Looking To The Stars For Inspiration

By Bruno Povejsil, studiobstyle guest blogger

What gets us out of bed in the morning? What keeps us going in increasingly unpredictable times? The answers to these and many more questions are not always something we can find within ourselves when we need them most. Sometimes, you need to turn to other people for inspiration, people who have already been through hard times and came out stronger and wiser for it. 

One of Barbara’s favorite head shots of all time - Dominique Browning

For an aspiring content creator, look to the success of Dominique Browning. Dominique was a trailblazer for women in the magazine industry in the 80’s and 90’s, holding editorial positions at Newsweek, Texas Weekly, and Esquire among others. She was editor-in-chief of Home & Garden magazine from 1995 until 2007, when the magazine went out of business.

 In the wake of losing a job of 13 years where she had been extremely successful, she faced down the depression and malaise of sudden unemployment and came out with a memoir and a renewed outlook on life. She now continues writing for publications like The New York Times, as well as her own blog, but she has dedicated most of her time to actively making the world a better place. As a co-founder of Moms Clean Air Force, Dominique leverages her experience and skills to promote stronger environmental protections and push air pollution as a children’s health issue.

Residential style expert - Dominique Browning

The lesson I take away from Dominique’s story is that success is about using setbacks as an opportunity to reflect and grow. Turning the skills developed in her journalism career towards policy advocacy is a natural path forward for someone who wrote so much about gardening and how people relate to the world around them. If you end up in trouble like Dominique did, ask yourself how you can recycle your skills and knowledge and apply them to a new project that supports your values and beliefs.

Barbara Schmidt concurs and remembers Browning’s story about flies and a fireplace as one of her favorite stories of new homeownership. “It’s like discovering all the ins and outs of a living dwelling,” said Schmidt. She continues “My first home is now our studio where we shoot our story content and I think of Browning every time I’m shooting around the 100+ year old fireplace.”

The ultimate storyteller about home - Dominique Browning

Bruno Povejsil is a Twin Cities-based writer focusing on local businesses, non-profit organizations, and culture.