For this small business spotlight, we are spotlighting a lovely small business called Paper Affair. Paper Affair is a “locally owned, specialty boutique.” Paper Affair has three locations in the area. There is a store in Dallas, Plano, and Frisco. For those of you who are out of town and looking for wonderful gifts, they have many of their products on their website.

Melissa Wayte is the owner of Paper Affair and also happens to be a dear friend of mine. I thought it would be more fun to interview Melissa for this small business spotlight so you could really get to know the fantastic wife, mom, friend, and boss behind this small business. Plus, I thought it might inspire some of you younger moms if you are thinking about starting your own business.

How did you decide to start your own business?

Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to have a retail store. When other kids were playing “house”, and “restaurant” and “school”, I was playing “retail store’. I made the decision to get my bachelors degree in Finance, and then a Masters degree in Finance, but after 15 years in the banking/investment industry, I still had the “itch” and underlying desire to give a retail store a try. So, I retired from banking and started PAPER AFFAIR DALLAS two months later.

Any advice for young moms considering starting their own business?

My advice to anyone considering starting their own business: estimate how many hours per week you will need to work on this business, and then multiply that by 3. I gave up a career where I worked 50-60 hours per week, and I started my own business where I routinely work much more than that. Do not start a business unless you are willing to work A LOT.

Is there any specific verse that you have used through the years to get your through struggles or difficulties you have faced?

The Bible verse I had posted in my locker in high school is the same bible verse that is posted in my car today. Philippians 4:13 has gotten me through a lot in my life. “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength”. Whether I need a boost in confidence, or a comfort from an anxiety, or even just a reminder that He is with me during my most overwhelming busy seasons, I rely on this verse.

When did you start Paper Affair?

May 2007 - yep just 6 months before the start of what has been called THE GREAT RECESSION - the longest economic downturn since WORLD WAR II.

How did you juggle owning a business and having young children who were involved in activities? What “things” did you have to let go of when you had young children and were growing your business?

When I started my own business, it was very important to me to never miss any of my children’s activities. Even though I sometimes worked 70 hours a week, because I was my own boss, I never missed a band concert, a volleyball game, a tennis match or a drama production. I just would have to work late into the evening to make up for the time off engaged in my kids activities. So, what did I have to “let go of”? I had to let go of time for myself. I am not proud of this answer, but it is the truth. There isn’t time for everything, something has to give, and for me, that choice was time for myself. I am now just a few short months away from being an empty nester, as my youngest finishes her Senior year of high school. I will soon have that “time for myself” (more than I even want) and I am OK with the sacrifice while my kids were at home.

Is there anything you would do differently now, when you were starting a business and raising young children?

I would not do anything differently. By no means, did I do everything in the best way. But I am a big believer in making decisions, doing the best with the decisions made, and not looking back. Even if there are challenges along the way, lessons can be learned from those times, which then lead to better decisions in the future. Paper Affair would not be where it is if I hadn’t made some bad decisions along the way!

How do you do it all? Have a family and run a business?

I get asked this question a lot. “How do you do it all?” My answer is that I had to give up “perfectionism”. Prior to running my own business, I used to hire the professional photographer and buy the whole family matching clothes for the perfect Christmas card. Now, I take whatever photo I can find on my phone and slap them on a card, or maybe even not send a card one year. Prior to running my own business, I had a decorated Christmas tree in every room of the house, both the front yard AND back yard were strung with lights and decorations. Now, I barely get up one tree. Priorities had to shift. It wasn’t easy. I had to reprogram myself and my priorities. Also, I am not a perfect wife, a perfect mom, a perfect friend or a perfect boss. But I do the best I can for each of those loved ones in my life. You can not “do it all perfectly”. But you CAN “do it all the best you can”.