Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephanie Szkolnicki. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Stephanie, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
Risk. I have a love/hate relationship with this word. I love it when my brain turns everything off and just goes for it, like the times I went skydiving, or bungee jumping, parasailing, or jumping off a 50′ waterfall. But other times this word is one of the scariest in the dictionary, like starting a business, going through a divorce, being on my own with three kids.
I’m not sure I have fully developed the ability to take risks, but I am working more and more towards it in my everyday life. It of course started with fun activities, then it moved to business and that is where I have learned the most when it comes to risk. The saying “no risk, no reward” might sound cliche, but it’s so true. I like to say owning your own business is like jumping off cliffs often. There are decisions you have to make as a business owner and you and your employees are on the line. Should I advertise here and spend all this money? Should I hire another employee and pay employee taxes? How should I market my business? Should I take on this big project I feel totally unqualified for? And so much more….
Risk means two things, you either succeed or fail; and if you’re like me failure is hard, really hard. It has taken me years to be okay with failure; to learn that with failure comes the greatest growth. Do I still beat myself up when I fail? Absolutely….work in progress! But what I’ve come to realize is that staying in my comfort zone harms me more than stretching myself. This past year alone I have equated the big life changes I’ve gone through to a seed cracking and growing into a seedling. One of my favorite sayings and visualizations for this is: “For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. To someone who doesn’t understand growth, it would look like complete destruction.” ~ Cynthia Occelli I believe sometimes we have to fall apart, rip off our old shell, to grow into our next season.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am an Edible & Ecological Landscaper. I help people by setting up designing and installing edible gardens, pollinator gardens, rain gardens, or full permaculture designs. I believe learning to grow your own food while realizing that you’re also feeding nature is something we’ve lost over the last couple generations and that’s something I want to change for my generation, as well as my kids. My goal is to add more biodiversity to nature while also including nourishment for clients and their families! We’re unique in that we offer both maintenance and coaching for clients.
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 would say the three greatest qualities that I have come to realize needed for this journey have been passion, persistence, and perseverance. I believe passion comes first because you need a “why” to start and grow a business, yourself, or other goals you may have. Persistence is key because there are some days where you don’t want to do anything! Some days are overwhelming and it just seems it would be easier if you curled up in bed; but in order to reach your goals, you have to keep going! Perseverance is last but definitely not least. There are obstacles you will face that will make you cry. Maybe you failed big on a project (been there, cried about it). Maybe you priced the job wrong and lost money. Maybe you’re facing some dark days in your personal life and it’s hard to think about anything else. This is when perseverance kicks in…one step, even if small, forward is really what matters.
I believe the key to these is mindset, which takes practice. I stumbled across growth mindset when my kids were younger, and it has been a game changer for me. I have realized the only person holding me back is myself and my mindset, but it takes practice and patience (ugh) to change thoughts and thought patterns. I would highly recommend books on growth mindset and possibly even working with a therapist to help develop these skills!
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
There isn’t just one person; there have been many!
First and foremost have been my parents. They have believed in me, bent over backwards to help me, taken care of my kids for me, continued to parent me as an adult, and loved me unconditionally. To have that in my life has been probably one of the greatest things I could ever wish for.
I have had friends who believed in me. Helped me build confidence. Told me I was strong and courageous. Encouraged me when I felt like giving up. Shown up in very hard times and have loved me through life’s ups and downs.
And then there have been people I barely know who have guided me in directions I wouldn’t have thought to pursue, or given me ideas, or educated me in my field. People who have no reason to use their time to help but did anyways.
I believe it takes a community of people to help you develop as a person, as well as humility and a willingness to learn. I believe success is more than how much you make or your title. Success to me is having a community and loving those around you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.southerngardensol.com
- Instagram: @southerngardensolutions
- Facebook: @southerngardensolutions
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/stephanieszkolnicki
