Build Boldly with Pat Rodgers
'Build Boldly' dives deep into the experiences of entrepreneurs and operators alike with Pat Rodgers, Chief Revenue Officer of RISE Commercial District. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale up, this podcast is your go-to resource for real stories and tangible advice to help you move your business forward. Tune in every two weeks to learn from those who’ve been there. If you’re ready to build, build boldly. Subscribe now and let’s get to work.
Build Boldly with Pat Rodgers
From Gears to Blooms: Patty Costlow’s Transition to Floral Design
Patty Costlow is a former mechanical engineer who turned her passion for floral arrangements into a thriving business, Florals by Patty. In this episode, Patty sits down with host Pat Rodgers to share her path from engineering to managing a successful floral design company that now caters to 35-40 weddings annually, booked up to 16 months in advance.
How did she do it? Patty leveraged her engineering skills for meticulous planning and problem-solving in her floral business. She talk about the importance of building a robust network, embracing failures as learning opportunities, and using social media to amplify her reach. Plus, you'll learn the crucial roles of partnerships, mentorship, and community support in business success. Tune in for invaluable advice on financial planning, effective staffing, and the art of owning mistakes to propel business growth.
Learn more about Florals by Patty Website | Instagram
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Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.
One big thing I'm starting to learn is I have to have more people help, or a network where we can discuss those things, or not be afraid to ask for help as a new entrepreneur, because I am the kind of personality Well, I can do it all. I can manage a staff. I can manage purchasing. I can manage my finances, I can manage everything, but no, I cannot. It's not even possible.
Pat Rodgers:Welcome to build boldly. I'm your host. Pat Rogers, from tech to real estate, I've built businesses across various industries and learned from the best. I'm here to share stories of success from top entrepreneurs and operators. You'll learn actionable strategies and what not to do that you can apply to your business today if you're going to build, build boldly. Now, let's get to work. All right. Welcome back to the build boldly podcast. I'm your host, Pat Rogers, and today we are talking to Patty costlow, owner and founder of florals by Patty, located in Noblesville, Indiana. Patty, welcome to the show. We're excited to talk and learn more about your journey. Well,
Patty Costlow:I'm excited to be here and share a lot about how it got I got to where I'm at, quizzically, and then also just business wise,
Pat Rodgers:perfect. Well, let's just start there. You know, I know you got kind of quite the journey, but you know what got you going and how did you find yourself in this space today?
Patty Costlow:Well, it's a big journey. You know, I started out in my career many years ago, so, but I'm was mechanical engineering into architecture, design, that kind of thing. And, you know, being in the floral industry, there's a lot of design, and it's not, I'm not a florist, I'm a floral designer, which is and primarily focus on weddings. And so that's a big business right now, and has changed a lot over the last 10 to 15 years. We design weddings and we also provide decor. So flowers is a big part of it, but there's so much more to it. As you can see behind me, this is the studio part. So we have a lot of decor, sure, and I have two spaces here, once the workshop and then the studio is next door. So it's been a long journey over 30 plus years. I also was involved in collegiate volleyball, and that was a big career for me. It was kind of a hobby, but I did collegiate recruiting. And then in terms of florals, it started out being using my design experience for family and friends. And then with the industry chain changing and more designing, I thought, Well, okay, there's a big niche here that, you know, I could fill a big and it's just taken off like crazy from there.
