Today we’d like to introduce you to Evelyn Moyer.
Evelyn, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
If I were to describe myself in one word, it would be artistic. For as long as I can remember, I have always expressed myself through different creative ventures. I remember being really young, maybe about 7 or so, and my mom left me alone in the playroom for a second. Well, in that second, I somehow managed to cover the entire playroom and furniture in stars and scribbles. My accomplice – a black jumbo sharpie. There was no spot left untouched. I think it was at that moment that my mom knew I needed more autonomy to express myself in a way that wasn’t going to cost her sanity.
My parents stood by my side as I tried to find the art form for me. I vividly remember taking on playing the saxophone, and I swore up and down that I was going to stick with it. I would sit on my trampoline in the backyard to practice and the neighborhood dogs would howl the entire time. In case you’re wondering, I was terrible at playing the saxophone. My parents still supported me though and went to every talent show, band performance, and competition I ever had. After a few years of trial and error, I found my calling in dance and even found myself enrolled at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. After graduating high school, I enrolled at Texas Woman’s University where I double majored in Dance and Business. After dancing ballet and other dance forms for ten plus years, I knew it was time to focus on my professional career.
Fast forward to today! I’m currently a full-time MBA student at the University of Texas at Dallas, married to my better half, Bryan, and a full-time Mommy to a beautiful 11-month old baby boy, Brayden. After starting my MBA career in August of 2017, I realized I had been focusing on my professional career for the past four years and had forgotten how much joy being creative brought me. I launched my blog, www.puppersandpampers.com, on April 6th of 2018 and I haven’t looked back. I have created a wonderful online community that fosters creativity, self-love and raises awareness of the struggles of motherhood, particularly post-partum depression. I believe it is my duty to speak up for those who feel like they are struggling alone.
My social media is focused on helping moms navigate modern parenting while staying fashionable and under budget. Becoming a mom has completely rocked my world and was a perfect motivation that I needed to launch my online platform. My goal is to use my MBA skills to grow my online mom community to 10k by 2019. I want moms to feel like they have a safe place to share their stories! Whether that’s their motherhood journey, their weekly thrift haul or their outfit of the day, I am here to build them up!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey has been far from smooth! Personally, I never imagined completing my MBA studies while being pregnant and a mom. I was three months pregnant when I started my studies, and my son was four months old when I launched my blog. Being successful requires balance and intentional actions! So, what do I mean by intentional actions? It means setting time to be 100% invested in whatever venture you’re doing instead of trying to multitask and doing several things at 50%. Something else I have struggled with throughout my journey is trying not to compare myself to others. It’s really hard when you are just getting started and you have people that you admire. You see them with a large following, great engagement and they’re getting the brand deal of your dreams, but you’re only doing a fraction of what they do. Something to keep in mind is that there’s plenty of room in the world for everyone! Here are six tips on which I pride myself, including do not compare yourself to others.
Learn something new every day.
Never stop learning! For me, this has been a top priority – especially since I took a semester off from my studies to focus on my baby boy. I make it a priority to learn something new every day to help me perfect my craft. Take free webinars, start a new book, watch YouTube videos, listen to a podcast. There are thousands of free resources out there, take advantage of them! Don’t forget to implement what you have learned!
Find your niche, do something you are passionate about.
Find your niche and do something that you are passionate about. I know it sounds cliché, but if you are truly passionate about what you are doing, the passion will exceed any struggles and it will shine through your results. I remember one of my childhood friends messaging me one day in regard to a DIY project I had posted the previous day. Her message read, “You were made for this!” It was at that moment that I knew my passion was showing through my work.
Set small realistic goals to help you achieve your bigger goals.
Achieving your small goals is definitely something to celebrate! Set smaller goals throughout the year that will set you up for success in achieving your bigger goals. For example, my goal is to grow my Instagram Family to 10k subscribers by the end of 2019. My goal is to have 5k by March, 7k by July, and 9k by October. Within these small goals, I set an action plan to reach each one. You will find joy in the journey from reaching your smaller goals instead of beating yourself up thinking you are so far away from your bigger goal. Enjoy the journey and learn from it!
Find like-minded individuals:
Surround yourself with people who are passionate about the same things you are. For me, this wonderful journey has brought me so many delightful new friends who are doing the same thing I am. They give me so much motivation and inspiration and it’s helpful to have people who understand the ins and outs of what you’re doing. It’s all about having people in your corner who support what you do. Make sure your close friends and family are also on board! It makes it so much easier when you have people who are genuinely interested in you and your work.
Stay true to yourself and your brand.
Throughout your journey, you will be flooded with opportunities to work with different brands/people and some are even paid. It might seem like a smart idea to take everything that comes your way but remembers to stay true to your brand and yourself. I’m a firm believer that it’s not what you know but who you know, but that doesn’t mean you have to take on every opportunity. For example, my brand is all about lifestyle and parenting, so I pride myself on only taking opportunities that align with my brand and stay true to my individual values.
Do not compare yourself to others.
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Theodore Roosevelt
When you compare yourself to others, you are more than likely comparing the worst you think about yourself with the best we assume about others. There is more than enough room for everyone to shine. Try hard to focus on yourself. You are unique and there’s only one you in the world. The harder you work, the luckier you get. I promise that someone is looking at you and wishing they could do what you can. So, focus on being the best you instead of comparing yourself to others!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about your business – what should we know?
I am a social media guru focusing on brand management and consumer behavior. I’m currently in school pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing. I am also focusing on building my brand through my social media platforms. I share anything lifestyle and parenting related. From sleep training tips and toddler, meal plans to thrift hauls and anything motherhood, primarily navigating postpartum depression. I am building the community I wish would have existed when I was pregnant and a new mom. Apart from growing my own brand, I also teach and coach other moms and small businesses on how to grow their brand and online presence! If you are interested in learning how to grow your brand, including Instagram accounts and Blogs, I am your girl!
I believe my ability to connect with others and having the courage to speak up for others is what sets me apart. It takes one person to change the world and normalizing postpartum and motherhood struggles are my goal. I am most proud of the community I have built and the amazing people I have met throughout my journey. I pride myself on being open and honest about my struggles and hope that, by sharing my own struggles, it will help someone who feels like they’re alone on their journey.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Be passionate, be patient, be determined.
I talked about how important it is to be passionate about what you are doing, but it’s also important to be patient. I am a true believer that God’s timing is the best timing and yours will come! Anytime I talk about God’s timing, I tell the story about how, 4 years ago, I was rejected from 10 MBA programs. Now, I am a student at one of the top MBA programs in Texas and everything is falling into place, both professionally and personally. I am actually going to Brazil in May to study abroad! Also, trust in His timing when it comes to your brand growth! It honestly takes times to build a brand that has an influence on a group of people and the community so, like I’ve said, enjoy the journey.
Lastly, be determined. Be determined to do more every day that betters yourself and your brand and be determined to accomplish your goals. My last piece of advice would be to find a mentor. It doesn’t have to be anyone who is a professional mentor or coach but finds someone in your field who can steer you in the right direction and hold you accountable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://puppersandpampers.com/
- Email: moyer.evy@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evymoyer/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjv5UIZ1V83k1Cssj2cQa9w?view_as=subscriber
Image Credit:
Sergio Barron Photography , Joanney Rigdon’s Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
