I have never understood the desire to denigrate the side-hustle. Let’s get real about how easy it is prioritize our holiday spending with small- business women. mmkaay?
Supporting small-business women is easy
I was just thinking about how easy it is to support the small-business women in your life by deliberately choosing to shop their products first.
I’m definitely in the running for least fashionable person alive, but my girlfriends make shopping (ugh) substantially easier, and WAY more fun, when I can do it in their homes…with snacks.
SNACKS, people. This ain’t a game!
I realized in the zone-out portion of the service (just kidding…maybe) that just to get ready for church this morning, I supported SIX, women-owned small businesses.
I melted my favorite Disney-themed Scentsy wax to mask the wet dog smell in my house (just being real.) I washed my face with Mary Kay and swiped on a bit of Younique mascara to brighten my have-cold-couldn’t-sleep eyes. I tossed on some dangly earrings from Plunder to feel fancy and tied on a scarf from Thirty-One. My (favorite) sweater is from one Luluaroe retailer. I threw it on over my shirt from another. I felt just fancy enough to almost forget the very stylish orthopedic book on my right foot.
these are your girls!
I think spending time in community with other women is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves. Now really, exactly how easy has it been lately for you to schedule it? I’d be willing to bet it takes about an act of congress to carve out an hour from your week when you and two or three friends are all free at the same time. Am I right?
With our careers, sports practices, full-on kid taxi obligations, school projects, the drag of our people needing to actually eat multiple times per day, and a million bazillion tedious tasks on our to-do lists between sleeps, it’s almost impossible to find some time to unwind with our friends.
I’m feeling this is a powerful way right now. A couple of women and I meet up for a pre-dawn run once per week. It’s a beautiful time to pour out our hearts and move our feet. It feels like we literally leave behind whatever is bothering us out there and start our days built-up. Powerful. Renewed. Well, my broken foot takes me right out of our morning run, but doesn’t eliminate my desire for that time! Trying to schedule it, though. That’s rough.
So why don’t we consider it good that we can combine career and friendship through the shopping events that our small-business women friends host?
If you know very little about me, you might still know that I cannot stand shopping. At all. I find z-e-r-o joy in the hunt for the perfect pillow for the house or bargain for the kitchen gadget. If it’s not online, I’m probably not buying.
I’m a leggings and sweatshirt kinda gal. A sneakers and joggers type momma. A barefeet-and-jammys-as-soon-as-I-walk-in-the-door style lady. I work from home. I’m not fancy. You get it.
Alas, sometimes I need to leave the house in clothes that don’t embarrass my tween too much.
Before I discovered that my passionate friends have found a way to help people like me and provide for their families at the same time, I was lost! So many wonderful things came into my life just from hanging out with some incredible women and deciding to support their families before heading to a crowded, dirty department store for whatever I need.
Guaranteed clean bathrooms, FOR THE WIN! Target can’t promise that.
Now, I recognize that there is a place for an entire discussion about some exploitative structures of many multi-level marketing companies. I’m just convinced that the time for it isn’t when your friends are in the thick of it. Right now, she wants to sell you a shirt that makes you feel pretty and pay for the next month of soccer for her kiddos.
Are you a lecturer or a friend? Might you like the product? Is it in your budget?
Then what are you even doing? Go to the party! Test it out. Support your friends. Find your next favorite things.
What about my online small-business women friends?
If the gals in your life are serving you with their words through a blog or podcast, inspirational images through Instagram, keeping you updated on politics on Twitter, or are selling unique, custom products through their website, you can still support them!
It helps them so much if you just engage with their channels, which you might be doing organically. If they provide value in your life, don’t be embarrassed! Tell them!
i see you hustling.
If you are running your own small business right now, go on!
This holiday season is your time. If you have an idea that might get your product in front of more people, don’t be shy. Post it! Host it!
Don’t let anyone make you feel like your biz isn’t as valuable as the chaotic electronics store where you see people lining up in the cold for their next big thing.
YOU are valuable. Your work has meaning. Don’t shy away from it. Do your thing and celebrate as your push through.
Danielle Gould says
Thank you for this! I needed this today!
Sally Bulavko says
I am so happy it spoke to you! Keep up the hustle. You never know who is watching.
ปั๊มไลค์ says
Like!! Really appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really thank you! Keep writing.