A: Ashley Vannoy: Go ahead Justin, you explain it so well.
A: Justin Baxter: It’s very, very personal for us. I’m itching to explain it just because it’s such a, for me, when I think about the future and I think about fifty years from now, I’m going to be reflecting on my life like where I was and who I talked to and all of the stuff that I did, and right now at fifty years before then, if I have fifty years, let’s just say I do, I still have that time and I have to make the most of it. It is a beautiful phrase but it’s very meaningful to me, I just want to do as much and see as much of the world as I can. When you get home from like a long trip or you have a long day at work, when you get home you have to unwind and you have to reflect on stuff and you can get away from everything else. When I get home, I think about all of the stuff that I’ve done and it kind of helps me to grow and it helps me to reach a little deeper into myself too.
It’s not just like all about the future fifty years from now, it’s also about next week or tomorrow or any day of the week, something happens. I mean every day something happens. I’m just a very deep person so at home is a reflection on that, I have stuff in my house that I’ve gotten and two other people that have been important to me and that had passed away a long time ago, and I have stuff that I’ve found at Big Lots, something that I just thought was beautiful so, I try to make my home that and I think that’s why we named our shop that. That’s why we are naming our big project that because we want to bring home the experiences with those people that we meet and the places that we go to. Yeah, that’s it for me.
A: Ashley Vannoy: Yes, and just to add to that a little bit more because what Justin said, that’s basically it. It’s that feeling of coming home relaxing and it’s also that feeling of being passionate about something deep in your core, that’s why we started this, you know, why we started this business. We want to connect with like-minded individuals that have that dream and that passion too, whether that be creating different pieces like what we’re doing, or something completely different, but it’s just finding that connection and accepting that and being passionate about it and that’s what we’re trying to do. We want to help people realize that this is something that they can do too, it’s all about that feeling.
Quanta D: Wow so,
Q: You guys are becoming like Life Transformers?
A: Ashley Vannoy: I think that’s the goal.
Quanta D: Look, we’ll come up with some better terms another time, ok? But it sounds like you’re some kind of Transformationalists, or something, and it’s really great so,
Q: With all of this journeying that you guys have been on, of your lessons learned, insofar, with embarking onto the journey that is your new brand, Ashley and Justin Create, what is a common problem of a life and career transition that most face? And that your brand has recently experienced?
A: Ashley Vannoy: I think for the both of them, balance. Wouldn’t you say so Justin?
A: Justin Baxter: Yeah, for sure.
A: Ashley Vannoy: It’s finding a balance.
A: Justin Baxter: Definitely. Unless you’re wealthy already and you are lucky enough to have someone support you in your transition, most people can’t just start over, especially if they’re in their late 20s or their 30s or 40s or whatever it is. I don’t think that we should limit anyone in that aspect so, I think just finding the funds to do it, finding the time if you have children, just finding a life balance in general is probably the hardest thing. Trying not to get burned-out on your business.
Q: Could you just expand a little on the Life Balance?
A: Ashley Vannoy: Kind of what Justin said, finding time in between, because, Justin still is working full-time right now. Right now, this is what I am doing full-time so, for Justin and me we have to try and find life balance. We both live in two different states, I’m in Cleveland and Justin is in Kentucky so, it’s just trying to find a good balance between both of us to get everything that we need done while he’s working and it’s just finding that. And then also, it’s family and if you have children, we don’t, we both have dogs so it’s trying to find that balance between everything.
Quanta D: Ok. That’s much more improved in expanding on that so, thank you guys, so much. I’m sure that will help some people. It could be just one little simple thing on the surface but it can go extra deep for most because that’s thrown around as well, just life and career, period. Regardless of a transitioning or an aiming to do more, just the balance thing is something that yes, it’s definitely a common problem.
I’ve seen a lot of it online and also, I was really shocked, I’m always really shocked when I hear something at a café or restaurant and I’m not working but it has something to do with my work with Quanta D. All of a sudden, I hear these two females, and this moreso had to do with my Wellness interest, I am a Wellness Enthusiast as well, aside from Quanta D. I just hear these two girls, urbanite ok? City girls, and they’re sitting there having fish and grits or something at this new soul food spot in Harlem, then one of them goes “You know what her problem was? She didn’t have the proper work/life balance!” And I almost spit my coffee out. I could not believe, I was like, where is this coming from? Am I gravitating this? And I always wonder that too because you know, Divine intervention, the Universe and all that good stuff so, as simple as it is on the surface, that balance and then with you guys expanding on it, it’s definitely a common problem.