Pat Rodgers:That's amazing. And it was where it sounds like you had a couple opportunities to take passion or hobby and turn it into career opportunities and build from there,
Patty Costlow:right? And I chose to retire from the world of collegiate sports and focus on my creative side, because if you're a creative you you always have to do something creative. And while I loved being in the collegiate recruiting side of college volleyball and working with young athletes, you know, I really I felt like, Okay, is it kind of time for me to slow down? But as but then the wedding industry picked up, so yeah, and I primarily ran it out of our home and and then when, you know, we decided to downsize, because all our children are out of the home and married, we moved into a town home, and that just didn't work. Sure, we had a big home before, and I had the whole lower level for floral. So I in the community I'm in in Hamilton County, because we live in Carmel, it's really tough to find dual workshop space, you know, and so because we making florals is a dirty business, in the sense of, there are stuff everywhere. You have to have a concrete floor, you have a have to have access to water. It needs to be where you can control the temperature. So it took me a long time to fine rise, and it was really just by a friend who was a landscaper and said he heard about this. And, yeah, I should check it out. So
Pat Rodgers:that's awesome. And so you kind of, you know, as as with any great story started in your basement and needed to expand. And you know, kind of, what was it that was the moment from going from all right, friends and family, this is fun to, you know what? I'm going to lean into this, not only, you know, career wise and professionally, but also taking the leap into getting your own space and expanding your business, which is always a huge decision when you're taking a hobby or a passion and converting it into a business,
Patty Costlow:the number of requests. And then also one of my daughter's friends building one of their premier wedding venues in the Indianapolis area. Yeah. Also, when they launched that venue, which now they're launching their second venue in Westfield, Indiana, which is going to be even bigger, you know, they asked me to come on board as a preferred vendor for what I do, and that just exploded everything. And then also, this generation of brides is all about social media. So your social media, and if you're hooked to a venue where the entrepreneurs there are young, they're my daughter's age 28 there are social media marketing geniuses. So once you get connected with something like that in the industry, it just goes from there. Oh yeah, we were able to do a massive event that they launched, the first time ever in the state of Indiana. They did a high end wedding fashion show, and we did all of the stage florals, which actually we built a garden. Wow. So once that we did that, that was about a year ago, it just it was out of control from there, yeah,
Pat Rodgers:I bet. And so you kind of had both the referral network is really where it started, and then the impact of social media really started to just propel you forward in terms of how you could expand your reach and the awareness. And that's really when things took off,
Patty Costlow:yeah. Yeah. And this generation, you have to know them. You know that they're decision makers by what they see on social media. And so I have a website, and it's really just a tool for them to just put their information in. They want to look at your social media so and if you're connected to a big, up and coming venue who uses social media the way they do that is crazy, you know, like the requests just roll in. And I'm a preferred vendor at three or four different big venues in the Indianapolis area. So I don't really even have to market. I don't market. I don't even, couldn't even take in more. And in our industry, we book about 12 to 16 months in advance. So I'm, I've been closed for 24 for a long time, and I have about six months already closed for 25 Wow.
Pat Rodgers:That's impressive. And so in that kind of, you know, niche type industry, do you feel like it is the the network and connections, and you just got to find that first foot in the door to get things rolling, because I think it's always trying to help folks that have that hobby or passion. And how do I really start to make money off of it? Is it that initial foot in the door and then finding the partners around you that you can really lean into to expand your business, versus trying to shoulder the entire burden on yourself and spend a ton of marketing and all those different areas that you might, you know, not see a full return that you're seeing from your referral network.
