Growing Business

I've noticed a trend lately with my posts, normally discussing my brokenness, life's craziness, or the many updates of my business and art. Well.. that's my life for you. But recently, (on more exciting terms), Ruth Vintage is finally up and running. A few days ago we launched our shop, and I have never been more excited to see something grow so wonderfully. My time and effort lately have been completely devoted to getting my shop running, and it has been a long and tiresome haul. With many cups of coffee and naps, I have successfully launched a full-blown business. YAY!

It feels AWESOME. I don't know exactly how I managed to pull this off, considering I am a student, I work full-time, and I have a side-job as a photographer. But I did it, and I am overjoyed at the amount of encouragement I have received with my little shop. If you haven't had a chance to take a look around my shop, you can do so here!

As I have grown in this journey, there are a few things I've learned when it comes to starting a business, going for your dreams, or simply establishing your passions:

1 | Set Goals

Setting goals is a major aspect of my business and creativity that is essential in having a vision, remaining on track, and staying focused. No goal is ever too big or too small to set, in fact, having both types of goals (long-term and short-term) gives you the perfect balance – goals to focus on for the present and long term goals that will be the product of your success. Although the idea of "goal-setting" can be daunting and sometimes intimidating, it allows you to stay focused on what matters to you as a business owner or entrepreneur. Personally, I believe this is an extremely important task to keep in mind as you start and maintain your business. 

2 | Give Yourself Time

When was anything rushed ever done good? (Okay maybe some things...) But seriously, t a k e  y o u r  t i m e. I cannot stress this enough. Time is of essence here when beginning a business. The intial feeling of excitment when going after your dream is like an adrenaline rush – you just want to get everything done and you want to get it done fast. But slowing it down and truly thinking about every aspect of your vision allows your business to reflect you, your product, and your ideals behind your business. Set time aside for each aspect of your business, even the stuff that may sound kind of boring. When I began brainstorming and planning during the start of Ruth Vintage, things continued to pile up on a list of things I needed to do, think about, and establish – beliefs, ideals, packaging, branding, products, customer approach, online presence, and design are just some aspects of your business that need thought, thought, and more thought. So don't be scared to take your time.

3 | Take Breaks

As exciting as starting up a business is, it's important to take breaks. Yes, you want to finish everything in a timely manner. Yes, you have a to-do list. But for goodness sake, take a break from all the biz. It's important to refresh your mind and your spirit by finding pleasure and peace in something else other than your business. Although the entire process of starting Ruth Vintage was amazing, taking a break from it was key to my energy and to my sanity. You can only wash vintage clothes so much before you need to step away for a bit... Go outside, read a new book, go explore your city, watch a movie, and just  r e l a x. You will not be in trouble for setting down your business for a minute to take a breather. Not only will it help your body and mind, but it's a perfect time to get fresh inspiration for yourself. 

4 | Research

Whoever said running a business was easy is crazy, unless no one ever said that... All those "little things" I was talking about early, such as your packaging, can be the things you may know nothing about. Starting as a beginner in this whole process, my knowledge about vintage alone has grown tenfold. Heck I had to research fabrics for hours on end just to know iron settings. Whatever your trade is, know it like the back of your hand. Find other business owners similar to you who have experience, ask questions, ask for advice, do whatever you can to get more knowledge. There will always be room for improvement whether your business is ten years old or ten days old. Never be afraid to ask questions. The worst thing someone can do is not reply... which may have left me bummed a few times. Every popular business owner, craftsman, and local artisan was in your shoes, working, questioning, and dreaming about having a full functioning business. It just takes time. 

5 | Push Yourself

I know how sometimes your vision may seem so little. Maybe you're nervous, maybe you feel as though no one will like your product or service, or maybe you feel like someone has done it before (which someone probably has), but every business is unique. Every ideal, every dream, and every goal was born by someone else with a new belief and vision in mind. Never tell yourself your business is useless. Sometimes all we need is a little extra push to bring confidence in our footsteps. I'm sure you've encountered 100+ vintage shops on Etsy, and maybe some people think I am "just another vintage seller," but my shop was born with a specific purpose that sets me apart from other sellers – for that I am proud of what I do. Ask yourself why you're doing what you're doing, how you're going to get there, and never say, "I can't do it."

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Visit Ruth Vintage's shop site to read more about our story and our vision →

Salvation

My own awareness of my own individual depravity is absolutely essential for my salvation. If I am not a sinner, I do not need a Savior. (See Eph. 2:1)

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Man, is that statement more true than ever. I am so broken, so completely shattered. The grace of God is the only love big enough to piece me back together; to glue every inch of me back into something beautiful. I've felt that hollow feeling lately – that feeling where you find yourself ashamed to look God in the face. I don't want Him to see how selfish I am. I don't want Him bear witness how sinful my flesh is, how impatient I am, how my mind is so drastically at war with my spirit. Have you ever felt that pain? That pain of knowing you've wronged the very God who created you? It's like a searing burn that lingers once its gone, leaving a pale scar behind. 

