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* This March, Stephanie Rado Taormina; founder of Have Some Fun Today will be telling her story at the Women2Women luncheon event at Folino Estate Winery. A link to purchase tickets for the event can be found below.
Q&A With Stephanie Rado Taormina, Founder & CEO of HSFT:
What words of wisdom would you offer to other women?
To believe in yourself & have faith.
What is the most valuable way women can support each other?
I believe the most valuable way women can support each other is by giving each other the benefit of the doubt. So often when someone is different from us, we tend to be suspicious of their motives, but if we give each other the benefit of the doubt, we are giving them a chance.
Is there an "aha" moment or experience that defines who you are?
The moment when I had the vision to create with the slogan "Have Some Fun Today." since that day 8+ years ago I haven't looked back, and I feel such a purpose around creating a truly inspiring body of work for all people.
What is your favorite mantra, favorite saying or words that keep you grounded?
Have Some Fun Today!
What's your mission?
To make people smile and feel connected to each other.
What do you consider women's main asset?
The ability to multitask.
What do you consider women's main threat?
Other people's misperceptions of her.
What three things do you recommend that contribute to your success?
Belief in myself, being open minded, having laser focus on what it takes to get the job done efficiently and always doing what I say I will do.
How do you want to be perceived / remembered?
I'd like to be remembered as someone who shared her gifts to bring joy to others and to be a role model for others to break free from limiting beliefs to turn their dreams into reality.
What is the best advice you have received?
To: Have Some Fun Today - (from my dad.)
You recently shared on social media that you'd like to change things up a bit and include more of what you love. That might include art? Tell us how you realized it was time to reinvigorate the brand / yourself.
My company Have Some Fun Today was started in 2014 with the idea of a painting I wanted to make. My mind quickly envisioned the painting, then the tote, the pillow, the tees, the hat and so on. All in the span of five minutes one morning while doing my morning meditation. As I developed the brand over the coming months, including the initial pairings, I soon realized that I was stuck on the way the paining were coming out and so I didn't do much with them over the following years.
Then there was this global pandemic and it seemed like people all over were discovering the artists inside themselves. I had been painting all along, but something moves me to try something again with the words of my brand Have Some Fun Today. Maybe it was the self-work I had been doing, including the therapy I started to do last year. Whatever it was, when I approached my painting with those four words this time in my handwriting, it didn't turn me off! To the contract, something clicked! This time my own handwriting felt just right. Like I turned a corner in my own self-acceptance. The handwriting didn't need to be perfect, it was perfect in its imperfection. Just like me. Just like all us truly are.
That was a breakthrough. I worked on experimenting with the concept of doing some paintings in my abstract style, with the words Have Some Fun Today boldly written down the middle. I worked for months to find the right formula, and one day not too long ago it all came together. I found the style and it has reinvigorated the brand for me so much so that I am embracing my abstract colorful style back into the designs for the brand in the bags & clothing for 2022.
You see, I am not a follower. Never have been, never will be. However, when you are making and designing things to sell you do need to balance what people like and want with what you like and want to do. But, now that I have done some substantial laying the foundation of the brand, it's time to be a lot more playful with what we put out there. It's time for color and pattern and some FUN energy in everything we make. Stay tuned.
Please share why you believe W2W is important for the community:
For a very long time as a creative, I didn't resonate with being an 'executive'. After moving back to Berks County from NYC 25 years ago, I worked for myself for a very long time as a design consultant. It wasn't until my career path changed that I really went past being a Creative and became a Founder. Now that I'm here in the C suite space of my won doing, I have this new awareness that yes, I am an executive and yes, organizations like Women2Women are really important for our community. I've had my head to the grindstone for the past eight years and finally looked up this past October to attend my first Women in Retail Leadership Summit, and what I experienced has opened my eyes to the benefits of hearing what other women in business leadership roles can offer to each other in terms of support & guidance. It is truly a wonderful resource for our community to any woman who utilizes it.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Just that it is an honor to be noticed by other business leaders in our community for my work and having this platform to share my experience. Over the years I've had many people privately reach out to me to give advice on starting their businesses and I am always happy to listen and give some advice. To me, it is very important to give back whenever I can to my community through the different events we have at Have Some Fun Today that often benefit local charities. Part of what makes what I do so special is that it is a way for people to connect and feel connected. Two strangers passing each other both wearing something from Have Some Fun Today are bound to strike up a happy exchange and your whole day feels warmer and brighter. No other brand does that. I'm not solving the homeless issue (although I'd love to work that someday) or curing cancer, but I am creating a way through my designs that reminds us to reframe our attitude. What you bring to your daily grind is a matter of choice. You can go to work or school with an attitude of drudgery, or you can go with an attitude of "Let's make this fun". It changes everything.