Patty Costlow:I like the word that you use partners, because that's the way I view everybody, like, even, you know, with you guys, and you are a big partner for me, because I can't do what I do, and my business went from, you know, maybe one wedding every that I could manage in my home, to over 35 this year. Last weekend, we did four. So if I did not have the space I have, I would not be able to do that. Along with that comes a lot of hard, tough lessons, which we'll talk about. But you know, partnership is huge. So I also see myself as a mentor, because I'm quite a bit older than a lot of the floral designers that are starting, sure. So we have a like we have an Instagram group that we all kind of help each other. So that's a really great thing in this community. Weddings are huge in in in the Midwest, especially in the state of Indiana now, I mean, we at some of the venues, these brides are coming from everywhere, or I'm doing weddings in Chicago now, or someplace else, you know, and just through all that networking. So I look at all of those things as opportunities that's amazing, but I don't really it's not like the old days when we had to use print marketing. You know, the social media has that has taken all that away, yeah, and, and if they can't see and they need to see your work, like right away, like, if you know. And so that's huge. I wish I had more time to do that. So do
Pat Rodgers:you manage all of your own social media? And has that been, you know, I'm sure that can be a full time job in its own So how has that gone for you? And what have you changed there to continue to, you know, have the reach you do? Well, I
Patty Costlow:think it's kind of funny. Being in the collegiate volleyball world has helped me do that. So I worked for a very large, the oldest and first volleyball club in the country, and do college recruiting. So all of the recruiting that we did, you know, I worked with college coaches at every level, big, 10, every everything, all across the country. So social media was huge. When social media hit that was kind of the number one way for college coaches to see what they needed to see. So. So and then so that I ran all of that for that particular entity. And then so I saw that that was going to be the direction everything was going, you know. And so as we move in to, you know, this industry, especially because we're dealing with that 20 to 30 age group that they live and breathe on social media. So I knew I had to have a good impact. And that's, you know, that's reals, that's showing the best of what you do. One thing that I do with social media that some others don't is that, for me, it's all about my clients. So we're not bringing accolades to ourself, because the brides are the ones, and their parents are the decision makers, but the brides are the ultimate decision makers. So when they, and I've had many brides, say, we love to see that you are, that we're number one, versus saying, Oh, look what I did. So that's a big difference. Whereas this generation is all about, look what I did, but you know, so that that's one key thing. Like, I'll never try to bring accolades to us. We'll show our work. That's enough, but it's more honoring my clients.
Pat Rodgers:That's awesome. I mean, there's so much in that statement. There's both the put your customers first, which, you know, I think it should be number one of any business, right? But I love that, you know, I think there's a bend, especially in the creative world of, look, what I did, you know, I had this creative mind. I came up with this creative thing, and it's mine, but you're taking a different approach. Of, let's, let's give the the flowers, so to speak, to to those that you know, had a vision, had an idea, came to you, your goal was to bring it to life, and by highlighting them and their journey, they're going to share that far more than you know. Oh, look what I did. And I think that's such a testament to how the realness of social media should be in a generation. That's, you know, the highlight reel, so to speak. Well,
Patty Costlow:you took those words right from my website, Brett, and you didn't know that, that my vision is to bring theirs to life. And the thing is, one thing social media has done is taken away our creativity because they look at it, they look at Pinterest, they look at social media, and they want a copy. Well, the floral designers are starting. The young ones are starting to do that too. Oh, I want to do what she does. Well, that's not original then. So it does take away a sense of creativity. So I kind of got caught up in that for a while. I'm like, No, I'm a designer, so I'm going to create. And I always make sure I let my clients know this is inspiration. It is not what your design is going to look like. Yours is going to be original. So I try to be really careful at not to look at those things. So I don't have that vision in my mind. I have my own vision and which aligns with theirs. So you have to be really careful, because social media is a lot of copycat. Oh,
Pat Rodgers:yeah, absolutely. I mean, you'll see the same, same post from six different people, and who's the actual creator, and all that and so, but I do love that you're kind of pushing in that direction and making sure that you're still adding that level of creativity, which I'm curious kind of, you know, I'm sure, starting out, it was floral, and then you got into the full kind of design piece, which is, you know, the elaborate collection behind you. How did that transition, kind of take your business and add to it. And you know what made you decide to take that additional leap than just, you know, floral design? Well,
Patty Costlow:actually, I was one of the first in the area who just kind of was doing that, just because I saw brides really stressed out over oh, well, now I have to purchase this. Now I have to purchase that. I don't know where to source this. I don't know where to source that, and venues not offering that anymore, you know? And so I thought, Okay, well, I'm going to invest in certain things. And then that adds there are trends when it comes to certain you know what, what weddings look like. But you know, the biggest thing is having candles and having all of the different items to, you know, show the designs and everything. And I don't know if you can see, like behind me, if I move over here, I always have table set. So the client comes in and they can see, and I partner with, like a classic, which is the largest supplier of linens and rental and so they provide me with their linens and napkins. So My Brides, when they do come in, they can see what everything looks like, but that is what is expected. Now it full service. So you come you build that into everyone does their pricing a little bit different. Some do a la carte, but I build it in, and that makes the such relief when the parents come in with the bride to the design meeting, like, Oh, I thought we'd have to this would be impossible. We'd have to source all these things. So that has kind of become the norm. Now, if you're not a designer, and you don't offer that, they're going to go somewhere else. And there is a difference between a forest and a floral designer. A forest is a big box store, retail. Tail. They're just, you know, they're making floral pieces and they're doing one offs, but a floral designer for weddings primarily, that's what I focus on. It. You are the whole package. You are helping them design it, the look you're providing, the florals, you're also providing all the decor. So there's a lot that goes into being a floral designer versus a florist?
