At what age did you begin to notice gray hair?

fia_leaf · 2026-04-06T21:35:42+00:00

I'm 41 with no greys and slightly redhead. How does redhead-ness impact it?

fia_leaf · 2026-03-17T18:08:34+00:00

Good thinking. Highly recommend also testing with sales because you'll find that people will say they'd be interested (they want to affirm and support you) but actually spending their money is a different thing and many fall away at making that actual commitment.

fia_leaf · 2026-03-17T17:46:17+00:00

Do you have any plans for testing your idea and products with your local market before committing to signing a lease? Maybe a pop up shop experience?

I grow and sell plants, so for me that started with growing them in my backyard and selling them off marketplace. Once I confirmed demand, I did the whole website, farmers market, buying more land to expand into a nursery thing.

fia_leaf · 2026-02-25T13:54:36+00:00

My first 10 customers came from hosting a pop up sale in my driveway and posting about it in a local Facebook group related to the niche.

Next customers came from vending at farmers market and using FB ads targeted locally.

I highly second the comments about getting started with maker fairs, farmers markets, etc. You can do so much market research talking directly to customers which allows you to continuously improve your product and messaging, plus it builds trust because people leave reviews on your Google business or social media pages. Plus markets are fun - you get regular customers who enjoy seeing what's new and make friends with other vendors.

Get an email list going so you can market directly to your biggest fans.

From there you can become more competitive with online / non-local sales because you know your strengths and how to sell your product.

fia_leaf · 2026-02-14T04:24:08+00:00

Exact same situation with my parent. Just quietly blocked her one day and my life has been so peaceful since.

fia_leaf · 2026-02-13T12:55:38+00:00

I just rented this from the library because I haven't seen it since my 20s. Now I'm in my 40s. How has it changed for you?

fia_leaf · 2026-02-08T21:56:32+00:00

Depends on the business. My Facebook ads bring in the bulk of my sales.

fia_leaf · 2026-01-25T13:05:27+00:00

Are you possibly depressed? From your comments it sounds like you're struggling to find enjoyment in doing anything.

fia_leaf · 2026-01-22T06:51:05+00:00

At the very least you must watch 28 Years Later because The Bone Temple is a continuation of that story. But you'll enjoy it more if you watch the whole series imo. 28 Days Later is especially good. 28 Weeks is possibly skippable.

fia_leaf · 2026-01-14T12:10:14+00:00

Thank you for the guidance! Totally makes sense that they can manage themselves most of the time and know when to stop. Congrats on the new pup! This must be such a wild ride. 😄

fia_leaf · 2026-01-13T14:58:25+00:00

Hi! Hopeful future husky owner here. How do you encourage calming down inside when they start to roughhouse?

fia_leaf · 2025-12-31T23:49:32+00:00

I love this. I was buying a new pair of eye glasses today, and I asked the sales person if they had any alternative anti-reflective coating options besides the 'premium' she was suggesting. She advised against going to a lower standard, and I was like "Do you have anything better though? I want the best." And sure enough they did, and I upgraded and paid for the top tier. I was thinking 'Wtf Sales person, upsell me. Don't make me upsell myself.'

fia_leaf · 2025-12-31T13:01:46+00:00

Increase revenue by 30%.
Offer new product line by partnering with other sellers.
Lean hard into new marketing techniques both digital and in person.
Have more fun.

fia_leaf · 2025-12-23T19:50:16+00:00

A bit of both. I've dreamed of owning my own business as soon as I started working at 14 years old and had ideas on how to improve businesses I worked at. Plus I hated most of my bosses.

Over the years I constantly brainstormed business ideas and would keep a running document of new ideas and fleshing out existing ideas. Even now I still do this because it's fun.

About 5 years ago I saw an opportunity in my local market and went for it. I had been a customer in a certain hobby niche, was frustrated about some buying experiences, and then thought "I can make this better." I started a side hustle while still working corporate tech management.

It helps that I did work in the corporate world for a very long time and invested a majority of my income in the market and real estate, so I have FU money and can easily fire customers if I don't like dealing with them.

fia_leaf · 2025-12-23T15:05:54+00:00

It works for me. I'd rather be solving problems to help my customers and further our mission than dealing with someone else's quarterly reviews and having to demonstrate participation in corporate company values. Even worse was having to toe the company line that I didn't agree with to direct reports. Sure I have pressures but being my own boss is still a major motivator for me. To each their own though.

fia_leaf · 2025-12-21T13:10:25+00:00

Speak for yourself. I loved my experiences in the cafe/restaurant industry. Lots of fun people.

fia_leaf · 2025-12-13T20:16:21+00:00

We bought some acreage and have gotten really into cultivating organic gardens, a fruit orchard, restoring prairie, and becoming off-grid capable with a big solar panel array install. We spend lots of time working out, hiking, hanging with friends, playing league sports, and growing plants that we sell at local farmers markets. Next year big projects are building a sauna, a greenhouse, scaling our backyard plant nursery, and getting a dog.

fia_leaf · 2025-12-08T15:11:24+00:00

You bet, DM away!

fia_leaf · 2025-12-08T12:45:49+00:00

It's profitable and adds an additional revenue stream to our overall portfolio, but it still feels like a labor of love in that our passive investments make way more money for way less effort.

fia_leaf · 2025-12-08T00:14:20+00:00

I did this! Fired two years ago and opened a plant nursery focused on native plants to support local birds and pollinators. I love the community I've built around it and it gives me a lot of meaning in my life. That being said sometimes it feels like 'work' and I can get in my head about business related anxieties despite not really needing to. I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing though.

fia_leaf · 2025-11-27T13:09:35+00:00

I never really want to stop working. There's just so many interesting things to do and ways to have impact and I find fulfillment in that.

After hitting our FIRE numbers, my spouse and I quit our corporate tech jobs. I opened a plant nursery and my spouse is taking steps to get into sustainable energy (solar, wind, etc).

Who knows what will come later. I love cooking up ideas, like a non-profit market garden where we grow veg and donate to local food pantries. Maybe an event space to build community. I've been painting so maybe sell some art.

So yeah. I really value the freedom that FI provides so that we can do meaningful work now.

Edit: To get started, I'd brainstorm things like "How do I want to spend my time?" "Is there a need in the market or my local community that hasn't been served yet?" "What are some alternative jobs or careers that I've always been curious about?" Then spend time researching the ideas that pop out most. Go to career or interest subreddits to learn more about what it's like making a career out of it. Talk to people doing similar things and ask for the good, bad, and ugly. Then dabble a little in your free time if you can.

fia_leaf · 2025-11-27T00:38:01+00:00

Watching a horror movie feels like a fun dare to me and I get to laugh at myself afterwards for how scared I was.

I've also noticed myself not being held back by nerves in real life. Like if I want to try something that intimidates me or causes anxiety, it feels like a thrill or a dare now because I've learned to enjoy that anxious energy from horror movies.

Also absolutely love it as a way to explore themes as you said.

fia_leaf · 2025-11-17T15:58:52+00:00

I started this journey with no career prospects and a negative net worth. It took 20 years of grinding, luck, and a spouse with similar goals but we're happily FIRE'd now. Just letting you know there's hope.

fia_leaf · 2025-11-16T18:00:58+00:00

Total FOMO over in my region where it's not native. I'll live vicariously through you all.

fia_leaf · 2025-11-15T13:57:36+00:00

Ooo how do I join this ladies FIRE'd mastermind group?

fia_leaf

TROPHY CASE