We recently connected with Carly Hyder and have shared our conversation below.
Carly, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
Being in a creative field of business as well as an entrepreneur already sets a person apart from the crowd. Executing my work has never been hard for me because when I come up with an idea, it’s so set in my head that I can’t rest until it’s done. I’ve had several people in life second guess my ideas and plans to make money or grow my business. There came a point when I learned to stop asking everyone for their opinion or advice because too many voices telling you where to go can form a feeling of paralysis. What do I mean by that? Everyone has an idea of where you should go or what you should do, so taking all of that into account makes it easy to lose track of your vision and not advance at all. To me, my job is the best in the world. Being different from my peers and family members is part of what makes it so great. I use being different as motivation to prove to myself that I don’t need to work a boring job that I don’t enjoy, to be successful.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My business, Moon and Stars Formations, originally started as a jewelry and painting business. At the end of last year, I decided to simplify my life and my business by stepping away from jewelry and moving to a full-time graphic design artist. On my website, you can find different items from stickers to clothing, all with my original artwork. In addition to the merchandise I sell, I also offer different services to influencers and other business owners. I’ve created merch, packaging designs, logos, and more. I love collaborative work, so switching my focus to full-time design has helped to create more time for projects that involve other people.
In addition to my business, I recently started a podcast “Creatively Processed” that streams across multiple platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube). My podcasts are all about being a business owner in a creative field. I talk about all things from artist’s block and creative burnout, to B2B sales and simplifying our workloads. My goal with this podcast is to provide a sense of belonging and community to others like me who are taking the road less traveled by building a business and life catered to the creative mind.
Moon and Stars Formations has evolved so much in just a few short months with new artwork and products. I can’t imagine how much more it will grow in the next year, but I’m ready to see it thrive more and more each day.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The top three things that have impacted me the most on my journey are self-discipline, organizational skills, and consistency.
My experience working for other people made it very easy for me to be disciplined in my work because there is nothing I dislike more than letting someone else write my work schedule and tell me what to do. As soon as I had a taste of what it was like to do everything myself, there was no going back. Everyone talks about leaving the 9-5 for a lifestyle that gives you more freedom, but not many people talk about the work it takes to sustain the freedom. So many people fail or walk away from their dreams when it doesn’t work out instantly because they often see owning their own business as an easy alternative to working for someone else. The reality is that if you’re working for yourself, instead of proving your worth to a manager, you have to prove your worth to yourself. So, if you don’t hold yourself to a high standard like someone in a managerial position would, you aren’t setting yourself up for success.
When I first started my business, I learned very fast how important it is to be organized. There is so much to juggle from materials and work to inventory and finances. My creativity cannot flow if everything in the business is a mess, so learning to keep track of all of my responsibilities was key to keeping myself afloat.
The last, and most important skill I’ve developed is consistency in my business. Whether it’s being consistent with drawing, organizing my finances, or posting on social media, keeping up with my duties on a regular schedule is what has helped me grow. I’ve had different ideas come and go in my life, and the only reason they didn’t come and stay is because I gave up on them. The same would have happened to my business if I hadn’t stuck with it. One of the most frequent compliments I receive from friends of mine is that I have the consistency that many people wish they had. It’s not because I’m some special gifted person who got lucky with the “stick with it” gene. It’s simply because there is no other choice when you’re working to make your dreams come true.
I highly encourage anybody thinking about starting a business journey to reflect and see how to strengthen these attributes so that they can be implemented effectively. There is no secret ingredient to success, but lots of successful entrepreneurs have similar characteristics to one another. Do your research, and see where you need to grow!
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
Right before I quit my job and started working for myself full-time, I read the book “Everything is Figureoutable” by Marie Forleo. This book is all about resilience in finding your way through struggles and hardships. It has helped me so much in the times when things feel stressful or difficult. Finding your reasons why you do what you do and remembering what motivates you to keep going is the best way to inspire yourself to charge forward. I highly recommend this book to anybody who finds themselves feeling like they’re out of options. Giving up on what you feel called to do is never the way to go. As my dad likes to say “plan the work, and work the plan.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.moonandstarsformations.rocks
- Instagram: @moonandstarsformations
- Facebook: Moon and Stars Formations
- Youtube: Creatively Processed
- Other: Find my podcast “Creatively Processed” on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Find my business on all platforms under the name “Moon and Stars Formations”
