Opening A Retail Store After 40 | Following Dreams | Lessons Learned

[@seekingenlightenment2026]

Wow!!! There is something so trustworthy about you. Your value and joy for life jump out of the screen. Thank you for sharing your story. Even if I never endeavor to take the leap toward my big dream, I have been generally enriched by your sincerity and generosity!!! 🙏🏾

[@mikaelapabon]

Aw I’m glad to hear that, you’re so sweet!

[@MsMocaHauntas]

This was/is absolutely so very inspiring 🫶🏽 I am in a similar space with my business and to hear your story gives me so much hope. I thank you, beyond words, for sharing your truth with us!! 💚💜

[@mikaelapabon]

I’m so glad my story resonated with you and brought you hope - if even a little bit. It's exactly why I wanted to share this story. We got this! 💪🏾

[@itsmakeitadouble]

This is so inspiring. Thank you for sharing your story. So many times we think that we reach a certain age and we can't or are not allowed to still follow our dreams. Your story disproves that. I don't care if you are 60+, if there is something you have always want to do -- DO IT!!! We all have 1 life and you need to fill it with all the things that bring you JOY!! Girl it's ok, that you had to pivot your creative vision is what inspires us! After 8 years I just closed my Coworking Space and I felt the same way❣

[@mikaelapabon]

Yes, girl! I was surprised by how many people told me they didn't think they could do something new after a certain age. Like it was really shocking to me! But I'm glad I could share my story as a testimony - even though it didn't work out the way I thought it would, it worked out the way it was supposed to. I'm sorry to hear about your coworking space, but excited for your next chapter!

[@itsmakeitadouble]

@ I had it for 8 years. It was time. lol. We held on even after COVID so I think that was a success. I’m looking forward to my next adventure and just started my KZbin journey. I look forward to binging you content ❤️

[@MyLifeDIVAA]

I love this. ❤

[@mikaelapabon]

❤️ thank you so much for watching

[@TamSews2]

Thank you for sharing. I experienced something similar. My business was doing very well, but I was working a full-time job also and I didn't have the bandwidth to put as much into my business as I wanted and needed to. I thought my merchandise would do good online after leaving the place I was renting. It didn't go as planned. I felt like a failure afterwards. I know now I am not, I would have failed if I never started. Thank you SO much!!!

[@mikaelapabon]

Oh girl, I understand completely. There are so many lessons in the perceived 'failures' that I've stopped calling them that as well!

[@HouseofLadyJ]

You're totally not a failure. Be proud of yourself!!! I know I don't know you but I am proud of you. You set out and accomplished something that people only sit around talking about in the sidelines. I do however notice one thing though. I notice all the successful business owners out here do not have full time jobs + trying to run a business both at the same time. I notice it's a "either or". Either they work a job, or either they'll run/work their business full time. Honestly, it's tough to have a job full time then business part time. Tough!! ...and there is just no way we can do both to maintain. One (either the job or business) gotta go. One gotta give. Either we make a boat load of money to replace our jobs income. Or have tons of funds stashed up in savings to not have a full time job and just handle our business full time instead? IDK. But I notice all these businesses "owners" don't also have jobs too. Maybe their spouse would hold down a job? IDK.

[@TamSews2]

@ thank you. That’s very true. I was beginning to become very overwhelmed trying to do both. We didn’t have the means for me to work my business full-time. I thought there would be longevity when I was able to pay rent at a pop-up shop, but found out they weren’t giving me all my money. I kept my own inventory system. I had to remove my business to save my business and keep my customers.

[@HouseofLadyJ]

Awe! I LOVE this Mikaela. Thank you for sharing this. You are BEAUTIFUL and I would have never guessed you're 48. I really love how KZbin place likeminded social media channels (people) in front of me. Such a blessing, I too longed to have my very own free standing boutique store. I'm in GA. I've done extremely well online tho over the many years. I would tho just want a space now at this point just for like maybe storing products. I sew and I am outgrowing my at home sewing space with all of my sewing tools, supplies, fabrics etc. Ugh! I'm in my 40s as well, and now starting a local small sewing business in my area doing prom dresses/party dresses. I don't really want this type of traffic in my home when doing in-person consultations, and or in person dress fittings. So I'd rather buy a very small building space here in GA instead of renting. I want to be in control of the unit instead of renting a spot from a building owner/landlord. Ugh. So much to think about. For now, currently here attempting to grow on my KZbin channel documenting my journey as a 40+ something year old local small sewing business in GA. Started this channel in 2021 but really started positing vids just six months ago.😩 I really like how you're honest with yourself and you know "it's ok! I can't do it all. It's my fault how things came down". Aww! I love it. I'm a strong believer that everything happens for a reason. We go thru seasons. One door closes another door opens. Setbacks are always made for come-backs. Always. Divine order. Glad I found you, thank you for being raw to the core, and now I just subscribed to your channel. Supporting you/this (online) all the way! Sending you HUGS from GA🤗 Janelle✂🧵👗

[@mikaelapabon]

Janelle, thank you so much! I'm a total believer in having space for your creative endeavors, and you are definitely not alone! I am with you on this new KZbin journey as I just started a week ago. We got this!! 🙌🏾

[@Sunflower-e7k]

I love this inspiring 🤍

[@mikaelapabon]

🥹 Thank you! I'm so happy my story has the power to inspire 💗