We recently connected with Alyson Phillips and have shared our conversation below.

Alyson, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

“Do something that scares you every day.” – Eleanor Roosevelt.

Enough discomfort can cause us to take a “big” risk. Through risk taking, I didn’t find comfort, but I did find challenges that I’m suited to face. My 25 year corporate journey began as a female engineer and wove through many aspects of product commercialization and global business leadership. The consistent thread was my drive to implement change for the better. As uncertainty increased, many people grasped for more control. The unfortunate effect was reduced creativity. That situation was diminishing the value of my unique skill set. It felt like walls were closing in on me, limiting my contributions, my freedom and ultimately my happiness.

I explored my options in similar roles but saw similar concerning themes. What if it was time for me to leap? Leap way out of the corporate structure and into nature and more personal connections.

I took baby steps behind the scenes setting up my LLC, investigating local and sustainable suppliers, selling natural handmade goods from my garden, hosting flower bar events and consulting on and creating garden designs.

After attending a couple workshops and meeting with my financial advisor, I figured out how and when I was going to take my “big” risk! That decision is what gave me my freedom back. Once I was fully on my own as a solopreneur of Sassy Daffodil LLC, even though all the pressure was on me, I felt liberated. I felt joyful and confident again. I wondered “Can I bring joy and confidence to others through nature with my knowledge and gifts?” That is my hope and intention.

Even as an imperfect human, I can take a big risk. Sure, I doubt myself. But I would have doubted myself more if I didn’t follow this opportunity. The interest, smiles and even laughter I see when talking with people about Sassy Daffodil tells me this was the right choice. I am where I am meant to be, doing what I am meant to be doing.

My 2 mantras that I repeat to myself through my entrepreneur journey:
1 – Do it scared.
2 – You can do hard things. You’ve done hard things.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

After taking a tour through Midwest USA in corporate roles spanning from engineering to global marketing, I founded my company, Sassy Daffodil, to help people on a more personal level. Pulling from my roots on a farm & ranch in Montana, I saw opportunity to bring joy & confidence to people by connecting them with nature.

Hiking around the US and in other countries on vacation was how I connected with nature and the mountains after moving away from Montana. Sassy Daffodil was what I chose as my “trail name”. Since daffodils symbolize perseverance and new beginnings, I felt connected to this particular spring bloom. The name naturally bridged into my gardening handle as I escalated from planting annual nursery flowers to overhauling my whole urban backyard, starting 500+ seeds in my basement, and researching and growing daily.

Sassy Daffodil garden consulting services were born from my garden knowledge, successes and failures, and my passion and talent for helping & coaching people. We aim to reduce stress, overwhelm, wasted time and money by guiding and educating clients with a personalized approach. Sassy Daffodil fills the market need in between large scale landscaping companies and home owners seeking help at the garden center. We always start with an onsite visit and from there can develop designs, take clients plant shopping, manage installations and provide coaching throughout the seasons. In addition to helping the client, we incorporate native plants and ecological methods where possible to support our pollinators and a healthy ecosystem.

What I wish everyone knew and felt: We don’t have to fit in a box defined by societal norms. Our true gifts shine when we choose to freely be ourselves.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

An accidental side-hustle that became my full-time business, stemmed from early season garden failures and a bit of curiosity. Always a nature lover, my gardening remained basic as I traveled for work. But, when I randomly saved seeds from my nursery-bought dahlias, gardening escalated to an obsession. I began learning more every day through Instagram, webinars, the local horticultural society, trial and error, studying organic and ecological methods, entomology, and sustainable landscape design. My gardens and variety of plants expanded exponentially.

The year I was looking to boost my flower game in order to sell bouquets, slimy slugs decimated my seedlings. Through anger and a friend’s nudge, I researched local wholesalers and found two that provided locally and sustainably grown blooms! This opened a bigger door than I could have had with my little urban plot. I hired my cousin to help me develop my brand kit. In July, I started selling bouquets out of a little yard stand. I bought an old kegerator to use as a cheap cooler. Then I began hosting flower bars where attendees could make their own bouquets. After testing with a few friend groups, I expanded to ticketed ‘night out events’ and even a kids workshop. Through the events, I ended up meeting garden consulting clients. By late fall, I made a large deposit to have my own booth at the Minneapolis Home & Garden show the next Spring. That commitment coincided with leaving my corporate job and working full time on launching Sassy Daffodil.

As the gardening season ramps up, I am scooting around the Twin Cities metro conducting onsite garden consults, drafting designs and planning installs. Local flowers will be available just in time for the flower bar events I have booked in May.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

My current connection points include my monthly newsletter “The Sassy Daffodil Buzz” and my social accounts @sassydaffodil, mainly Instagram because its garden community is so genuine. Authenticity is important to me. My newsletter is not generated by AI; my social content is not overly curated. I share my truth, good or bad, in order for people to know we all have struggles among the wins. Joy & confidence remain front & center in what I do as much as possible. People who tune in will find a mix of humor as well as continuous learning. To additionally support my joy & confidence intent, I offer garden coaching membership. Clients shouldn’t feel like they are left with 150 plant babies and no idea what to do. Helping people grow, caring about their specific needs and interests cultivates deeper relationships that I hope to enjoy for a long time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sassydaffodil.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sassydaffodil
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560194377683
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sassydaffodil/

Image Credits

Sarah Lenz, Alyson Phillips