It Girl | TARYN JEREZ
Taryn is one of my favorite humans. I love her supportive energy and I feel honored to know her in real life. One of my favorite things about Taryn ( I don’t think I ever told her this) is the way her brand shows women of all backgrounds and sizes. Love the inclusivity! At the beginning of this year, I gave a talk in Winston-Salem and it was one of my first large speaking gigs post-stroke. I was SO NERVOUS!!! Taryn was front and center and I found so much comfort in knowing she was there. Taryn’s energy is so pure and sweet. She is also sassy which I appreciate. Sweet and sassy is a hard balance to strike, but Taryn nails it.
Name: Taryn Jerez
Age: 31
Job Title/Company: Creative Business Coach, One Crafty Miss, LLC / Founder, Cupcakes & Creatives
Education Background: BFA, Fashion Design & Marketing
In-depth Questions
Siobhan Lorraine Photography
Tell us a little about who you are.
I want to live life on purpose. I’m someone who is never satisfied unless I’m working towards something bigger than just me and while some days I need to remember to slow down, I’m grateful for the drive I was given. I’m a lifelong DIYer, thrifter extraordinaire, drinker of chai lattes, wifey to my high school sweetheart, mama of one adorable tiny human, and if I could spray paint everything in my house gold I would! I am the founder of One Crafty Miss and Cupcakes & Creatives and both businesses make my hands and my heart full!
I have a heart-centered on teaching and serving creative women who have a vision for their business and their life. Providing education and creating strategies to help make that vision happen is my jam! I’m also super passionate about taking community offline and incorporating real-life experiences and events that allow creatives to learn from one another and find connections that remind them that we are all in this together!
2. What sparked your interest in starting your business(es)?
After interning in NYC and landing a design job after college back home in Tampa, FL I realized very quickly I needed an outlet where I could be my own creative director. I started a creative lifestyle blog covering everything craft and DIY related and after a year started working closer with fellow makers and creatives. I realized after some time, that I enjoyed answering their questions and helping them build their brands more than I did blogging. I realized the value I could offer and decided to begin teaching and that led to coaching.
3.If applicable, tell us about your full-time job and/or any side hustles you might have.
I learned quickly that every entrepreneur’s path is completely different. There is no one right way to start your business while working full time, you have to do what’s right for you and it’s almost always a little crazy to say the least! While working to build my business I was employed with one of the largest apparel companies in the world working as a Technical Designer for women’s athletic apparel. For four years, I was traveling to NYC and Asia throughout the year while working early in the morning, at night, and on weekends to build and grow One Crafty Miss. After a lot of crazy hours, soul searching, and calculated risk-taking I left to concentrate on my business while freelancing for two StartUp focused NonProfit Organizations as a Marketing Manager. In December 2019 I made the jump to 100% full time in my business.
4.Who are you most influenced by?
The incredible women in my life. The ones who don't hold back on who they are and boldly go after what they are called to do. These women are my family, friends, mentors, pastors, clients and fellow creatives.
5. What was your first job and how long did you hold that position?
My first job ever was at 15 years old as a produce girl at a tiny family-owned market in my hometown in Spring Hill, Florida. I worked there after school and on weekends between band practice for less than 6 months.
6. Can you share one of your proudest achievements with us?
“We have to stop looking at our business and our life as a timeline of sequential events that “should be” instead of what actually is happening.”
Honestly, one of the things I’m most proud of is my marriage and the husband I’ve built the kind of life with that I didn’t know was possible. We have been together since we were 15 years old and support each other in everything we do. I wouldn’t have had the confidence or drive to create the business I have without him pushing me over the years. Even when you’re married to your best friend it takes a lot of work to keep a marriage strong, and the struggles in entrepreneurship doesn’t make it any easier! I’m very proud of what we’ve built together and continue to grow.
7. What were your initial goals with your work? How have they evolved?
Initially, my work came from a selfish place, I can recognize that and admit it without any shame. I was working in a career that only brought me stress to the point it was affecting my health. I began coaching and teaching as a way out. It’s interesting and humbling to see how my motivators have evolved, how I’ve evolved. I am continuously reminded how purpose-driven my work is now, not for myself but for the creative women I get to work with every day. My goals now are centered around building a business around impact, not just income. I want clients to feel overwhelmed by the authentic support, confidence, and clarity they get from working with me.
Madalyn Yates Photography
8. What do you think is the most important life skill you learned through your work?
You have to adapt. There’s a quote that I love that says, “If you are the smartest person in the room you’re in the wrong room.” I have learned to never stay stagnant because that’s where growth stops. You have to keep listening, learning, and growing to stay successful and help make change happen.
