Chelsea Barnum shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Chelsea, 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 is a normal day like for you right now?
My days are actually pretty simple. A normal day for me is waking up and first giving thanks to God. I’ve recently started morning walks. It gives me a chance to think about my day and goals while working on my fitness goals. Next I get ready for my work day and meal prep so that I won’t eat fast food😅. I think that may be the toughest thing to conquer as a business owner. Not eating on the go lol.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Chelsea. I am a small business owner of Stitched With Love Embroidery. Located 9340 n 56th street ste 120 Temple Terrace Fl 33617. I have been in business since 2020. I started in my home and I have now been at my store location for almost 4 years.
I provide embroidery services. Almost anything you can think of I can bring to life. From business apparel, to clothing brands, I can embroider bags, baseballs and much more. What makes my business unique is the vibe I provide. I want every customer that comes through the door to feel the love and know their voices are heard. I don’t have a minimum requirement to place orders. And I also share a location with my mom, owner of Sassy Sharon’s Designs, who does all things printing. So we can be a one stop shop for all needs. Currently, I’m working on ways to scale my business. We all know that if you are not growing your stagnant. I want to make sure that as I continue to grow in business that I don’t lose quality in service and it remains a smooth process for everyone. I’m always a student willing and wanting to learn more.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
I’ve always had a strong village growing up. So I’ve had various people in my life as references on how to work hard and achieve goals. My number 1 person is my mom. She has always instilled in me to work hard. She has always said if you put your mind to it you can do it! And anything that I choose to be apart of, to always do it with excellence. I’ve seen her accomplish many goals. I seen her make something out of nothing. She also taught me how to conduct myself professionally. She said it’s okay to be yourself but know that not everyone understands your culture so present yourself in a way that everyone can relate to but still be yourself. I think that everything she has said over the years definitely shaped me to be the hard worker and professional I am today.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Obstacles I’ve faced have shown me how strong I actually am. I’ve learned that I’m capable of overcoming anything that comes my way with faith, prayer and persistence. I honestly feel that struggles are necessary for growth. Although we would rather not have them, if you change your perspective and try to remain positive when they arrive, getting through them isn’t as bad as it could be.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes the public version of me is my true self. I’m big on being real. I think social media and living up to a certain image is ruining people. Everyone is in comparison and feeling as though they aren’t enough based on the things they see around them. I live in my truth and I think that’s what keeps me sane and grounded. I don’t pretend like I have it all together, or that my business is always doing numbers. I’m not acting like I have it all together because I don’t. I’m still figuring out life and business on the daily basis. I enjoy the journey I’m on. The good and the bad
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What false labels are you still carrying?
I don’t necessarily carry labels. I’ve never cared what others thought or said because I was taught “ it isn’t what people call you, it’s what you answer too”. However I had a person tell me I’ve always been perfect. And that’s something I’ve never been. I’ve failed at a lot of things that I had to go back to the drawing board on. I’ve doubted my capabilities plenty of times and I’ve been hurt just like everyone else. The difference is that I smiled through it all. I don’t complain and I’m not placing the blame on anyone. I change the things that I have control over and pray about the things I don’t. I’m okay with things not going as I planned even when it hurts because I trust that Jesus has a bigger plan. I’m patient with life and I think that mindset allows my mental freedom. So it may seem as though things are always going well but behind the scenes I face struggles daily.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.swlembroidery.com
- Instagram: Stitchedwithlove_embroidery
- Linkedin: Chels813
- Facebook: StitchedWithLove_Embroidery
- Other: TikTok: @cheche_baby
