043: Victoria Mininger On Business, Family and Tiny Space Design

I geek out on productivity hacks and simplicity as defined by the podcast’s show title Simply Designed Life. When an opportunity to chat with entrepreneur Victoria Mininger came along, I decided to pick her brain on how she balances both a family run construction business and a household of four daughters. Not to mention a coolness factor—she and her husband also just recently started a tiny home office / studio trailer business, so I was immediately hooked, considering our last guest Claudia Pennington also mentioned living in a tiny home space. Without further ado let’s get into the show.

Who is Victoria?

Victoria is the Founder of Fearless Woman Entrepreneur, mentoring women entrepreneurs to thrive, not just survive, in Business and Life. She is also the Founder and CEO of Bear Creek Enterprises, actively working alongside her husband Brian to provide employment opportunities and a positive work environment within the construction industry.

From years spent building and running various business’s, to her time spent as a staff writer for a large University, she has honed her skills in the trenches of business and the creative world of writing.

Victoria lives in Central Virginia with her husband and four daughters. In her downtime she loves to run, spend time in the outdoors and travel.

Quotes from Victoria

We were taking time for ourselves to regain our footing. Because it’s not easy, you know? You have to battle through depression, you battle through those emotions that come, the failure that comes, you know? And you either have to give into that, give in to the frustration, the anger and resentment, and with all those feelings that come, or you’ll decide today I’m gonna pick myself up and I’m going to take a step forward, to rebuild my life (5:42)

I think people just want less. In our world that’s moving fast, all the technology you’re constantly bombarded all the time by so much stuff, social media, whatever, and I think we’re desiring a place where we can just rest, where it’s not just so overcrowded and I think the big house is like that. It’s more to keep up with and there’s more to do so people are gravitating towards the smaller, tiny house. They’re looking for a simpler life. There’s something deep inside of them that says, ‘It’s gotta slow down at some point.’ (10:22)

For the tiny office space, I think our world is just changing, we’re not so much an industrial age, we’re more on-the-go, people are telecommuting, they’re working from home now, they’re not always just sitting in an office, and so our needs are changing. And so we’ve gotta change with that. But again, people like the simple space. They like being able to park something in their back yard and be able to move it with them. People aren’t saying in the same space for 30 years like my parents have. They’re moving around. (10:56)

I think when you give, and you serve your team, and you serve the people around you and not just your clients, but most certainly your team, the money follows because for us it’s not about the money. It’s about the people and the change we’re going to leave long after we’re gone. What kind of change are we gonna leave and how are we gonna affect those families? (15:24)

You have to be okay to pivot. To be able to say, ‘Okay, this is a little bit of a new direction.’ But if feels right, seems right… and you never know where you’re gonna end up. (18:44)

What You’ll Learn

Victoria’s entrepreneurial journey in wearing multiple hats in different businesses, such as photography, book keeping, construction, and tiny office studio trailers.
How she overcame business challenges during the mortgage crisis in 2009.
How she and her husband got into the exciting world of tiny office studio trailers.
The daily routines that keep her productive and balanced during a busy day.

Resources and How to Connect:

Websites:
https://www.victoriamininger.com/

https://studiotrailer.net/

EP 028: Maria Storgaard and the Downsized Life

EP 038: Lisa Kimrey on Wellness, Faith and Being You

Social Media:
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

Other Listening Options:
Individual player or full player view on website: https://lorirochino.com/podcast-2/