Mad Love Monday | Yuliya Cruikshank
Epicexperiences.ca is the online platform that specializes in unique experience gifts and adventure tours that bring excitement, fun and a “Wow!” emotions to any special occasion. We are on a mission to simplify gift shopping and provide a convenient gift-giving solution. And my goal is to bring those positive emotions and precious moments to as many people as possible in Canada and beyond through Epic Experiences.
Photo Credit: Nicole Constante
My name is Yuliya Cruikshank and I am the Founder of Epic Experiences.
Epicexperiences.ca is the online platform that specializes in unique experience gifts and adventure tours that bring excitement, fun and a “Wow!” emotions to any special occasion. We are on a mission to simplify gift shopping and provide a convenient gift-giving solution.
And my goal is to bring those positive emotions and precious moments to as many people as possible in Canada and beyond through Epic Experiences.
How many of you love Mondays? I love Mondays! I remember when I was working a 9-5 job and just the word Monday itself already made me feel unhappy, but once I became the Boss Babe it got a whole new meaning of how inspiring Mondays can be. Today I would like to share a bit of me, so let’s get going.
What inspired you to start your own business?
I have a bit of an old soul in me, I did realize earlier in life than the material things can make us happy only for a time being but at the end of the day the precious moments that we can cherish forever make us truly happy.
I launched Epic Experiences from my personal desire to give unforgettable gifts to my husband. I wanted to stay away from traditional stuff and would like him to experience something new on his birthday or anniversary that can leave everlasting memories for years to come. The personal reason was a push but the actual idea was bigger than that. I wanted to inspire others to live life to the fullest and experience something new, fulfill it with positivity and happiness that comes from experiences.
I love being an entrepreneur because besides being my own boss it opened up the new doors for me and let me discover new opportunities such as growing as a person and developing the skills that I even did know I had. I love to meet and be surrounded by other amazing entrepreneurs that are driven, inspiring and great to learn from.
I do have many quotes that I use on a day-to-day basis but these three had stuck with me more than anyone else: “Believe in what you do and do what you believe in”.
Life is not measured by the number of breath we take but the moments that take our breath away.
And for my personal life this one: “Life is short, break the rules, kiss slowly, love truly, forgive quickly, laugh uncontrollably and never regret anything.
Work-life balance is also one of the reasons I launched my company.
I love to have the flexibility to run my business on my own schedule and at the same time be there for my family.
Running an online business has its pros and cons and even I can find lots of positive moments in what I do but there is no secret that the online world can suck you in and you need to know when to unplug and turn the devices off. Having a break from what I do is very important and I do make it a priority for myself.
We all want to be happy, happiness drives our dreams. When chasing the dream remember to have time to enjoy ourselves (the ride) along the way.
“Work hard – party hard”, I had this sort of mindset since my university years and even I am not partying hard anymore these days... but you got the idea. I do take time off on the weekends which are usually dedicated to kids’ activities and the necessary time to recharge. And for me time, I like to have a lazy Sunday once in a while, it’s something that I started to do even before I was having kids and my own business. I like the idea of no need to rush to go anywhere that is time-pressured, I pretty much can stay in pajamas all day, cook meals, play with kids, just unwind or have a movie night with my husband when kids are in bed.
And during the weekdays, after a long day of work, I like to have supper together with my husband & kids where we can connect as a family, discuss how the day went, make plans for upcoming days and disconnect from our phones and just enjoy the company of each other. Just simple real moments can make a work-life balance for me a bit less stressful.
Did you ever have a time where you wanted to give up? How did you overcome this feeling?
Absolutely, I haven’t met anyone yet who won’t go through rough times of running a business. The most challenging time is to pass a 3-year mark. Once you hit this period the ride gets a bit smoother.
I do always tell myself that challenges thrown at us will make us stronger and tomorrow will be a new day. I did have a time when I allowed myself to step away from the business for a couple of days, sleep on it and just clear my mind and regain the motivation. Sometimes we can be just burned out and that is what tells us to give up. I do remind myself WHY I started my business in the first place and this always brings me back.
I also heard, we can have amazing talents and leadership skills but the most powerful skill you can have as a business owner is to never give up, period.
