The Importance of My Chamber of Commerce

Hey everybody!

Purple Butterfly Pages reached an exciting milestone this week!

Back in 2010 at the beginning of my college journey, I was given an assignment by my small business class instructor to list and explain different ways to network from the view point of a business owner. This assignment was particularly inspiring to me as I had just begun my own small business! I began my list with a goal to join the local Chamber of Commerce. I detailed that as a grass-root sole proprietor business, I was not in a position to join the Chamber at the time. 

Becoming a member of one’s local Chamber of Commerce would provide any business with networking opportunities, offer support and resources for the business, and provide a network of support from other local business owners. Becoming a member of the Chamber of Commerce was especially important to me, even as an individual member prior to joining as a business owner. 

My connection to my local Chamber of Commerce began in 2007 when I had just turned sixteen-years-old. I was an intern at the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce while my uncle, being a British antique store owner in the historic downtown area, was a member. After my internship of almost one year, I finished high school with plans to attend college. I always knew I would go to college, but had not yet quite figured out my major. As I thought more and more about a major, I remembered the work and all the experiences that I had been exposed to at the Chamber of Commerce and knew that I wanted to pursue a degree in business. I signed up for classes majoring in Applied Business Technology. I went to work with my studies and a few months later an opportunity came before me. I took the risk and started my own business. 

Throughout my college experience, I held a student membership with the Chamber of Commerce. I did this to stay informed about and involved with my community and its businesses. After graduating college, with business growth at the forefront of my business plan, I knew I had to be more involved in my community and know the local business owners on a more professional level. This would also introduce my own business-that has now expanded- to my community on an entirely different level. 

So, on March 13, 2014, I joined the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce as a business owner!! 

Another goal on my list checked off!

Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President, Wendi Bailey (whom I have known since I was a teen), shared my excitement as I met with her and completed the paperwork. The tradition at the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce is to ding a silver bell every time a new member joins the Chamber. It was a very exciting and proud moment when that bell rang for me as my business, Purple Butterfly Pages, joined my local Chamber of Commerce!

I am thankful to Chamber President, Wendi Bailey (pictured here on the right) and Executive Assistant, Vicky King (not pictured) for the knowledge they have shared with me over the years. I feel blessed to know these two professional women!

Be involved.

You never know where it may lead!

Believe! 

Caitlin Ayers 

Owner, Purple Butterfly Pages

Facing the Odds

Hey all!

Over these past few weeks since my college graduation, I have been thinking a lot about my current job as owner of Purple Butterfly Pages and Purple Butterfly Publications.  By definition, entrepreneur  is  a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so.

The main reasons a person starts a business is to either sell or provide a service to the public, service or retail. As for me, I saw a need from book readers for new respectable books to purchase. A passion was stirred in me to provide the public with a novel or book that not only entertained a reader, but also encouraged and inspired the reader through its story as well. So, I found an avenue to do just that and a new entrepreneur was born!  I began working to organize a business where I could sell such products online as well as at special events, thus Purple Butterfly Pages  was created! 

Some people have described me as an optimistic realist. I interpret that to mean that I am optimistic about the things I do, but understand that everything does not always work out as I imagined or hoped. Here is where the risks-taking part of being an entrepreneur comes in. As a business owner, I need to take risks in order to gain more of what I want and need. If you don’t go after something you want, guess what…you won’t get it!  Take the risk!

“Entrepreneurship isn't for everyone, and not everyone is going to be an entrepreneur, but women who turn to business, turn to economics, because there are people depending on them, I think that their creativity, their resilience, their spirit, embody what's best about entrepreneurship.”

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Another reason I chose to be an entrepreneur- to do my part to help raise the economic stability of my city, my state, and my country. Maybe the United States of America does not have the best economic stability at the moment, but I believe it can and will get better if its citizens support our country’s businesses especially the small ones.

Believe.

Caitlin 

www.PurpleButterflyPages.com

What's Stopping You???

Hey!

Hope the week is going well for you so far. 
While washing dishes this morning after a yum breakfast of pancakes and turkey bacon, riskiness came to mind. Yes, very odd thought for washing dishes. Probably thought about it because I was risking getting the electric outlet wet when washing the electric griddle. ANYWAYS, it got me to thinking the risks I have taken in life and the ones I have NOT taken...but I think you should focus more on what you have done and not what you should have done. Learn and move on!

“Why not go out on a limb? That's where the fruit is.” - Will Rogers

Growing up I was not much of a risk taker at all (I left that up to other siblings), but when I turned eighteen something clicked. I realized the teen years were not going to last forever and the risk taking needed to be stepped up! I started college with no idea, what I'd be doing when it was over. The next year, a few days after my nineteenth birthday and a few months after I had started college, the idea of Purple Butterfly Pages was alive. 

THE BIGGEST RISK I HAVE EVER TAKEN. 
I faced fears of inexperience, rejection, and failure. BUT I worked hard anyway making phone calls, meeting new people,  doing what I knew I could do and stretching myself to do what I knew I couldn't do.  It is very true, the saying, "No risk, no reward"! I have grown and continue to grow so much as a person, mentally and spiritually, learning so much from being the owner of Purple Butterfly Pages!
I encourage you to take a risk today. You NEVER know what you are capable of, so find out!

"Do not be too timid and squeamish. ... All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

What's stopping you?

Caitlin :)