Write Your Chapter

The title track of my first CD was “Let Go”. 

This song was inspired by my experience with family and the thoughts I have about possibly having similar experiences if I’m lucky enough to grow old.

Dementia has got to be one of the worst diseases for the family to deal with.  To watch a spouse, or parent, or loved one forget your name, forget all of the experiences you’ve been through. 

Dementia runs in my family.  I experienced it with my Grandpa Frank Page.  I dread having the same experience with my dad that he had with his.  And while it may still be decades away, the thought of Callie, and my kids, and grandkids going through it with me, makes me painfully sad.  

I remember sitting in the nursing home with my Grandpa and wondering what was going through his mind.  There were good days and bad days. Days he could remember my name, and days he thought I was a childhood friend.   The advice they give is to just play along.  If they think you are a friend from 70 years ago, then be that friend.  No need to frustrate them by insisting you are not who they think.  Man, that’s hard to do. But there comes a point where that is all that you can do.

I hope I am lucky enough to have a long marriage to my beautiful wife.  And if I am, there is very likely the possibility that I will forget who she is at some point. I cannot imagine how much it would hurt for someone you spend most of your life loving to forget who you are.  

I don’t know what people with dementia think about after they become incapable of communicating.  But if it’s me, I hope it’s the beautiful days.  My wedding day.  The days spent on vacation with my family – either when I was a kid in the Rocky Mountains with my parents and siblings, or when I was a dad with my children hiking in the same place 30 years later.  The days spent playing sports with my best friends growing up, or hitting fly balls to my kids in our yard.

The last couple of lines are the way I think I would feel if I was the guy in the song.  While I hate the thought of being alone in a nursing home at the end of my life, if it gets to the point where I can’t speak and can’t remember Callie’s name, then it’s not really me sitting there anymore.  And, while I have no doubt that Callie will be there to the end, I don’t want to be a source of pain for her.  I am terrified that, at some point in my life, I will get to the point that I do not know what I’m doing and will hurt her.  If that’s the case, I’d rather her avoid being around the physical body that no longer functions like it used to. 

As you can see, this is a deeply meaningful song to me.  It was written with the pain of the family in mind.  If you are dealing with a loved one with dementia, I am thinking about you.  I know it’s hard. And I hope that you are often comforted by memories and loving thoughts of your family member.  

Click play to listen to Let Go below:

~Brad Page

---

October 6, 2023

SHEK BOUTIQUE AND SAGEBRUSH SALON

“Don’t let it knock you down too far, learn the lesson and move forward.”

I love, love, love this quote from Selestia. YESSSSSSS girl!!! Completely agreed. This whole life thing is tough stuff. If you are anything like Selestia or the Page crew, you mess up all the time, and spend most of your time just trying to come back after the mess-ups. It’s not easy at all. We know…and we commiserate.

I remember talking to Selestia about her dreams of opening up a space, exactly like she has now, long before it existed. I’m so, so proud of her for sticking to her plans and creating something out of nothing. You GO GIRL!!

Thank you, Selestia, for helping all of us to grow, learn and be inspired by your journey!

1) What/who inspired you to become an entrepreneur rather than an employee?
I have never thought of the idea of a 9-5 job, paid vacation days or a retirement plan for my personal career. Growing up we always worked before we played. The to do lists were longer than hot, summer days. My entrepreneurial spirit started at a young age. From eight years old till college, you could find me in the western store with my late Grandpa, Luther Angell on Saturdays and Sundays. We spent our weekends selling boots and clothes, grocery shopping after work and drinking Coke. In college I went to work for Travas Uthe in Watertown, South Dakota at Trav’s Outfitter. I was a full-time cosmetology student and missed the retail world. I didn’t know what else to do with my free time, so I went and found a job in the evenings and on weekends! Trav taught me more about the business, managing people, marketing, and he valued his employees like family. Along my journey I have met several inspiring entrepreneurs in the beauty industry and clothing business. I think the biggest contribution to being an entrepreneur rather than an employee would be starting at a young age with my grandpa. I was raised around other entrepreneurs and that’s all I really know.

