Dare to Move

Starting your own business seems to be a popular move these days. Especially for moms or people who finished college and have a hard time finding a job. With the current economic insecurities, most families are glad when both have a stable job. And loving that job is often a luxury. Then why risk starting your own business when you have a job you love? When you have the security that you can financially support your family? I would like to introduce you to one of the many inspiring people I have had the privilige of getting in touch with these last months. This young woman, who is opening up her (online) clothing shop, Lola’s Kids, this Saturday April 30th, is one who dared to take a risk and follow her dreams. Read her story and let yourself be inspired.

WHO: Laura Zwanenburg, 24 years old, in a relationship and has a seven month old daughter, Lola.
WHAT: A young woman opening a (online) clothing store.
WHERE: Katwijk, Holland.
WHY: Her dreams started tugging at her heart.
HOW: By taking a leap.

I had the fun privilige of meeting Laura for a give-away we did for the small business I just recently stopped with. She came across as a sweet and spontaneous girl, who has a passion for reaching out to others. I sent her a couple questions for this blog post. And it turns out I was right. Laura has a degree in nursing. She just recently stopped her job at a hospital in Leiden, where she worked for three and a half years. This was a job she loved. She loved nursing the people entrusted in her care.

Laura says, “When I became a mom, the passions in my heart for starting my own business started nudging. I quickly discovered that the types of clothing I wanted for my daughter weren’t available in or near my hometown. This got me thinking that something needs to change. Katwijk, being some what old fashioned at times, can use some renewal in the baby fashion department! I talked about this exciting idea with a friend of mine who owns a clothing store in Katwijk. Before I knew it, plans were being made! This resulted into a choice having to be made. Would I combine this with my job at the hospital? Or would I stop the job I love, to take a risk and follow my heart? Well, I decided to take a leap of faith. I knew that combining the two with motherhood will ask a lot of me. And spending time with my daughter and having the time to invest in her is more important to me than balancing two jobs.”
The fact that she is calling her busines Lola’s Kids shows the love she has for her daughter and where her new found passions are driven from.

Laura has big dreams for her shop, Lola’s Kids. She admits, “There are a lot of challenges in setting up something new. But these challenges give me positive energy. I am looking forward to the journey of searching for new brands that I can represent in my store, which will make people choose to buy their baby products at Lola’s Kids.”

Because I know motherhood can change a person (usually for the good), I asked Laura if and how motherhood has changed her. She says, “Becoming a mom has made me enjoy the little things even more. Motherhood has helped me realize what I want to do with my life and motherhood is the drive that makes me want to go for it 100%.”

Laura has a message for all you readers that she wants you to hear:
Follow your dream, no matter how cliché that sounds. If there is something you really want, you just have to go for it and see how it turns out. I’d rather regret something I did, than regretting something I never had the courage to do! 

Now the question for you is, is there a passion tugging at your heart? Do you have hopes and dreams you want to see fulfilled? Then try taking a step. It only takes one step of faith and who knows where it will take you. Laura did, and now her shop is opening its doors! Stop waiting and start being an author in your own story!

If you have gotten interested in Lola’s Kids, check out their website, http://www.lolaskids.nl. For fun announcements, discounts and beautiful pictures, you can follow Lola’s Kids on Instagram and Facebook. And for those of you who live in or near Katwijk, Lola’s Kids has their big opening this Saturday, April 30th. You can find them in the store the Mode Republiek.

I hope you have felt inspired to listen to your heart and sometimes take a risk.