We were lucky to catch up with Chani Friedman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Chani thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?

One of the most unexpected problems I’ve faced yet was something I believe many of us were challenged with in so many ways- the onset of Covid 19. I had just moved from LA to Vegas, with high hopes of building up my business in my new hometown. Moving was a huge gamble as it was, since I had left behind a significant client base back in LA. I felt like all my hopes and opportunities disappeared with the blink of an eye. All of the grand plans I came up with, had to be put to rest. In hindsight, this ended up being such a wonderful gift- the gift of time & space, which allowed me to restructure how I wanted things to be in my business.

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.

I am a mom of 4, and wife to a wonderfully dedicated husband, who supports me in all my creative endeavors. Growing up, I’ve always leaned towards creativity and my parents have always tuned into that. Before I started my business, I was an elementary school teacher for 10 years. In 2015, when my youngest at the time was a year old, I stopped teaching to be more present at home with him and my 2 older school age children. Within a few months, my creative itch to do something turned into a small Paint Party business. It allowed me the time to be home with my son, while also having the ability to teach, be creative and earn a living. It’s been a really fun adventure and I’m so proud of what my business has become. I’ve straddled the work/life balance and continuously try my best to always remain centered with it. My hope is that my kids see and feel this dual possibility of me having the autonomy that comes with running my own business, while also being there for them. In recent years, I starting working in the event planning & floral space, and this journey is just beginning. I’m excited to see where it will take me.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I first started out I felt this sense of desperation to gain clients and book events. I would waffle with my pricing to only consider the clients’ needs. As a result, I wound up feeling worth less than what I felt I deserved. It took me time and a huge amount of guts to be ok with potential clients declining my service when I’d stand firmly on pricing. What this did for me was let the world know my worth, and ended up bringing me clients that were willing to pay and not try to haggle me down.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love seeing and hearing how thrilled my clients are with their involvement in creativity. When I run a paint party where people are gathered together to be creative, perfection doesn’t matter. It’s nice to see people break away from the day to day humdrum of life, to do something they otherwise wouldn’t. My hope is that I open up more creative opportunities for others.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
@chelseadufresne