It’s a long story.

Know your worth… then tax that shit.

— Unknown.

So, I didn’t actually plan to start a side business, per se. For years, I had actually been turned off by the idea of working all day at a “normal job,” then coming home only to have to work more. Fuck that. Although I know 99% of people will never “get rich” working for someone else, and we all wanna get rich, dealing with the minutia of operating a business seemed way too daunting a task to take on.

You see, I had actually run a business before, albeit a total scam/cult/pyramid scheme (I’ll get into that some day-maybe). But I did have the experience of starting and running a business and knew what went into it. Hard pass.

However, after about 2 years of regular corporate life, I was starting to get that itch. I know you know what I’m talking about. It’s a restless, unsettled, underlying anxiety that life is going on too fast around you, and you’re wasting it while everyone else is just doing it all and doing it right. Dark and completely false, by the way, but you know what I’m talking about. I felt unfulfilled. And this detail about me is going to come out eventually so I’ll just say it: I can’t stand kids and I’m unsure if I’m even interested in marriage, so I definitely didn’t feel like someone was missing, just something.

I knew I wanted to DO something, and ideally monetize it, but nothing sounded GOOD good. I’m a great horseback rider; I can teach lessons? Ehh…kids. I like working out… maybe I could really focus and get in hella good shape and start posting pics and get sponsored?! Psychotic. I’m into yoga, so maybe I could go to Tibet and study under a monk? DEFINITELY DOWN. But no, none of this was realistic nor sparked enough joy to pursue. I liked all those things, but I didn’t LOVE any one thing. I definitely didn’t like any of it enough to go balls deep in it.

Luckily, Oprah had my back. One day, Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat Pray Love) spoke on her podcast. She spoke on the topic of having no singular passion in life. I listened. She explained that for so many years, she’d spoken on “finding your passion,” but one day realized that not everyone has “a passion.” Some people (um, hi) have lots of interests, and spreading their energy and talent over many things is just as wonderful as pouring it all into one thing. Brilliant. I was now validated by Liz Gilbert and Oprah. Say no more.

Her suggestion was to just be open. Be open to your many interests and explore them with no expectation, just a curiosity for what could unfold. So beautiful. I heeded her advice and just started pondering my interests and trying more things I liked. Instead of ruling things out with why nots, I just allowed a feeling of “hmm, that’s interesting,” to take over when mulling my options.

Not a month later, I was strolling my hometown Main Street with a good friend. The town was hosting a “Taste Of” event where all the local businesses were out promoting their wares. I had been watching Schitt’s Creek A LOT, and the growth my hometown was seeing reminded me of the Rose family and how they transformed their little town with their eccentric style and unique brand of love. When perusing Main Street, I said, and this is going to sound bitchy, but whatever, “These shops are really trying, but I could do it so much better.” And my friend said, “You could and you should. Like Rose Apothecary.” OMFG.

I might have been a little drunk, but I know a sign when it slaps me in the face. Right then and there, I decided I was going to open my own variety shop. I could literally fill my space with lots of different things I love! I knew I had the background, skills, style and ability to do it, so I would. It wasn’t running a business that turned me off, it was the idea of running the wrong business. When it’s right, it hits where it feels good, not where it hurts.

The point of this entire post is to iterate that the best ideas aren’t the forced ideas, and it’s okay to not have any ideas at all. My best advice for today: be open and curious without judgement and trust your gut. The universe wants you to win.