As a young entrepreneur, I was committing countless hours to learn how to business while balancing my young, growing family. The time and dedication required to start a business oftentimes led me into moments of introspection that had me questioning what it all meant or what it was for.

Our ‘Work Hard, Smile Large’ (WHSL) mantra came to me in the early hours when I awoke one crisp morning in 2014. It was like an epiphany of the mental battle I fought daily. My career, which required 12+ hour days, 7 days a week, was pulling me away from my family or yet, inspiring them. I had just had our second daughter and was undoubtedly dedicated to my work and family.

I love living life with my family and friends and knew I needed to find that balance between working on my professional goals and dreams, and also being able to enjoy time with loved ones. I needed to work hard, to allow myself to smile large.... and just like that my life motto became: “Work Hard, Smile Large.” When I shared it with my husband, it immediately became not just a motto for myself, but for our family. I continued to show up for my family and kept working as hard as ever.

I was very aware that I needed to maintain a balance between my family and my career. It has always been my nature to help others and by doing so in my real estate career and within my family and friendships, I was demonstrating what hard work is to my daughters. I knew I was their greatest female role model and I took this responsibility seriously.

Being your authentic self is incredibly rewarding. The good, the bad, and the beauty of it all is that we are all imperfect. We need support, encouragement, and most of all SMILES.

Every single morning since the inception of this positive mindset, when my kids walk out of the door for school, they turn around and look at me until I say, “Work hard” and they smile back and reply, “Smile large.” What a way to start our day.

If you work hard and achieve your dreams, wouldn't that make you smile LARGE? 1 have spread my message to my children, professional community, friends, and family in hopes that they continue to spread this positivity to their peers.

My company, family, and friends bring me the most joy imaginable. Without them, I would not have reached where 1 am today in my own joy. I often tell my kids that a positive mindset brings undeniable happiness. Keep saying the words until you are convinced and it comes true.

In May of 2021, our family moved from California, where we shared the positivity of ‘Work Hard, Smile Large’ with friends and family for nearly seven years, to Texas. We felt our new community in Texas would enjoy this positivity as well, so our family launched WHSL. We formed a logo, created gatherings in our community, and shared our motto with friends each day.

The launch of WHSL into a brand was an inspiration for our oldest daughter to begin building friendships. Previously, she was struggling to make them in school and in our new community. We share the WHSL stickers and events with others and soak up everyone's smiles and stories about how they enjoy collaborating and pouring into one another.

Our goal is to create environments at each of our events and gatherings that promote each attendee to meet new friends, share their experience, and support one another learning throughout life's journey.