Boss Like A Lady – Women Entrepreneur Series – Rachel Winard, The Chemist
Continuing after Women’s History Month, I am creating a limited hand-lettered and illustrated series of some women making history. These women own their own creative businesses and make them successful despite many obstacles, including their own occasional self-doubt. I hope they inspire you to make a little history of your own!
One evening, after months of unsuccessfully searching for products that wouldn’t aggravate her sensitive skin issues caused by systemic lupus, a chronic autoimmune condition that almost always affects the skin, Rachel stopped searching and created Soapwalla.
What do you think your greatest mistake was or is? None. I don’t believe in mistakes. I know that sounds like a platitude, but I really firmly believe that my failures are what push me to realize my successes.
What is the best advice you ever received? The best advice I ever received was to listen to my instincts. They’ve never steered me wrong.
What do you do when you get discouraged or when you doubt yourself? I take a break from whatever I’m doing and move my body. That could be a walk in the park, putzing around my roofdeck, practicing yoga or taking a kickboxing class, or cleaning the apartment. When I get out of my head and into my body, I usually find a way to solve whatever issue was bringing me down.
Complete the sentence, “Being a woman and owning a business is… ” ...hard at times, especially since I’m trying to change the existing beauty paradigm. But I have an amazing support system of friends and family, and they keep me going when I feel like I’m drowning…When
When did you know when you were successful? …I never feel like I’m successful! I keep my head down and focus on making the best, highest quality products available. I feel like the second I get complacent, it’s game over.
How did you ‘quit’ your day job? I had to, because of my health. I have systemic lupus (SLE) and my high-stress law firm job was taking a serious toll on my health. I left so that I could take care of myself. A year and a half later, I started Soapwalla.
What do you often tell yourself or remind yourself of? My favorite quote: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” (Mary Oliver)
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