Pat Rodgers:Absolutely, absolutely. Well, and you, you joked, you know, we joked a little bit before we started just about, you know, some of those lessons and learnings along the way, and probably some of the challenges you faced, yeah, I'm sure there's a helping them understand the distinction of your role and all the investments you've made over time, what are some of the biggest challenges and learnings that you've had to overcome throughout your career,
Patty Costlow:to just embrace failure, because it's going to happen every time you can't there's nothing perfect and and setting realistic expectations. So there's two components of that for yourself and your staff and how you run your business, because that's where a lot of mistakes are made. I even had one today, but the and then also for your clients, setting their realistic expectations and over communicating. So I have a process with that. We have multiple meetings. I use a software package where everything, they get their own portal. Everything stored there. So I can always go back to that and say, Okay, this is what we talked about. So can they so that's a big component, because I use HoneyBook, which is standard for this industry. So they get their own project portal page. All our communications are there once they book with me, so they never be, and I really have to constantly direct them back, because also, this generation is very I'm going to text and I want to answer right away, and so, but it's impossible to manage 35 to 40 weddings a year texting. And so I set the parameter, and I stayed pretty close to that from the business side. That's where I think this year I've learned so many lessons. Ask, well, he's been part of it, sure, yeah, like when the water hose broke so but just, I think one big thing I'm starting to learn is I have to have more people help and what org or a network where we can discuss those things or not be afraid to ask for help as a new entrepreneur, because I I'm the kind of personality Well, I can do it all. I can manage the staff, I can manage purchasing, I can manage my finances. I can manage everything. But no, I cannot. It's not even possible. And if you do fall in one of those areas, own it and go, Oh my gosh. I'm going to try to make, you know, not make that mistake again. But if I do, I need to figure out how, how, where do I need to put my emphasis going into 25 and I think one area I learned was I've got to have someone do all my accounting, all of my payroll, I that for my personality, that is not even my area giftedness, so it's very frustrating. I'm, you know, when I'm like, Okay, I thought I did all this and then I did it, but in my mind, I'm focused on all these other things, and it's okay. I think that's the other thing you know that in this business community, people are afraid to make mistakes and say, Hey, I did make a mistake. Or, you know, and it's okay, because you are going to make mistakes every day, multiple times a day, right? And I hear that from entrepreneurs all the time, but it's where your downfall is this when you don't, number one, don't own those mistakes, try to blame or that you are figuring out a way to, how can I make this better moving forward? Yeah, and I think you get a lot of cooperation with people when you realize, when they realize, Oh my gosh, she is owning it. She's not blaming anyone else, because it is all on me. Yeah, right. You know that this last weekend, with four weddings, I left off some communication for one of my installers. And, yeah, that was all on me because I, I didn't communicate it. So it's just it, but because I'm worried about 25 other things, but so that's a big thing going in 25 that I'm going to have some looking for someone who can take that component and then I could be freed up to do all my client work and design and not have to worry about this big animal of all the other stuff,
Pat Rodgers:right? For sure? Well, it's a hard one, because I think you know it, whenever you're starting a business or own a business, it's your baby, and you're like, I want to be able to do everything in this and but we all have strengths. We all have weaknesses, and your business can be so much more successful if you're leaning into your strengths and outsourcing your weaknesses so that you can focus on what actually drives the business forward. And I think that's a big one that a lot of people miss, is. Either they wait too long to find that, you know, partner, or they think they can do it, and then all of a sudden you're upside down. And how do we get out of this hole? And I think that's a big challenge that a lot of people face. And so it sounds like you've had some of those moments and said, You know what? All right, it's time to time to fix this, and time to find the right people to do the right roles. Yeah,
Patty Costlow:and I'm rolling down, like this coming up weekend. We're on our last double weekend, and then a couple of November and December, and then usually I take January and February to kind of regroup, yeah, and so that is my goal. Is like, Okay, I tried to do it, be the one to do every aspect of it. But this is the area that's hurting, and this is where I'm going to invest my time and money in to make sure that I can just take, literally, take a box of receipts and files and go here.
