We’re looking forward to introducing you to Margaret Ying. Check out our conversation below.
Margaret, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Outside of work, the biggest source of joy honestly has been my little family. It is such a gift to watch my kids grow everyday and see the tiny new things they discover, like putting on shoes by themselves, or saying a new word. I used to get so excited about every little business win, but now the most exciting things to me have become the small milestones my kids reach.
It’s a totally different kind of joy and I still love working on the business as well, but I am also finding joy outside of it. I think this has helped me shift my perspective of life to a much healthier balance so I am grateful for it!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Margaret and I’m the doodler behind OnceMoreWithLove. We are a stationery and sticker brand that I started 10 years ago during a time when I felt really stuck in life. I had good career options in front of me but nothing felt right. Finally, I decided to try “once more, with love” and that’s how my small business came to be.
Every design is hand-drawn by me and inspired by real moments and experiences in my life. Funny, sad, silly, angry… I hope to give myself and other people a way to express our feelings on paper.
Now a decade into the business, I still strive to only create products that I can truly be proud of. Our stickers are still hand-made by my team and me, and we pour our hearts into making sure every order brings a smile to your face.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was when I was about five years old, sitting in a circle with my younger twin sisters who were three at the time. My mom had given me a small tin can of candy and told me to share it with my sisters. We sat in a circle, and I was in charge of sorting. So I did:
“one for you (twin 1)… one for me. One for you (twin 2)… one for me” and on and on it went until I got double the candy without either of them noticing!
For a five-year-old, this felt like true power. Probably too much power honestly! Luckily I’m not that terrible of a sister and I never pulled that trick again, but it felt like a lightbulb moment to realize that if I acted confident, no one suspected a thing or questioned me! Phew, that was probably the biggest villain moment of my life, but good thing I stopped at candy!
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
The biggest heartbreak of my life was losing my dad to cancer in 2024. He fought for over 2 years prior to passing away, and during that time my family, even my customers, rallied to support him. When we first learned of his diagnosis, I stepped back from my shop thinking that we only had months left with him. Every extra day felt like borrowed time and I wanted to treasure as many moments as I could with him.
However, taking time away from work also meant my business slowed down and I wasn’t able to pay as much attention to growth. I felt fear creeping in… Fear about finances, fear for my team, fear for letting my customers down. My business had always been a place for them to find joy, and suddenly I was sharing moments of pain, grief, and loss.
It took me some time but I realized that the whole purpose of OnceMoreWithLove was to be authentic and honest, and to reflect the full spectrum of emotions that we will eventually have to feel at some point of our lives. So I opened up more about my heartbreak, and it felt so good to finally talk about it. What I didn’t expect was the flood of responses from people reaching out to say thank you, to tell me I helped them feel like someone knew how they felt. That was when I realized vulnerability is also power. The power to connect, to relate, and to build even more love.
That realization has been part of my healing as well. While nothing can replace the space my dad left behind, I’m learning that eventually it can be be filled with more moments of love. And even though he is no longer here, my life is still so woven with his presence and the memories I carry are proof that love continues.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
It is, and I am genuinely so proud to be able to say that! Honestly, it probably wouldn’t have been possible any other way because so much of my creations come directly from my experiences that I can’t really separate it. There are bits and pieces of me in everything I draw.
I am a tired mom of three little kiddos and an adorable yellow Lab, still very much awkward around people, and always wrestling with imposter syndrome. But that’s why I also never tried to be someone else – I just simply don’t have the time or energy for it. What people see is just me, with my messy hair and dark eye bags from lack of sleep!
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
This might sound bad, but… nothing! I am a huuuuge procrastinator so if I knew I had 10 years left, I’d probably just continue living exactly as I am because I’m truly enjoying life right now. Despite the tiredness, I love waking up knowing that I am in the thick of it with my kids, and that this will most likely be the time I miss the most once it’s gone. Then I’d save the “big plans” for the last year. Maybe just cram an entire year of travel with my family!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oncemorewithlove.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oncemorewithlove/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oncemorewithlove/
Image Credits
All taken by me, Margaret
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
