We recently connected with Sara Bryki, CCH and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sara , thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us about an important lesson you learned while working at a prior job?

I am a creative by nature and my business was built initially on jewelry design (it has evolved greatly over the years!). Creative people tend to have a ton of drive, passion and skill when it comes to creating their specialized product, service, space, etc. However, the business side of being self-employed or owning a company can be extremely challenging. I have seen many creatives struggle when it comes to the actual running of a business not because they aren’t capable (entrepreneurs are some of the most capable people I know) but because they just haven’t had the opportunity to learn.

Many don’t know this, but I had a 20 year healthcare administration career prior to going all-in with Sara Bryki Co. and Bryki Gallery and I rely heavily on the experience I gained during those years. Some of the most important and helpful skills I learned were how to create data models, analyze financials and manage multiple revenue departments. I am fortunate to not only have the creative drive, but also the business background to ensure my company can be sustainable.

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

Absolutely!

I have been a rock hound since I was a child. Growing up in Minnesota meant I was always head-down looking for agates on the shores of lakes, rivers and along gravel roads. Jewelry was also a passion of mine and I at one point wanted to study to be a gemologist. While that didn’t work out, I did still find my way to working with beautiful treasures from the earth!

In 2008 I had what I call my ‘Crystal Awakening’ and realized I could feel the energy of stones and crystals. Once that happened, I recognized why I had been so drawn to them my whole life. They provided me a stability, a sense of peace and energetic support when I needed it.

I have been working with crystals ever since and my goal is to not only offer high-quality pieces for personal practice and decor, but also to educate others on their benefits. They are such wonderful tools for building more connection, for creating what you want to experience and facilitation growth.

Our bodies, our beings, inherently know the healthy frequencies for emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing, but we are so bombarded by outside noise that we sometimes forget. Crystals are a wonderful way to help us get back in tune to facilitate energetic health!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I have had to unlearn (and honestly, I still struggle with it from time to time) is that everything has to be hard. Work hard, overcome challenges, push through, keep busy, do do do, hold on tight and so on, are all ways we have been told that anything worth having has to come at some big expense which is usually our own energy reserves.

I am finding that it is much more difficult for me to allow for flow, to allow ease, to allow and accept help than it is to face that which is difficult. THAT is where a huge lesson lays in wait for me.

That’s not to say that there aren’t times when hard work is necessary, but that sometimes the hard work looks differently than what I am familiar with. Instead of working hard all day at the warehouse, which will benefit just that day, I need to work hard at my personal growth so I can better steer my company, which will benefit my community and my team as well as myself for years to come.

I am also finding the value in allowing for things to be easy. I am working on fully releasing the idea of ‘no pain, no gain’. I believe firmly that what is meant to be will flow easily. We just have to be willing to see it and welcome it with open arms!

Have you ever had to pivot?

I mentioned earlier I had a 20 yr healthcare administration career. The day that ended was a day I had a decision to make. To continue on with what was familiar, or to do the scary big thing that felt RIGHT.

My father passed in November of 2016 (this was after my brother, grandmother and grandfather had passed within the previous 4 years) and I was fortunate and honored to be by his side during the last week he was on this earth. I held his hand as he took his last breath. In the weeks that followed, I came to the realization that life was just too damn short to spend it in a soul-sucking career and I began to plan my exit strategy.

What would I need in place to leave a six-figure salary with health insurance, retirement and paid vacation? What did I have to do to feel comfortable with leaving that ‘stability’ behind. Now, I say stability even though my physical and mental health were suffering from my work situation. The stability was really what I was calling what was familiar.

Apparently, I was taking too long to get comfortable with the decision and the universe forced me to make it. I was let go from my job in February of 2017. I remember the day. It was February 13th. I got in my car and I had this huge dichotomy of emotions. Fear, sadness, a sense of loss. But also excitement, elation and a sense of relief. I heard the inner voice saying “YES!!!! NOW is the time to go for it!!” And that is exactly what I did.

I went all in with my business.

And then I was tested.

I received a call from a head-hunter. He had a job for me that with my experience, was pretty much mine for the taking. It paid $60k/yr more than I was making in my last job and would have looked spectacular on my resume. And yet when I sat in the energy of taking the position, I literally was sick to my stomach. It felt heavy and I wanted nothing to do with it.

So I stuck with it. And evolved and pivoted over the last 6 years until my company looks as it does today. The online store, the workshops, the courses, the speaking events, the Bryki Gallery. All have come out of that evolution and those pivots and I am excited to see what the next 6 years brings!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sarabryki.com, https://www.brykigallery.com
• Instagram: @SaraBrykiCo
• Facebook: @SaraBrykiCo