Welcome to the final instalment of our monthly Q&A sessions with Lacey Hunter-Felton, the pioneering founder of the co-working and freelance community: Hunter Collective.
Dear Lacey, how has your early life shaped your approach to your career? – Ryan Steedman, Session Stylist and Colourist
Hey Ryan, thank you for your question. It’s very healthy to look back at your younger self and explore what a younger you would say to the you of today (and vice versa!). Both the positive and the more-challenging early experiences do deeply influence our work ethic and drive us as our career progresses. So, while personal adversity can often feel like a burden, it can also be a powerful motivator if harnessed the right way.
- Embrace Your Challenges as Fuel:
Your resilience and ability to turn those early life struggles into a source of strength can be remarkable. My advice is to continue leaning into those experiences, but to make sure you’re doing so with balance – it’s all about embracing the lessons and using them to fuel your future. By acknowledging where you’ve come from, you remind yourself of what you’re capable of overcoming.
- Project Your Future, but Stay Grounded:
Whilst I love the concept of ‘cosmic ordering’ (where you put your ambitions into the universe with confidence), I believe it’s just as important to also be open to the journey and allow for flexibility. That way, you won’t miss unexpected opportunities that may come in different shapes than you initially envisioned.
- Invest in Relationships – They’re Your Foundation:
Ryan, I know that your career has soared in part because of the strong relationships you’ve built with clients – this is something I always emphasise in this industry. When you pour into your clients, they pour back into you. Continue to nurture those connections, and they’ll serve as a solid foundation for your professional growth.
- Find the Right Environment for Growth:
Choosing the right environment is absolutely key, so always be mindful of the spaces you work in. A healthy, creative space does wonders for productivity and personal wellbeing; it should uplift, support and inspire you.
- Strategise Business Management:
Approach the admin side of things with dedication – this is something that’s been a big learning curve for me and I can’t stress it enough. For many creatives, business management is the unglamorous side of our work, but it’s really essential. I now treat it as part of the whole picture, always setting new personal goals in this area to ensure my business thrives alongside my creativity.
- Celebrate Your Wins – Big and Small:
Lastly, don’t forget to celebrate the milestones. I always tell people: ‘no achievement is too small to recognise.’ Celebration should be recognised as a way to stay motivated and reflect on how far you’ve come. Personal challenges can be the very things that push us forward, both personally and professionally. My advice to anyone facing adversity is to embrace it, use it as motivation and never shy away from asking for help or guidance. Whether it’s building stronger relationships, staying strategic in your business or celebrating your wins, the key is to keep moving forward with purpose. Every experience, good or bad, can shape your success.
