We recently connected with Carly Heasley and have shared our conversation below.
Carly, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
“I work for myself.” The phrase I keep practicing over and over again. I just quit my job – a job I loved, a job I was good at, and a job that inspired me. A lot of you are probably wondering, “why?” or thinking to yourself “that makes zero sense.” Trust me, you’re not alone in those thoughts. I’ve asked myself “why?” a million times.
The truth is, I’m not the same person I was when I entered my job at Towson University in the Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life 8 years ago. I’ve grown, evolved, changed. I am now a mother, a wife, titles I didn’t have in 2014 as a new coordinator overseeing a community of 1,500 sorority women. I spent eight years working my butt off to develop, inspire, and educate college men and women about leadership, confidence, health and safety and I did it well.
As I’ve grown, I’ve developed a new outlet to create and inspire through my social media page and my brand “Your Daily Dress Up.” Sure, it’s a lot of really cute clothes, fun events, but that’s not what keeps me going – it’s the message I get from a working mama who said she loves the LOFT pants I recommended and she feels great in them, it’s the person who stops me at the mall and says thank you for sharing your size so transparently on your page, and it’s the challenge to show up as authentically me every day on a platform that reaches people from all over.
I took this leap because I’ve realized my purpose and priorities have shifted. I want to be able to give this business 150% instead of my last 20% at the end of a 40 hour work week.
Am I scared? Yes, 100% but I feel confident that this choice is the right one because of how it aligns with my purpose and what drives me. I may be shaking but I am ready.
Because the only way to fly, is to leap.
Carly, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I started my instagram page in 2015 as a creative outlet to share my “outfits of the day.” I didn’t realize it would turn into so much more, a place where women can come together and place where I would explore building my own confidence through my stages of life. Through my page and my brand, I share outfit inspiration on my midsize body type (size 10 & pear shaped). I would describe my style as feminine and I love to shop on a budget and include a lot of retailers such as Target, Amazon, Loft, J.Crew Factory, Old Navy, etc. in my content. I also have a love for sharing local content and have many followers from the Maryland area. I have particularly established a niche in sharing content for local boutiques such as Mason-Mayes and Apricot Lane Bel-Air and have worked with local businesses and centers such as the Shops at Kenilworth, Greenspring Station, and South of Smith.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
“How are you really?” by Jenna Kutcher came at the perfect time for me in my small business owner journey. I had been thinking about taking the leap to do my side hustle full time and this book came out. After reading it and a lot of self reflection, I knew what I had to do. I can’t recommend this book enough, especially for women entrepreneurs and those who are also parents running a small business.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Authenticity. I show up as myself everyday by staying true to my mission and who I am to the core. I don’t share products I wouldn’t use in my every day life and I stay true to my brand and my niche by sharing things that brought my followers to my page in the first place!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/carly_heasley
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/YourDailyDressUp