Maria Diehl shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Maria, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Everyday is a new adventure! That is why I love what I do so much. My day stays flexible around my children, starting with the normal routine of getting them to school. My son gets to hang out with me all day and I usually sneak in my work time during his nap time. I make a huge effort to shut off after they get home from school. Boundaries are so important when running a business, especially out of your home. We cook a yummy dinner, round up our day and after they go to sleep – It is back to work for me. There are no days off in the heat of wedding season. Though is a hard discipline to keep, I will never trade being able to spend every important moment with my children!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m just a mom who found success in a side hustle. Photography and music were things I enjoyed and in the heat of needing extra income, they rescued me! Gypsylady Creative Co. was curated after my business grew so quickly, almost too quickly, and I needed a broad way to combine all of my services and a name that gave me room to grow. In the music industry, I had gained a following under the name “Gypsylady Maria” so, the name was born! This year, I am proud to have achieved growing a team rather than flying solo. My business is now able to handle double bookings, marketing clients and more!
I would like to think that my brand stands out because of the top services I provide. My clients are not just clients. They are friends that I truly care about and enjoy getting to know. I am not just a stranger walking into the most important day of your life. I am a familiar face that you feel comfortable with. Camera skills hold an important place in my values and I prioritize that my work feels like art…not a job. You can tell that I don’t feel like I am clocking into work – I genuinely enjoy what I do and I have been careful in setting boundaries to recognize when a project is not for me.
This business has allowed me to be fully present as a mother, run my household and slow down in certain seasons – I thank God for it everyday!
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
College was hounded into so many young peoples minds when I was in high school. You never really heard about someone in a creative field finding success. You also never heard of someone being happy even with an average income. I thought I had to be the best at whatever I set out to do, that I had to make enough money and that life was all about work!
Today I look back and realize that at a point in time I was a single mother who survived on a $40K income without child support. I tried to do college. I was expelled (true story) and dropped out of earning a basic certificate for medical work. I was only 20 years old and today I am 30. In 10 years I have brought 4 children into this world, built a 6 figure business and overcome every trial that life has shown me…WITHOUT a college degree.
I have been mentored by others who have a similar story and ultimately I have learned to love the fact that I did not achieve a degree of any kind. Never let social normalcies tell you that you have to pursue something. Instead, look at your true values and passions and ask yourself how you can earn an income from them.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
To answer this question, I have to ask myself what I think success is. For a long time, I thought success looked like a house on a hill, being married, having a great career and all of the money in the world. In the last year I have welcomed divorce into my story and downsized in materialistic things. Feeling like I failed in providing that American dream has shared some deep suffering. Times and moments I questioned myself, who I am and what I am capable of. My story has so much suffering stitched into it, to be honest. More than I will ever share publicly. But from that suffering I have realized that the long days end and a new day comes.
Suffering is only “suffering” if you let it be. Changing my outlook in life completely in my early 20’s has allowed me to know what true happiness is and better yet…to know when something I have truly does NOT make me happy, I worked on myself hard in my early 20’s. I read books on the power of positive thinking and dove deeply into therapy and self love. Today – there is no “suffering” …instead there are lessons I have to learn and consequences to my own actions. I grow as a person everyday!
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
My first love was music and it will always be. I picked up a guitar when I was 12 years old and instantly started writing music. I know without a doubt that God has a plan for me in that industry. Writing has carried me through some of the hardest times and helped me celebrate in the happiness I find. I will NEVER give it up!
I have dreams to find the time to record some of the songs I believe are really good. I do have one song out. But I have written over 6 albums worth of music that the world has never heard. One day they will!
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I leave this world, I hope people look back on their memory of me and find joy, a good friend and know what it looks like to live life with intense happiness. I hope my daughters will hear stories of me and feel capable of being strong, independent women. I hope my son hears stories of me and recognizes the importance of being a good man who can find happiness outside of what society tells him to do.
There will be some wild stories…goofy times to reflect on…lost fiends who I hope will mourn me even though our paths separated. I want nothing more than to give love to everyone who is in my life, and I want to be remembered for that. Nothing else matters!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gypsyladycreativeco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gypsyladymaria/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gypsyladymaria
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Gypsyladymaria
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/gypsyladymaria/hometown-fame
- Other: https://share.google/YKgPLLmd21DTC9Dwe
