We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bridget Collins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Bridget, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you take vacations? How do you keep things going – any advice for entrepreneurs who feel like they can’t step away from their business for a short vacation?

I absolutely love to travel any chance I get. I am blessed to run a company that does not depend on having to be in person so I literally have everything I need at my fingertips. If this were not the case, even still, vacationing is important to mental health and well being. Yes, we want to have successful businesses so often we have a hard time turning people and business away. However, more importantly than securing contracts, and sealing deals lies a business owner who works tirelessly to complete the task at hand with a fear that they can’t afford to take off. It is perfectly okay to take a breather and come back refreshed. If you don’t take care of you then who will?

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi guys, I am Bridget also known across socials as It’s Really Bridget! I am the owner of Collins & Co Consulting and Marketing where we specialize in bringing your personal brand as well as your business brand to life. Collins & Co. specializes in personal styling, life coaching, and wardrobe enhancements, as well as digital design such as logos, business cards, flyers, brochures, web sites, banners, and many other digital design needs. I started this business out of a love for designing and being able to use my creativity to bring ideas and concepts to life. We are unique in that we believe that as a business owner or even a person who merely exists, how you yourself look, feel, and conduct yourself is a direct representation of how you are perceived in the world so we ask “what do you want people to think/know about you just by looking at you” because as it is stated “your first impression is your last impression.” This same question is also asked for those in business, We will then follow up with a series of coaching sessions along with a closet makeover. For businesses, particularly those in the start up phase, we take it a step further in that we conduct “brain mapping sessions” and move into what the end goal is for said business then move strategically from there.

My proudest moment to date was driving casually up the highway singing very loudly and off key (as I often do when driving alone) and seeing a transportation van with the huge logo that I created for the company plastered on the side of it, I definitely cried a little.

At Collins & Co. we work diligently to create pieces that we are proud of first. We take great pleasure in ensuring that our customers receive only the best service and are thoroughly satisfied with the outcome. We want our customers to have something that they can proudly share with their customers and consumers as well.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is having a general idea of my client’s needs and adding my touch to bring their ideas to reality whether it be an outfit for a special event, label for a product, a logo, or a website. The gratitude and excitement when the product is finished always confirms that I really am great at what I do.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Before Collins & Co. was established, I founded another organization in which the concept behind that was bringing small business owners together to use each other’s skills and talents to help each other’s business grow in some capacity. Although this too was very rewarding, I was practically working for free when the needs came around that I could assist with. Although I was utilizing my creativity which I thoroughly enjoyed doing, I wasn’t able to keep up with my own household bills, etc. With this then came the fear of overcharging for my services especially considering everyone for the most part was just starting and getting their business off the ground, basically bootstrapping as was I. The lesson in this for me as an entrepreneur was that I too had to make a living from my creativity which is something that I am passionate about and enjoy very much, I am gifted at what I do so much so that I decided to do it full time. With that being said, I had to learn that it is okay to charge what you are worth. Do the research to see what the rates are of those in similar fields and adjust accordingly. If you offer a one-of-a-kind product or service then become the best salesperson you can be and tell the client why they NEED your expertise then charge accordingly. DO NOT SHORT CHANGE YOURSELF!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.collinscoconsult.weebly.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/collinsco.consult
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/collinsandcoconsulting