Meet Shana Lesch

We were lucky to catch up with Shana Lesch recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shana, great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.

I developed my ability to take risks starting logically with my mind and learning to lead with my heart. I’ve worked in financial services for nearly two decades, learning a lot about risk management in banking and investments. I got into the field because of learned scarcity and a belief that knowledge has the ability to alleviate that. My trade has given me the power to live comfortably here in the Bay Area and brought me job satisfaction knowing that I’m helping people with an important aspect of their lives.

A few years ago, I realized that my life was missing an aspect of creative pleasure. I was facing studying for yet another exam and feeling depressed by the thought of spending more time buried in books. I had built a career by spending many hours in an office studying for exams and trying to find belonging in an industry that had never felt like home. My mind had been maintained and it brought me rewards, yet my spirit was starving. Stemming from a lifetime love of flowers, I decided to enroll in evening classes at San Francisco Community College in their renowned floristry program.

I realized a few important things that first evening of class: I felt a part of me come alive again and I wanted that part to exist regularly in my life. I also realized that I not only found floristry to be more interesting than finance but also that it came much more naturally to me. Working with my hands feels more natural than typing all day. Since then I’ve been taking strategic steps towards working more in floral design because I’m allowing my life decisions to be led by my heart instead of my mind. It brings me so much joy to create something beautiful, whether for an important occasion or the simple therapeutic experience that flowers and plants grace us with. Flowers are inclusive and accessible to everyone. They bring so much happiness.

Because of my financial experience, I understand how difficult it is to own a business and how that commitment limits your work life balance. I’ve seen people become disenchanted with their passion because they depend upon it for their livelihood. I have to remain loyal to my self care routine to maintain an enjoyable life. I’ve found it helpful to reaffirm my values to keep me on track and ready to act when the right opportunities present themselves. That way I ensure that my resources, time, and energy are put to their best use. Owning a business can be a romantic idea that falls apart when reality sets in. How can I work smarter (not harder) to align my life with my dreams? How can I afford myself more creativity without sacrificing everything else?

I’ve found myself taking more risks in floral design because I feel more confident. I appreciate the flexibility and expansiveness of the art. You can take risks with natural materials that don’t exist in the world of money; the stakes are low. The more I learn about plants and flowers, the deeper I dive into this magical world. The more immersed I become in the world of floral design, the more I see beauty and meaning in every day landscapes that I once overlooked. The more I embrace my creativity, the more I understand the power of flowers. Their message is always of care and we certainly need more of that in our modern world.

How did I develop my ability to take risks? I became hungry for the possibilities of how I can grow into a more fulfilling creative life that includes more of my heart’s desires. To sum it up with an apropos saying from Anais Nin – “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.“

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My business plan has changed a lot since I first decided that I want to hold myself out to the public as a floral designer. My first floral teacher encouraged us to work for someone else before trying to start something ourselves. I tried working weekends in addition to my Monday through Friday job, but of course that was not sustainable. It was a valuable learning experience to be working for a boutique florist over Valentine’s Day, one of the largest industry holidays of the year.

My plan then pivoted to weekly arrangements for a handful of business clients. Yet again, that idea didn’t allow for any work life balance either. So I decided to do holiday wreaths about a year ago and sold them to family and friends. I am lucky to have a large dedicated design space in my backyard. I am also grateful to have access to the San Francisco Flower Market and Berkeley Bowl’s fantastic selection of foliage and flowers.

My goal is to gradually work more in floral design and when the time is right, transition to working full time in the industry. Between now and then, I would love to become a Certified Floral Designer (CFD). Ideally, I would love to find a like-minded colleague who is looking for a business partner and join their already successful business or create one together. I am open to what this looks like to begin with as well as ongoing. In the meantime, I’m trying to network with as many designers as I can, understand the industry more, and of course up level my design skills.

I really appreciate the opportunity to share my story with Bold Journey and the exposure that it might bring. I am thrilled to share that I just joined Poppy Flowers as a contractor. Poppy is a wedding florist offering services across the US. I’m making wreaths again for this holiday season. Additionally, I am now doing floral design for my yoga studio – a lovely way to combine two of my passions!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I am still in the journey and regularly remind myself to enjoy it! I’m a lifelong learner who believes in the power of the following three attributes in the pursuit of making dreams come true and finding happiness:

Curiosity
Positive attitude
Prioritize self care

Curiosity – A good friend once told me about the “spec flex perspective”. This means being specific about what you want and need and also flexible with the outcome. Sometimes the results are actually better than we imagined. I try to be curious in every aspect of my life, from personal interactions to problem-solving. Curiosity helps me think outside the box and assume positive intent. Curiosity is one of the foundations for tapping into my creativity because truly having the desire to understand something or someone engages not only my cognitive mind, but also my empathetic heart.

Positive attitude – We are powerful beings who attract what we put out into the world. A realized dream may take a long time to come to fruition. It’s important to remain positive by reflecting on my progress, whether that is in continuing to develop a growth mindset, noting tangible tasks that I’ve completed, or enjoying better relationships. Reflection reassures me that I’ve taken steps forward towards my goals. It also helps me to clarify the next steps to take, and in the process, I realize what doesn’t work.

Prioritize self care – To stay true to myself and committed to my passion, I have to take care of myself and prioritize that. Birthing something new takes immense time and dedication. Placing my mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health first puts me in the best place to achieve my goals. Imposter syndrome may creep up or I might question how will I afford this? I might feel that I don’t have time, or that I’m too old, or be scared to fail.

I love this quote adapted from Jonathan Fields, “You don’t want to be fearless. Fear has energy. If you remove the energy, you remove the fuel. Don’t kill the butterflies in your stomach. Instead, ask, how can I ride them?“ I think about this quote anytime I feel fear staring me down. It helps me take the next step forward.

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?

A book that has influenced my life greatly is The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz. Paraphrased, the four agreements are: always do your best, always tell the truth, don’t assume, and don’t take things personally. The last two are the most challenging for me.

Assuming positive intent, assuming that people like me, assuming that everything that is coming my way is for my ultimate growth is a daily practice. Yoga has taught me the discipline to look internally and to listen to my body. Remaining curious, having a positive attitude, and prioritizing self-care help me to stay in a good mindset to not assume.

If I take things personally, I cut myself off from becoming a better person by rejecting other peoples feedback. Or it could be that the interaction isn’t about me, but if I internalize that it is, this creates unnecessary strife for me. When I notice myself taking something personally, I try to remind myself that it’s coming from a place of deep caring. It’s important to me to be authentic and to act with integrity. It is vital for me to be clear on what is my stuff versus someone else’s.

The first two agreements are a bit easier for me. I like the phrase “Work hard, but don’t be hard on yourself.” Doing my best gives me pride in who I am and what I create. Realizing that my best falls short sometimes is a motivator to making effective changes to improving myself and my crafts.

I have realized that always telling the truth is in my best interest. It keeps me in integrity and doesn’t create problems for me later. Sometimes telling one’s truth will disappoint others. I’ve realized that I have to be honest with myself about my own needs to allow me to give generously to others. I firmly believe in the notion that the truth will set you free.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.floralita510.com
• Instagram: @floralita510

Image Credits

All photos taken by me or friends.