Meet Sophia Stevens | Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sophia Stevens and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sophia, how do you think about risk?
They say there are two certainties in life: death and taxes. I would add risk as a third. When you drive to work, you risk getting into a car accident. When you cook, you risk either cutting a finger or burning yourself on the stove. When you go to sleep, you risk not waking up the next morning! The degree of risk and, an individual’s comfort level with that degree are the variables associated with decision making.

Deciding to have children was my first “real” risky endeavor. Will I carry the baby to term? Will the baby be healthy? Would I be good mom? Risk and fear go hand-in-hand and I was extremely fearful. But I powered through that fear and gave birth to my first-born, healthy baby boy. It was shortly after that I realized that something else goes hand-in-hand with risk; reward! Once I became a mom and saw how rewarding that was, it flipped the script on risk. The association of risk and fear was superseded by the more optimistic view of risk and reward. Now, I think about risk as a natural component of every action and every decision. I don’t think of risk in terms of what’s on the line to lose. I think of risk in terms of personal risk tolerance and what is possible to gain.

With that paradigm shift, I’ve been able to make business decisions at much faster speeds. The anxiety associated with hesitation and uncertainty no longer plague me. With each risk taken and each reward gained, I’ve become comfortable with taking risks. I think a healthy comfort with risk is a lesson all successful entrepreneurs learn.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started my business shortly after my first child was born. Having my first child really motivated me to want to create a job that could provide for us and give me the freedom to create my own schedule. Though I could maintain an 8-5 job working for someone else, my mind kept telling me the best possible way I could provide for my family was to be my own boss. And mostly, I like the feeling of knowing I built something from the ground up.

I chose to launch my company using eBay. I wanted to create a brand of my own, and starting off on eBay was the perfect opportunity to grow and create my business structure. I had the freedom to use my creativity and build my company at a pace that worked for me. Over the years, I have grown my product line and expanded my sales to other online platforms.

Through my years of selling online I’ve learned so many lessons, including the challenges we in ecommerce businesses face as a whole. The eBay Government Relations hosted a Advocacy Day event where I was chosen to advocate for policies that would make it easier for small businesses to export via the eBay Marketplace and affordable, reliable and universal postal service. Seven groups of sellers, executives and government relations staff then headed to Capitol Hill for a day of meetings with over 60 influential members of Congress and staff. We each had a meeting providing us with an opportunity to talk about our experiences as eBay-enabled small business owners. This was an amazing experience and a great way to make a difference for those of us who make a living online.

Another challenge I am often faced with is those who are trying to replicate your brand or business identity. And often, they are not generating unique ideas or creating their own brand and processes. They are simply riding your wake as you plow forward. You have to be confident in your products and customer service to be able to stand apart from competitors. Plow far enough ahead, and they can no longer ride your wake.

If I had one takeaway I wanted someone to know from my story, it would be this: you don’t have to have the skill set today for what you want to do tomorrow. I had minimal formal experience and training on running my own business. Everything I know today, I learned over time. I have a lot more I still need to learn and after I learn it, I will need to learn something else. It never stops. So be a lifetime learner and you will always find an outlet for your drive and creativity.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d start off by taking my friend to lunch at one of my favorite Thai eateries, Mangos in Plano. Next, we’d probably get some shopping done at North Park Mall and have lunch at Hillstone Restaurant.

If the weather is nice, we’d take the day and explore the Japanese Gardens in Fort Worth or bring the dogs out to play at The Shacks Dining & Dog Park in Plano. For a night out, we would grab a few late-night drinks at Station 4 or plan a quick getaway to Choctaw Casino.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a huge shoutout to eBay and those people closest to me: my parents, friends, and children. They are all sources of inspiration and mentorship in their own ways.

My mother will always be the strongest person I know and the greatest influence in my life. She has taught me to be independent which has always been an important goal for me. To have healthy interdependent relationships (marriage, coworkers, society), you must first be on sure footing in your own independence. She has always prepared me for every season of life and shaped me into the person I am today.

My father also taught me independence in the form of entrepreneurial independence. He has an entrepreneurial spirit and owned his own business as I was growing up. I was very fortunate to be raised in an environment where I could learn entrepreneurship firsthand. When I was thirteen, my father assigned me the task of maintaining the company vehicles. I inspected the fluid levels, checked tire pressure, and washed the vehicles. My father ensured I learned the connection between work and self-sufficiency. Without his mentorship, I’m not sure I would have taken the risk of starting my own business.

As for my friends, I am extremely lucky to be surrounded by great people who are successful, driven, and supportive. They are my mentors offering deeper insights or another perspective when I run into problems. They motivated me to step outside my comfort zone which led to successful endeavors. With friends, there is a prebuilt foundation of trust. They are more honest with their feedback and advice. They often tell me things that an acquaintance might otherwise avoid out of fear of hurting my feelings though it may be truthful. For that, I am always grateful.

My kids are my biggest inspiration to keep at it, keep grinding, and keep working hard every day. I want to show them that anything is possible. I want them to be dreamers and reach to achieve those dreams. I hope to teach them the problem-solving skills necessary to endure the highs and lows of life. Running a business is exhausting and when the inevitable low comes, I want to teach my kids how to release their inner strength and persevere over the temporary hurdle. You lead by example and that is why they inspire me to be the best version of myself I can be.

Lastly, eBay has helped me tremendously through-out the years. They have hosted and provided me with so many wonderful opportunities and valuable sources to help grow my company. I’ve met so many wonderful people through this platform. Selling online is a solo experience and it can be overwhelming at times and eBay has be more than accommodating and willing to work with and issues I face.

Website: https://www.sweetpeaspices.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeaspices/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-stevens-1270abbb/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sweetpeaspices

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetpeaspices/