We were lucky to catch up with Kristin Schaapveld recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kristin , first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is a real thing in this small business owner world, especially when starting out, trying a new thing, reinventing aspects of your business, etc. The reality is change is imminent. Everything around us, in us, about us is changing at all times. I’m certain at this rate, that everyone’s been through imposter syndrome several times, and will continue to see it as they continue forward in any journey full of changes and growth. I think that overcoming imposter syndrome is simply a mindset, or maybe attitudinal shift to transparency.
Before I left my corporate career, I worked for a great company that encouraged us to ONLY pursue paths that we intended on being the best in. Not to work towards something if we or our team didn’t intend on being the best at. Whether that be a sector of the business, a niche market, a new division, etc.
In order to be the best, you have to let your guard down, learn a lot, have transparency when you don’t have all the answers, and go back to find those answers. I believe that this can be replicated in all businesses, and careers. This transparency gives your customers a lot more respect for you, and in turn lessons the ‘imposter syndrome’ because you’re never feeling like you’re in a place you’re not supposed to be or didn;t put the work in to get there. You earned it, you were transparent about not knowing it all, and grateful to be in every place, every seat, every table you sit at.
I’m fully confident in flower farming that I’ll NEVER know it all! I AM always trying to be better, learn, and offer my customers the BEST in specialty cut flowers.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Our flower farm started about a year after I chose to stay home to provide daycare for our and our friends’ kiddos. We had a ‘learning farm’ style daycare, spending the most of our time outside, caring for chickens and ducks, and nurturing all that was growing in our garden.
About a year in a friend convinced me to start selling our flowers at our local farmer’s market. It quickly grew into so much more. Now, a few seasons in we run a 75+ member bouquet club, wedding & event florals, creative workshops, floral preservation, on-farm shopping, and mobile bouquet bar. I like to brand myself as a flower-farmer/florist AND creative. Flowers are really just another creative medium with thousands of beautiful applications!
In my element, I’m designing florals, wrapping bouquets or painting, however being able to grow your own flowers, the really cool ones, is also something I love to share! There are so many varieties we can grow in our climate that are simply WOW-worthy!
In-season, we’re known for our floral workshops where customers can come out to experience the farm, learn about all the varieties we grow, harvest the blooms they love, and design lovely arrangements with me. This creative experience has expanded to eco-printing, wreath-making and painting workshops. We’re really a creative escape from the day-to-day ‘norm’ of life.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, I know that I would never be in this place today by my own will. I drug my heels in the mud from the very start. I didn’t ever see myself in a different career, pausing my career to open a daycare, all the way to owning my own business running a flower farm. When I realized this is the path I was supposed to be on, and started trusting God with this journey, let’s just say things went a lot smoother for me, and I have a lot more peace. Something that’s really resonating with me right now, as I enter our 4th season is ‘What God has planned for you will not pass you by.’ I’m learning through a lot of trials, to trust the process & the path.
Additionally, you have to be willing to work hard, harder than anyone else. If you look around, you’ll find the folks making it happen, are MAKING it happen. Hard work is the secret sauce.
Lastly, something I’m working on still is celebrating the wins. Being a solo-preneur, it’s hard to celebrate alone. Go find that support system and celebrate the wins big & small when they happen.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The most pressing obstacle I’m currently facing is deciding the trajectory of our flower farm and future plans.
Coming out of 2024, I proved that being a full-time flower farmer in our area is possible. I stopped providing daycare in March and gave the farm everything I had to give. I wanted to:
1, see how quickly I could grow the farm, and
2, prove to myself (& my husband) that we could do this!
It was hard, but I did it!
Looking at 2025, I’ve been evaluating areas to scale back and areas to invest more time and resources. As I look at areas to scale back, I’m evaluating time I spend in every area of the farm, income generated by that time, and weighing it against my creative compass, and time with our young family. Some things I’m dropping off are resin preservation services, smaller-scale markets and events and inconsistent delivery schedules.
Additionally, as our farm continues to grow, I’m evaluating if I want to hire additional team members to foster that growth, or stay small, and limit our services? I’m super grateful that these are things I’m considering in our new business. In this moment, I don’t have the answer and am in a constant state of evaluation & prayer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wheretheflowersarefarm.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wheretheflowersarefarm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wheretheflowersarefarm/
Image Credits
Gailyn Hill Photography
Jordan Lloyd Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
