We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Abby Strite. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Abby below.
Abby, thank you so much for making time for us today. We can’t wait to dive into your story and the lessons you’ve learned along the way, but maybe we can start with something foundational to your success. How have you gone about developing your ability to communicate effectively?
I’ve learned that to be an effective communicator, the most important thing is to speak from my true self. The more authentic I can be, the more trust I build, and the more likely a customer or partner or collaborator will be true, authentic, and empathetic in return. I infuse my values into most interactions so that my audience (whether that’s in person or on social media) knows exactly who I am and what I stand for. Those who can relate or want to relate will stick around. I don’t worry about communicating with those who opt out of my style – they aren’t my audience.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I launched Birdhouse Books and Gifts in September 2024 – we’re still just starting out! As a queer, woman, veteran, and avid reader, I always say that I Am Many Things – and I believe that most people are more than one thing, too. I wanted to create a space that is reflective of who I am and provide my community a space to feel a sense of belonging. We want every person who walks in our doors to be able to breathe easier and feel welcome, and to feel seen for all the parts of themselves – even the parts that are usually hidden away in their day to day lives. We have an excellent LGBTQ+ selection, as well as featuring underrepresented voices from Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous authors. We heavily highlight our local Central Texas authors, and even host a Local Authors Monthly Book Club. Most of our gift selection is created by local, queer artists.
We host author events and community parties weekly or more. Upcoming, we have an amazing panel of Austin-based Young Adult authors who will discuss the topic of book bans and censorship with our community. The conversation will be led by area students and we’ll all come away with better understanding of the importance of fighting against book bans, and what actions we can take here in Texas. This event is January 25th at 6 pm, and tickets are available at www.birdhousebooksatx.com.
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?
Most importantly, developing resilience in the face of setbacks and obstacles has been essential in my business journey. I recall very early in my Air Force career, I encountered a setback that felt devastating. The details aren’t important – what I will never forget is what a more senior leader and mentor said to me. He said, “Abby, I’m glad that if this had to happen to someone, it happened to you. Because I know you can handle this better than anyone else.” Until he said that, I wasn’t sure that I actually could handle it! Now whenever I encounter a challenge that feels insurmountable, I remind myself that I’m the best person to handle it and I’m glad it happened to me, instead of someone else.
Next, the quality of authenticity. It’s easy to feel embarrassed or afraid to be your true and full self out in the wider world, with people who haven’t earned the right to know everything about you. But I’ve learned that if I’m open and vocal about who I am, what matters to me, and the challenges I have faced and am currently facing, it gives people permission to be open and true to themselves, too. If everyone is more authentically themselves, then that’s a better world.
Finally, it’s important to keep perspective. My time in the Air Force in Iraq taught me very quickly that there are true life or death situations out there. And now that I’m not in those situations anymore, it’s very clear that very little that we encounter is life or death. Almost nothing, really. If you’re not in an emergency field of work, most of our most pressing matters each day will n0t hurt us or anyone at all. So it’s okay to take a step back, evaluate each challenge as it comes, and triage. And it’s definitely okay to rest sometimes!
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
In high school, I wanted to be a foreign exchange student, which was a program our local Rotary International Club offered. My parents did not discourage me in any way. I applied, interviewed, and was selected, and at the age of 16 I had the amazing opportunity to spend a full year in Croatia where I made friends, learned the language and culture, and lived with two different host families. People would approach my mom while I was gone and say “I don’t know how you could let your child go so far away for so long!” And my mom would respond “Let her? I just got out of her way.”
This experience was life-defining for me. It helped me establish my independence and resilience from a young age and laid groundwork that I still draw on to know that if I want something enough, and am willing to work for it, I can make it happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.birdhousebooksatx.com
- Instagram: @birdhousebooksatx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564976647446
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/birdhouse-books-and-gifts-austin
- Other: Threads: @birdhousebooksatx
Image Credits
Abby Strite
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