It’s All About Me
Have you seen the clip of Snoop D.O. Double G when he accepts his award and says, “I’d like to thank”—and after a long pause—“ME!”? The crowd erupts in laughter and applause as he goes on to describe how he earned this award through his hard work, dedication, worry, and talent. His thank-you speech is a bold tribute to none other than himself.
I always thought he was spot-on in thanking himself, and with that, in addition to our tall stature, Snoop and I have a lot in common. While there is undoubtedly help from those around you, as a Founder and CEO, it’s up to you. Here at Bergy Bag, it’s up to ME. Me to the me me me.
At this point in Bergy Bag, it’s ALL about ME, and really UP to me to keep the company moving. Up to me to fulfill the orders that came in while we were sleeping. Up to me to set our reps up for success. Up to me to get back to the PR firm, answer emails, and manage the wholesale accounts. Up to me to produce and star in Instagram reels and posts. Up to me to act as creative director for the photo shoots. And, the worst part—up to me to pay the bills. BLAH.
It’s all about ME. There is no Bergy Bag without me.
Do I like it being about me? Hmm… I mean, yeahno. I am full of passion and have big brand goals for the coolest hybrid bag on the market. I know that I can design, grow, and sell our beautiful, cool bags to women all over the world. And when I’m done, I can say, “Look what I did.” That moment I envision will be like the scene in *Legally Blonde* when Elle Woods sees her name on the intern list and marches to the back of the line only to stand in a power stance, push her fist to the floor, and shout, “ME.” Oh yeah, I look forward to having my Elle Woods moment.
But the “no” comes from a more humble side of me, one that questions what I don’t know. I do what I know how to do, but what am I missing? How can this all be up to me, Heather from Scottsdale, when surely others must know more than I do? It can’t be all about me, can it?
Well, sweet cheeks, today it is all about me. And as a trainer once told me—no excuses. He also used to say, “Look better naked,” but that statement really has no place when talking about insulated fashion bags.
In this Founder role, embracing the “all about me” reality means owning every aspect of the business—from the exhilarating highs to the exhausting lows. It’s about taking pride in the accomplishments and learning from the challenges. It’s about understanding that while I might not have all the answers, I have the determination and drive to figure things out.
I love the journey of self-reliance and personal growth. Every moment of stress, every victory, and every lesson learned is a step toward making Bergy Bag the successful brand I envision. It’s a testament to the fact that sometimes, the best way to move forward is to fully embrace and celebrate your own role in the process. And not to feel sorry for yourself but to remember it’s a privilege to create and be in control of your own success.
So today I thank ME for believing in me, for doing all the hard work, for having no days off, for never quitting, for always being a giver, for choosing right from wrong, and for being me, the heartbeat of Bergy Bag. And to anyone out there who finds themselves in a similar position, remember: it really is all about you (not me, but you for this part). Embrace it, own it, and let your journey be a testament to your grace and resilience.
Here's to making ideas prosperous and celebrating the remarkable journey of building a brand. And here’s to, well, you guessed it… Here’s to ME.
A little P.S. about ME. Highlights from the last 20 months:
- Our first-year sales beat six figures.
- I met Gwen Stefani and gifted her a white Bergy Bag. If you know me, you know this is one of the top 5 all-time moments of my life. The only regret is that I have to wait until next time to see if she wants to be BFF.
- I gave thousands of dollars in products and proceeds to charities all across the country.
- I have collaborated with some of the most recognizable and respected brands in the business.
- I have set up wholesale accounts with world-renowned resorts and golf clubs, and I continue to establish even more relationships as I type.
- I have worked nights, weekends, and traveled to different time zones to pitch, sell, and place Bergy Bags.
- I have cold-called. It’s not my favorite thing to do, but it pushed me out of my comfort zone so much that I even surprised myself.
- I went to New York Fashion Week.
- I applied for a patent.
- I designed our entire first collection and the entire Fall/Winter 2024 release. By the way, if you’ve made it this far in reading this, thank you, and I know, so exciting, right? More insulated bags that look like a purse. Anyway, I’d like to reward your dedication to ME and this “amazing” blog coauthored by ChatGPT by telling you the new colors are: Tomato, Metallic, and Desert Beige. They also come with a strap to wear as a cross-body! Are you so excited? By the way, the strap was the number 1 request for product direction.
- I designed the packaging and worked with the manufacturer. During this process, I expanded my vocabulary to include words like MOQ and tooling.
- I popped up all around the community and in other states and sold no bags, 1 bag, and on my best day, 35 bags in 2 hours.
- I listened and smiled as every third person told me that I should go on Shark Tank.
- I hired account executives to rep Bergy Bag.
- I didn’t give up, even though the thought did cross my mind a time or 40 million.