I would like to see more shop local initiatives so we can support each other. I would be happy to connect with like-minded boss babes to collaborate and learn from each other. Please feel free to message or comment on social media to start a conversation.
Yuliya Cruikshank | Epic Experinces
instagram.com/EpicXPs/
Postponing Our Destination Wedding Amid COVID-19
With the spread of COVID-19, Matt and I had to face the heartbreaking reality that many couples have had to face: we’ve had to postpone our wedding. I know I am not the only bride who is going through this. So, I wanted to put together some thoughts and tips for my community on how I am personally adjusting my mindset during this time.
There’s a lot going on in the world right now, and Matt and I recognize and appreciate how lucky we are to have work, health, stability, and, most importantly, each other. But, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling the heartbreak today. For the past year, “April 7th, 2020” was the day I had been planning for and had unparalleled excitement for.
Today should have been my wedding day.
With the spread of COVID-19, Matt and I had to face the heartbreaking reality that many couples have had to face: we’ve had to postpone our wedding. We know that this is merely a setback, and we will be celebrating our wedding soon, but shifting our plans and sitting in the uncertainty has been both stressful and emotional. I also know that I am not the only bride going through this, and there are MANY brides in my community (and around the world) who are making the adjustment to their Big Day as well. So, I wanted to put together some thoughts and tips for my community on how I am personally adjusting my mindset during this time, in hopes that it helps just one other bride who is sitting in this uncertainty with me.
It’s OK to Feel the Heartbreak.
When we first made the decision to postpone our wedding (3 weeks ago) I jumped straight into problem-solving mode. Matt and I called all of our guests and spent days on the phone with our travel agent and the resort vendors to get the logistics sorted as quickly and smoothly as possible. During this time, everyone asked me how I was feeling, and my response remained pretty logical:
“There’s nothing that can be done, so there’s no sense feeling upset.”
“There’s much worse going on, and we’re just grateful to have each other.”
“It’s fine; we’ll just reschedule for later.”
It wasn’t until recently, as the wedding date approached, that I suddenly started to feel the heartbreak of losing the special day I had spent a year planning for. I think it’s important that we keep a level head, but I want to stress that there can be comfort and relief in allowing yourself to go through the emotions of this disappointment as well. It is OK to feel the heartbreak that comes with this crazy, unexpected circumstance. We can appreciate that the world is in crisis, recognize all we have to be grateful for, and still feel the sadness of losing something special to us, even though we know it is only temporary.
Find the Silver Linings
Perspective is extremely important during times of crisis, hardship, and change. Yes, it’s okay to feel emotional, but don’t forget to look for that silver lining as well. Is there a décor element you couldn’t afford that you now have extra time to save for? Perhaps there is a vendor that wasn’t available that might be available when you reschedule. In our case, the silver lining means that some people who are very important to us, that could not attend the original date, will most likely be able to join us now. At the end of the day, what matters to us most are the people who will be there celebrating with us, so we’re considering this a huge win!
Be Proactive and Keep Planning
Yes, there is a ton of uncertainty right now and decision-making has been halted, which can be extremely frustrating. If you need a break from the planning, then please take one. Let yourself recharge. Personally, I find that continuing to plan has really helped me to feel like I am still in the joy and excitement of being a bride, and not stuck in the Limbo of a global pandemic.
Being so close to our wedding date when we canceled, much of my wedding planning was complete. But there were still loose ends I needed to tie, and details I could have added if I had more time (ah, that silver lining again).
Of course, there are some things I simply can’t plan right now. Which dates will we rebook our wedding trip for? Will our guest list be the same? I have no idea. These things I can’t control, so I will let them go until we have more answers from our government.
In the meantime, here’s what I can do:
I can keep working on my vows
I can have fun brainstorming sessions with my brother who will be playing guitar for all of our ceremony music
I can work on adding to the welcome packages for our guests
I can finalize jewelry, accessories, and makeup
What can you do to keep the planning going and feel like you are still working towards the wedding of your dreams?
