Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carrie ONeal Brenner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Carrie, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
In my career as a designer, if there’s one trait that has consistently fueled my creativity and resilience, it’s optimism. Not just the occasional hopefulness we all experience, but an unwavering, perpetual optimism. I’ve always described myself as a perpetual optimist, and it’s become the cornerstone of my approach to design – and to life! Don’t get me wrong, “perpetual optimism” doesn’t mean ignoring the realities of life. It’s about choosing to see the world through a lens of hope and positivity. It’s a constant choice.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m Carrie! I describe myself as a wife, mama, cat lover, graphic designer, illustrator and surface pattern designer living in a 100-year-old home in Cincinnati, Ohio. I’m also blessed to own a stationery and gift shop in Hamilton, Ohio called Scripted Studio. It’s a crazy, beautiful mix that constantly keeps me on my toes. One day I’m designing holiday cards for THE MET in New York City and the next day I’m sourcing fun products to sell at Scripted. As a “creative” I definitely thrive on the variety!
I opened Scripted 5 years ago, just before the pandemic…but it’s continued to grow and surprise me! Over the next year it will continue to expand and will be called “Scripted + Polished”! The front half of the shop will remain the same funky space to find unique stationery and gifts, and the back will become a wholistic nail salon. I like to refer to the combination as “the spot for whimsy and wellness”.
The BEST part of this new expansion is that I’ll be partnering with my daughter, Abby, who is graduation in the Spring from business school. We plan to open the completed space in the Summer of 2024, but Scripted will remain open during construction.
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?
1. Trust your gut. 2. Trust your gut!
3. Trust your gut!!
The only other thing I would add to that…is don’t be afraid to FAIL! I’ve always told my kids that failure is the fastest way to learn and the quickest path to success!! One of my favorite quotes is, “Starting a company is like jumping off a cliff and assembling a plane on the way down — your willingness to jump is your most valuable asset as an entrepreneur.”
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
I’m blessed to have AMAZING PARENTS!!! They are both educators and fostered my interest in the arts as a child. I think the fact that they saw my strengths at a young age and ENCOURAGED them has made a huge impact in my life. They also instilled the confidence in me that I could accomplish anything!!! And I truly believe that I can!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shopscriptedstudio.com/ and https://onealdesigns.com/
- Instagram: @shopscriptedstudio and @carrieonealdesigns
Image Credits
All photos taken by Terri Calla Photography, www.terricallaphotography.com, @terricallaphotography