2) What is the most important thing about what you produce in the world?
Salon guest satisfaction and creating beautiful and functional results for their lifestyle. This gives our salon guest a boost of confidence and self-esteem. The salon-boutique culture creates an experience for all our guests. Hair dressing is a unique career because you connect on such a personal level, emotionally and physically. Yes, we do hair, but there is so much more than just a cut.

3) What has been the biggest hurdle for you to overcome in your business?
I wake up every day and my feet hit the floor running! My career is my passion. Everything I want takes time, energy, and money. I have built my business from the ground up and it did not happen overnight. I remember dreaming about what I have now. I have big goals to chase and sometimes I forget how far I have come. Every day brings new challenges. One of my biggest hurdles is competing against online pricing like Amazon. I am playing “defense” by promoting shopping small, educating customers about keeping their tax dollars local, and advertising in other ways. I am currently on the Centralia Chamber Board. I think most small business owners struggle with similar hurdles. It is important to support your local business because when you do, you are supporting a family, local jobs and giving back to the community.

4) What would you tell other aspiring entrepreneurs who haven’t been able to reach your level of success quite yet in their journey?
This is a tough question and I wish I would have started a book when I first started my career. Some days are hard and I shake my head and put my hands on my hips. Other days I feel like I am on top of the mountain and thriving. Entrepreneurs tend to learn the hard way on a lot of things, or at least I did. Don’t let it knock you down too far, learn the lesson and move forward. Some day you will look back and laugh. The days are long but the years are short. People will only see your success on the outside but not what it took for you to get where you are. Don’t stop until you are proud! I keep motivational sticky notes all around with quotes like that. Keep your circle small and lean into your tribe. When you google ENTREPRENEUR on the internet—This is what comes up–

A person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so.

Take the risk—It may be the best decision of your life or the biggest lesson learned! If entrepreneurship was easy, everyone would do it. My mom calls me crazy in a loving way and I tell her it’s passion! Find what lights your soul on fire and makes your feet hit the floor running! ~Selestia Angell

You can visit the links below to continue to follow and support Selestia’s businesses- Shek Boutique and Sagebrush Salon.

https://mysagebrushstyle.com/

https://www.instagram.com/shek.boutique.mo/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/sagebrushstyle/

~Callie Page

---

September 8, 2023

CURTIS SHOW PIGS

My brother-in-law Michael has been one of my biggest cheerleaders and supporters over the years. His business, Curtis Show Pigs, allowed me to watch his entreneurial spirit grow! It’s been an honor to be an “insider” in his journey.

He and his wife, Emily, run a very successful show pig operation that allows their family to inspire other aspiring entrepreneurs. Brad & I are so proud of them and couldn’t be more happy about their success. We’ve watched them pivot and adapt to so many business ideas over the past few years. They’ve been such an inspiration to us. The good news is, I didn’t have to have ANY knowledge regarding pigs to understand the business moves they have made. They’ve been brave, they’ve been scared, they’ve been master pivoters, and we’ve watched them come out on the other side! 

LOVE this quote from Em/Michael below: “Finding that balance is both our biggest hurdle and best accomplishment.”  

Read below what Em & Michael were referencing in the above quote. I love this sentiment so much because this is THE issue with all of us trying to do “more”; such a beautiful quote, with such a relevant issue.

1) What/who inspired you to become an entrepreneur? 

I didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur. As a kid, I had a passion for animals and really enjoyed the competitive nature of showing livestock. When the days of competitive sports were over, developing a show pig herd that could compete at shows was a good avenue to continue my competitive nature.  I started by breeding gilts I had shown myself.  There’s a lot of pride that comes when you raise an animal from breeding season to the show ring. Finding a little success with that animal is even more sweet when you know how hard you worked from day one.  When I had a few litters of pigs, I sold the extras and a side business started growing from that. There’s always a way to make a better animal and working toward that every season is a continuous motivation that keeps me trying to make a better one every year.  

