I had the pleasure of interviewing Mandy Kellogg Rye of Waiting on Martha in the fall issue of Delighted where we shared photos of her super stylish office style as well as her tips for staying productive. Read the interview below and visit her shop to find great items to decorate your workspace.
Follow Mandy: Blog | Shop | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter
Photos by Robert & Tiffany Peterson of Rustic White Photography
Can you tell us a little about your online shop and blog?
Waiting
On Martha is the ultimate online source for creating a beautiful
everyday. I launched the blog and online boutique in 2012 to share my
obsessions in home décor, entertaining, food and drink, and fashion.
What is the most rewarding part of owning your own business?
That
it’s my business! It all started with just a thought back in 2012 and
continues to grow each and everyday. Reflecting on where it all started
and where it is today, I have such satisfaction in knowing that I
created and grew Waiting On Martha by working harder than I ever have in
my life. I just can’t find the words to describe this feeling of
accomplishment!
What does a typical work day look like for you?
As
an entrepreneur, each day is totally different. A “typical” work day
for me begins at 7:30 a.m. and comes to a close around 2 a.m., Monday
through Saturday. Since I toggled between the blog and the online
boutique, my daily tasks vary from design work in PhotoShop, inventory,
customer service, writing posts, order fulfillment and shipping,
partnerships with brands, editorial styling, sourcing new brands and
products, photo sessions with Rustic White, forecasting media activities
with my publicist, to recipe development. Somedays I’ll be shooting
with a magazine for 12 hours, somedays I’ll be consumed by my email
inbox and somedays I’m busy mixing cocktails at 8 a.m. If there’s one
thing that’s consistent every day, it’s dinner with my husband and daily
walks with my dog, Addison.
When setting-up your workspace, what was most important?
That
it had to be functional. When I started, I had big plans for a
particular area of the office, but when it came down to it, it turned
into shelving for
inventory.
What items did you splurge on? Save on?
I
splurged on the big pieces: My chandelier, wallpaper, and custom
spindle chairs. I saved on the art/prints and my shelves (all from
Ikea).
What is your favorite thing about your workspace?
It’s
all mine—and completely me! Currently my office is at home and it is
the one space that I made my own and didn’t need input on its design for
anyone else. Hence the wallpaper...which I adore.
Is there anything you would change about your workspace? If so, what?
So
many things! I’ve already begun plotting my next office space. In my
next space, I’ll need a lot more room for inventory, and I wouldn’t do
black, as it shows every speck of dust, knick, everything!
What tip(s) can you share for keeping yourself as efficient as possible?
Focus
on what you’re doing and on one thing at a time. Distractions can pull
you away from the task at hand, so if I’m focused on something, I’ll
keep my email inboxes and social media pages closed. Another tip I have
is to just get started. Don’t procrastinate! We all get overwhelmed by
our to-do lists, but instead of staring at it, worrying about how you’ll
possibly get it all done, just start doing.
What tip(s) can you share for balancing work and personal life?
Balance
is definitely something that I’m still trying to figure out and was
much easier when I didn’t own my own business. When it’s your name on
the door, it can be consuming. But there’s one thing that I do well when
it comes to balance: I work hard and I play hard. When I disconnect, I
really disconnect! I live in the moment and don’t worry what’s going on
in the office. Now, I just need to work on disconnecting more often!
When not at your desk, you can be found...
In the kitchen cooking, listening to music and drinking wine.
