“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great” ~ Zig Ziglar
Imagine waking up every day and doing something you absolutely love at work! Waking up in the morning, making a cup of coffee to sit and drink on your balcony, and working full time from your laptop. It almost seems unbelievably unreal, but it’s actually possible.
In the last couple of months, my sister and I have joined together and launched our very first (but definitely not our last) business. Our business is called Blank2Life Creations which is what we like to call a creative empire (even though it’s only the two of us right now). Think of “The Beautiful Mess”, we are literally on a journey to becoming like them but in our own special way!
Here is a little blurb of what our business is all about! Blank2Life Creations (B2L) is an online business that creates beautifully handcrafted custom creations. B2L has 2 departments: crafting & baking. On the crafting side, we sell handcrafted wreaths, canvases, greeting cards & more. On the baking side, we sell custom cakes, cupcakes, and a whole bunch of other hand baked goods! (Check out our etsy shop here) My sister and I collaborate on every single project to create amazing handcrafted goods. We literally bring Blank2Life, we start with a blank canvas/cake/etc., create something beautiful, and put it into the homes, events, and hands of all our customers!
My sister and I are both students who are juggling school, home, and social lives. So you are probably wondering… Why would these two sisters start a business?
Without further ado, here are 3 reasons why we started our business and why I think you should consider starting one too!
- We get to work on something we are truly passionate about!
-
Why not do something you love to do?! My sister and I are truly passionate about home decor, crafting, baking, DIY, and essentially anything creative. We own many tools such as cricut makers and specialty baking tools. We are self-taught crafters and spend more time than the average person perfecting and improving our craft. This ultimately makes us very happy people and we believe that when you are working on something you are passionate about, whether that be full time or part time, then endless opportunities and doors will naturally open up for you to explore.
- Create our own economy and inspire others to do the same
-
Starting a business enables us to create our own economy. My sister and I see our business as a lifestyle, we want our company to grow and expand to the ends of the earth! Simply put: WE WANT TO BE OUR OWN BOSSES! Essentially, no job could make us more in step with our purpose. In addition, our business puts us one step closer to helping others. Not only through purchasing our products, but also in the hope that they create their own. Our mantra is do what you love! We have a vision to inspire and create opportunities for women of colour to embrace their creativity, whether that’s in the kitchen or a craft studio. As young black girls, we don’t see many people that look like us in home decor tv shows and crafting magazines. So with our business, we want to create that space for others!
- Jump into the unknown, and enjoy the journey
-
Having the idea to start a business is one thing, but actually starting the business is a whole other thing. In life, many of us are in the same cycle of doing the same things mindlessly. People know how to be good students and good employees; there is essentially a blueprint for it! However, for starting/running a business, there is no blueprint! Starting a business is a great opportunity to jump into the unknown and try something new. B2L is still relatively new but we have already learned so much, and are excited for the journey ahead!
So if you’re a university student looking for something to do, start a business! You just have to start and you’ll be surprised by all the amazing people you’ll meet, all the people you’ll help, and all the new things you’ll learn.
Thanks for reading and don’t forget to check out @blank2lifecreations on Etsy & Insta!