2) What is the most important thing about what you produce in the world? 

We are strong believers that showing livestock can be a very positive experience for families and we are proud to be a part of it.  Showing livestock of any species teaches children how to manage a barn, develop the patience and compassion it requires to care for and train an animal, practice teamwork needed for a family to work toward the same goals, and put their own needs and desires aside when that animal is counting on them day by day.  

Once a kid and their family get to a show, they learn how to compete.  This means how to win… and how to lose.  There’s a saying in the century old swine barn at the Missouri State Fair that this barn is “where competitors become friends and friends become family”.  Our daughters and many other kids work hard in the show ring to compete with the goal of winning.  As soon as they exit the show ring, they are back to playing with their friends they just tried to beat.  They’ve learned how to be very disappointed and hug their best friend who just beat them.  It’s a hard thing to learn, but the livestock show barn is one of the best places to do it.

3) What has been the biggest hurdle for you to overcome in your business? 

Marketing. Emily and I aren’t trained in business marketing and aren’t comfortable putting ourselves out there.  It took us fifteen years to have the confidence to do things the way we are comfortable instead of trying to force avenues that didn’t feel true to ourselves.

Another tip is to outsource the tasks of your business that you don’t like or aren’t trained in.  Seek out an expert or someone that can take a few tasks off your plate, whether it’s taxes, marketing, or cleaning!  The more time and energy you have for the parts of your business you are passionate about, the more successful you will be.

4) What would you tell other aspiring entrepreneurs/dream chasers who haven’t been able to reach your level of success quite yet in their journey? 

We would tell them to be patient and try to find a balance that fits your life goals.  

I think there are many different paths one can take. We didn’t follow the path of many entrepreneurs that leave everything else behind and dive into their goals and dreams. 

I don’t like taking huge risks financially.  We have been building this business for twenty years while continuing to have other jobs.  Since we have the stability and financial security of my full-time job, there is less pressure on Curtis Show Pigs to create enough profit to support our family.  Since there’s less pressure, it is a lot more enjoyable.  

Every season, we try to do a few things better, invest in better genetics and make improvements to our facilities.  My competitive nature pushes me to always try to do better than I did the last season.  Our product, the pigs themselves, continue to get better because of the small steps we take each year.  With better pigs to sell, we reach more customers and sales grow.

As a family, we continue to have conversations about our goals and what we are willing to sacrifice to meet them.  It’s hard to invest enough time and resources to be as successful as you hope to be, while also making sure the size of our business stays manageable enough that it doesn’t take over our lives. Our focus has been on raising quality livestock and making a positive influence in the livestock show community while also having the time to keep our relationships, hobbies and interests enjoyable as well.  Finding that balance is both our biggest hurdle and best accomplishment.  

You can visit the links below to learn more about Curtis Show Pigs and continue to follow and support their journey.

http://www.curtisshowpigs.com

http://www.facebook.com/CurtisShowPigs

-Callie Page

---

August 11, 2023

Reclaimed: The Chapter

Last month I shared how the church became the center of Reclaimed brand. The “church” had a life before what is now, the Reclaimed chapter of its existence. Brad and I are still writing this chapter, and are grateful that we get to do so.

Along this journey called entrepreneurship, we’ve crossed paths with countless people who inspire us, unite us as a community, and urge us on in our endeavor of becoming a strong and powerful brand. Without the encouragement and inspiration from these individuals, near and far, we would not have experienced the success that we have.

Over the journey of the next few weeks/months/years, we’d like to dedicate the “Write Your Chapter” portion of our blog to these individuals and their businesses. We will highlight one person per post and allow you to hear insight into their experience as an entrepreneur/dream chaser.

We hope this section of the blog will inspire you to grow, chase your dreams, and ultimately live a life that you adore, however scary the journey may seem. Determine what you want your next chapter to be and go write it!

Brad and I will be the first ones to tell you this whole entrepreneurship thing isn’t for the faint of heart, and there will be times when you can’t imagine why you got yourself into this scary roller coaster ride of an existence. However, we will also be the first ones to tell you that the excitement of this life is worth every fear.

