We had the good fortune of connecting with Nancy Halladay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nancy, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Trying to create a healthy work life balance can be overwhelming when starting a new business. You want to succeed, to spend funds wisely and to do as much as you can to get your business out there and attract clients. At the same time, everyday life continues: the house still needs to be cleaned and managed, kids need time and love, dinners need to be made. The list goes on and on.
When I first started my business, my work life balance was completely off. My family was understanding of my late hours and extra time spent in my office. While I wanted to spend as much time as possible working on a website, designing logos, creating content, etc., I knew after the first few months that not only was this not going to be sustainable, but it was not going to be enjoyable if I kept going at this pace. The goal of starting my own business was not only to build a design firm that my kids could work at one day but to build a place that fostered creativity where people would want to work.
The key word for me was surrender. Not throw in the towel, wave the white flag type of surrender – more of the give it all you’ve got, then step back and take a breath. A friend of mine calls it “push + pause”. Push and hustle in the time frame that you have dedicated for work; then pause and relax, refuel, surrender the outcome and enjoy the journey – both in business and with the ones you love.

What should our readers know about your business?
Building a business is never an easy task. It takes persistence, resilience and dedication, even and especially when you go through times of uncertainty. Lately, I have been in a place where I am most proud of my ability to discern if a project is right or not. When starting out, it’s hard to say no to any potential clients. There is an element of fear that it may be your only client. I have found myself in partnerships that were outside of my design comfort zone and it lead to extra work and frustration on both mine and the clients part. It is best to have the confidence to say no when you feel the work is not the best fit for you. Stay positive and productive during the down times and trust that the right client will come around when the timing is right. There is wisdom in taking the time to grow your business slowly and with vision. Over this past year, I have been keeping my personal design passions alive while working with clients.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of my favorite places to gather inspiration is at a Restoration Hardware Restaurant. You will usually find them on the rooftop of a fabulous design center. There are only 15 of them in the United States, spread out amongst many states; however, if you have one near you – it is a must! Strolling through room after room of gorgeous furniture and decor, leading up to a beautifully designed restaurant and then eating one of the best meals of your life is the ultimate dining experience ever. It’s the perfect combination of design, inspiration and dining which makes for a perfect night out.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people along the path of creating a business that inspire and cheer for us through each phase. I have to thank my sweet grandfather for his beautiful example of living out his passions. He allowed me to see first hand, that if you work hard, you can achieve your dreams. My husband and daughters also deserve a huge thank you for supporting my dream each step of the way. They have helped design logos, business cards, and shouted me out on their social media pages. My husband has helped research business accounts, trademarks and other (not so fun) legal requirements. Having the support of my family and friends have meant the world to me!

Website: https://nancydeanne.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancydeanne_decor/

Image Credits
All photographs were taken by me and the individuals in the photos have approved them to be shared.

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