Ellen Hockley is the founder and CEO of Evergreen Activewear, a challenge-driven, sustainable maternity and postpartum activewear brand.
Created during the pandemic, Ellen’s sustainable event-making plans agency faltered without in-person events all through her first pregnancy.
She struggled with the lack of high-quality activewear, especially for pregnancy and postpartum changes, and knew it had to change.
As a two-time entrepreneur, she became capable of leveraging her network and started on her first round of product design the week her son was born, in July 2020, at the peak of the COVID-19 Lockdown.
Inspired by the absence of bodily and emotional assistance for women throughout pregnancy and postpartum, Ellen has constructed her logo to convert the narrative.
For a long time, Ellen’s goal has been to construct a logo with sources and networks to guide the pregnancy and postpartum space through schooling and training in fitness, well-being, and advocacy.
With maternal dying at the upward thrust in the US, each viable possibility must be used to educate, train, and assist pregnant and postpartum parents.
What is your average day, and how do you make it effective?
As an entrepreneur, I discovered I don’t have an “average day.” I usually schedule meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays to meet with suppliers, other businesses, collaborators, etc.
I leave Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for more intensive heads-down work, brainstorming days, and occasionally taking the day off to spend with my child.
I strive to plan my days earlier, but I do not overschedule them because of my stress and anxiety. I love taking an hour for lunch with a chum or working out if I’m feeling stuck. This flexibility facilitates my thriving.
How do you carry ideas to lifestyles?
Through conversation, writing, and hiking. The outdoors has always been an area of solace for me, and I brainstorm, wonder, and redefine goals on a hike or outside exploration.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The consciousness that hustle culture is less productive than self-care and recognition of your position as an entrepreneur and member of society.
What is one habit that facilitates you to be efficient?
I keep quite an organized calendar. After knowing what to anticipate from my days, I can get more done in less time.
What recommendation could you give your more youthful self?
Try not to take yourself too seriously now; everything will be a training session, as it’s speculated to be.
While it could take more time than you’d hoped, there may be a time and an area for the entirety, and you need to be an affected person with yourself and the procedure.
Tell us something you trust; almost no one concurs with you.
Honestly, I haven’t any idea.
What is the only issue you repeatedly do and advocate all and sundry else do?
Continually foster and grow my network and community. This is immensely critical to helping your commercial enterprise develop and to helping you develop as a person.
Enticing human beings to do extraordinary work than you are allows you to analyze approaches you didn’t even understand you wanted.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
My first step is an exercise (motion keeps me sane). If I’m nevertheless feeling stuck, I’ll hook up with my community/advisors and talk through what’s on my thoughts to help circulate through it.
Which strategy helps you grow in your career?
Investing a variety of time and energy in searching out like-minded brands and organizations to community, aid, and collaborate with has given my corporation a large reach without delay.
This also allows the development and fostering of a community of entrepreneurs for non-public support.
What is one failure in your career, how did you triumph over it, and what lessons did you eliminate?
There had been many over the years. I assume making the belief that just because I created something I wished and wanted, humans might right now find it, and that is ultimately untrue.
It takes an outstanding deal of time and strength to build a brand that resonates with folks and then entices them to convert and grow into customers and community participants.
What is one enterprise concept you’re willing to offer away to our readers?
Circular maternal healthcare. Please start a company that helps oldsters from pre-thought thru being pregnant and postpartum, the modern-day device is so broken and wishes a complete overhaul. IYKYK
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you operate it?
As a small commercial enterprise proprietor, I rely closely on many software programs, but one of the most essential is Canva.
I can create everything from Instagram posts to Investor Pitch Decks, and they appear polished and expert. I might be lost without it.
How much did you spend last time?
Oh, that is a complicated question! Something completely not tangible: I recently traveled and visited some excellent friends, and the $100 I spent on dinners with my pals became worth thousands in how much it refreshed my soul.
What is your favorite book?
I’m positive you always pay attention to this, but I love the “How I Built This Podcast.” Almost every episode offers new and creative gear for each private and professional achievement.
Plus, it usually strikes a chord in my memory how long it surely takes to create a hit business. Even “in a single day, successes” spend years building a solid foundation, which might simply be hidden from the public.
What’s a movie or collection you lately loved and why?
I watch The Sinner on Netflix these days. It’s a completely dark crime drama, but I loved the ability to depart from reality while still feeling real.
The show addressed so many troubles between families, spouses, and so on that I don’t sense anything like you regularly see on TV these days.
Key learnings you wanted to share?
Networking is crucial. Leveraging your network and community is essential for personal and professional growth, whether as an entrepreneur or pursuing a more traditional career path.
Respect yourself and your limits. It’s okay to need a reset; knowing how and when to take it is the key. In recent years, the emphasis on hustle culture has led to significant burnout for many entrepreneurs.
