Diana Scafoglio shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Diana, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I think a lot of people assume we are “playing with flowers” and having so much fun as florists. In reality, half our job is cleaning and carrying ridiculously heavy things.
Yes, there is so much beauty in floristry, flowers, and the meanings and intentions behind them. But like many other industries, it has it’s gritty, back breaking sides to it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Diana and I am the founder and owner behind Petals Presents and Parties. Flowers are my happy place, in the garden or in the design studio. I love being a part of your special day and nothing fuels me more than a client putting full trust in me and allowing me to create. My best work comes out when that happens and I couldn’t be luckier to have such amazing clients, and also planners and photographers that have become friends over the years!
While running the business and creating art, I am also a Firefighter wife, and a fulltime mama to a smart and flower loving four year old boy!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The one I never had.
I never knew my father, even though he could have decided to be in our lives at some point. He never did though, and decided to end his life instead when I was 16. For the longest time, I did let that shape me in a terrible way.
If he didn’t care where I ended up in life, why should I? I used that EXCUSE for so long.
Then I started to realize if I want different for myself, then I have to do different. Do more. Work harder, break that cycle. So I did, I put my head down and worked. Worked several jobs through college, worked on myself, worked on learning all I could and gaining knowledge and experience every opportunity I had.
It may have just been community college to some, but I was the first in my family to graduate with a degree. I bought my own home at 27. That relationship that was so necessary could have been replaced by so many other things. Fear, defeat, depression. The only way to fix it was to love myself and do all the things for myself that I though a Dad should do.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one thing to my younger self, it would be
“Hang in there. It’s going to get so much better. Not easier, but so much better.”
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Oh man I’m probably going to take some heat for this one, but do we really have to Chat GPT everything?
In our industry, I feel like the reason people invest in our services, is because we have experience and creativity. If an AI program comes up with all my responses, my designs, and my proposals, how creative am I after that?
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
YES, and it’s what lead me to where I am now. When I was in corporate America, I thought money was the answer. The next promotion, the next opportunity, the better title. I started in a gym as a front desk clerk and soon was the manager, in the financial industry, I started in data entry and climbed up until I worked under the best Senior VP in the company and then our CEO. The title I wanted, the opportunities I wanted, it was all in front of me.
Then, a cozy job offer with even more dollar signs in front of it popped up and was so tempting….but I wasn’t happy or healthy at all,
I worked so hard and never could have imagined starting a family then, even though I was reaching my financial goals. I wasn’t satisfied at all. Chasing the money and success never brought happiness. I started my business and slowly got to be a part of your special days one by one. I retired from corporate America 3 years after that, and we started our family.
Now I chase the happiness and family, and the money is a bonus.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.petalspresentsandparties.com/contact
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petalspresentsandparties/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Petalspresentsandparties/
Image Credits
Dewitt for Love
Marina Leighann Photography
Sydney Marie Co.
Cornelia Zaiss Photography
