We had the good fortune of connecting with Molly Stone and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Molly, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
Discipline, consistency and gratitude are the 3 habits that have helped me succeed. I’ve learned that I will never feel motivated all the time, so instead I need to lean into discipline so that even when I am not motivated, I am productive. Every day I make a list of the 3 things that will help move my business forward and then I focus to get those accomplished before noon. This way I have a manageable task list that prioritizes what will have the most impact and then no matter what happens to the rest of the day, I’ve accomplished what I needed to. I’ve also learned over time that consistency is the key to success with anything. Whether you are looking to get in shape, build a successful business or learn to play piano- you have to do the things that lead to the outcome you want consistently over time to achieve that outcome. Gratitude is something I have struggled with for years. It’s not that I’m not grateful, but I never really thought about it. I would focus on what I was lacking or what I still needed to achieve and that puts you in a negative place. I’ve been consciously journaling things I am grateful for each day the past year and it has improved my outlook and helped me to be more positive, creative and that leads to more success.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started my business to help women feel confident and comfortable in a swimsuit and make swimsuit shopping a fun, hassle free experience. Before I got started, I surveyed over 100 women to learn what common issues they had with both their swimsuits and the shopping experience. By listening to my target audience I was able to focus on solving their problems and I’m proud that 3 years later I’ve been able to make swimsuit shopping easy and help hundreds of women feel confident and comfortable in their swimsuit. This past year was tough with so much uncertainty, no vacations and manufacturing challenges with all the shutdowns in Los Angeles where my manufacturing takes place. I ended up not even being able to release a new collection of swimwear, but I focused on my mission of making women feel confident and comfortable and listening to what my customers wanted and needed and pivoted to offering loungewear and activewear along with seasonal apparel that worked great for their new work from home, digital learning and staycation lifestyle. That shift in my business actually lead to opening a sister brand, Everyday Pearl, so that I can continue to meet their needs for getaways and everyday adventures.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Living in Sugar Hill is fantastic because it provides a lot of natural beauty with trails and parks around Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River as well as a small town feel with lots of local restaurants and shops. For anyone who visits the area I would start our day with coffee and a delicious breakfast at Rushing Trading Company in downtown Sugar Hill. Then depending on the weather we could hike one of the trails around the lake or grab a kayak and float down the Chattahoochee River. To refuel, we’d grab some sandwiches from Main St Deli in downtown Buford then could stroll around and shop at Further Down the Rabbit Hole and Main Street Bloom. Next we’d enjoy happy hour at the newly opened Sugar Hill Distillery. We could see a movie or performance at Eagle Theater and finish the day with dinner at Mika French Sushi.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family has been very supportive of me as I started my business and continue to be my biggest cheerleaders as I grow. I also am so grateful that I have been able to learn from, collaborate with and support other women business owners through my involvement with Project Entrepreneur, Launchpad2x and The Boutique Hub.

Website: www.blackpearlswimwear.com www.everydaypearlshop.com

Instagram: @blackpearlswim @everydaypearlshop

Facebook: @blackpearlswim @everydaypearl

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