We recently had the chance to connect with Nicole Albani and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nicole, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Who are you learning from right now?
I am learning the most in life from my 4 year old daughter. Becoming a mother has forced me to learn, and relearn so many things about myself. I am fighting to give her things I never has as a child, and reparent myself to be the best role model possible for her. My daughter is the most amazing person. Even though she is so young, she is unapologetically herself. She is not a people, pleaser. She questions everything. She refuses to be interrupted. She is silly, fun, spirited, and knows what she wants. I’m in awe of her every day and strive to be more like her.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Nicole. I am a teacher, wife, mother, and business owner. I started my business in 2021 while on maternity leave. It was always a non-negotiable to me to have things outside of motherhood that were just for me, so I started an Etsy shop to share my love of card making with others. It was something my mother and I had been doing for years, and a way for me to be creative. I never imagined the journey it would take me on. In just 3 short years I have reached over 3,000 sales and sold to all 50 states in the US. After starting my shop, I decided to incorporate my love of teaching by introducing DIY card making kits so people could make their own cards at home. That was a huge success. Seeing my handmade creations be a part of people’s special occasions and milestone events makes my heart so happy. In a world dominated by technology, it is so heartwarming to see so many people still embrace the art of giving a card for special moments.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Two things truly shifted my worldview in a mind-blowing way and they happened at the same time. I was pregnant with my daughter during the pandemic. Seeing the world change so profoundly right before my eyes, and becoming a parent amidst all of that change really opened my eyes. I never wanted to be a stay-at-home-mom; my career was important to me and I loved it. But the moment my daughter was placed in my arms, that all changed. I eventually would resign from my job, start my small business and focus on raising my daughter. Seeing that work could be done differently as a result of the pandemic, and having my priorities shifted by the birth of my daughter really put things into perspective. I no longer strive to work, but to live. I am passionate about the work I love, but guard my time more fiercely and fight for a better balance between work and life.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Since embarking on my business journey, I have the urge to give up often. I have no background in business; no experience whatsoever. I started this on a whim and learned as I go. The most powerful urges to give up happen when I let imposter syndrome take hold. I see others who (at face value) seem to be doing “better” than me and it makes me feel defeated. Even when I hit an amazing milestone of my own, sometimes seeing someone else’s makes me feel inferior. Its a struggle I face all the time to appreciate MY work and MY journey and only compare myself to me. When this urge to give up hits, I remember how much I love what I do. I remember that I need to be a role model of resilience for my daughter. Giving up has a time and place, but fighting for what you truly love requires facing that feeling and moving forward anyway.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I am proud to say that the public version of me is the real me. From the time I was young, I have been true to myself. There are times I can feel imposter syndrome and want to be like others, but I ultimately always come back to myself. I never chase fads or trends and do things on my own timeline. On my social media, what you see is what you get. I don’t pretend to be something or someone I’m not. I would say the only thing that is slightly different in public is I don’t curse quite so much- I know when to turn that on and off
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I believe I am doing what I am doing what I was born to do. In my life before motherhood, I was a teacher. I decided that profession was for me in 1st grade and I never looked back or changed my mind. The 10 years I spent in the classroom was immensely satisfying in ways I never knew possible, but also in ways I never questioned. I knew I always wanted to be a teacher, and frankly; I knew I was great at it. My life now- that is something that shocked me to my core. I never imagined I would pause that fulfilling career that I loved to focus on raising my daughter and starting a business. But now that I am doing it, I realize that I was also born to do this.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cardsncraftsstudio.etsy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cardsncraftsstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558116444516
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