Image Via Laura Foote
Hey friends! I am back with another babe for us to have brunch with! My good friend Rachel!
Rachel and I met at Creative @ Heart round 3 in Charleston a few years back and have stayed in touch ever since! You guys, she is KILLING it! Rachel is both an artist and therapist, she blends the two together into an incredibly inspirational business! She is so wise and welcoming, she feels like a friend from the moment you meet her! I am so happy to be interviewing her today! Grab a cup of coffee and let’s dig in!
Introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you do?
Hi everyone! If I haven’t met you, I’m Rachel Tenny. I live in Charlotte with my husband and our two rescue pups.
I’m an artist, entrepreneur, educator, and mental health therapist and specialize in working with creative entrepreneurs and women who want to learn to accept their bodies.
What is your favorite thing to have for brunch? Menu item, recipe, anything!
Brunch/breakfast is my favorite meal and I would eat it every single meal if I could. If I had to narrow it down to ONE thing, I would say peach pancakes or waffles with whipped cream and a hot cup of coffee. Mimosas are always necessary too, especially if it’s the weekend!
What inspired you to start your business?
I started my business while I was in grad school as a way to have a creative outlet and make some extra money. Painting had always been something I loved and it just seemed like a natural fit to open an Etsy shop and start selling prints and custom paintings!
Image Via Rachel Tenny
You’ve recently started combining your amazing talents and talking more about mental health for creatives (which I LOVE!), could you tell us more about this?
This has been the biggest pivot in my business over the past few months and probably the thing I have done that I am most proud of.
As an artist, small business owner, and a therapist, I realized I had a unique perspective and experience that most others don’t. I realized that I was in a community of creatives who were struggling with their mental well-being. Entrepreneurs, specifically creative entrepreneurs are passionate, hard-working, and innovating, but often don’t prioritize themselves. Owning a business can be such a rollercoaster and I noticed that while there were groups and trainings about SEO, email marketing, and how to grow social media, there was NOTHING focused on mental health.
I started writing weekly blog posts, creating video content, and created a Facebook Community for creative. It has been so much to watch it grow and watch others have moments of feeling like they don’t have to struggle alone anymore. I’m a firm believer in the idea of “me too” and sharing our stories as a way to empower others. I started my first group Mental Health mastermind program (where I meet with 5-6 women weekly for 5-6 weeks) and have already loved seeing the relationships that are formed and the ways in which people are able to connect with others through this platform.
(Here is the link for the community for anyone who wants to join!)
What is a favorite task of your job?
I love painting and any custom work that I get to do! It’s few and far between, but I’m a sucker for anything that involves florals and a client who is open to letting me put my interpretation on things to create something beautiful and meaningful for them.
What does an average day look like for you?
I am an early riser, not because I love mornings, but because I always have so many things to do and like to feel prepared for the day. I wake up around 6 when my husband leaves for work and will make coffee, do household chores, walk the dogs, etc. Once I’m ready to start the work day, I have a list of “to-dos” depending on the day. Some days are client days, some days are content creation, some are for product development or custom orders. I stick to a batch schedule, so I go through the same rotation each week!
During lunch time, I make it a point to get outside for some fresh air and then when I’m done with my work for the day, I start to wrap up. I have become more intentional about the boundaries for myself as well as the office hours I set. My office hours end at 4PM each day and I work hard to stick to that so that I don’t get burnt out. During a launch of new products I will work later or when I am doing a group program, like the mastermind, then I work later.
In the evenings, I love to spend time relaxing with my husband and our dogs. Our neighborhood is full of fun restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, and we are always trying something new! I also love curling up on the couch with a good book and a glass of wine too! 🙂
Image Via Laura Foote
As a girl with lots on her plate, what is your favorite productivity tip?
NOTES! I love tangible notes and put them either in my phone or in the Simplified Planner. I am a big believer of if it’s not written down, then it won’t happen.
What are three must-have items for you?
1) coffee in a cute cup/mug
2) Positive affirmations (like the new ones in my shop-shameless plug!)
3) my phone, I use it for everything and feel lost when I don’t have it! I use it for the GPS, podcasts, budgeting apps…all the things!
What is something you can’t stop telling people about?
Personality tests and understanding their personalities and how that influences their business. If you haven’t already, check out StrengthsFinder and 16personalities.com, those are my favorites!
Image Via Rachel Tenny
If you could have brunch with anybody who would it be?
Brene Brown, hands down! If you haven’t heard of her, drop what you’re doing and go to Amazon and buy all of her books. They have changed my life and the way that I work as both an artist, therapist, and entrepreneur.
Isn’t she the best? Thank you so much for having brunch with us Rachel, you are truly an inspiration and are blessing so many women!
Be sure to check out all of Rachel’s links below!
|Website| |Facebook| |Facebook Group| |Instagram|
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