We recently had the chance to connect with Laura Exner and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Laura, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me is a little chaotic right now. My daughter (4) is on summer break and she usually wakes me up before my alarm. I work from home, thankfully, so I at least don’t have to worry about getting up and making myself presentable to the public. Comfy pants and crazy hair are sometimes the outfit of the day. I juggle my day job as a Federal Agency Travel Administrator for the CDC, keeping my child entertained, and all of my other daily responsibilities. It is hard – but after my daughter finally goes to bed at night, I get a little time to work on my art and creating some content for my business social media posts, and that’s how I finish out my days.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the owner and artist behind The Glitter Geek Boutique. I started the business in 2023 to be able to sell some of my resin art creations, just hoping to make enough back to continue to fund the hobby, which can get expensive. I was surprised by the positive response I received about my work, and by how much I enjoyed doing market events, so I kept going. Now, I have a small business that is slowly growing and I am becoming a bit more well-known in the artistic community of Northern Colorado.
My main goal with my art is to bring joy to those who see it. Everything I make is colorful, sparkly, and full of magic – that’s what the Glitter Geek Boutique is all about.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My dad. We were incredibly close when I was growing up. I even worked at the store he managed during the summers throughout high school, so we spent a lot of time together. He taught me how to work hard for something I want, and was a great example of why maintaining integrity in what you do is so important.
We aren’t as close anymore, for complicated reasons, which makes me sad. I will always be grateful for what he taught me, though.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of rejection, in any way, shape, or form. I was frequently bullied as a kid, and struggled to believe in my own worth, even when friends and loved ones tried to convince me otherwise.
As I get older (I am 37), I am learning to let this fear go. But I know it has cost me job opportunities, potential friendships, unique experiences, and so on. I try not to dwell on it – I instead use those memories of fear as a driving reason to keep going with what I do with my art and my business. Putting my creativity out there in the public is hard, but I am at peace with the fact that my art isn’t going to appeal to everyone, and that is okay.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes and no. In public, I appear much more outgoing and extroverted. In reality, I am an introvert. I like people, but I need a lot of recovery time after big events.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people talk about how I made them feel seen, valued, and accepted. That’s how I approach every interaction, with both loved ones and strangers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theglittergeekboutique.com
- Instagram: @theglittergeekboutique
- Other: You can also find me on TikTok, @theglittergeekboutique, and the Tedooo app. Also worth mentioning, I am currently transitioning from Etsy to a regular website, so while my domain name is active, it is still a work in progress.
