We were lucky to catch up with Sharhonda Henry recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sharhonda, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Creativity is one of those “use it or lose it” things. I feel that the more you tap into your imagination and creativity, the more you are able to find beauty and inspiration in everyday things. Creativity definitely makes me more intuitive. I’ll see different colors, textures and patterns and think, “I bet these would look great paired together!” It also helps to have an eye for details. The attention to detail helps me expand the vision and bring art to life.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I have a passion for creating front door decor. I have been making wreaths for over ten years. It all started when I was in a store and saw a wreath that I wanted. I loved the colors but the price was too high for that design. So, I decided that I’d try to make a wreath myself. And the rest is history!! Over the years, I’ve added more crafts to my list of talents. I learned how to sew by watching videos. And I also do floral designs and t-shirts. I love the creativity this brings me. When the holiday season comes around, I love decorating Christmas trees. I have six, and counting!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three tips I’ll share are do your research, be dependable and trustworthy, and don’t lowball your work.
The first piece of advice is not to be intimidated by others who are already doing it. Give yourself some grace and have confidence in your work. Trust your individuality.
Be patient with yourself. You’re going to mess up and sometimes even fail. That’s okay. It’s all a part of the growth process.
Also, ignore the naysayers. Someone will always have a critique or opinion. Everyone won’t like your work, and that’s okay. Everything isn’t for everybody. Your market will find you!
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
This is a great question. I think one should go all in on their strengths and invest in improving them. Think of certain restaurants who only sell sandwiches or chicken. That’s their niche and they’ve mastered it. It’s what they’re known for. Now they may branch out into other foods, but their core business remains the same. Maximize your strength until you are the best of the best and then look to expand. Another view on this is in terms of the business side. If you’re not strong in accounting or marketing, hire someone who is. That is a great way to accelerate the success of your business. You have time to focus on your strengths, talents and creativity, while someone else handles the rest.
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