08/26/2024
Oh my gosh this is so long and UGH IF YOU DON’T WANNA READ I totally understand but I just have so many thoughts and also wanted to share an update about the fundraiser: We’re just a few hundred dollars away!!
I’ve given myself two more years (out of a 5 year plan) before I reevaluate what the next move is, business wise. I follow my business plan and update it with new goals every few months and lately, I’ve been putting in a lot more work to find ways to offer people encouragement, laughter, or just basic things like plant care and advice. I want people to feel safe and comfortable around me so they don’t feel embarrassed about asking questions they think sound stupid. I want to be interactive! I want to have conversations and hear about peoples plant updates and join in on their excitement when they find that their plant has grown a nice new big leaf!
But as rewarding as this career choice is, it’s always difficult to look at the financial aspect. I don’t have investors. I haven’t taken any loans out. I’ve built this small business from the ground up with my bare hands and I’ve put in literal blood, sweat and tears into doing this because in the end, it makes me happy and I want to share that happiness with as many people as I can. People and plants are my priority. I hope I never lose sight of their importance and I hope that if I ever make it “big” my goal will always be to help others with their mental health through plants, bring people joy, gather a diverse community where people feel safe and free to be themselves AND even more so; run a business that gives back by doing donation drives and fundraisers as often as possible.
I’ve been told the most important thing about owning a business is to NETWORK. Sometimes you can work your butt off and receive few results- up until you meet someone who has connections or power or money. To be honest, I’m not sure where to start with networking and although I’m working on it and doing my research on how to reach out to small IG/TikTok/FB influencers to collaborate with, I realized that maybe I’ve found a network through all the people who have shared my page, liked my posts and reposted my videos.
Perhaps this network isn’t defined by the traditional sense of the word but instead, rewrites the definition entirely when it comes to all these people who have put my name out into the world. They’ve given me new chances to be seen by large, various crowds on social media and they’ve even spread my business and what I do via word of mouth. And to the people who’ve donated their own hard earned money just to support MY dream… well, I’ve never felt more motivated to grow and challenge myself all because of you.
I want to make these people proud. I want to show them that their contributions not only mean something but are being used specifically to maintain and even expand my business by giving me the ability to travel once again. I’ve missed many events lately and I regret not getting the opportunity to show my face in a new place. But these donations are gonna make it possible for me to have new chances in the future and when I’m finally able to use that car, I’ll be sitting in it 6 days a week, thinking of how grateful I am for what was so selflessly given to me.
These people. They’ve given me a new outlook on life. I know it seems small and insignificant but for the past couple weeks, I feel like my reality has changed. I genuinely feel warm inside thinking about how selfless people are. I feel cared for. I feel that with all this support, I WILL make something out of this business and this new found hope has made my days so much brighter. I’m a small person who quite frankly felt like a nuisance asking for help. But that feeling has turned into something unexplainable to me. And I can’t say thank you enough for giving me that. It truly carries me through the day and I’ll never forget it. I have a good feeling about the next two years and when the time comes around to reevaluate, I am almost positive that by then, we will have met some monumental milestones. And I’ll owe a great deal of it to my supporters.
SO If you’d like to help finish the fundraiser, I’m so close and could really use a hand!! Anything helps but if you’re not in a financial situation to donate, that’s A-ok! Share the page on your socials and help me gain visibility! Again, thank you for your absolutely amazing support. I owe all of my smiles throughout the day to you.
My name is Jasmine Barkley, owner of Big Poppa Plantery. My b… Jasmine Barkley needs your support for Support Jasmine's Dream And Help Her Fix Her Market Vehicle