9. Where do you hope to be in five years?
I hope to be radically and unapologetically happy in five years living a life that helps women find their own equally happy and fulfilling paths through their creativity.
10. What is a typical day like for you?
Every day is different especially during this season of life with a new baby and a blossoming business. Most days start the same, with an early wake-up and the biggest sunshine-filled smiles from my son. Some time to quickly make a cup of tea and have some quiet time in prayer as baby boy plays for a bit. Next, checking emails, Asana and my client calendar to see where the day may be headed. The working hours often consist of a few coaching sessions via Zoom with clients, content creation, designing graphics in Canva, updating my event calendar, and lots of email follow-ups. After my official work hours are done comes family time with a neighborhood walk, dinner, and probably an episode or two of a favorite show I’ve already seen a million times on Netflix.
Siobhan Lorraine Photography
11. What was the biggest obstacle you’ve faced so far in the process of pursuing your goals?
I suffered a miscarriage due to an ectopic pregnancy in 2018 around the time I was trying to really build my business. It was an incredibly emotional and difficult season and at the time, felt like I couldn’t share what was going on with anyone outside of very close friends and family. I’ve found that the social media world prides itself on encouraging vulnerability but often it feels like only to a certain degree. I kept thinking it wasn’t ok to share with my audience or clients because “who wants to hire someone who’s in the middle of experiencing a devastating loss?” While time doesn’t necessarily heal all wounds, perspectives definitely shifts, and only now after that loss and the nearly 3 years of infertility that followed can I say with certainty that I wouldn’t have left my job or prioritized my life differently without those hardships. I’m grateful for those scars in this stage of my life more than ever.
12. What is the best piece of advice you have received?
“I think deeply before agreeing or signing up for anything now. If it’s not a hell yes, then it’s a no! ”
Stop comparing your middle to someone else’s end. We have to stop looking at our business and our life as a timeline of sequential events that “should be” instead of what actually is happening. It doesn’t matter when you achieve things, everyone’s timing is different. Work with your own goals in mind not someone else's.
13. When do you get your best ideas?
When I allow myself to unplug and shut everything else out my brain suddenly goes into hyperdrive spewing creativity! It makes me want to turn everything off sooner!
14. Can you share with us one time that you failed and what you learned from that failure?
I remember waking up and getting a text message asking if I was on my way to a meeting downtown that I had previously accepted. I answered, “So Sorry, I’m on my way!” There were at least 4 other people waiting for me to get there and as I stumbled through my walk-in closet throwing clothes on and getting my laptop bag together I realized there was no freaking way I was going to make it in time. I drove in tears and still ended up missing out on an important meeting simply because I had so much on my plate due to the fact that I continued to say “yes” to every opportunity to the point I was drowning. It may seem like a small mishap but it stands out to me because that was the morning I realized I couldn’t keep saying yes anymore. The word “no” has become my superpower! I think deeply before agreeing or signing up for anything now. If it’s not a hell yes, then it’s a no!
Katie Dickson Photography
15. How do you unwind?
Husband and baby snuggles on the couch watching garbage TV is the way to my heart. That and a glass of wine with some fancy cheeses and I’m my best self.
16.Can you share a sacrifice you have made to pursue your dream?
I think I sacrificed my comfort. Sometimes you get comfortable being uncomfortable, you know? I had to be ok pushing myself out of a box I had ultimately gotten comfortable living in even if it wasn’t at all what I wanted. And I’m still sacrificing that same comfort every so often honestly! Sometimes it was the (false) comfort of money and stability of a corporate job and other times it was the comfort of continuing to offer something in my business that I knew I’d outgrown.
17. What would you tell someone else who is interested in entering your field?
Do it, but do it your way. In a world where we are constantly bombarded with other people’s versions of success, you have to quiet that noise and decide what do you really want it to look like? You can consume all the content telling you how to do things but eventually you have to just start creating what feels right. You will absolutely mess up and it will suck, but you will learn so much from those failures. Also, know you are exactly who you need to be to do what you love, don’t think you need to be like anyone else to be successful.
18. What do you hope people take away from your story?
I hope someone just hears that voice in their head telling them, “if she can do it, why can’t I?” I thought I had to have my career figured out by 21 and anything else I wanted that looked different than what I initially set out to do was in a way “failing.” That is so far from the truth. Live a life of pursuit! Go for the things you aren’t sure are within reach. Find the right people who support you and can help you get to your goals.
Follow Taryn:
