Welcome to the Inspiring Women Series! My intention behind this series is for women of all backgrounds and stages of life to share what makes them love their life. My hope is that, through sharing this, you become inspired to live more of your own dream life that you love. If you are interested in being featured in this series please send me an inquiry at danielle@danielleyeager.com and I will send you more information. I am incredibly excited about this series because I see so many women floating through life not feeling engaged, happy, or loving life. I want everyone to love the life they are living and live to the fullest!

The inspiring woman being featured this month is the lovely, inspiring, and spunky Sierra Elmore, here is her story:

Tell us how you are living the life of your dreams? 

In March 2014, I decided that the traditional work world wasn’t for me. I was only sixteen at the time. Previously, I had dabbled in entrepreneurship with two ventures – a bookmark business and an online magazine – but this was the first time I truly thought that owning my own business would be my life’s path. I created my graphic design studio, 13 Elm Streets, and started building it. I stumbled a lot during my first year of business and almost fell off of my path. Everything from trying to find a graphic design niche to a failed print shop hit me, and I spent a lot of time wondering what my purpose was. It wasn’t until I found my niche (PDF design for creative experts) that everything started falling into place for me.

What hurdles came up on your way to getting there?

I mentioned these briefly above, but there have been plenty! My largest obstacle was simply believing in myself. I thought am I qualified? I should really have a degree to do this…I don’t have enough experience. I had to learn how to shut those panicked, negative thoughts down and keep learning, keep hustling, and keep working.

Take notice of simple pleasures.  Live in the moment.  Notice all the beauty around you. Be truly grateful for what you have, and be open to new possibilities.  Live your life based on how YOU want to FEEL – and design your life accordingly.  Take the reigns, jump in, and make it happen.  The possibilities are limitless….and it’s up to you to go for it!

What has been the biggest help in living a life of your dreams?

Remembering what I’m working toward. I’m creating a life that gives me financial, life, and travel freedom. If I want to spend 24 hours polishing up an ebook, I can. If I want to take a week off to focus on writing my novel, I can. I can give myself the things that I need and want, which is a beautiful thing.

What would you say to someone who feels like their dream life is impossible?

It’s not. Even if you can squeeze in one hour a day of freelance work after your full time job or have to wake up at 5 AM to bang out a blog post, you can do this. Real achievers don’t let anything stop us. We manipulate life’s circumstances and keep pushing forward.

How are you continuing to build a life of your dreams?

I’m continuing to learn all I can about graphic design, upping my client load so I can attend college this fall, and give myself small freedoms. It’s the little things, like being able to go for a walk in the middle of the day, that make my dream life.

Sierra Elmore is a high school senior and the owner of 13 Elm Streets. Part graphic design studio and part creative resource, 13 Elm Streets helps whip-smart women create playful and profitable businesses. She created three successful businesses by the age of seventeen and is in the process of starting a nonprofit. When she’s not obsessively designing, Sierra enjoys reading and writing young adult fiction, studying psychology, and playing with Bronx, her cat.

I hope you enjoyed Sierra’s story of creating her own business as a high school student to build a life she loves. Did you gain any insights from her story? If so, please share them in the comments and if you are looking to connect with other women going after their dreams join Sierra and I in the free facebook group Your Life. Your Way. 

Much love, Danielle