One of my favorite things to do as a blogger is share the stories of inspiring moms. I recently had the opportunity to interview Jenny Lenczycki, fellow Cubs fan and boy mom of two, who is also the small business owner of Esther’s Nest. Before she became all of this, Jenny and I met during our Carlinville days, each acting as the right hand in two very different departments. She was fabulous then, and is fabulous now, and I am so excited to introduce her to you.

CHRISTINE: JENNY! Thank you so much for being here today! It is SO incredibly good to catch up!

JENNY: I know! It’s been a while. Time flies when you’re raising babies.

Oh my word, you can say that again! It’s been close to ten years since we moved back to Chicago, and on some days it feels like it was yesterday.

Except I have three boys now. 

And I have a teenager.

STOP IT. I can’t even go there. 

I blinked. Don’t blink.

HA. I’ll try not to.

Alright, so catch me up…when we left Carlinville, you were still working for Lake Williamson Christian Retreat Center, doing marketing and event planning, and now you’re running your own business.

What prompted you to leave the traditional workforce?

My family. They’re my number one priority. To have the opportunity to raise my boys from home has been an incredible blessing.

I can totally relate. But you learn really quickly as a stay-at-home mom that you’ve got to get creative financially, am I right?

Yes! We needed the extra income. For awhile, I dabbled with a multi-level marketing company, but it just wasn’t for me long term. I had a strong desire to find something that combined my creative side, my marketing skills, and the ability to grow at my own pace.

But it was more than that for me too. When I left, I left a little bit of myself behind as well. Once my kids were old enough to be in school, I felt a little freedom to pursue things that could fulfill me creatively again.

And so Esther’s Nest was born.

Yep. Esther’s Nest was born. I’ve always been a hobby crafter, but after a few friends asked about me making things for them, and the interest started building, we went all-in as a family. We applied for a business license, purchased commercial equipment, and renovated our home to launch this business.

That is so amazing. And this IS a family venture right?

Absolutely. While I do most of the creative design, my husband Jason handles all the woodworking. I’ve even pulled my sister in to head the design department. I mean it’s technically just her, but I couldn’t do what I do without her!

Our extended family is ALSO amazing, always ready to help finish large orders, or share social media posts to help get my name out there. And of course my two precious boys are always telling everyone they know to check out their momma’s stuff online.

That is the sweetest thing ever!

I know, and I don’t make them do it. It’s all on their own.

This is why I love being a boy mom.

Yes! It’s the best ever!

What do you hope your boys are learning from you as they watch you run Esther’s Nest?

To take leaps of faith. A strong business ethic. That working hard can be rewarding in other ways than just making money.

That is so good. They are ALWAYS watching – things we do and live, day in and day out – and it is such a balancing act. How do you find that balance between work and family life? 

Sometimes  by the seat of my pants! Ha! The boys are involved in extra-curricular sports and activities. I chauffeur for a group of junior high kids to go to youth group every week, and I try to be available for work assignments. Sometimes it’s a lot of late nights, but I’m also learning that as a mom AND a business owner, you can’t pour from an empty cup. It’s hard for me to make time for myself, but it’s becoming a MUST to stay grounded in both worlds.

What encouragement would you offer to other stay-at-home moms who might be considering what it would look like for them to work from home? 

It’s a difficult decision, but it was absolutely worth it for our family. Financially, it can be stressful, but ultimately you can’t put a price on time and influence.

I could not agree with that more. It is not EASY being home and hustling on the side, but it was also the only option for me.

So one thing that always interests me when I hear that a friend stays home and also works from home, is what their schedule looks like – because you know it will be unique to their specific situation.

What does an average work-day look like for you?

I schedule my shop time for three full 8 hour days a week (2 days while my kids are at school and 1 day while they are home), then any extra work has to be done around my family’s schedule. Most of my designing is done late nights and early mornings though. I really need the quiet time to be creative.

Quiet is such a priceless commodity as a mom!

Give me the roses and thorns of your business today. Let’s start with your favorite part of the job…

My favorite part is seeing the final designs in a wearable or displayed setting. It’s so cool to see a photo of someone’s home and know that you made that print on their wall.

I am sure that is SO rewarding. Now what’s your least favorite part? 

Ugh…my least favorite part is font selection…designer problems ha! Seriously…I can spend hours trying and tossing fonts. I try hard not to get into a rut.

Love that…thanks for being honest! What have you learned as a small business owner?

That small business, especially in the market of hand-made, is grossly undervalued in the United States.

I also wish I would have really tried to glean more of those sewing hints my Grandma tried to drop on me in HS ha!

DON’T WE ALL!?!

So we talk a lot about saving money – especially on mom blogs – and that is absolutely important, but how important is it for people to support small businesses?

Without my customers, the concept of Esther’s Nest would just be a hobby. Because my community took a chance on me, and valued my work, I’ve been able to build a sustainable business that not only supports my family but my community as well.

You aren’t just buying a shirt from me, you’re supporting a family.

That’s such an important reminder.

What would you say to consumers on the fence between supporting small business vs. mainstream big box stores?

While you may get an item at a big box store for a few dollars less, you won’t have the personal care you have from the small business owner. We take time to invest and get to know our customers at a level that larger companies just can’t.

Jenny I could not have put that better myself.

I’d add to that point, how important it is to hear from your customers! It means the absolute world to me when someone messages me and tells me what they thought of a script or of my book.

Alright, last question. What encouragement would you give to other small business owners?

Don’t. Give. Up. Your dream matters. It’s going to be hard, but it’s so worth it in the end.

Jenny, thank you SO MUCH for hanging with my readers and sharing with us your story. We’re praying blessings on you guys through the holidays and into 2019!

I’m so glad I could be here…and I’d love to offer your readers a special coupon code for 20% off an order with Esther’s Nest.

That is SO awesome! Thank you!

Visit me on Facebook through 12/15/18 (when we close for Christmas each year) and place an order using the code CHRISTINE20 for 20% off.

GUYS! Go check it out. Jenny’s got some amazing stuff online, and I’m so excited to share with you about MY experience with Esther’s Nest and Jenny Lenczycki tomorrow…

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About Jenny

Jenny is wife to Jason, boy-mom of two, and an avid coffee drinker. She splits her time between homemaking, working at her church, volunteering at school, raising chickens, cheering on the Cubbies, and running Esther’s Nest. Together, they are just a small town family who tries to stay involved in their community ministering through service and local projects. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.