Meet Sarah Clifford

 

We were lucky to catch up with Sarah Clifford recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah , 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?

I’m constantly challenging myself. A lot of customers love to give me a theme for their orders, which really helps me brainstorm new ideas and ways to create the perfect board for them. I’m always researching new tips and tricks to use.

I often participate in creative forums and groups on social media with other charcuterie board artist to exchange ideas.

Most importantly, maintaining a healthy work/life balance is crucial for my creativity. I ensure I have time for relaxation and activities I enjoy, which allows me time to unload and return refreshed.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I started this side business of mine on a whim, with no sort of direction. It’s always scary to start something new, especially starting from scratch with no business background.
I’m coming on 4 years of running my small business, and every year I have reached a new milestone, but with every milestone does come a few setbacks and learning curves.
I’m thankful for everyone who has supported me along the way and every single customer I’ve ever have. I love being apart of peoples big days, rather that be a birthday party, baby shower, and weddings. It means so much to me that they chose my business to create a beautiful charcuterie spread for them. I look forward to being apart of many more in the future.

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.) Resilience is a good quality to have. Owning a small business is going to have its set backs and unexpected obstacles. There have been numerous times I considered hanging my hat, because of a minor inconvenience. But staying resilient helps you stay focused and motivated to try and do more.

2.) Time management is a very effective skill when it comes to owning a business. There have been times I waited too long to get something for an order and I’m driving all over town last minute scrambling to find something, stressing myself out. Regularly review your time management strategies to see what is working and what isn’t. Be flexible and adjust your approach.

3.) Know your worth. I cannot stress that enough. Recognize the value you bring. There will always be someone who questions your prices or tries to negotiate something, because they do not appreciate or understand your hard work. Don’t be afraid to be firm and say no, if you must.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

There isn’t a specific person I could list, but there are a couple great people who have helped me along the way. I can honestly say I have a great support system when it comes to CharCUTErie Creations. From close friends lending a helping hand when I needed it, or the other vendors at the Louisville Streatery helping me with handing out my orders when I couldn’t be there. I’m thankful for everyone I’ve met along the way that has given me business advice and through out ideas for any upcoming business ventures.

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