Get Resourceful
There are so many amazing resources out there to support the 2020 couples that are working through the stress and uncertainty of re-planning their wedding. If you’re feeling a bit lost, here are some great resources that you might find helpful:
And finally, don’t forget to find comfort through your community. Reach out, ask for support, and share your story. You are not alone; we are all in this together!
Sending lots of love to my fellow 2020 brides, xo
Written by: Elisa Valade / Proulx | ElisaValade.com)
instagram.com/elisavalade_
Ways To Get On Track with Professional Development
If there was ever a week where we needed some real talk, it’s this one. If you’re an Edmonton business owner you’re facing an unanticipated challenge. As a photographer, a part of my business thrives on events. Those events are on standby or are already canceled. This means I’m left with an unanticipated amount of time extra on my hands. This post will share the four ways I’m going to make the most of that time.
If there was ever a week where we needed some real talk, it’s this one. If you’re an Edmonton business owner you’re facing an unanticipated challenge. As a photographer, a part of my business thrives on events. Those events are on standby or are already canceled. This means I’m left with an unanticipated amount of time extra on my hands. This post will share the four ways I’m going to make the most of that time.
I’m a professional development enthusiast. I attend conferences, watch a zillion free webinars and I’m even working towards an online certificate in Adult Learning through the University of Calgary. As a small business owner professional development is in our own hands.
I’m also guilty of purchasing courses and content and not putting enough time aside to work my butt through them and get stuff done. SO! Here is my action plan over the next month to stop making excuses and work through the free and paid content waiting in my inbox.
Get Social With It
Share (without stealing!) your takeaways from what you’re learning through your courses/professional development journey. Sharing on social will keep you accountable for following through with what you’re learning. Telling your audience how you’re going to implement what you’ve learned is an amazing way to showcase your drive badassness as a business boss.
Here’s a personal example of a key takeaway from RISE Toronto:
RISE Toronto inspired me to reflect on what is currently going “right” in my business. In order to achieve my future goals, I need to recognize what is working and what is not. Chip away at the “not” and I can better focus my energies on what is working to generate more consistent revenue.
This is a summary of a key takeaway from the conference without sharing the exact content from the conference. I am spilling no secrets, only my insight.
If you’re like me, you’ve signed up for a course that you really don’t want to take, but you really really should take (I’m looking at you Taxes 101). If you’re really like me, you constantly push back a course like Taxes 101 each time you find a new and exciting course that aligns with your passion. Let’s promise each other that we’re going to find a balance.
Make a deal with yourself, you’ll do a module from a course you’re not enthused about (let’s not get out of hand and do the entire course all at once) and follow that module with another one from a course you’re in love with. So, get the dirty done fast and then move forward towards that golden light.
Look For Free Content
There is so much free content out there! YouTube is amazing. You do not need to sign up for an expensive coaching course if it’s not in your budget (and that’s okay!) If you’ve got a major crush on a coach, do a deep dive into all their free YouTube content first.
Download a Podcast app stat. Podcasts are my favorite source of online inspiration and growth. There are a few podcasts out there like the Start Today Morning Show and Boss Girl Creative that sometimes include monthly or weekly challenges for the listener. These challenges are a form of professional growth and development. Yes, they count!
Find a Balance
This will help you create strong habits once schedules are back to a regular pace. Time blocking an hour or two per week to sit down and only focus on professional development keeps it a priority.
I block off Wednesday mornings as my professional development time. It’s in my Google Calendar as a non-negotiable. I don’t always do a course during this time, sometimes it’s market research, some youtube tutorial time or time to sit down with a favorite coaching book.
Block Your Time
This is the part where I let you know that I work from home and don’t have children. It is fairly easy for me to make time for this each Wednesday morning but I know that won’t be the case for many readers. Do what you can, even if it’s 15 minutes a week. Block that time into your calendar and don’t let your other business items take priority over it.
Investing time in yourself is never going to be a bad thing. If you’re like me and faced with more open time on your hands than you were anticipating you might feel stuck. Right now is a hard time to make plans when it’s tricky to anticipate what’s going to happen a week from now or the week after that. If you’re finding yourself stuck, look to professional development as a source of inspiration.
Here are a few of my favorite online resources for professional development:
Written by Janelle Dudzic