Overcomer Series with Stephanie Hellwig
What do you do?
I work with a variety of individuals that possess an entrepreneurial, DIY mindset, that are struggling to create a beautiful online presence but need just a little bit of help doing so. My knowledge is WordPress, my passion is helping. I love being a part of the Restored316 team as the support manager where I get the opportunity to help thousand’s of customers realize their dreams, while working alongside some of the industry’s most talented individuals. I also run my personal WordPress design business where I build custom sites from scratch, create unique branding to help my customers stand out and be recognized in their industry and among their target market and offer one on one training for those willing to invest in learning one of the best website platforms available today.
Above all that I do in the workplace, I am happily married to my sweetheart of 21 years and we have 5 beautiful daughters.
Growing up, did you always dream that you would be doing what you’re doing now?
When I was growing up, I was definitely a dreamer! I dreamed of being a Mom, an artist, traveling the world and loving life. I had no idea what that really meant. I watched the sunsets, wrote poetry, enjoyed the pacific ocean listening to the waves for hours on end not even realizing how busy life could become. Looking back it is really the broken dreams, heartache and struggles that make me appreciate and value the wonderful opportunities I have in my life today. I did not dream of being a WordPress professional, a graphic designer or had any idea I would love to learn how to code a website. As the industry was born and continued to grow into what is is today, the timing was just right for me to be a part of it!
What made you decide to “go for it” in terms of your career goals/ambitions?
I have always been a determined, entrepreneurial type of person. I come from a family of overcomers . . My grandfather was the oldest of 5 children who lost his successful father, a Los Angeles businessman, in the midst of the Great Depression. He slept under the stars and mined for gold in the hills of LA to help feed his siblings and did whatever it took to be an overcomer. Dinner conversations always ended up focused around the most recent business venture and as soon as I could answer the phone and take messages I was trained in customer service in my Dad’s real estate and insurance business. While my friends were playing ball, I was filing insurance quotes and greeting customers in the shop and on the phone. I am not one to give up. I pushed through fears, thoughts of insufficiency and hard situations because I wanted to give my girls something more, I wanted to do better. I was scared, but determined . . . and determination won.
Did you face adversity? How did you overcome that?
Like everyone else, I did face adversity. I’m not going to lie, to learn a completely new skill is hard. Learning code is like learning a new language. I had to let other (important) things go to devote the necessary time to learn something so new. It was hard on my family and hard on me, but today I am grateful. I remember the first client that paid me a large sum of money to complete a job I knew I could not accomplish – it was scary. I remember feeling sick inside as I humbled myself to privately message another designer to ask for help . . . I offered to work for her for free for her to coach me through this client project. Do you know what happened? She said something along the lines that she had been thinking about her goals of teaching and helping and she said, “I truly believe we get benefit more as givers than receivers.” So for 1 year she met with me for 1 hour every week and helped me build that first client site. Although I have done my best to gift and thank and appreciate what that genuinely kind person did for me . . . I will never be able to repay her for her time and kindness and encouragement. That intelligent, kind, giving person helped me overcome and I am so grateful. I continue to try to give back as she did whenever I have the opportunity.
A lot of women have these big goals & big ideas that they’d like to bring to life, what advice would you give them in terms of how they can make that happen?
Be determined, be flexible, push through the uncomfortable and never give up. Make that call, send the email and be kind.
What’s the biggest regret you have when it comes to your blog/shop/business?
My biggest regret is that I wish I would have had a bit more clarity in the beginning and been more consistent. I don’t make a practice of looking back but I do want to learn from my mistakes and so I hope to continue to grow an audience that I can truly help and interact with that will find value in what I have to share.
What’s been your proudest moment so far?
My proudest moment in life would be the moments I see genuine love and care honestly spill out from my children. Love that is not prompted by me, kindness that comes from their hearts, tender empathy toward others that spurs a helpful act, polite communication and proper spoken english . . . it’s those moments I really feel successful. In business, one of my proudest moments was after working for hours, days and months, procrastinating and overcoming fears and learning and implementing new skills I pushed my first product live to the marketplace – that was exciting.
And, just because we like our coffee around here, how do you take yours?
Every morning I make a latte from freshly ground beans and froth my milk just right and it is better than Starbucks! My favorite Starbucks drink currently is an Iced Caramel Macchiato.
I believe in the story of the overcomer. That has been my story and I believe that is your story too. We want your journey here on the blog to help encourage others just like you and me. If you’d like to share that with us, please come over and share your story with us!
Was this story an encouragement to you? Share it with others!
I’m SO proud of how far you’ve come, Stephanie!! You truly are an overcomer! I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years has in store for you. xo
Thank you Katie! xo, S