Meet Nadine Clay

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nadine Clay. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nadine below.

Hi Nadine , thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

Imposter syndrome runs rampant in a world where technology allows us to see anything and everything at all times. Many business owners, especially those in creative lines of work, have felt the impact of comparing. Thankfully, as a creative, we can embrace the fact that one type of art will not please all eyes. Picasso and Monet are two beloved artists. But can someone like one and not the other?- Absolutely.
It’s a frame of mind to choose to accept that creating art is what has grown your business, and as long as you keep growing in yourself as an artist, you’re doing it “right”. I find that personally, the less I look at other local artists work, the more time I have to enjoy what I am doing and not let comparison be the thief of my creative joy! If you are continuing to learn and try new methods and are enjoying it while making a living – there is no possible way that could be an imposter! Keep moving forward in what you love and you will eventually be known for what YOU bring to the table

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?

I am Nadine Clay and I started my flower company at the age of twenty! I dropped out of college after a semester due to losing interest in the field I was pursuing. So many friends and strangers told me I’d be nothing if I didnt have a degree! I had no idea what I wanted to do. My older sister had a friend getting married and asked me if I would do her flowers since I was creative. I told her I had never been to a wedding before, nor had I done flowers before, but if she is ok with that, I would do it. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and found requests from friends of hers coming in. From this, I created a floral company that specialized in weddings and large events. I did not go to school for business, or floristry. For many years I worked out of a private home studio, learning and learning by doing. I learned how to hold myself tall when older industry leaders would underestimate me. I learned that despite the want to over-defend myself, it is better to keep your head down and work so hard, they cannot underestimate you any longer.
I worked multiple jobs at once to be able to continue building the brand that slowly was becoming synonymous with my name. A few years into flowering myself through events, I delved into my past of working as a clown and added a balloon division to my company. We have ballooned everything from stadium entrances to backyard parties. In 2023, we opened our first brick and mortar flower shop in downtown Lititz, PA and have multiple employees for each division of the company. I have realized over the years that allowing your business to “bloom” organically, and not backing it into a corner, will allow it to become all that it truly was meant to be!
Now, the business does over 150 weddings and corporate events a year as well as a full service flower shop and a full service balloon division. We hold classes, special parties, and more throughout the year! The joy that balloons and flowers bring to others, even in times of grief, is contagious and beautiful! I’m so thankful I dropped out of college and was open to walking through doors that I didn’t even know led to things better than I had ever known.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, there are a few skills or qualities that have been wildly impactful in my journey.
Number one is being open to constructive criticism. Learning that you don’t know it all and can better yourself, will open your ability to leave stagnant business practices behind. Something important to know with this one is that you must remember that you have the control over WHO is giving you this criticism. Everyone will have an opinion, but you don’t have to listen to it if it does not build you to better.
Another quality to have is the ability to be okay with not doing what seems normal. Building a business will suck more energy and time from you than you knew you even had. As an early 20-something, most of my friends or peers would not be working 16 hour days or 7 day weeks, or throwing their savings into building business. But I had to realize that it was ok that I was not doing what my peers were doing. Remembering that this business gave me life, helped me remember that I don’t have to do what “everyone else” was doing.
A third area of knowledge that has served me in my journey would be that you should always be learning. My Mom and Dad (also business owners) always encouraged learning and growing within your passions. Learning without comparing is the most beautiful skill that can propel your art or business forward to places you didn’t know you were capable of!

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

Being overwhelmed is part of human nature! Advice for this can vary between people as we all have our comfort areas! Personally, I have found that if I set times for list items, it keeps me focused and I don’t get hyper fixated. I also am a professional list maker! I make lists for my lists and being able to see it and writing it over and over gives me obtain a sense of control that is helpful in feeling overwhelmed. I have also learned, especially in the wedding industry, that plan A is a lovely idea, but plan B, C, etc can be just as beautiful, if not more so! To loosen your hard grip on things is a beautiful skill! Embrace the grey, ditch the black and white!

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Image Credits

Megan Hoffer Photography, Perigee Photography, Fern and Fountain Photography, Jessica and Shaun Photography

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