Meet Emily Kaler

Emily, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
I’ve always been an overly optimistic person, even when I was younger. I think a lot of it came from having parents who were very similar and taught me optimism from a young age. In my experience, expecting that the best outcome will happen usually means it will. I find that when I meet a situation with optimism, it is contagious to everyone around me.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am the owner of Relic Vintage. Relic Vintage is a women-owned & operated highly curated vintage clothing store. Relic’s styling philosophy revolves around mixing and matching items that wouldn’t traditionally be paired together to create a harmonious and unique look.

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?
Reflecting on my journey, I believe that persistence, kindness, and curiosity were the three most impactful qualities. 

Persistence: 

Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. Understand that setbacks are a natural part of any journey. Instead of viewing them as failures, see them as lessons. Persevere through difficulties, stay focused on your goals, and maintain a positive mindset.
Kindness:
Cultivate empathy and compassion in your interactions with others. Recognize the value of building positive relationships and supporting those around you. Kindness not only benefits others but also contributes to your own well-being and the overall success of your journey.
Curiosity:
Approach life with a sense of wonder and a desire to learn. Stay open-minded, be willing to explore new ideas and continuously seek knowledge. Curiosity fuels innovation and personal development, making your journey more enriching and rewarding.

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?
My biggest challenge as of recently has been navigating the relocation of my store to a new neighborhood with a very different customer base than my previous store. This has required me to balance between preserving my business’s original vision and adapting to the preferences of the local community. To overcome this challenge, I’ve made subtle adjustments to my product offerings and visual assets. I’m also constantly testing new strategies and trying to be flexible and openminded. I understand that success in this transition depends on staying authentic to myself and growing every day to create the best possible store that I can.