We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carly Wenderlich a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Carly, 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 think the cliche answer is that I was raised to not be afraid of anything, but truthfully, I attribute my resilience to the courage I found to endure the last five years.
In 2020, I had a falling out with my dad. Without giving details, I was just sick of having to “be the bigger person”. I stood my ground and held him accountable for how he was choosing to be, because nobody ever had. Instead of apologizing and owning up to his mistakes, he ignored me for five years.
He missed my first apartment, special trips, parties, birthdays, a new career, a pregnancy announcement, a pregnancy loss at 23 weeks, a life threatening hospitalization, the loss of my god father and another uncle a month later, both to cancer, our new house, planning our wedding, and the actual wedding itself. Even after the wedding, when I lost my grandparents, my absolute favorite people, one month apart from each other, and he still said nothing.
Over the course of two years, I lost 5 people, moved twice, overcame immense health issues, got married, and started a business and I didn’t have my dad for any of it. I felt disposable. The mental, emotional, and physical pain I suffered without him traumatized me. I had no choice but to be resilient. So, when we talk about taking risks, my question is, “what do I have to lose?” I have been completely shattered and still I stood up. So, what if I mess up? So, what if I don’t make it? So, what if I fail terribly? Nothing could be as bad as what I experienced in the years leading up to this point.
Today’s risk is simply the reward of persevering through yesterday’s heartache. I welcome it.
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?
In 2023, my husband, Jake, and I made all our own signage for our wedding. In the final week leading up, I came up with the idea to make something unique for our guests checking into their hotel block. I mapped out a hotel key card holder and we printed it with our basic printer at home. Jake cut them all with a box-cutter and we made it happen! Everyone was so impressed and encouraged us to try to sell the card holders. We decided to open an Etsy shop soon after we got married, not knowing if anything would come of it or if anyone would think the custom hotel key card holders were as cool as we did, but we decided to go for it anyway. Little by little we learned how to become a full functioning small business.
Now, just over a year later and we’ve been part of over 250 weddings, produced almost 14,000 key card holders in addition to other unique signage, and have had clients in almost every US state as well as the UK, Canada, and Poland.
My husband and I are so proud of the business we’ve created and the time we get to spend together figuring it all out. With the pain we endured and the love that we fostered came something bigger than we could have ever imagined.
In addition to place cards, invitations, reserved signs and so much more, Custom Hotel Key Card Holders are our flagship product. These are the first pieces of signage your guests will see when they arrive for your wedding weekend. Not only does it showcase your wedding aesthetic, but it shows that you are proud of the magical experience you’ve curated and that you don’t want your guests to miss a second of it. Giving guests a schedule to look forward to and easy access to your website shows a different level of consideration and attention to detail.
This year is already shaping up to double in sales and we’re excited about upgrading our equipment so that we can do even more incredible work for our couples.
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?
Be interested in everything but attached to nothing.
Don’t take no for an answer, mainly from yourself.
Be the kind of person that they name storms after.
I have always had a creative spark inside me. I grew up doing arts and crafts with my DeeDee every day as a child. She instilled a hunger for making things with my hands that no other job could satiate. In addition, I always wanted to build my own business. I did not grow up surrounded by financial literacy and want to change that narrative for my family and be a self-made entrepreneur with financial stability. Over the years, I have tried so many things. From network marketing to being a food blogger and a professional organizer, I have attempted to make all my passions profitable, but nothing has ever truly stuck. However, that perseverance to chase those passions, no matter the risk or judgement, led me to where I am now. Time is not wasted when you are exploring every facet of yourself to find what makes your fire burn brightest. Be interested in everything but attached to nothing. Keep trying until you find it.
My husband always jokes that he doesn’t know why he even bothers telling me no because I keep pushing for what I want anyway. Not my best character trait, but I wouldn’t say it’s my worst either! I think having the ability to stand up for what you want and what you believe is right is monumental. This world, especially today, is designed to disempower you. From societal norms to political propaganda, the system wants you to fail. The people who have the courage to push back are the ones who come out on top. However, sometimes, the person you need to push back on the most is yourself! You can be your own worst enemy if you don’t learn to tell yourself YES even when your brain tries to tell you no. Push past fear, push past the judgment. Don’t take no for an answer, mainly from yourself.
Outspoken women who are persistent and who unabashedly go after the things that they want are often labeled as LOUD, BOSSY, or AGGRESSIVE instead of brave, determined, and fierce. At the end of the day, you can call me whatever you want as long as you know the energy I give off is powerful. Do not rein in your aura just because other people are intimidated by it. Your personality is meant for greatness. There’s something about you that the whole world needs to see, and dulling that sharp edge would be a disservice. Be the kind of person that they name storms after.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
Two very important women are pillars to my success – my mom and my best friend, Allison.
My mom has stopped me from sending many irate emails written when tensions were high. She tells me to take down certain posts when they come off the wrong way. She keeps me in line, even as an adult, like any good mom does. But most importantly, she lets me know that there is always a soft place to land if I fall. No matter the hardship or failure, I know I always have a roof over my head, a warm meal, love, and support. A lot of people can believe in you, but not all of them will be there if you crash and burn. Having a mom who would never turn her back on me is invaluable.
I’ve been friends with Allison since 7th grade. She is my exact equal in some ways and my complete opposite in others. She is without a doubt the smartest person I know and always my first phone call when I need advice, not only because she is a damn good lawyer, but also because she is observant, honest, and fierce. She gives it to me straight and gives me new perspective on things that help me to expand the way I see the world. We speak in our own language sometimes or without using words at all. I trust her. She just gets me, and sometimes it feels like she is the only one who does. Allisons makes me feel seen and heard after a long day of talking to people through screens. I appreciate having someone who grounds me in a world that can be so unforgiving.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carlyscocreative.etsy.com
- Instagram: @carlysco_creative
Image Credits
Tess Konnovitch – Konno Photo & Video
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