BUT — Don’t just take our word for it, lean on the knowledge and expertise of all of the individuals you’ll meet through this blog. We hope we can be a center of authenticity, hope, and creativity. We hope that our community, here, will be a thread of connection to your community, wherever you may be.

~Callie Page

---

July 5, 2023

RECLAIMED: “THE CHURCH”

Almost five years ago we Reclaimed our little church (which is now our storefront) and had a dedication ceremony with many of the parishioners who had attended there over the years. We still think about that day and the responsibility we have to that group of people. We are grateful and humbled to carry on a tradition of love within those four walls! This little building has so much history, and we are so glad we get to be a little part of its story! #Reclaimed #thechurch 

Photo credit: Lorry Myers (thanks for being there that day. )

We would love to tell the story of the special pieces that we held onto within those four walls and all of the new/old things we have added to make it our perfect little storefront!

1. Wood Floor – The wood floor above is from the original floor of the church. It was found under a layer of carpet in the sanctuary. We were only able to save a small piece of that floor but we are happy that you cross over that SAME floor each time you walk through the front door. 
2. The Brick Floor – The brick floor in our bathroom was sliced from old bricks found in and around Centralia. The old buildings they came from are mostly torn down now, but we thought they would make a great addition to our historical décor!
3. The Church Windows – The Church Windows are the original windows and one of the few things we did not touch during the remodel. We have always admired them. Plus, there is just something that screams “old church building” when you look at those arches. 
4. The Ceiling – The Ceiling is one of the few things we were able to leave as we found it. It’s not in perfect shape, but we kind of like that. Those boards have been serving the people under them for over a hundred years and we couldn’t bring ourselves to change them in any way. The chipping paint is just beautiful. We couldn’t have planned it better ourselves. 
5. The Barn Floor – The barn floor in the church is from the loft of the Cochran family barn just southeast of Centralia. We like the fact that our little church includes a piece of their family history while also serving as a beautiful representation of what it might have been like to walk across that loft when the barn was still standing. I’m sure it served that family and families before them in every single way it could have. 
6. The Stones – The stones in the above picture are from the foundation of the original church. Because it was built in the late 1800s the foundation was created solely out of these stones. We had to jack up the floor, replace the floor joists, and sit carefully back on its foundation. We were able to take a few of the foundation stones and use them in our landscaping! 
7. The Pulpit – The pulpit above was from the AME church and was used to deliver all of the sermons each Sunday. It now serves as our visitor sign in table each month. 
8. The Reclaimed Sign – The sign in the back of the church is made out of floor joists from the original floor! The white wood surrounding it is from the wainscotting on the walls of the church before the remodel. 
9. The Checkout Counter – The checkout counter is made from the floor joists that we were able to salvage, and the corrugated tin came from a local barn. The checkout counter is one of our favorite pieces in the church. Make sure to check out the character in the wood next time you stop in. 

A couple things not pictured, but you will definitely see when you come to visit are: 

~ Opal’s Pew – Opal’s Pew as we affectionately call it, sits outside behind the church building under our awning for our visitors to use while enjoying the music on the stage. Opal was the longest standing parishioner in the church. She always sat in the same pew.  Thank you to Opal for sharing that piece of her life with us! We cherish that seat. 

~Audrey Hepburn Quote – The Audrey Hepburn quote on our back wall has become the basis of our business and our lives. It serves as a guidepost for everything we do.  “Restored” was written by Callie’s Mom, “Renewed” was written by Brad’s mom, “Revived” was written by Brad’s dad, “Reclaimed” is our logo font, and “Redeemed” was written by Brad’s grandmother Lucille Frazee. Emily, Brad’s sister, made it an art piece on our wall. 

“People, even more than things, have to be Restored, Renewed, Revived, Reclaimed, and Redeemed. Never throw out anyone.”

                                                                                                     ~ Audrey Hepburn

-Callie Page