#BossBabeChats: Art by Megan
This week on #BossBabeChats I am so excited to introduce you to Art By Megan. I met Megan back in 2015 while I was working on a styled shoot (check it out here!) and she offered to loan some of her beautiful paintings! From then on, she has been a constant cheerleader and true leader of the Community over Competition movement. I am just so grateful to have this lady in my life and it has been so exciting watching her business grow, tremendously!
Why did you start your business:
I was listening to Gary Vee the other day and he said the difference between a hobby and a passion is that a hobby is a "nice to have" and a passion is "can't live without". This quote pretty much sums up my experience as I tried to just have my painting as a "side hustle" or hobby or whatever else it can be called. I was teaching full-time and had just a had a little girl and all I could think about was painting in any free minute I had. I had to give myself the chance to go full time and take the plunge and I am so thankful that I did.
Is where your business is now, originally where you thought it would be?
I am doing SO Much more than I imagined doing when I first started. I have changed a lot of my early ideas about what this "should be" and I am instead more open to going with the flow and being adaptable as my business grows now. It's a much healthier attitude and it works much better for my clients, too!
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An artist, the first female president of the United States, a teacher and a... EVERYTHING. I used to make my little brother play school with me on weekends and it was INTENSE. Otherwise, I loved so many things that I often (read: still) had a hard time choosing what I loved.
Is there anything you wish you would have done sooner in your business?
STARTED. I struggled with self-doubt and insecurity a lot as a younger person and I regret that I didn't risk more and take more chances to start this business sooner. However, I am really grateful for the time I took the road less traveled and had amazing experiences as a high school Spanish and Art teacher in DC and Baltimore, MD.
What tactic was the most helpful to growing your Instagram following?
Instagram has changed a lot over time but the one thing I would say works the best for me and has always worked is to take online relationships offline as much as possible. Meet people IRL (in real life) and make sure that your online voice is consistent with your online "persona". If you can be genuine and kind as much as possible, that helps SO MUCH, too :)
What is your favorite quote?
"Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle" - Aristotle. I love the idea of always being kind, no matter what.
If you had a $1000 gift card to any store what would it be...
1. Target
2. West Elm
3. J.Crew Factory
4. Artist and Craftsman
*in no certain order :)
What's your favorite emoji?
I researched this for you and I have the following on my "recent emoji" list on my iPhone.
double pink hearts, muscle bicep, taco, sunshine, waving hand, a sheep, a taxi, sunset, thumbs down, 100, and fire emoji. My favorite one is the crying laughing one. I actually cry laugh, so I can really relate to that one.
Is there a business book (or any book!) that you have read that changed your outlook on things?
I am a huge bookworm and I am really inspired by reading, so this question is MY FAVE.
I loved reading the books "Creative Habit" by Twyla Tharp, "Creative Block" by Danielle Krysa, and "Chasing Slow" by Erin Loechner for business advice and overall life success planning and mapping. As far as general great books (fiction) that I have just read, I recommend "All the Light You Cannot See", "The Nightingale", "Sweet Bitter" and "The Vacationers".
Another way I love getting inspiration is through podcasts and my favorites are "Art for your Ear by the Jealous Curator" and "How I Built This".
Also, I have a podcast with my studio mate and we are ridiculous and you should totes listen - its called "Little Awkward Studio".
