We were lucky to catch up with Sam (Shena) Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sam (Shena) , thanks for joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Becoming a business owner was one of the scariest but necessary decisions I’ve made. Choosing to forgo a consistent stream of income to “follow a dream” was a foreign concept. There were absolutely moments of fear, doubt and loneliness, however, allowing myself the space to fail (fast) and learn faster helped me rediscover confidence in this new space.

When I first started this business. I was excited and energized. Then we hit a slow season. I panicked at first, but ultimately became more creative in finding new ways to share my talent and create value for myself.. That looked like teaching and hosting creative workshops then expanded into something greater.

These days, I hardly wonder about returning to a regular job., however, I absolutely give more thought to preparing for my older self, financially, physically and emotionally.

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?

It’s simple- Art was my creative outlet. While I have no formal training, my passion for designing was evident from a young age.

In High school, the Art room was a safe space, my refuge from pesky teenage girls with an affinity to bully non-threatening folks.

Creativity showed me the power of my imagination. I didn’t feel aligned with my peers or parents- I felt like an alien.

I sketched, I painted on canvases then clothes- I deconstructed my Mom’s chandelier and made the extra bits into earrings.

While I enjoyed remixing and remaking things as a hobby, it wasn’t until senior year of college that I considered the idea of selling my wears.

My friend Hope (how poetic) gave me the boost I needed – she literally purchased a pair of earrings from me As I was wearing them.

Talk about a confidence boost. I bought more materials and crunched out more accessories. While I don’t remember my first pop up, I do recall this invigorating feeling. People really enjoyed my work and I became even more inspired.

What started as accessories expanded into something greater- a way of liberating humankind through Fashion and Art.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I find myself reconfiguring my mindset often. As I live and learn, I change. I have given myself the freedom to flow in my growth. One thing I’ve had to unlearn as an entrepreneur is “hustle culture”.

The feeling of living to work is not sustainable. I’ve been taking more time to tune in and soften my work style. I have no desire to work or stress myself into an early grave. I am Not a machine and what I am creating is everlasting and takes time to build. So, I am pacing my process to maintain my peace.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Prior to COVID, peopling (being amidst the crowd) was a great way for me to showcase my products and services. When the world shut down, I began brainstorming new ways to bring folks together while connecting them with my product. I started Live sessions called “Let’s Get Stoned” to give my audience a preview of what was to come and what stones were used in the creation. Through this pivot, my business revenues increased substantially!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.NewVintagebySAM.com
• Instagram: @NewVintagebySam
• Facebook: @SamWasHere
• Linkedin: @Sam Smith
• Twitter: @NewVintagebySam

Image Credits
Kellie Finch Photography