We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aimee Yang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Aimee, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My parents are the definition of resilience. As young children, they both had to escape war, fear, and oppression around the time of the Vietnam War in what is known as the Secret War. Along with their families, they had to find refuge in Thailand, where they waited in refugee camps for opportunities to relocate to other countries. After about a year in the refugee camp, my dad and his family were finally sponsored to come to the United States when he was 12 years old. They landed in Minnesota and it was there that he had to learn a whole new way of life. He had to learn a new language, how to adapt to a new climate, how to work, how to eat unfamiliar food, and so much more. My mom, who was 7, and her family immigrated to France after about a year in the refugee camp also, where she too had to learn how to assimilate to the new culture and environment. She lived there for about 9 years before having the opportunity to come to the United States, where she would then have to assimilate all over again. Through all the trauma, adversities and hardships, my parents used their experiences as an opportunity to be better, to excel and to provide a better future for their children. When I think about what I know about resilience, I think about my parents and all they had to endure. Knowing and understanding all that they’ve overcome helps me to know that I can overcome anything that comes my way also, to do better and be better than I was the day before.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
When I first started my business, I just wanted to bring joy to others through flowers whether it was for a birthday, graduation or even a “thinking-of-you” moment. I never imagined becoming a floral designer where I get to help make my clients’ dreams into a reality for some of their biggest milestones in life. One of the most exciting parts about being a floral designer is being able to make celebrations look and feel beautiful for my clients. Every event and celebration is never the same and it’s been so fun designing something unique for each person that I get the opportunity to work with. I love seeing their reactions and their joy when they receive their bouquets or when they see how the whole room comes together just for them.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
For me, the three most impactful qualities on this journey would be my determination, willingness to learn and to try. When I decided to become a small business owner, I really had no idea what I was getting myself in to. There were and still are many obstacles that I encounter, but my determination to want my small business to be successful helps me to persevere. My mom has always been an advocate for being a life-long learner in all aspects of life and I look to her as an example to continue to be curious and to want to know more. My willingness to learn from others, from my mistakes as well as my accomplishments play an important role in being able to grow as a floral designer and business owner. Lastly, a part of my growth on this journey is trying. Learning to not be afraid of trial and error has allowed me to be more open-minded to trying, even if it doesn’t work out. My advice for those who are starting out on their own journey, no matter what it is, would be to know and understand that there’s always room for growth. No matter how talented, skilled or knowledgable you are, there is always more to learn. Be open to learning new ways to create, to think and to exceed what you already can do.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed, I like to simply just sit in silence, especially if it can be in a car and I can drive around in silence. This helps me to clear my head and gather my thoughts. If you’re ever feeling overwhelmed, my advice would be to find something that can help you to look at things objectively and really to just take a break from whatever you’re feeling overwhelmed from.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beloved_florals/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mybelovedflorals
Image Credits
agyimages mailouphoto Marina Her