Join us for the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s “Pursuit, Passion & Paying it Forward” luncheon:
On Wednesday, March 16, 2022 owner and founder of Have Some Fun Today, Stephanie Rado Taormina, will be speaking at Folino Estate Winery from 11:30 AM to 1 PM for the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s “Pursuit, Passion & Paying it Forward” luncheon. Stephanie is a fine artist and interior designer who began her career in fashion over 30 years ago.
Learn more about how Stephanie's life experiences and abilities helped form her life direction, and see how she plans to take her brand into the future by purchasing tickets for the March 16 luncheon here, and be sure to read the full Cover Story in Women2Women's Winter edition here.
HAVE SOME FUN TODAY - What does it mean to Rise Above? There are many images that come to mind when thinking about those two words; like literally keeping your head above the rising waters or a phoenix rising from burning ash. Whatever it is for you, it certainly means to overcome. And isn't that something we all share as a part of the human condition.
It's a day-to-day, moment-to-moment human experience, rising above. Sometimes it means just getting by the next 20 minutes and sometimes it means trying to survive drowning in the mire of something bigger than you. Whether we are overcoming and rising above what is within ourselves, or an obstacle that has been set before us by someone or something; rising up is literally elevating ourselves up and over whatever is in our way. It's those knock-you-to-your knees, bruise-but-not-break you moments that we've all had. And somehow we all go on.
Just like moons and like suns, with certainty of tides, just like hopes springing high, still I'll rise... - Maya Angelou
A good friend will remind you that the sun will still rise in the morning and the moon will still crest every evening, and all of this will happen regardless of what is happening to you. It's a powerful thing to remember that we are small. Our insignificance and smallness can be a gift when the enormity of our problems feel soul crushing.
When we rise above that which is in our way, it takes but just a glance below to see the smallness of what we are leaving behind. Like a view from a first class seat at a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet, the perspective changes when you broaden your view. Rising above, literally and figuratively, will always change your perspective.
Rising above the struggles and challenges in our lives is a character builder, but who the hell wants to hear that when the walls are closing in and the other shoe has dropped. When I'm reeling in the mess and the hurt, please don't remind me that this too, shall pass and that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger (Thank you, Nietzsche). That's the last damn thing any of us wants to hear, even if it's a universal truth. A study out of the University of Buffalo discovered that experiencing some diversity in our lives creates resiliency and has a positive impact on our overall happiness and life.
Skip the clichè advice from your well-meaning friends and learn to "lean in" and let go. Instead of fighting the struggle or resisting the experience, simply release. Think of "leaning in" like putting your whole face and body boldly into the swirl of a storm, the wind and rain coming at you in full force, and just being open to whatever is next. You will not break, but you may fall. And that's okay. There's beauty in the fall, even if it hurts.
Surrender. It's ok to feel the struggle and the pain, but don't let it define you. It's just a part of your story, it's not the whole story. Lean in to the storm and let go. It's like saying, "Ok, what's next?". It's then that you'll rise above. Like a balloon that's escaped the clutch of a small child, you will waft into the light breeze of the blue sky and be "above" that which has been in your way.
There is no greater threat to the critics and cynics and fear mongers than those of us who are willing to fall because we have learned to rise... Brenè Brown
When we rise above and remove our obstacles, fear and biggest naysayers, only then do we really have access to the possibility of joy. Author and speaker Brenè Brown says it's then that we rewrite the narrative to our story. What will be your new ending?
There's a chance you're gonna get a pretty kick-ass view of the world as you float on by on your way to rising above. Soak it in, savor that moment. When you let go of enough of the shit that's been weighing you down, you'll see the magic and the beauty that's always been all around you.
Around here, we call that philosophy Have Some Fun Today. Savor the moment, grab the chance to fill your day with something remarkable and spectacular. It's okay to freestyle in your life once in a while... what's possible if you do? That's the whole point of HSFT.
HSFT is all about exploring the different ways in our lives to find joy, love and that little bit of magic. Rising above is a great way to get there...
© HSFT
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