We recently connected with Colleen Virgili and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Colleen, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
As a female, I can recall many instances where I wasn’t taken seriously or seen as an equal to my male peers. If you let it, those experiences will lead to self doubt. It’s been vitally important to me to stay focused on my goals, both personally and professionally. I’m a meticulous planner and have found it useful to write out my goals, create strategies to attain them, and track my progress along the way. If you find yourself off course or struggling, give yourself some grace, and gently put yourself back on track. I love personal development and am always trying to be a better version of myself and learn new skills. There is so much free help and resources available in podcasts, YouTube videos and books. When I am feeling like I need a little inspiration, I love listening to a Rachel Hollis podcast. There are many inspirational women we can follow when we need guidance. Find mentors and inspirational women who inspire you and make you want to improve on some aspect of your life or make the world around you a better place. Make time every day to put in this work on yourself. For me, this has been my morning routine. As a full time working mom, the hours between 5a-7a are “my time”. I can devote this time to exercising, journaling, reading, or whatever I am in of need that day to boost my mood, confidence, and drive. Find your time and guard it fiercely! Drown out external and internal negativity with self-love and always believe in yourself. If you fall – and you will, as we all do – get back up and try again. Remember that failure holds valuable lessons, and everyone fails from time to time. Take those lessons and apply them. Celebrate your wins and successes and with this work over time, you’ll find you are capable of so much. Be proud of yourself!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I own a stationery design and print business. My family has been in the printing industry for nearly 60 years with my grandfather starting his printing company with a small newspaper. That business is now a thriving commercial print business in its 3rd generation. Growing up in this world inspired me to create Truly Inspired Paper Co in 2018. We create paper stationery for our customer’s most important moments, with most of our work focused in the wedding space. It’s our goal to create beautiful, custom-designed stationery that fits our customers’ budgets. Our designers personally work with each customer to ensure their vision is brought to life in the final product. We also create stationery for graduations, showers, holiday greetings, and many other events. Our mission is to create beautiful, affordable stationery through a customer-focused design experience.
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?
Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. Having the courage to push myself outside of my comfort zone has allowed me to achieve the most personal growth. Do something hard every day.
Devote the time and energy to learn what you don’t know and apply that knowledge in life. I love Maya Angelou’s quote “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better”.
Don’t lose sight of the things that matter most to you. To me, this is my family. They inspire me to continue to develop myself and my business. I want to work hard to give them the best life possible. They are also where I turn to when I need to recharge my energy. We love to travel and spend time together. Find the energy source in your life that inspires you to push yourself but also fills your tank when you are running empty.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I struggle from time to time with burnout. I take it as my cue to take a step back and a deep breath. I take some time off and return to the project when I’m refreshed. If a project continues to drain your time and energy, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate if it’s a worthwhile endeavor.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.trulyinspiredpaperco.com
- Instagram: trulyinspiredpaper
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/trulyinspiredpaperco
Image Credits
Image 2: Alexandra Marie Photography
Image 5: Jessie Barksdale Photography
Image 4 Rachael Kazmier Photography
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