We had the good fortune of connecting with Joey Ellis-Sayers and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joey, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve always been a creative spirit. I remember being really young, and my favorite things were reading, writing, and drawing.
Art and creative expression came naturally to me.

It’s funny ~ before my Papa passed on, he told me, “I’m gonna get you coal for Christmas” (jokingly of course) and I told him that was fine with me, I would still love it because I could do art with it. It became one of my favorite Mediums, and I still enjoy working with it.

I didn’t pursue art and creativity in my career until more recently. I worked in fast food primarily from 16-22.

Then, I came across the world of online business. I tried a few different business models until I found freelancing.
So I started working as a freelancer, writing articles, designing logos, and that led me to discover marketing.

I feel as though marketing really ties all of my best qualities together.
I love creating strategies, quality branding elements and graphics, and writing impactful content.

Creativity was never something I chose outright, it simply was my best self-expression.
When you find what works for you, whether it’s creativity or numbers, or alchemy, or philosophy…
When you find what works for you, there is no other choice.
It simply becomes second nature.

Creativity is a great outlet for me.
I come from a very creative space, and I hold immense creative energy (a Sacral Generator, for those familiar with Human Design).

For some, creativity is something you have to force them to sit down and “do” whereas I’m the opposite. I can spend hours creating and it will only increase my creative energy levels, but following a structure is something I have to really focus on and commit to.

Creativity and art weren’t something I really pursued, it really came down to the fact that I get bored and underwhelmed at a repetitive jobs like factory work or fast food.

So I found entrepreneurship.
Where I could be and do anything I wanted to, and so now I have a brand called Happi Bonsai, and some of the values that have surfaced and taken hold in my business can be found between the lines of my slogan.

“Marketing Outside of the Lines, Business Outside of the Box, Let’s Do Something Fun.”
“Grow Happi with Happi Bonsai”

Creativity wasn’t really a choice, it’s just engrained in everything I do, especially business.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m driven and determined to make a difference and an impact in the world, in whatever way I can.

I started working remotely and independently in 2020 and it wasn’t easy. I didn’t have someone to help me along. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I found resources and made a way for myself.

It was long and hard, and there were many tears, but that’s what entrepreneurs are born out of: hardship and sheer will.

I found myself in therapy at the beginning of 2021, at the lowest point I’ve ever been. I had gone all in on my business, which wasn’t exactly the success story I wanted to tell.

So after a few sessions, I came away with a “what do I have to lose” attitude. I began to inspire the people around me, and I started to take up space, authentically.

I started working on healing my inner child, and I started to gain a new perspective on life. I stepped up to my destiny, instead of shying away from it. I stepped up to the opportunity and took it for what it was worth.

I started setting healthy boundaries with people I never had the strength to set boundaries with before. I lost friends. I applied to countless jobs. I cried into my keyboard on a few occasions, but I never gave up.

I’m going into 2023 with an open mind. I’m ready to learn something new, I’m ready to work with clients who want to do things a little differently. I’m interested in creating out-of-the-box marketing strategies. I want to push the bounds of what marketing is supposed to “look like.

My goal for the next two years is to learn everything I can about entrepreneurship and business, apply it in real-time in my own business and my client’s businesses, and learn firsthand.

With the knowledge and experience I gather during that time, I want to put together an impressive professional portfolio.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m from a little rural place called Galax, Virginia.

We love visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway for beautiful views of the rich Mountain scenery. Hiking is a common activity among families and visitors. The land on the parkway is rich with the history of the civil war and the ghosts of the native peoples. There’s a reason our mamas and grandmamas used to tell us to get home before the street lights come on.

If you travel through Fries, Virginia, you will see the remains of one of America’s mill towns. All the houses are built in a row overlooking what the locals call “the Big Bottom,” or the remainder of what used to be the river bed. The cotton mill still stands by the Fries Dam.

There’s not much left to do in the Tri-County Area unless you’re here for the Annual Fiddler’s Convention or an antique car show, but if you’re ready to slow down and live life, country style, you can find yourself a cozy little corner in Galax, Virginia.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Bini Noble – my Human Design and business coach. An Angel in Human Form!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bnoble204/

William Sayers – forever supportive hubby and best friend

https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-sayers-67a5ab1ba/

Website: www.happibonsai.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-ellis-sayers-76b7b5192/

Other: https://linktr.ee/happibonsai

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