Running a small business is hard work, y’all. Beautiful, meaningful, sometimes exhausting work.
I left my job so I could build my business and spend more time with my grandbabies. And let me tell you, I work harder now than I ever did on the assembly line! But I don’t regret that decision.
Do I wish things were growing a little faster? Absolutely. I’m human, and some days my patience needs a little extra prayer.
But this business has never been a “get rich quick” dream. It’s about building something that can support me when the day comes that my husband and my mother are no longer here. That’s a hard thing to put into words, but it’s part of my truth. I’m working toward a future where I can stand on my own two feet.
And yet, it’s about so much more than survival.
It’s about serving my community. Creating and curating one-of-a-kind designs. Taking this busy, creative heart God gave me and using it to bring a little happiness to somebody else.
Whether I’m making a lop-eared bunny, a keepsake bear, a Memory Bear, or a memory quilt, there is joy in knowing that something made with my hands might bring comfort, hold a precious memory, or simply make someone smile. That part means more to me than I can explain.
A little honesty about AI
With AI showing up just about everywhere these days, I want to be honest about where it fits into my business, too.
Yes, I use it. And yes, I have mixed feelings about it sometimes.
For a small-business owner trying to wear every hat in the closet, it can be a helpful tool. It helps me put together fliers, posters, and signage for vendor events. It helps me find the words for my product listings, sometimes with a few puns that are right up my alley. Things that might take me hours on my own can come together much faster, leaving me more time to actually create.
But I have a firm boundary: when we’re showing my products, I insist on using the pictures I take of my actual work. If an AI helper strays from those photos and makes something that doesn’t honestly represent what I create, I won’t use it.
Because behind this business is a real person, with a real heart, putting real time and love into her work. I want you to recognize the product you fell in love with when you open your order.
The tools can help with the business side. The hands doing the making, and the heart behind it all, are still mine.
Building trust, one order at a time
Being accredited by the Better Business Bureau is something I’m proud of. But a badge doesn’t replace the everyday work of earning your trust. That happens through honesty, care, and doing my best for the people who choose to shop with me.
Like any good relationship, that trust takes time. So does building a business from scratch.
Some days, I get worn out. The long hours in front of a computer can feel daunting, especially when I’d rather be making something with my hands. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get where I’m trying to go.
Then I look at what I’ve already learned, what I’ve already made, and the little steps that have brought me this far. It is happening. Slowly, yes, but those steps still count.
What I want you to know is simple: my heart and soul go into this business, every order, and every product I make. Your trust matters to me, and I don’t take it lightly.
If you’re building a dream, too
If you’re out there trying to build something of your own, here’s a little encouragement from Nana HQ: keep going.
It’s okay to feel discouraged. It’s okay to be frustrated when progress is slower than you hoped. Just try not to unpack and live in that discouragement.
When you can, get up and do one thing that moves your dream forward. It doesn’t have to be a giant leap. Some days, one small step is plenty. And on the days you need to rest, resting doesn’t mean you’ve quit.
You’ll have good days and hard days. A hard day is not the whole story of your business, and it certainly isn’t the whole story of you.
I like to look at the word “impossible” and see “I’m possible.” A little corny? Maybe. But sometimes a little encouragement is exactly what we need.
So put one foot in front of the other. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and, as I like to say, just keep swimming!
I never imagined I’d be looking at business posters filled with my own handiwork and thinking, “I made those things. I’m really doing this.” But here I am, still learning, still creating, and still building.
Thank you for being here, for cheering me on, and for supporting the real person behind Creative Things By Gen LLC. Every order, kind word, and bit of encouragement means something to this Nana.
From my heart at Nana HQ to yours, keep going. Your dream deserves a chance to grow, too. 💕
