In our Ask A Founder series this fall, we follow 10 female founders on their entrepreneurial journey. Thousands of women have experienced our Selfmade virtual business coaching program, led by Brit + Co founder Brit Morin and sponsored by our friends at Office Depot OfficeMax. Here, we ask Selfmade alum and Pitch Day winner Sara Olsher about her company Mighty and Bright, which designs tools to help kids cope with life’s challenges, her productivity tips, and how she celebrates the small wins.
How would you describe your brand in five words? Friendly, honest, fun, inclusive, and encouraging.
What mood do you want your brand to evoke? I want it to feel like you’re getting a big bear hug from someone who loves you and wants to see you thrive.
What was your aha moment before starting your business? Kids understand WAY more than we give them credit for, and we need to treat them like the little humans they are, with the same fundamental needs adults have.
What’s one thing you wish you knew as an entrepreneur? You don’t have to start big and flashy with lots of VC money to build a business that can support you. AND you shouldn’t think too small either! Figure out how to pay yourself what you’re worth.
How do you get in the right headspace to start your day? I created a fun environment to work in – my office has disco balls and a very bright striped background, for example – and I keep my tasks organized in Trello so I always know what’s next on the to-do list.
How do you balance the practical with the creative parts of your business? I love coming up with ideas for new products, designing them, and seeing them turn into a real, tangible item. Balancing that with the boring stuff is hard. I try to outsource as much stuff I hate as possible (bookkeeping was the first!).
How do you celebrate the small wins? I usually take a screenshot and add it to a “wins” list in Trello, where I can see it every day.
What is the biggest risk you’ve taken so far? I moved to another state and pursued my business full-time (as a single mom). That felt pretty risky.
Entrepreneurship is a 24/7 commitment. What’s your favorite form of self care? Probably the biggest have been setting proper boundaries and only surrounding myself with people who bring me joy.
What is the most powerful thing you do in your day? I never lost sight of the lifestyle I wanted when I started this business. As a cancer survivor, my whole life revolves around my daughter and self-care. I drop her off and pick her up at school every day, and I take breaks when I need them.
What are your go-to snacks? Green smoothies, lentil chips, and candy.
How do you give yourself breaks? I go on walks with my friends (Oregon is beautiful for that) or go hang out with my parents. I meet people for lunch or talk to long-distance friends on the phone. If I’m having a “I don’t feel like doing anything” day, I will straight-up watch Netflix all day. As long as it’s only one day, that doesn’t hurt anybody.
How has Office Depot OfficeMax services/products helped you grow your business? I am such an Office Depot convert – I never realized just how awesome they are until Selfmade. It’s awesome to order something online and then be able to drive down to the store and pick it up the same day. As an aside, I love that I can choose to have them donate to my daughter’s school.
How have Office Depot OfficeMax services/products helped you accomplish more in your business? It’s killer to not have to wait for something to come that I’ve ordered online.
What does the word “selfmade” mean to you? I support myself without anyone’s help. And honestly, that feels AMAZING.
Thanks Sara! Start small but think big is great advice for any entrepreneur. Along your business journey, Office Depot OfficeMax can help you stay organized & save time with a suite of business services to help you accomplish more – from signs, posters & banners to get your business noticed to marketing materials to help bring your brand vision to life. We’re here to help you from start to success.
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