Nadia Pearson

My determination to make a better life for my kids and I. I graduated high school 7 months pregnant in June 2006, had my son in August, and his father was killed when he was just weeks old. I moved into my first apartment in April 2007 when I was only 18 years old. It was really no choice - there was no Social Security or anything of that nature, so it was just me. I had to figure it out my whole life. Then in 2021, I lost my daughter's father to a car accident. These experiences made me who I am - I'm a little bit on the rougher side, but I've had to figure it out my whole life. That determination to keep going no matter what, to make a better life for my kids, that's what drives my success.

The best career advice I've received is to keep going, no matter what. You hit a roadblock, find a way. Keep going. It's never too late to accomplish your goals. That advice might be simple, but it's super effective. When you're stressed out, when things get hard, you just have to find a way and keep pushing forward.

If you're not gonna love it, don't do it. Have fun while doing it. Get creative. Be different. Be you. This industry is about passion and authenticity. You have to genuinely love what you're doing, because if you don't love it, it won't work. Let your creativity shine through and don't try to be like everyone else. Bring your own unique perspective and personality to your work.

The biggest challenge in my field right now is financial. It's so hard spending your own money to make money, which I know you have to do, but when you're in crafting and a DIY business, a printer could be $700 and you'll get a $400 order. But from that $400, you really didn't profit $400 because you did have to buy supplies, you had to outsource a few things, and then pay your bills. So if you're not working, your business money is very tight. You need equipment like a printer because you know it'll take your business to the next level, but you can't afford it right now. On the opportunity side, there's definitely growth, new clientele, new friends, and new business partners. The field offers so much room to expand and connect with others.

The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are honesty, being dependable, being helpful, thoughtfulness, caring, sharing, and loving. I believe we should help each other instead of trying to compete or bring down the next person. If everyone operated on these values, the world would be a lot better place. These values guide everything I do, from how I run my business to how I give back to my community.