Meet Mackenna Allard

 

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mackenna Allard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mackenna , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Growing up I always knew I loved art, I never thought I could be a “real” artist unless I could sustain myself by doing it full time. I pursued so many artistic careers but always ended up back in a stiff workplace where creativity lacked and was the last priority. After I had my first daughter and returned to a job that was lack luster to say the least. I would come home uninspired and felt something was missing. Looking at my sweet baby girl I never wanted her to grow up thinking she could sacrifice her passion for stability. I started making art again but as a hobby and when I let go of the concept it wasn’t “real” art unless I was making money off of it, my art drastically changed and it grew. It grew so fast it did become something that people loved and brought me joy. That’s what made me feel like I had made it, not the financial side but the passion and joy.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I started Colorado Peach Creations in 2022 after my first few products took off on social media, I realized I was doing something different and people loved it. Finding joy in making art again after a hiatus really made me feel complete! I’m fortunate enough to be in locally owned stores and have a website where people can contact me and purchase.
I was born and raised in Colorado and live in a small mountain town, boasting a population of less than 700 people. I take so much inspiration from our beautiful scenery and the ranching community I live in.

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?

I think that having a background in different artistic fields and being in customer facing industries really helped me. I’m able to work closely with my customers to develop a plan and bring their vision to life for custom orders. Having a background in marketing and web design helped launch my business from a hobby to a full scale business also helped. Something I’d love others to know is that comparison kills. Your growth is beautiful no matter how it comes. You deserve the chance to grow at your own pace and develop skills that suit your style.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Being a stay at home working mom poses many challenges. Balancing a business with your family makes things tricky. At the end of the day I started this journey to be able to raise my kiddos and be their constant. Be there through all the stages. Having to slow down occasionally and remember they’re why I’m doing this and the priority. There’s always so much to do and so many places to be. Life goes so quickly and remembering your priorities is key.

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