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

Lindsay, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

Best investment….SHINING MY SCHITT! I started Schitt to Shine as a fun furniture flipping side hustle…I’ve always been one to create and diy things…as I kept going I realized how shining your schitt applied to real life too…you can have the schittiest of situations and find a way to shine it up. Through my furniture I was able to feel proud and do something that was just for me. I could soar or fail..and learn a schitt ton along the way…just for me!
My Dad passed away four years ago. He struggled to see his value..from that loss I vowed to never allow feelings of unworthiness be or because a feeling is messy…to not face it….he can’t shine his schitt…but I can do it for the both of us.

Lindsay, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I found a rolltop desk on marketplace during 2020 and thought it could be a fun project to keep me occupied. The kids and my husband had their stuff and I needed something that was an outlet for me! Once I flipped that desk I found an old wood chest that was headed to the trash and I thought..WAIT it just needs a little love! So I saved that….then I found out about Old Crows Antiques in Littleton and thought..hmmm..I wonder if I could flip enough things to have my own booth!? And that’s what I did! The wood chest was my first piece to sell and I just haven’t stopped! Then I found an old beat up dollhouse on next door and thought…well maybe i could expand and try and flip a dollhouse??? Who knew there was this amazing mini world out there! I flipped that house, sold it and have now finished three(almost four) houses and sold three! In the winter when it’s harder to get to my furniture, I go hard on my dollhouses and in the summer when I can have all my furniture out, I flip flip away!

I’m very involved on my Instagram and have connected with so many people! Here’s a fun story…the last dollhouse I flipped I found at a thrift store. It had the name Lucy written by the previous owner on the outside of the house, so I decided to keep it on and name the house ‘Lucy’s Lane.’ A follower reached out and thanked me for sharing the name and said it reminded her of her Dad who had passed,he called her his little Lucy. I got to thinking about needing an address for the house and thought,let’s honor her Dad and I’ll use his birthday as the address. She was touched and it felt so nice to share someone’s person in a special way. The follower was asking questions about the house and messaged saying she would be driving through Colorado from Delaware and would like to buy the house as she was just felt a connection to this house! As an extra surprise I had a miniaturist friend make me tiny dollhouse sized pictures of her dad to put in the dollhouse as an extra little addition for her, such a special unique story that all came to be because of one broken unwanted dollhouse on nextdoor. You never know where your small steps are going to take you..so get to steppin!

How did you build your audience on social media?

I’m mostly on Instagram…I just keep chugging along! When I was younger I use to feel embarrassment for big feelings..I kinda tucked and rolled and smiled like all was well. Now, after having gone to therapy and working through where those feelings stemmed from…I SPEAK LOUDLY.. about digging deep and getting to the root of your schitt so you can release it! If you keep playing the old tapes in your head…you are going to repeat old reactions and behaviors..so try thinking from a different perspective..change it up!

I’m just really raw and honest with what I share….I don’t care if it’s uncomfortable…I don’t care if you cry and let it out…I encourage my people to reach out if they need a friend or just need to release feelings about a schittt situation they have.

I also talk about my Dad alot…the grief…acceptance of that grief and I talk about healing and working on schitt helps me see him healed and happy too.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

We all have schitt. Yea..even you in the back…I see you…..just stand tall….let’s lay the schitt out and shine it together!!

My goal…well as far as Instagram and my people….I wanna just keep talking openly about schitt! Everyone schitts!!! Life is too short to keep that chin so high you can’t level with your fellow humans and just be real…and open…and forgiving…and LISTEN!!

I know it’s a cliche thing to say..but I’d like to write a book…I have never seen myself as a writer but through this schitt shining journey I have found my voice and I just want to share that having schitt…AND owning it…is what all the cool kids are doing!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @schitt.to.shine