But how the grace of Him heals wounds. That shame is sickening, it is deathly and belongs no where near the heart of the Lord. I am depraved, in utter need of Christ. If I only I truly recognized how deeply my heart needs salvation. It is not an 'if' or a 'maybe.' I need Christ. I need His deep love for me. I need His ocean of forgiveness. My heart begs and weeps in my wrong doings, but God is merciful to me. He is patient with me. He is passionate for me.  

Every aspect of Him is every aspect I am not. 

Ashlee – Senior Portraits

I've been a little MIA on the blog lately. Life has been crazy busy + blogging has just been on the bottom of my to-do list. I have been taking TONS of photos lately, and I have been incredibly excited in my growth within my photo realms. Getting to document people and moments is so exciting.

Here is a recent session I did with a gorgeous senior. She has done some modeling from me before because she is absolutely effortless. I was a little nervous on this one because I am used to being in forests and nature for most of my shoots, but we wanted to mix some urban into it. I'm extremely excited about these images.

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See more of my work at www.taylorrobbins.co

Anticipation

Lately I have felt this growing anticipation for the future; the anticipation of marriage, of my business, school, and the things God has revealed to me of what's to come. I get excited and a little bit anxious, like a child on their first day back to school – the feeling of knowing something wonderful is coming soon, but the unknown is a little fuzzy and makes your tummy knot up. That's where I am; I am allowing the future to dictate the now. With that in mind, a funny question popped into my head. "What if I had that same anticipation for Jesus' coming?" As Christians, we don't really think about the return of Christ on a daily basis. In terms of faith, we think about scripture, community, humility, and living a life for Christ. But I can't recall the last time I anticipated the return of Christ. Can you? That eagerness I get from thinking about being a wife someday soon, the joy that I feel when I pursue my dreams, the happiness I find in preparing myself for what's next – what if I constantly felt that way towards the day I meet Jesus? I don't, but I want that desire. I want to desire Jesus so much, each day is like waking up to another day of eagerness and joy that I will be sitting at the right hand of the Lord someday. Each day I want to find myself dreaming about the beauties of heaven and the tangible love of Christ. When I step outside of the now, I want to step into the light of the someday that I no longer am bound by flesh or the world, but that I am celebrating in God's kingdom.

What would our lives (and our walks with Christ) be like, if we lived like this?

Understanding Health

For those of you who have kept up with my and blog personally know some of my story, I have always dealt with the issue of self-image. Like many women, I have felt the difficult struggle of being completely dissatisfied with my body-image. This sin, this tangible feeling of shame and disgust, kept me from understanding beauty from the eyes of the Creator. Unhappiness with my body image didn't allow me to understand how I was created in the image of the Lord. With recent freedom from this struggle, I have become so open to my body (in a good way, not in the 'I want to run in the street naked' kind of way). I have become more comfortable wearing shorts or tank tops, actually wearing a bathing suit and not cringing at myself, and just feeling confident in how I look. This appreciation and acceptance has come with much prayer, solitude, and understanding of the Lord. It has come with knowing what beauty is, and how to not be manipulated by media and our society.

Nearly two months ago, my boyfriend and I became vegetarians. We decided that eliminating meat from our diets would encourage us to eat healthier options. Since starting this diet, it has not been about losing weight. The goal has been live a healthier lifestyle. With being vegetarians we also cut out fast food, a lot of fats and sugars, most processed foods, and try to eat mostly organic or healthy foods. Let's just say we consume a lot of fruits and veggies. Since becoming a vegetarian, combined with living an active lifestyle, my body has been loving every second of it; I just feel better, I have more energy, I don't get so tired quickly in the day, and bad/greasy foods have become less and less desirable for me. It has been one of the most beneficial things I have done for my body in so long. In terms of literal results, I have already gone down a dress size. Again, this entire thing is not to lose weight. Before this diet, I was almost close to being overweight on my BMI scale (just barely hitting the limit.) Knowing I've begun to lose fat reminds me that being healthy is incredible and much more important than looking good. Before this 180 degree turn in my views of my body, I thought it was all about being smaller, looking better. But now I have realized it is about honoring this body that was made in the image of the Lord by being healthy and not purposefully allowing yourself to do things that are harmful to your body. Yes there will always be work to do, but cutting out bad foods is a major step in the process and something we don't realize in a country saturated in unhealthy things everywhere we look.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." – 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

This verse applies to many different areas, whether it be physically or spiritually, I have been commanded to honor God with my body, and lately physically honoring God with my health has been a great conviction in my life. In sharing this growth, I don't hope you convert to vegetarianism or stop drinking soda, I just pray you wisely consider what "honoring God with your body" means to you.

Karoline's Senior Portraits

Talk about a gorgeous lady. A natural behind the camera + the sweetest gal. Karoline was one of those models who wasn't afraid to do something different, sit in some tall grass, and be herself. This future Ole Miss student is going to do some wonderful things in the world. So glad I got to document her happy face!

Over There!

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Hey, friends! Today I'm featured over on Sophia's blog, Rare Beauty, discussing how I live out loud + love Jesus.

Check it out!