RTDM: Cass Bradley
Cass Bradley
Founder, The Live Loud Collective, BlueSky Photo Artists and Bungalow 1325
Charlotte, NC
Briefly tell us about yourself: Where you came from, where you've been and how you're living your dream?
I am a straight up product of perseverance and government cheese. Growing up in lower-middle class auto-working family in Cleveland, Ohio-I boot-strapped my way through college with 3 jobs and multitude of student loans. Yet—I’ve rarely felt unworthy. It is my mission to empower other women to feel the same with my words, photographs and community-building. I love soul-igniting stories that challenge the status quo, push boundaries and creating photographic art of women stepping into their power. After 15 years, I left the corporate handcuffs for camera straps in 2011 opening my studio in the historic district of Plaza Midwood in Charlotte, NC. I do my most powerful work when my journalism background, corporate savvy, and artist’s creativity get to combine and celebrate unstoppable women. In 2017, I founded the Live Loud Collective with the support of 12 local Charlotte women business owners. (A bold and brazen community for women entrepreneurs who are hell-bent on living a life they are proud to live and encourage fellow women entrepreneurs to do the same.) Its been a wild-ass ride and I’m so proud and grateful to be doing what I love.
How do you define success?
freedom and using every crayon in the box.
What did it take to make your dream happen and when did you know you had arrived?
Like all risk-takers and dream-makers, perseverance and little aversion to calculated risk --paired with a strong internal drive and...wine. I’m not sure I’ve "arrived" -but I’ve become proud of who I am and care very little about what others think of my choices. To me, being really comfortable in your own choices is a sort of 'arriving,' I suppose.
What are you most proud of? Go ahead, boast a little!
I get sh&t done. (I'm the woman you call to 'bury the body. ;-) I’ve usually always got a plan of action and can clear obstacles fairly well.
What was your biggest obstacle/fear and what was your turning point?
My biggest obstacle will always be too many ideas and plans for my life. Sometime--I just need to slow my roll. --I am hideous at this and working on it. lol Fear? That I won't get to accomplish all I want to in this world and not leaving a meaningful legacy.
What’s the best advice you’d give to a younger you?
Chill the $^%^% out. (still give myself this advice weekly with varying levels of success.)
How do you stay motivated and purposeful when you feel overwhelmed?
Surrounding myself with fellow empire builders, getting out in nature and hiking, biking, kayaking. (And, spending time with a dear friend who I affectionately call my 'bad influence.' I get ZERO done around her with the exception of eating/drinking and being merry. --Every 'high frequency' human needs a low-vibing BFF like this!)
Tell us a time when a perceived failure was actually a blessing in disguise or served you in a surprising way.
I opened a business that I KNEW was a great idea and I thought it would be profitable. Not because it was a part of my core values. I invested tens of thousands of dollars into it and realized--it fit me like an itchy sweater. I had never really 'failed' at much prior and it was a HUGE ego blow. Until it wasn't. It taught me its either a 'hell yes' or a 'hell no' when it comes to starting a business.
What is your favorite vice/guilty pleasure/strange habit? Come on now, we all have them!
Collecting rescued dogs. (we have 3 and have rescued/fostered many others.) and a border-line weird obsession with jackets. (I live in the south--NO ONE needs this many coats nor cute boots.)
What's the smartest investment you’ve made for yourself?
Saving to buy the physical space my studio is in vs. leasing. My studio managers salary and constant evolution of my business to suit my soul.
What’s MOST important to you right now?
Practicing what I preach with the mission of the Live Loud Collective: Building my business AROUND a life I am proud to be leading...and not letting my businesses run me.
Share 1-2 books you've given as gifts:
Big Magic and The Giving Tree
What have you learned to say no to?
'Working for exposure'-- if you cannot prove a TRUE mutual benefit.. FFS. That ship done sailed.
What's something most people would never guess about you?
That I grew up pretty poor in an alcoholic and quite dysfunctional household and have been handed exactly nothing. (And, my secret dream to sing once with a live band. ;-)
Who is a Risk Taker Dream Maker that's inspired you?
Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Follow Cass:
www.liveloudcollective.com
www.findyourfearless.com
www.bungalow1325.com
https://www.instagram.com/blueskyphotoartists/
https://www.instagram.com/theliveloudcollective/