Pat Rodgers:Here you go, Right exactly. So it sounds like you, along the way, you've built this community. There's you know, other floral designers that are in your community, who else you know has kind of been along for the journey, or you feel like you know, without them, this would have been a much rougher ride than it has been. Well,
Patty Costlow:I mean, I'm not just saying this because I'm on your podcast when I I would not have been able to grow like I have been, without being here number one, and without the great graciousness of your company, too. Will has had to endure a lot with me, but also I always feel supported by him. That's fantastic by the community around here, you know. And it is a lot, you know, we have a lot of different kind of businesses around here. But whenever I need something, or when I've made a mistake on something, you know, that is a huge thing to have someone like him here, because wherever you rent or whatever facility you're in, if you don't feel like you have like a real person who cares for sure will help you. It's hard. Oh, yeah, you know. And especially as a female entrepreneur, you know. And we have the most of the entrepreneurs here are male and so, you know, and then we've got our whole all the way down here. It's all females now, new one right next to me. And it's tougher. It's not like, I'm not saying that, that there's, you know, I'm not saying that in any way to be discriminatory, but it is tougher because we have different roles in our families, and I'm a grandparent, and I'm all of those things, and, you know, and so, but I always feel supported, and that is really huge. And I always feel safe and or if I have, we have a raccoon in the garbage. I can always call Phil, you know, I mean will and, you know, those are the kind of things that it sounds little, but it's huge. It is really huge. And I also like the fact that we could, and this is really funny story to this weekend. This is a good example. We had four weddings, so Friday night I worked through all the way through the night. I always feel safe here and and that is huge. And there's other other businesses that work through the night because they have to ship out, you know, there's a handle maker that, you know, this time of year is crazy for her, and they're running three shifts over there, you know. But I came back to take a sleep after installation, and in my studio, I have all that stuff to just take a nap for a couple hours, and I left the other door open, and one of my neighbors, like, came over and was like, Hey, is anybody here? Just so, you know, I'm closing the door for you, like, that is the kind of stuff that I mean is so awesome, because everybody's looking out for you and and I really haven't come into any experience here that has been negative in that way,
Pat Rodgers:that's amazing that that's so great to hear. I mean, not not just because of rise, but also, I think, in general, like having a community that you can just rely on and lean into and and feel supported and, to your point, feel safe in that is, is massive for any business starting out. But just in general, to have that confidence, it just takes so much anxiety off your shoulders of having to worry about those things, and can I come back, or can I feel safe here? I just love to hear that that's something that you found not just arise, but I think that everybody should look for is that community that you can rely on. Yeah,
Patty Costlow:and I've worked, you know, I lived and worked in downtown Chicago for years. So, you know, and I worked, lived in an area, you know, even though Lincoln Park is a, you know, a very, you know, nice area, safety was always a big deal in Chicago. So I lived in an urban environment. And, you know, I've learned to be kind of tough when it comes to things like that. But, you know, when we moved to Indianapolis, which my husband's from here, you know, and having this business here, it, it just, I don't really fear, but then also, I know there's always someone going to be here, and we, there's quite a few businesses that have, you know, have deadlines for things, and so, you know, people working through the night is pretty common. Coming around here, and that actually makes me feel really safe, yeah, but on the other side of my family is very supportive and the community of floral designers. But for me, over the last two years to go into 25 to grow, yes, definitely this has played a big role being that's wonderful,
Pat Rodgers:that's amazing to hear and and definitely love that you know, you've got that family support and and in that you have other who some could consider competitors, that you have in your network, and that there's no, you know, that you can actually create together. And I think that's something that a lot of people fear is, oh, I can't share this idea, or I can't share this or that, because they're going to take it and it's like, you know, at the end of the day on the social media or wherever people are gonna find out what you're doing, you might as well lean into it and share and have that community support, versus trying to be competitive against each other. And I love to hear that as well. Yeah,
