Today is National Boss Day, which feels like the perfect excuse to spill a few ✨ truths ✨ I’ve learned running this wild dream called DarlingxDashing.
Here are six lessons I’ve learned as a boss (aka CFSO):
1. You can’t do it all. And you’re not supposed to. 📣
Trusting your team isn’t just smart, it’s essential. Let people shine in their zones of genius. Delegation and building a team based on their strengths is THE hardest lesson I’ve learned — cuz it involved releasing control and really assessing the business and my team. Going from just me to a whole ass team of 15+ took a LOT of learning how to be a boss.
2. Burnout helps no one.
Rest isn’t lazy — it’s leadership. You can’t pour from an empty cup. So stop feeling guilty about taking time for yourself. Stop it. Lead by example.
3. Celebrate the small wins. 🥳
Those little “we did it!” moments keep the magic alive — from restocking a bestseller to surviving a wild weekend rush — all of it. Cue the confetti 🎉
4. Investing in yourself is self-trust. 💞
Take time to LEARN and GROW outside of your business. It WILL make your business stronger when you step away.
5. Communication is the backbone. 🤝
Honest conversations (even tough ones) build stronger teams and better vibes. And it helped me grow a thicker skin as a business owner.
6. Be human first, boss second. ✨
Leading with kindness, empathy, and humor goes a long way. Don’t take yourself too seriously!
Still learning, still leading, still loving it.
When I first started this journey over a decade ago, I thought “boss” meant doing everything myself. Spoiler alert: that’s a one-way ticket to burnout. The truth? The magic happens when you trust your team to shine in their own zones of genius. Letting go doesn’t mean losing control — it means making space for growth.
These lessons didn’t come from business books — they came from real moments in the shop, messy days, happy dances, and late-night brainstorming sessions. Being a boss means being a work in progress, and for me, that’s the beauty and the grace of it.
At the end of the day, being “the boss” isn’t about calling the shots — it’s about building something worth believing in. DarlingxDashing exists because of the incredible team, consignors, makers, and customers who pour their magic into this space every day. I may be the one steering the ship, but this little dream only sails because of you. 💖
Here’s to leading with heart, learning as we go, and always showing up as a whole ass humble human.
XOXO,
Linnea
(If you made it this far, you get the reminder that CFSO is the term I coined in 2020 for myself — the Chief of Figuring Shit Out. Merch??? I think yes.)