Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cindy Hernandez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Cindy, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Honestly working with my plants. I had a long battle with cancer and depression and the only thing that would keep me grounded was gardening. I learned how to grow my own succulents and cactus and from there started learning about how to propagate houseplants and develop my own soils. Through this process I began to feel different especially when others would ask for advice on how to take care of their plants. I found myself answering DM’s all day long about plant care and through that process my confidence grew to share my journey on Instagram. The journey of self-discovery was not easy but with each step I was able to grow my confidence and self-esteem. What gave me solace was now my joy and a joy I wanted to share with others. When I started realizing that I was likable for who I am and those interested naturally gravitated to me I was able to feel like I was on solid ground and ready to take on anything in my path.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
What I love about my brand is that I get to create in community. We host monthly workshops at different locations where others get to create their own artwork on their pot. We also have our most popular workshop Plants 101, an educational experience where we go over everything on basic plant care and make it fun. We start with a fun ice break, wine and charcuterie to create a fun day and each participant takes home a beautiful plant and gardening kit. I’m also a mobile plant shop and that being said I have been able to meet people from San Diego, Orange County, San Bernardino County and Los Angele County. I get to talk about plants and plant care all day long which brings me great joy. I like hearing all the stories from the beautiful house jungles to the “black thumb” unsuccessful stories. It’s fun to escape into the world of plant and be able to develop a new way to develop relaxation and coping skills.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I would have to say that the most impactful quality I learned is that a strong mental fortitude is needed to succeed at running a successful business. There are times when you walk away with less than expected which is when you really need to push yourself to the next event/project. What makes up for those times is when you do better than expected and it makes what you do worth the struggle. Defiantly take business workshops/classes if you don’t have a background in business administration there’s a lot more involved than just a fun time at a pop up. Lastly, stay true to yourself and listen to your body, having a mobile business can be grueling if you do it alone so take breaks when needed. For those early in the journey, I would say there will be people who will give you lots of advice on how to run your business or ask you to make changes to be more “inclusive” however you don’t want to take away from you vision/brand so stick to the plan and make improvements where it makes sense.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I love to collab! Currently I’m looking for creative people who enjoy being around other people. Artists, photographers, sales people, marketing people, event planners are the particular types I’m looking for. The longer I run my business, the more I realize that I can do it alone and I am looking to expand my brand by collaborating with others who share my vision.
Contact Info:
- Website: craftingwithcin.com
- Instagram: craftingw.cindy
- Facebook: crafting with cindy
Image Credits
Lavid photography, Wendy Mae Photography, Cindy Hernandez,
