself that I get to wake up everyday and choose where I work and when and on what. And that is an amazing freedom to have, and I never want to take it for granted.

7. What are you working on right now?

I currently have three different clients who I am helping create a brand identity and logo for their businesses. That is my absolute FAVORITE thing to do. I love logos and wordmarks and designing them, but I also love digging in deep to other people’s businesses and learning what they’re passionate about and who they help and what makes them tick. It’s so fulfilling and so fun!

8. Where is your favorite place to work?

Any coffee shop. I just love the hustle and bustle and being able to be part of a crowd while still keeping to yourself. It’s so comforting to me to set up shop in the corner of some cozy coffee shop and get to work.

9. Where do you look for inspiration?

I love reading other lifestyle and design blogs and scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest. There are so many incredible people in the world creating such beautiful things. The trick is to not get bogged down by the comparison game, especially on social media, which can be a fine line to walk sometimes!

10. How do you start your Monday?

I grab a cup of coffee, sit down at my desk, browse through my favorite blogs for inspiration, then spend a while answering emails and tending to whatever admin tasks I need for the day. I also like to take a look at my priorities and what I need to work on for the day and the week.

11. What are some colors you are connecting with right now?

Literally everything I create right now is either mustard gold, blush pink, or dusty blue. I don’t know what it is with the gold, but I’m so drawn to it. Everything I gravitate to is that color.

12. What are some of your favorite textures/ materials?

I’m such a sucker for velvet anything, and I really love natural woven textures lately.

13. What is something you could not live without?

COFFEE.

14. Where is your favorite place to travel and with who?

Any place I haven’t been before. I love exploring new places with my best friends or my boyfriend.

15. What’s your favorite thing to do in Chicago?

I love exploring all the cool and quirky little neighborhoods that are all over the place in Chicago. But I also really love walking around Michigan Avenue. Yes it’s totally touristy and crowded and sometimes super overwhelming, but I’ve wanted to live in a big city since I was like 8 years old, so I love to take a moment, stare up at all the giant buildings and lights and people and remind myself how lucky I am to be here.

16. Any inspirational books you recommend?

          I love Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Yes Please by Amy Poehler and Bossy Pants by Tina Fey. Basically any inspirational book by an amazing woman is a gold star for me.