"Think BIG and BACKWARDS. I grew up before Title Nine and the Women’s ‘movement’. As women were seeing more opportunity to become whoever ‘they wanted to be’, we were all told about our choices. There were many avenues for us to take besides that of a homemaker. However, I had not the vision of where the choices might take me. As the owner of Gear West Ski and Bike, my path might not have been so circuitous or random if entertained a larger thought than just opportunity. For example, I wanted to become a vet. But midway through organic chem, all I could see was the chemistry classes ahead of me, and the lack of perceived creativity stopped me from completing my studies. IF I saw the vision of running a vet business (which still intrigues me ) and worked backward from the business of running a clinic, I might have better accepted the grueling steps needed to achieve a greater goal.
To young women I would say, think of the bigger picture, the who or what you want to become or the lifestyle you want to lead in your future and then work back to identify the steps to lead you there." —Jan Guenther, owner of Gear West. https://www.gearwest.com/
"Hello there lovely little girl,
My advice to you is, do it all again. You love with your heart wide open. You believe in the best parts of people. You trust yourself, your gut, and your heart. You believe in magic and possibility. You gave all of this to me like a gift and I have kept it. I see the world through your childlike heart and while it hasn’t always worked out for me, do not change it. I would say, do it all again, maybe a little slower this time. Observe it all and write it all down this time. You will know grief, you will know hurt, you will have regrets, you will make so many mistakes and then you will learn things you couldn’t have without the pain. Do it all again, my little self, heart splayed wide open, a little slower this time." —Dani Anderson, owner of Vi Beauty Lab. https://www.vibeautylab.com/
"Listen to the guidance of those you admire, but ultimately trust in your intuition - those two combined will ultimately guide you to where you need to be. Remember to cherish the journey, for whether it's a peak or a valley, every step molds you into the person you're destined to become, worthy of reaching your dreams. And always remember, you will never stop growing and learning along the way. It's in this growth that you find who you are." —Erin Haugerud, owner of EH Design Co. https://www.ehdesignco.com/
"If I could give my younger self advice, I would say believe in yourself and your choices. Trust your gut and your intuition. For me, personal and professional growth often happens in the moments when things don't go as intended. Valuable learnings came from when I trusted myself to pivot or shift my original plan. Believing in oneself is not always easy, but it is something I am mindful of and wish I would have trusted more in my early years." —Kim Cassens, owner & operator of Nothing Bundt Cakes in Minnetonka. www.nothingbundtcakes.com
"Don’t wish your life away waiting for the “next thing” . . . live for today with an eye on tomorrow but don’t worry about what you cannot control . . . and realize that you control almost nothing other than your reactions and attitudes to what happens in your life. Make big plans but be flexible and learn to let things go when they don’t turn out the way you had hoped.
Push yourself harder than you think you should. Be stronger than you believe you are. Don't let the fear of missing out cause you to make premature decisions. Don't take life so seriously and criticism so personally. Find your passion, pursue it, and don't let anyone crush your dreams." —Jean Stelten-Beuning, owner of Top Dog Country Club. https://www.topdogcountryclub.com/
"If I could go back in time and give advice to my younger self I would share the following:
Practice gratitude and appreciate the small things in life. Cultivate a positive mindset and focus on the good. Do not hesitate to be generous with everything, your time, talents and material things. The joy in giving is much greater than keeping for yourself. Be kind to yourself and have patience with things that do not go your way or are hard to learn/experience. You are always learning and building skills throughout your life. Enjoy the present moment and live in the present. Don't constantly worry about the future or dwell on the past." —Amy Kelly, owner of Jett Beauty. https://jettbeauty.com/
"Dear Younger Me…
Dear younger me do not be so naïve, and believe everything you hear, have more discernment.
Dear younger me communicate more openly, do not hold things in, it's ok to express your feelings and ask questions.
Dear younger me, do not compare yourself to others, it is a competition you cannot win, just be you, your unique self who God made you to be. Except when you have a twin sister and are identical LOL!
Dear younger me forgive more, do not hold onto bitterness it only steals your joy. Forgiveness sets you free.
Dear younger me, I wish you would have come to a personal relationship with Jesus much sooner in your life, it would have saved you much heartache and pain.
*(a song by Mercy Me, worth a listen to!)" —Debbie Slusar, owner of Amore & Fede. https://amorefede.com/
"Invest in your relationships! Quality friendships and relationships are vital to your personal happiness and health. My friend group has naturally shrunk as I have gotten older and I am 100% OK with that. As you get older life gets busier and time fills with more responsibilities and you start to realize that the quality of friendships is so much more important than the quantity. Take a moment and go through your relationships and ask yourself the following:
Can you count on your friend to be there for you?
Are your experiences often negative or positive with this person?
Do you trust them?
How do you feel around them, do they bring out your best self?
Life is short folks, do yourself a favor and cut ties with those who are not really your people. Take that trip, invest your time with your selected quality humans building memories that make your life and those around you richer. And don’t forget to wear sunscreen and be kind!" —Melissa Schoeller, owner of GYPSET Midwest Yoga (1st Yoga or Fitness class FREE!) https://gypsetmidwestyoga.com/ & check out a list of wellness retreats around the world here https://gypsetyogaretreats.com/
"Be kind. There is no perfection. We all look differently and think differently for a reason. Embrace your unique gifts and celebrate the differences in others – they are a gift too!
Let your intuition be a guide. It’s good to be an optimist, yet important to listen to your gut. Don’t be afraid to go in a different direction or let go of the things not meant for you.
Believe in yourself. Dream big! Visualize what you want, and why it’s important to you. Plan and shift when you need to. Life changes and you’ll learn. You’ll get knocked down, more than once, get up, and dust off. Be humble, learn, grow, and keep believing." —Sandy Mahoney, Project Development at Highmark Builders. https://highmarkbuilders.com