Keeping the Dream Alive: How To Keep The Motivation and Get Out Of The Funk
My most recent and unexpected read was, Make Life Beautiful by Syd and Shea McGee. If you aren’t familiar with their interior design brand, Studio McGee, then you are probably not a part of the Target shopping, Starbucks drinking, lifestyle blogging world. Founded in 2014, Studio McGee started as an instagram account where interior designer, Shea McGee, posted the remodelling of their first home, showcasing her design talent. As outlined in the book, her husband, Syd, starting taking over the operations and growth of the business shortly after and together they have built a multi-million dollar company turning houses into homes.
This was an unexpected read because this book as been out since 2020, and I just most recently learned it was actually about how they built their business together. Of course I wanted to learn how an instagram account turned into Architectural Digest features and a Netflix Home Make Over series!
PS. If you want to know what I rated the book, head over to Instagram to see my rating as well as who I think should read this book!
I immediately took it out from the library and read it in the same week. The book is actually a pretty quick read and just over 200 pages. The POV goes back and forth between Shea and Syd so you get both of their perspectives about the events and decisions in their life and business.
The book was excellent, there is no question as to why they have such a successful brand. It was easy to recognize the discipline, commitment, and tenacity they had to get their business to where it is today. They didn’t shy away from sharing the hardships. In fact, the book primarily felt like it was about hardships. Shea admits wondering if she’ll ever feel like they “made it” , describing the never ending feeling of sacrifice and delaying gratification. It was validating and refreshing to read about having followed the highlight reel of her life and brand throughout the years. It put into perspective how their is no way around building a successful business besides going right into the eye of the storm.
When I was reading, there were many stories that have stuck with me. I’ve noted them and keep them in mind when I feel like I am in the slumps (which is quite frequent since I have only been in business a year). There was one quote from the book in particular that I shared to Instagram because I feel like everyone needs to hear it if you have a business or are thinking of starting one and are getting overwhelmed with everything there is to do.
The quote came from Syd after they had attempted to start an e-commerce store years prior but were constantly shut down by vendors to sell their products on their Studio McGee website. These were brands they were using consistently in projects and wanted to provide a way for their online community to have access to some of their favorite pieces without hiring an interior designer. They had big aspirations to fill the e-commerce store, and even years later, they were still not getting the feedback from vendors. So they picked up a project they initially started a few years back and failed, which was selling pillow covers (designed by Shea). They felt they had to do it on their own first to prove to the weary vendors that e-commerce was something they could trust for their business.
“No, a pillow business was not the dream. But by doing something instead of nothing, we kept the dream alive.”
This quote hit home for me on a few levels that are worth noting:
There is such a thing as a right idea at the wrong time - They had tried selling pillow covers earlier on in their business, recognizing that e-commerce was the most scalable for their business. Shea could take on only so many clients while keep her design style in every project. They had to figure out another way to grow the business. When they started selling the pillow covers again a few years later, it put them on the map as an e-commerce store and exponentially grew their business (they mentioned doing $30M in annual sales from e-commerce alone!).
If people make you feel crazy for your ideas, they aren’t your people - And give it space and time. Initially, vendors were nervous to take the risk of selling their products online with a new brand that hadn’t yet earned trust in the industry. Syd and Shea mention how they received plenty of “no’s” and backlash for their initial attempts. When they came back to vendors with a trusted community and reliable numbers with selling pillows, vendors could see how it would impact them.
When you are overwhelmed, keep taking action - overwhelmed by posting on social media? cold calling? what services to offer to potential clients? You just need to start somewhere and start with what is feasible and realistic. It wasn’t the goal to have a killer pillow business, it was to have a multi-million dollar e-commerce store that featured their most used and favourite products for their community to shop at their leisure supported by a robust team running their own warehouse. But they had to start somewhere, and they already had inventory of pillow covers from a few years back that needed to make a return.
If you are in the thick of business, or if you have ideas that you just want to put into action but get slowed down by the decision fatigue of figuring out the best moves to make and when, you aren’t crazy, you are just in business. They key is to not use the excuse of perfectionism to sabotage your goals. Be pragmatic and discerning with your action items, and follow through on what you say you are going to do. Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction. You aren’t giving up on yourself or settling for recognizing you can’t do it all at the same time! Businesses with multiple offerings and an engaged community takes time and commitment to build.
Make Life Beautiful by Syd and Shea McGee is an excellent read for any business owners looking to build something and needing some extra motivation to get through the tougher times of uncertainty. When it feels like you’re so busy but the needle isn’t moving. When you feel lonely wondering if all the self-doubt is normal or par for the course in business. This book will offer some reassurance and perspective changes that may be exactly what you need to remind yourself why you started in the first place!
