We recently connected with Debbie Schanberger and have shared our conversation below.
Debbie, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I got my resilience from my childhood. My mother battled manic depression and then passed from colon cancer when I was young. My father also had his own set of mental struggles to deal with, so I put my childhood aside at age 8 and grew up to help take care of my father and brother. I observed early on that one could sit around and complain about life OR that same energy could be spent moving forward. If something bad happens, let the emotions out, pick up your feet and then move forward. That is resilience that drives me.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Debbie Schanberger and I am the sarcastic red-headed artist behind The Ginger Chik. I make fun and unique original fine art & illustration, mixed media, prints, greeting cards, stickers, apparel, coasters, and handmade wooden ornaments and wrapping paper. My work is inspired by bright, colorful designs, the 80s and 90s, all things ‘Baltimore’ and making people laugh . . . which ended up being the best part of this venture! With characters like “Fell’s Point Felicia” and “Betty from the Block”, how can you not crack a smile?!
If you need to brighten your day, find me at a local event (my website has the most up to date list) or find my work at Makers of Maryland in White Marsh. Smiles and laughs are free!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Adaptability, communication and knowing your audience are qualities that have and still impact my journey. If you want to start your own business, you have to be able to adapt as challenges and obstacles get in your way or prevent you from your goals. That flexibility may even push you down a new road that you enjoy. I could have listed “sales” as a skill, but “salespeople” normally have me running. Don’t be a typical sales person and push your products. Just be a great person and sell good products. Connect with your audience on a personal level. Even if you just ask how their day is going. Those relationships foster sales when the timing is right. Knowing your audience is another big one. Target the audience that would be interested in your products. If they aren’t interested or don’t have the need, the sale will be extremely difficult to get, no matter how great your product may be.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
Traveling and documenting the experiences and the people I meet through artwork sounds fantastic.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thegingerchik.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegingerchik/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGingerChik
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
