Success Story Profile - Happy Being Me
Inspiration comes from many different places. Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, one of the most successful online businesses to date, saw early statistics about the phenomenal growth of the Internet back in 1994 and decided to create a business for that platform. Steve Case, co-founder of America Online, turned a fascination with interactive media and an idea that consumers would want to start actively choosing the information they received (instead of letting traditional media dictate it) into the first hugely successful Internet service provider.
Wendy Matthews got her inspiration from a place that most of us don't even want to think about, much less go: a mental illness. She suffers from bipolar schizoaffective disorder, a journey that began when she was only 12 years old.
In the beginning she just thought that everyone felt the way she did. Eventually she began to understand that things were different for her. She was officially diagnosed about 14 years ago and spent many years trying to cope with her illness while maintaining the outward appearance of a normal life. She found working for others a challenge on many levels and always wanted to have her own business, but didn't have a concept in mind.
In 2007 Wendy had her epiphany. She would accept her illness as a part of her life but not let it rule her life. She took an enormously courageous step and started publicly talking about her illness at two Annual General Meetings for the Canadian Mental Health Association, as well as participating in a feature article in the Standard to kick off Mental Health Week.
One morning Wendy woke up with the words "Happy being me" running repeatedly through her head, and thought that she should turn that philosophy into a business. She wanted to build her business around something fun -- a light and lively product that would make other people feel happy too, whatever issues they were dealing with. A line of clothing featuring that compelling phrase fit the bill.
While she was off on sick leave from a position that she would eventually leave, she heard about the Ontario Self-Employment Benefit (OSEB) program to help people start a business. Wendy applied to the program here at the Business Development Centre and was accepted in December, 2007.
She worked with her mentor, John Young, to lay out her business plan. There was a lot of research involved in creating a clothing line -- making contacts, finding good sources, and all of the other components of starting a viable business. Wendy says that she dreaded writing her plan at the time, but now feels that it was the best thing she could have done for her business because it made her focus on all the necessary steps.
Wendy's niece, a graphic design graduate, helped her create her signature look: a complete family of friendly stick people. There are special figures for different jobs and activities, e.g Police Gal, Rower Gal, Shopping Gal (wide appeal guaranteed), Fishing Guy, Golf Guy, Lil Baseball Girl, Bottoms Up Baby Boy/Girl.
In 2008 Wendy launched her product successfully at the Small Business Club Niagara Trade Show, and has never looked back. Along the way she's had great support from family and friends along with the financial support and mentoring provided by the OSEB program.
Wendy has also embarked on a series of speaking engagements. Her aim is to inspire others to move forward no matter what their challenges and find happiness. She talks candidly about coping with her condition, but emphasizes that a challenging life can also be a fulfilling life. To meet her is to understand -- Wendy is a bubbly, upbeat and passionate person who epitomizes a successful entrepreneur. She puts her experience to great use on the board of Start Me Up Niagara, an organization that helps people with mental illnesses become self-employed, including Wendy herself.
Her business is doing so well that Wendy enlisted the help of the Workplace Development Service here at the College, which provides Human Resources consulting for small & medium-sized businesses who need help with hiring/maintaining employees. Their support was instrumental in Wendy hiring a salesperson to promote her business.
She's about to expand on her original line of eco-friendly clothing and accessories made from bamboo fibre to include lines of cotton and of plus-sized clothing. Her lines of clothing and accessories fit everyone from adults down to babies and the family pet.
Looking ahead further, Wendy hopes to open a store as well as selling her products online, and hiring staff to allow her more family time. She'd also like to begin holding special events that promote her philosophy, like 'Happy Being Me' days.
Oprah Winfrey said that "It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you. Always." Wendy Matthews is living proof.