Dierdre Barnes shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Dierdre, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Mondays & Wednesday my day starts at 5am. I wake up, wash my face, brush my teeth, take a shot of apple cider vinegar, drink my mushroom tea and pick out my workout clothes. I listen to music or a podcast to get ready for my training session at One Stop Fitness at 6am. This has been my routine for 1 ½ years. Tuesday are Thursday my cardio days and Friday at 9am back at One Stop Fitness. This is a commitment I made to myself because I want to live a long healthy life. Working out helps me with mental and physical health. Being able to push myself through the workouts always reminds me I can do hard things. The physical strength and toning has definitely helped me gain more confidence. So the first 90 minutes is all about me so I can take on the day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Dierdre Barnes, owner of F.L.Y. Girl Candles est June 2020 and a mom of two kiddos. I grew up in Mt. Sterling Ky and graduated with a bachelors in business from the University of Louisville.
F.L.Y. Girl Candles stands for “First Love Yourself.” This mantra is deeply woven into the fabric of our brand. It reflects my own self love journey. Each candle is named to inspire self-care and self-love. Our candles are eco-friendly, sustainable soy wax which ensures that they burn clean and slow, enriching your environment without harming it.
Entering our 6 year in business we have been in over 31 stores and now offer monthly self love candle making workshops and private events for ladies night, date night, corporate team building, and much more.
F.L.Y. Girl Candles loves to give back by making specialty candles to support the organization’s such as our Powerful Candle with YOUARE.org, EXTRAordinary for Down Syndrome and Resilience in Bloom for Women and Families Domestic Violence.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
The person who taught me most about work would be my dad. He has said a few phrases during my life that have helped me with the business I have today. “Get all your ducks in a roll”, “It’s who you know”,”Ducks of the same feather flock together”, “Go straight to the horse’s mouth”, “the answer is always no if you never ask”, “if you cheat you only cheat yourself” and “you gotta want it”. He also taught me the power of networking, but growing up I thought he just talked to EVERYONE. As I got older I realized he was networking with those around. All these sayings have shaped me into who I am and how I work my business. Making sure I have everything aligned for my business and ask questions with I have them. Getting to know people and network because you never know who you’ll meet or how the connect will come together later on. I look at who I surround myself with such as are they goal orientated and are they getting things done. I feel like all these quotes are so important in daily life and business.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Everything is working out for you. People get asked sometimes if they would go back and change anything in their life. My answer is no because everything I went through prepared me “good or bad” for who I am today. The times I got made fun of, the great friendships, living in a small town and coming to a big city got me right where I am supposed to be today. I am truly grateful for everything I have experienced.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
My biggest project is myself. I am committed to making sure I take care of my mind, body and soul. Through listening/reading great books and podcasts I have learned that taking care of yourself is number one. There is only one “you” and we only get one body and one life. So why not take care of ourselves first. By doing so it reflects on the outside, how we are as friends, partners and it shows in our businesses. This has become a lifelong commitment. For my body I make sure I either exercise or take a walk daily. I also make healthy food choices 80% of the time. For my mind as I mentioned above podcast and reading books. My favorite podcast would have to be The Resilient Mind, Mindset Mentor and School of Greatness. My top books are The 4 agreements, The Let Them Theory and You are a Badass. For my soul I work on my spiritual growth and attend church, journal, mediating/prayer.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the story people tell is that “Dierdre inspired me to….” I want to inspire people to do what they love and also take great care of themselves. We truly only get one body and one life to live. To inspire others to change their lives or work towards a dream they have would mean the world to me because with that they will inspire others around them to do the same in which will create a ripple effect.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.flygirlandles.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flygirlcandles
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flygirlcandles
Image Credits
Head-shot: Holly Hartman
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