On today’s episode of Happy Black Woman, Rosetta chats with another valued member of the HBW inner circle, Sharmie Williams. Sharmie discusses her mission of creating custom memory quilts for women who want to preserve their family memories. Her business, Digital Sphinx Designs is founded on 3 principles that are at the core of who Sharmie is: Artsy, Fit, and Secure. In this chat with Rosetta, Sharmie shares insight into how she found her purpose and turned it into a business, as well as what it was like to transition to civilian life after retiring from the Army. Finding a secure space to create and feel safe in being yourself. Sharmie has always been a creative person. As a child, she grew up with a grandmother who made quilts for every member of the family, no matter where they fell on the family tree. This inspired a love for art and all things creative in Sharmie. Her love of quilting came after spending many years working in needlecraft and other creative pursuits. Sharmie says that when she found quilting she knew she’d be doing it for the rest of her life. That kind of passion is what led to the development of her business. Sharmie is passionate about helping women preserve memories and she shares how quilting can be personalized to the individual in order to create a truly one-of-a-kind memory quilt. How to create structure after retiring from the Army. Sharmie spent 20 years in the Army, living a life of intense structure. After retiring, it became clear that she needed to approach life with some degree of structure in order to accomplish her goals and run her business. Sharmie discusses her typical day and how she manages her time in order to make the most of her day. She also shares the importance of defining your schedule in the way that best suits you. With this in mind, Sharmie structures her day to start a bit later in the morning, when she feels the most productive. Accounting for time when pursuing your passion. Sharmie discusses the value of accounting for your time, which is particularly important with creative pursuits. She manages her time by using a time tracking app that gives her a better understanding of how long each project takes. Sharmie shares why it’s important to manage your time effectively so that you maximize your schedule and structure your day more effectively. She and Rosetta discuss how easy it is to have your time eaten up if you don’t properly account for your time. Stay the course and keep pushing forward. As she closes out her chat with Rosetta, Sharmie shares a tip for women who are ready to pursue their dreams and start a business: Choose to be fearless. She expands on this advice further by explaining that there will always be naysayers and doubters, but you can’t let them prevent you from living your life’s purpose. Sharmie shares her personal mantra and a favorite book that has inspired her on her journey. Sharmie’s story will inspire fellow creatives and anyone that wants to pursue their dreams. Outline of this great episode [0:32] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest, Sharmie Williams. [1:19] Sharmie’s mission and the work that she does. [2:52] Understanding what a custom memory quilt is. [5:05] What inspired Sharmie to create this business. [6:51] Action steps to get started with creating a memory quilt. [11:22] Some reasons people go to Sharmie for a memory quilt. [12:48] How the business works and how Sharmie spends a typical day. [17:05] Transitioning from the military to a happy life in retirement from the military. [21:24] A book that has inspired Sharmie on her journey. [23:44] Sharmie’s personal mantra. [25:25] Sharmie’s #1 tip for women who are ready to pursue their dreams and start a business. [26:36] How to connect with Sharmie. Resources & Links mentioned in this episode BOOK: “Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life” MANTRA: You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you l