Patty Costlow:we learn from each other. I learned from, you know, I'm quite a bit older than the majority of the girls and but they, I've learned so much from them, you know. And we share, I share, I have probably a one of the bigger inventories of decor, so I share that. And we have freelance designers from that have their own company. And I think, I think the thing I always want to show them is that there's nothing perfect. I don't have all the answers, not together, but, you know, and I'm thankful for the grace they give me when I make mistakes, like I forget to tell them something. Sure,
Pat Rodgers:that's wonderful. Yep, absolutely. Well, I think that's a great, great place to take us into to my last question, which is, you know, you've been able to share a lot of knowledge with with your community. What is something for somebody, whether it be in your industry, or thinking about taking a hobby and turning into a profession? What's, what's a piece of advice that you'd give to them on their journey?
Patty Costlow:I think there's a couple components there. One is financial is huge. I and I was just reading this article about female entrepreneurs, and the one biggest mistake that they make, and I understand is that they don't. And I think it's our nature. We don't want to ask others for help, sure, and we just think, oh, okay, well, we can price it this way, and then that money I make is going to run my business. You have to have a cushion. Yep, if you don't, you know, then when something goes wrong and it will go wrong. Whether you price something wrong, spend more money on labor, you have need more product, you know, right now, this is a good example. You know, most of the florals for weddings in the United States come from out of the country, and they come through Miami, and that's on freighter, and that is by air, and that is by land. Well, we know what's going on right now, right between Helene and Milton, yeah. And we're also with all of the Longshoremen on strike, right? So we now, we were, you know, like I was talking to my wholesaler yesterday, and nothing is going to be coming from Miami for the next week. Wow. So then you have to think, okay, what are we going to do? So, you know, those are the kinds of things you have to, really, you know, be smart about and have relationships with other people outside of your own small community, or what, or explain those things to your clients. But that the, I think, the financial component is huge. I've hit that issue too, just going, oh, you know, I'm pricing well enough, it's going to be great. And then something happens, and you're like, oh, wow, okay, you know. And so that's a big one, because I don't think a lot of people consider that absolutely,
Pat Rodgers:yeah, I love that. And I think it's one of those challenges that if you're not asking the questions I spoke to another group that they asked one of the vendors, what should I price it? Because if you're just getting started, you don't necessarily know the market rate or whatever it is, and you don't want to be the lowest, you don't want to be the highest, but you got to make sure you're making money for your business and that you've got that cushion to unfortunate language, but to pass through the storm,
Patty Costlow:and then that's the one thing you brought out new businesses to the pricing of things you you know, people aren't going to just hire you because you put something on social media. They want to know you have the experience. And so you have to kind of invest in that initially, I had to, you know, and you where you're going to do something for less than what you normally want it to do it for in order to get a portfolio. And how it works in this industry is you are going to these particular venues, and they are having styled shoots, and you're you're actually donating all of the florals for whatever design you do. And so just to get the photos, so that is somewhat of a marketing component too. So then that's fine, that it's tied a lot to financial and then I think the other component is the staffing. You have to be able to trust your staff. You have to be able to know what kind of work they do. And. Yeah, and I think that's an area for me too. This is the first year where I've had a larger staff and so, and they're all freelance. So you, you know, you underestimate sometimes, how many people do you does it take to get this done? And then if the flowers come in late, like they just came in right now, but, you know, and we knew they missed the whole hurricane, but next week, if you're doing the wedding, you might not have flower. So you have to be able to adjust your staff that way. And that's a staffing is a huge thing,
Pat Rodgers:absolutely, absolutely the right people for the right roles. And I think you hit on the head, trust them. You know, if you're going to hire them, you're going to use them, trust them, so that it's not all on your shoulders and you can actually expand. Because if you're going to try and take it all on, you're never going to hit that scale that you're looking for.
Patty Costlow:Never, and I've and then just the third component is don't get caught up in your mistakes, because that's going to stop you from growing and succeeding, and, you know, and you just have to know and, and you and I probably both know the younger generation hitting, I'm saying that a lot, but they, they have a hard time with with, you know, mistakes, failure, you know, I failed. Well, I just can't do this. No, pick yourself. You might have to pick yourself back up 100 times. But if you know that you have the talent and the drive to do this, you know, just keep moving on, because it's gonna come, you know. And so I think, and that's in all of those areas, finances, staffing, client relations are huge. As soon as you own something with a client, when you make a mistake, they're like, hey, that's totally fine. Soon as you start blaming someone else, right? That's when it's not fine,
Pat Rodgers:absolutely. Well, I think I was gonna say, and you said it perfectly, that ownership component, you know, own the mistake and move forward and have a short term memory, learn from it, but don't dwell on it, because it's just going to waste more time and create more problems. And so you've got to be able to move forward and move through those mistakes.
Patty Costlow:And if you don't have the capacity to do that, find someone like I said, who could do it for you, which is what I'm going to be doing in 25 because I obviously don't have the capacity for it in 24 Yep,
Pat Rodgers:no, that's that's great. And I love that, that you're already thinking ahead and saying, you know, here's how I'm learning from these mistakes and pushing forward. Because no matter what business you're in or starting, whether you're in corporate or not, you're going to have mistakes. If it's your boss, own it, move forward, learn from it. If it's your own business, same thing. You can't stay still. You got to keep moving forward. So I love that, and I love the advice that you're providing to all of those younger generations or others as well. Well, Patty, thank you so much for the time today. Really appreciate you jumping in and having this conversation with us, and we'll wrap up here, but really appreciate everything, and look forward to catching up again here soon.
Patty Costlow:Well, thanks for the time.
Pat Rodgers:Let's dive into the key takeaways from this conversation with Patty COSLA, owner of florals by Patty, the first thing that stuck out to me was that business never stops or sleeps. For that matter, where you create work and build is important make sure you have a place you can use 24/7, and feel safe no matter what business you're in, there are going to be fire drills, late nights and scenarios you'll never predict. Making sure you can access and focus in your space when that need arises is critical next, and this is a big one Own your mistakes, learn from them and move on. Dwelling on the past only digs a deeper hole. Evaluate the mistake, learn from it, attempt to prevent it, and move on. Don't let one mistake spiral into self doubt or stagnation. Keep moving forward. Lastly, build a community, whether you're at the beginning of your career or in your second act, finding a community that can share ideas, provide perspective and ultimately lean on when times are tough, is critical. Patty's willingness to support and mentor the next generation has not only helped them and the industry, but also propelled her business forward. I want to thank Patty for joining us and sharing some incredible insights. If you're enjoying this podcast, we'd love a rating or review. Don't miss an episode. You can follow the show wherever you get your podcast fixed. And most importantly, don't forget if you're going to build, build boldly until next time. Thank you for tuning in. If you know someone who could benefit from this conversation, send them this episode. You can learn more about rise at Rise commercial district.com or find me on LinkedIn. Phil boldy is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree pod Co. Anthony Palmer is the executive producer Special thanks to Emily miles and Caitlin Krings for copy and digital support and our entire team behind the scenes making this podcast possible. You.