Ari Krzyzek @ Chykalophia & Creative Women's Co: It all starts with a personal connection
Creative Women’s Co. is a series of intimate gatherings for creative women entrepreneurs to connect with each other on a personal level, learn together and spark collaborations. Building and fostering genuine relationships among creative women entrepreneurs can be challenging. At Creative Women's Co. we believe that it all started at a personal level connection. Our events are less like meeting up with random professionals but a gathering to see friends, learn together and create collaborations.
How did you come up with your business idea? What inspired you?
Creative Women's Co. is a community project from my main company Chykalophia. After a few years attending and joining multiple networking events/groups, I realized that I feel like I didn't accomplish anything than passing out business cards and realize that it was really hard (and awkward) to connect with other people in big networking events I've attended. So my husband/business partner suggested that I should just make my own. I took the challenge and now it has been almost 3 years since then and we just successfully did our first retreat in Chicago.
What were you doing before this? How did it prepare you for the entrepreneurial life?
I already have my business before starting Creative Women's Co. Having to have a few years of experience running my own business (plus a few other side hustles before CWC), it helps to know the basic of getting the info out and just testing its concept.
Do you have a fixed work routine? Is it important to have one? Any tips for our readers?
Not really. I work from my home office and I also have a toddler running around our apartment and studio. I've decided to make my schedule to be flexible most of the time with a few fixed theme-days. For example, I set Wednesdays for my in-person/coffee meetings, Tuesdays and Thursdays for phone calls/podcast interviews/other calls, Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays for all business/project related, and Sunday for me + family time.
What are your short/long term goals?
Short-term goal for me and Creative Women's Co. right now is to launch our crowdfunding campaign in June/July. While our long-term goal is to expand to multiple cities in the US and globally in the next 5 years.
What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
Time, energy and health. Before I work full time with my company and executing Creative Women's Co., I spent 3.5 years as Digital Designer for Sears Holdings. I remember how challenging it was to not only work a 9-5 job but to also run my business during my lunch time or after work hours and weekend. Plus on top of that caring for my newborn. Through that sacrifices, I had burnout and decided to take the leap and focus on building my company plus our community project Creative Women's Co. However, going forward, I'm trying my best to be mindful for my self-care while running my business.
Who is the one super successful person you look up to? Why them? Can you share their quote/ideology that inspires you the most?
Chris Do from The Futur. I found Chris video about how to charge 10 times more for a logo and it gives me the motivation that I can grow my company and push myself more knowing that other people can achieve success like that. My favorite quote from his that inspire me the most is "Give 100% of Yourself."