Tessa from Down That Little Lane is one of those incredible women who just ooze inspiration. Within minutes meeting Tessa we were chatting away at my kitchen bench over a big plate of sushi, and I felt like I had known her forever - That's just how relatable and down to earth she is. I am so happy Tessa is here to share how she went about chasing her dream of DTLL.
So over to you chick!
Hi guys.. so the gorgeous Sonia asked me to pop in and do a
guest post on chasing your dreams and frankly as I find Sonia one of those
infectious people I just want to be around day after day I could not say no.
I suppose I should introduce myself ...
My name is Tessa and I am the Owner/ Founder of Down that Little Lane.
I am a Mum off two small people ( Kitty nearly 6 and
Harrington 4.5 ), an exercise nut and wife to a totally supportive hubby that works
VERY long hours.
I have been in Australia since the Millennium and am in love
with this country (proud citizen) but and a born and bred Londoner.
So chasing dreams huh?..
Wowsers its is a huge choice that
so many people come across and often never even get close to addressing. I have
had so many ideas over my lifetime , seen, thought OMG that would be fab in
Aus.. I should do that.. then gone nah.. too hard basket.. so what happened
with DTLL? Why was that not swept under the carpet along with the others?
DTLL had that last little ingredient
that tipped me over the edge, it had an added dose of desire that made me
passionate. I was always a book marker, I just
couldn't help myself. When I found something unique to buy on line. I saved it
to come back too, I mean what if it hadn't been able to find it again?! Oh the
travesty!
My speciality is gathering unusual gifts and home décor. I adore buying presents as I always have something in mind that suits the recipient regardless of budget limitations and my friends were always asking for recommendations. I had so many mini fist pump moments when they then bought those suggested products or someone asked me where I got the present that I bought their child as they wanted to buy one for someone else.
It was a lightbulb moment that maybe I could turn something
I loved doing and loved sharing into something that everyone could also grow to
love. I researched and realised there wasn’t any one site to send them which
guaranteed finding the sort of gifts and home wares that I would be happy
to recommend.
I went to a couple of web developers for quotes and whilst
that initially scared me into stepping back and thinking about things for
another month, I then went back to my
boys and really sat down and got to the nitty gritty of exactly what I
wanted the site, how it would function and most importantly how much it would
cost to create that.
The quote was high, the build was our family nest egg, it
was all our savings and I would not be earn a wage for the whole 6 months it
took to develop and at least the next year post launch. Again hubby and I sat
down, did more research.
The more I researched, the more I bookmarked and the
more I bookmarked, the more I knew I wanted this SOOO bad. My gut NEVER said
No, never not once and whilst I have no doubt my husband was nervous he never
showed it and he backed me 100% saying he believed I could do it and he knew I
would make it happen if I wanted it bad enough.
So I hit the build button and there was no turning back.
From the look and feel of the
website…to the font, logo, and colours…I knew exactly what I wanted in the DTLL
site.
In October 2011 we sent out personal invitations to the gorgeous
stores I had been bookmarking all those years. Using the treasured places
I spent many years sourcing, I gathered them all in one place. I then added the
fun elements of wish lists and collections and in Nov 2011 Down that
Little Lane went LIVE
So has it been worth it? Is the "chasing dreams"
notion a totally ludicrous one?
It takes courage, it takes desire, it takes a support and it
takes a HUGE amount if hard work. Hard work?
WTF? What harder than what you do now?
Yes most likely but the major part that makes the difference
is that the hard work is all for YOU, it is what YOU desire and it is what YOU
wanted so somehow the work is just so much more enjoyable.
The rewards and pride are all there for yours to take all
100% off it as you created it by the choices you made
It has not been easy, in actual fact it has been 10x harder
that I thought (and I am a hard worker) but the pride I have for what little
old me created is just chest bulgingly amazing.
The relationships and
friendships I have formed with other SAHWM's is heartwarming and THE best and
above all I am my own boss.
I dictate how my day runs and what paths are taken
and for what reasons. I am now even a boss to others and I have beautiful,
loyal and grateful Mums that work with me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, our Blog and Newsletters.
A wise lady recently said to me " the very
definition of a woman wanting to 'have it all' is when she wants to be a
working mum AND a stay-at-home mum at the same time" she was right but I
did and I do and I could not be happier that I chased my dreams.. You have to
try don't you?
With Down that Little Lane I just couldn't have sat there
two years later thinking what if ?
There are so many quotes I have up my sleeve these days
about what I have done. I have need to have my mantras to keep reminding me
that this is something not everyone does and is something I should be very
proud about but my favourite would have to be the 3 C's
"You have to have courage, to take a chance, to make a
change"..
So that's me and my chasing dreams story. I am a great
ambassador for it these days and have ideas for businesses of all styles and
sizes. If you need advice, contacts or just a good kick up the butt.. email me
as I am happy to provide any or all of the above x
Don't forget to check back tomorrow for our next guest in the Dare to Dream Guest Post Series.
Don't forget to check back tomorrow for our next guest in the Dare to Dream Guest Post Series.
