How Saying Yes Positioned Reese Evans for Success
IMAGE COURTESY OF REESE EVANS
Interview by Carey-Lee Dixon
Reese Evans is a successful online entrepreneur who realised she had the power to design her best life by stepping outside her comfort zone and taking the lead in her life. She's the creator of Yes Supply, an online community of entrepreneurial millennial women who inspire women to pursue a career doing what they love.
The journey towards the success of Yes Supply wasn't an overnight one. It involved a lot of courage and commitment from Reese. In conversation with Reese, she shares how she once struggled with fearing being judged by others and stepping out from behind the scenes to build her business.
We caught up with Reese to learn more about her journey to starting a business and her best advice to women who limit themselves to their comfort zones.
Share with us your journey to starting your business
My journey to starting my business was a long one. After being fed up with a retail job that made me feel like creativity was fading away and a failed job hunt, I knew something had to change.
I knew I had more potential than what I was doing, but no one was giving me a chance. I needed experience to get the job, but no one was willing to give me the experience.
I had an epiphany one day after a particularly difficult day at work. My shift ended at 3 AM for a sales markdown, and I realised I was falling deeper into a career path I didn’t want to be on. That’s where I came up with the idea for Yes Supply. I was sitting on a couch in my old apartment, writing down all the things that mattered to me, all the things I wish I could do regularly.
Once you decided to pursue your vision, how long did it take you to launch?
It took me a while. I bought my domain and told myself I would let it pass if it didn’t take off in a year. Well, a year went by when I hardly did anything on the website, but when it came time to let the domain expire, I couldn’t do it. Something had been pushing me not to let this dream go, and I decided to listen to my intuition, even though I didn’t know what was in the plan for me.
I blogged for many months before telling people what I was doing because I feared what people might think. I had never heard of anyone doing what I was doing, and I was so fearful that people would think I was weird or cheesy because I wanted to go after more in my life.
How did you know this was the right path for you?
I knew this was the right path because I followed what I was passionate about and knew I was being gently guided by my intuition and what I was meant to do. Everything that I do with Yes Supply aligns with my greater purpose.
Through Yes Supply Co, you help girl bosses create business and the life they love. How do you empower women to say yes to stepping outside their comfort zone and making big leaps?
I empower by helping women put their self-worth in the right perspective and get out of their heads. I used to struggle with negative self-talk nonstop. The recurring themes in my head were “You’re not smart enough, Reese” and “No one’s going to like you."
I help more women combat negative self-talk with the daily Good Morning Beautiful emails.
Additionally, I know that even if you have the mindset and the motivation, new entrepreneurs can get stuck without the right help and guidance. I created the Yes Supply Collective, which has what you need to turn your passion into a profitable business. There’s accountability, support, my tools and strategies to build my own business and create a passive income, and mentorship from leading entrepreneurs from around the world.
If you’re reading this and don’t know where to start, the Collective will give you incredible guidance to reach your goals.
Positioning yourself as a valuable player is essential to an entrepreneur's growth. What has been your greatest lesson about positioning yourself for success despite challenges and setbacks?
I’ve learned never to give up and to keep pushing forward no matter what. Stay tied to your goal and purpose, but be open to shifting your strategy to determine what works for you.
If you’re facing many challenges and setbacks but know where you want to be, investing in yourself and your success is always a good idea.
You have had your challenges of stepping outside your comfort zone. What excuses and self-talk did you have to eliminate to get to where you are now?
When I started Yes Supply, I had an inspirational poster in my kitchen next to my coffee maker that read, “The secret to getting ahead is getting started."
That daily reminder, next to my morning coffee, reminded me that I needed to take action on my ideas. Everyone wants success and wants to build a life they want, but not everyone will take action and put in the work. When you start putting in the work, get started, and do what you feel is right, the next step on your path appears right ahead of you!
A morning routine is a big part of starting your day on the right path. What is your morning routine like?
Having a morning routine is essential in my day. I’ve learned never to skip my morning routine or be completely thrown off.
When you first wake up, your subconscious mind is the most receptive to whatever you tell it- and your subconscious mind fuels your actions, the way you hold yourself, and the way you speak.
You need to start your day feeding your subconscious mind with the reminder that you can create the life you want and achieve your goals.
I start every day by:
• Reading a positive quote
• A meditation, visualisation, or journalling
• Setting my intention for the day- One thing I can do to move closer to my big goal
• A positive morning mantra- saying a positive affirmation to myself
• One challenge or something I can do outside of my comfort zone to get better every day
“When you first wake up, your subconscious mind is the most receptive to whatever you tell it- and your subconscious mind fuels your actions, the way you hold yourself, and the way you speak.”
What is the best advice for a woman who has been saying no to stepping outside her comfort zone?
One thing that made me leap to do Yes Supply was that even though the fear was there to step out of my comfort zone- the fear of regret and wondering ‘what if’ was much bigger.
This dream had been following me and reminding me of it for months. The universe told me, go for it, go for it. But my fear was holding me back. But then I realised that if I did nothing, I would always ask myself, “What if?” I never wanted to be faced with regret of a past I couldn’t change.
Go after what you want. Don’t follow the crowd. Instead of wondering, “Will anyone like me?” ask, “Do I like me?”
Strive to do your best for yourself, fight for what you want, and know you can create any kind of business when you get the focus and guidance you need to create it!
“Strive to do your best for yourself, fight for what you want, and know you can create any kind of business when you get the focus and guidance you need to create it!”
Click here to learn more about Yes Supply.
What is your most significant takeaway from Reese? How are you saying yes to taking the lead in your life? Share in the comments below.
Reese Evans, the visionary force behind Yes Supply, empowers women to embrace the art of saying "yes" to crafting their most fulfilling lives.