We were lucky to catch up with Toni Hardy recently and have shared our conversation below.
Toni, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
Being an entrepreneur/business owner I often experience a range of emotions from exhilarating on most days to serious anxiety on others. I’ll explain that response a little more in depth because most paint this glamorous picture of entrepreneurship, but if I can be completely honest and transparent this journey is not for the faint of heart. There are days where I do feel discouraged and truly want to quit, but then I remember my “why.” It takes a great deal of discipline and courage to keep pushing despite seeing no results or not having the results you expected. However, with that being said, I can’t imagine giving up on myself and my dreams for a comfortable life working for someone else.
Towards the beginning of June i sort of had an emotional breakdown. I felt defeated for that split second and actually did wonder would life be simpler if I didn’t have goals for myself. I was feeling quite frustrated and overwhelmed because I didn’t feel like I was accomplishing much in regards of my goals.
Sometimes we tend to be much harder on ourselves. I’m learning to show myself grace because most of the goals that I’m pursuing I don’t have a blueprint for. I am the first in my family to do a lot of things. I’ve come to the realization that this journey of life will not be without roadblocks and obstacles. I’ve realized when you’re in pursuit of greatness there is going to be some resistance along the way, but if you don’t quit, that resistance will only build strength and courage, and resilience.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I like to think of myself as a well rounded individual, and not just limited to one particular title or industry. I am an author, poet, inspirational speaker, entrepreneur, global Humanitarian, world traveler. Ever since I can remember I would envision myself someday doing what brings me happiness all while contributing to the world. At that young age I didn’t know exactly what that would look like or entail. As I got older I noticed that I had a passion and gift for creative writing. I started writing poetry and short stories never giving much thought to becoming a writer/author someday. Now I offer a wide range of services including but not limited to script writing, song writing, editing, etc.
I’ve always been intrigued with the thought of entrepreneurship and I really believe it was the freedom that captivated me. For instance, being free to express myself creatively and knowing that the gifts/talents that were instilled could not only provide financial stability but contribute to the greater good of society.
As an entrepreneur/business owner I own a clothing brand called Caged Bird Arise, which is also the name of my book! The primary purpose behind the brand is to inspire the world to challenge the limitations and belief paradigms that inherently prevents one from fulfilling their purpose. Within the umbrella of that brand I do speaking engagements where I encourage others to arise and be who they were created to be.
Outside of that I am also a day-trader and I offer a range of services to help my clients. I’ve been day-trading for about 6 years now. My desire is to be able to teach this incredible skill set to anyone willing to learn.
As an entrepreneur I am most proud of my ability to be resilient and keep going despite the obstacles that arise along the journey.
How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.
As a clothing brand owner I utilize the convenience of online shopping as well as in person sales. I have a Shopify store and I utilize social media advertisement in order to generate sales. I also enjoy in person events such as pop up shops which gives me the opportunity to truly connect with my customers. From experience online platforms have an advantage because it allows for sales to be generated at all times! It can be seen as a passive stream of income once you initially organize your advertising campaign.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Ay this current moment my side hustle has not become my main source of income. Nonetheless, I am in pursuit to make that a reality for myself. Each day that I wake up I am determined to push myself a little more so that I’ll eventually be in position to do the things that I am truly passionate about. I believe anything is possible with the right mindset and work ethic, so it won’t be long before I am able to fully depend on my gifts and business in order to be financially stable.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.cagedbirdarise.com
- Instagram: @cagedbirdarise
- Youtube: @cagedbirdarise