We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stephanie Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stephanie below.
Hi Stephanie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
The core to my company is built around a simple concept; how can I help others feel good? Throughout my life I have observed and experienced so many ways that can happen and have learned that it is different for everyone. Slowing down (although I hardly do) and finding joy in the small things is an almost unreachable task, but I aim to do that for others with every project. This became such an integral part of who I am today and was shaped by my families influence. My mom was central to shaping my life by striving to reach my goals. Her guidance in teaching me empathy, hard work, teamwork and independence has not only helped me in my personal life but has also laid the foundation for success in my career and even more so as I started my own business.
These values instilled in me continue to be a part of my everyday and have had a profound impact. She taught me empathy and to be kind to everyone. From a young age, I learned the importance of treating others with respect and always seeking to understand their perspectives. She showed me how often times others may be struggling with something we may not know about. I mean, that was happening in our own lives. So to be able to keep an open mind and not make assumptions about what someone may be going through was something she did right!
The importance of ethics, knowing the difference between right and wrong, and always being truthful seem basic but were all vital in understanding the world around me. She emphasized that integrity is non-negotiable, whether it was in school, work, or relationships. I often seek advise from her, even in this interview- I hold her opinion high, it is gold. Why? Because I trust that her answer will never be exactly what I want to hear, but will help me find my way. “What should I do, what should I say”? I ask these words all the time. We talk through it, always “sleep on it” and I circle back with the answer I knew all along…just be truthful and do what is right.
She also instilled in me the value of giving everything a chance even if it wasn’t the popular choice among my peers. This lesson of taking a risk is probably the one that holds the most importance to me as it is what has allowed me to feel confident enough to be independent and able to be my own person. She says “just give it a try”. Growing up I played soccer at a young age, like many others. I then hit a growth spurt as I was going into high school. She encouraged me to tryout for volleyball since I was tall and I resisted. I didn’t have friends that played, I had no idea how to play and I was nervous to try something out of my comfort zone. But I took her advice and I showed up. Not long later, I was going to State with honors and getting recruited in my club league. I loved it more than anything. I would have never known, had she not pushed me to try; to show up. I found a new self awareness that I could also rely on myself to push through challenges. Her emphasis on hard work and being a team player shaped my approach to life and I learned that perseverance was crucial in reaching my goals. She taught me that success is not just about individual accomplishments but also about lifting others up and working collaboratively to achieve shared goals. However, all the while knowing in the back of my mind that if circumstance arose where I had no help or support that I was independent enough to stand on my own two feet. If those times came, I knew I could do ANYTHING, and did not have to rely on others to achieve everything I wanted. So why not just try? Well. I did, and here I am…running a business on my own, but with the circle around me that has become my cheerleaders to all that I do. Independently standing but with the supporting pillars around me that hold me up.
Stephanie, 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 put the puzzle pieces together, but in a creative way! I can morph into endless roles with every kind of scenario you can think of. A hospitality specialist…I create spaces, feelings, memories. The satisfaction to see things come to life and watch others experience and enjoy those things is unmatched.
The craft is layered. It usually starts with a creative idea I want to see through. I pitch myself, my ideas and build them into projects and experiences. And my service beyond that is to execute all that came to be up until that point. I take my Type A, organized personality and build a foundation that makes the entire experience smooth and enjoyable for others. It is a spiderweb of services that all come back to the starting point. Creating a feeling.
Paige Lane helps others find joy in discovering who they are, what they love and HOW to experience it all, leaving a lasting memory. It came to be as I decided to combine my skills and passions and build a concept from those. Everything I learned and love in the hospitality industry is what form Paige Lane. Creative skills I gained from starting my career in the hospitality capital of the world, Las Vegas, I have had my hands in everything: design, food and beverage, customer service, floral creations, event planning and organizing. I offer all of these services as part of Paige Lane. I can design a floral arrangement for a passed love one with their favorite flowers or teach the skill to a small group at a workshop. I can consult in styling your spaces to make it feel like a home. I can guide you as you plan the most special days of your lives and help you celebrate them worry free. Every offering circles back to my main goal of helping others “feel” something. Life it too fast and precious to go through it numb. Creating experiences and bringing out emotion is what make Paige Lane so special. What makes it different? I am not a florist, I am not an interior designer, I am not an event planner. I am a “creator”…I create moments. I add all the ingredients to make the best recipe!
I want people to know that I pour every part of me into a project. Custom is an understatement. There is nothing cookie cutter or boring. Everything I do has a personal touch. I must know the favorite flowers or colors for a piece. I won’t send out a giftbox without learning everything about the recipient to make sure it special. I won’t design an event without thoughtful care into creating the best guest experience that is unique to that client. I want to know what makes you feel comfortable or at home. What makes you laugh? What makes you smile? What does it take for you to say “remember when or remember that”. It takes a lot of time and thought, that most companies skip over. That is what makes everything I put out so special.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
As my journey is a creative business, yes, I tend to have a stronger skillset with the creative side of the brain than the logical side. I jumped into this headfirst, because I had to and I wanted to. I did not go to business school and math is not my strong suit. As I am still new, I am learning vigorously everyday. I am making mistakes and learning a lot of lessons. But I wouldn’t change any of that. I think the challenges are what make people and businesses thrive. What I would change? Knowing what resources were available to me as a new business especially not knowing the side of operating a business. I often find myself saying, “oh I wish I knew about that a year ago”. But I was never in a space for that opportunity so I try to give myself grace. What I have learned is that there are always communities that you can reach out to for help or guidance. Which bank to use and what type of account. How to learn the legalities of owning a business on local, state and federal levels. There is SO much information to know but you are too busy trying to produce every day especially at the beginning that it is hard to find the time to make the other part a priority. If I would go back, I would reach out to a mentor more that offered help. I do not like asking for help, I feel that I am a burden and want to be able to do it on my own. But, that is a crucial resource to help the logistical side of the business all while offering a shoulder to lean on. Taking time to go to offerings from SBA would have really helped me launch a bit less clumsily, so looking back those would be things I would stop and slow down for.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Being a creative FOR others can have its challenges. We are expected to always be “on”, to have the light bulb moment the exact second we are talking with someone. Creativity is ever changing, it has variables and is never constant. And sometimes, everything is blank. It happens. Writers block, slump…whatever you want to call it. Creatives are human too, and we cannot always have the “it” factor at the snap of a finger. It usually comes to us quickly, but in a different moment than during the consult. Often, something inspires the idea. Something I have experienced or felt. I might see it in my head out on a walk, visiting a gallery or it often pops up in the middle of the night with “I’ve got it”. That is when I cannot wait to get my ideas into a deck and presented.
I think it would be enlightening for clients/followers/supporters to embrace knowing that. I encourage non-creatives to be patient. Know that it IS coming, we promise. And when it does come, it comes with a bang. We want to deliver big impact, big results. I personally can get my ideas going pretty quick. Where I struggle, is how I can I make it better next time. I have many returning clients and I want every event or experience they have with me to me innovative, impressive, memorable and “even better than last time”. We will make magic!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.paigeln.com
- Instagram: agram.com/paigelanedesigns/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-smith-ab637222?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3B0ZZi8fNpTLS3l6fx7vDnjA%3D%3D
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/paige-lane-designs-lakewood
Image Credits
www.labellaphotodenver.com