Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
Reinvention, identity, and choosing yourself honestly.
Hey, welcome to youo Life and Legacy. I'm Christopher Nuto. On this show, we talk about the choices that shape a meaningful life. Really what we believe and how we steward what's been placed in our hands, how we can care for people around us and what decisions ultimately we leave behind.
Today, I want to start with reinvention.
And the reinvention of life doesn't always follow the plan that we imagine. Sometimes a new chapter asks us to rebuild confidence and redefine who we are and choose exactly what we're willing to create next.
Hey, I'm so excited because my guest today is Anja Felaba, founder and creator of of Claw and Paw apparel, a a boutique cat inspired apparel brand for women who love comfort, self expression and a little catitude.
Originally from the Ukraine, Anya has built her creative journey around resilience, authenticity and the belief that confidence grows when we begin choosing ourselves honestly. Anya, welcome to your life and legacy.
[00:01:55] Speaker B: Hi Chris. It's so good to be here and I can't wait for our conversation today.
[00:02:01] Speaker A: It. Listen, let's just get going and help our viewers understand. When you look back at your journey from the Ukraine to the life and business you're building today, what experiences really shape the person that you've become?
[00:02:20] Speaker B: No, that's, you know, that's such a good question.
When me, my sister came here at 18 to the United States, I had no idea what life to expect.
I just thought I was going to create something fun and meaningful and help people.
And as we got here, I recognized that what was expected of me is to build a corporate career, you know, climb that corporate ladder.
And the experiences that shaped myself. Who I am today was not something like very drastic that happened, but more of a multiple of small experiences that forced me to consistently reinvent myself. Right. Looking at things that were no longer working, asking myself, what is it that I need to do next? So my life kind of never stood still. It always forces me to do a little reinvention and become somebody else and not stick to the old ideas.
[00:03:26] Speaker A: I totally understand that. As a matter of fact, I can relate because I've reinvented myself so many times. I didn't know I had that many times I could reinvent.
So give our audience some of the parts of the journey like, you know, from, you know, a very young lady who's here from the Ukraine and, you know, bright eyed. And then the experiences, specifically what were the, okay, not that road, but this road kind of changes. You went through
[00:04:01] Speaker B: yeah, thank you for asking me that. You know, when I'm looking back, when we came to this country, I started to bartend. You know, 18 years old, bartending, having fun.
I love being creative because, you know, mix and drinks, even back then, they were limited, you know, talking to people. It was great. And then eventually somebody said to me, what are you gonna be 30 years old? And the bartender, who's gonna want to be with somebody like that?
Right? And I was so driven by the need to be accepted and loved that it really took it to heart. I'm like, oh, my gosh, I need to change.
I can't be bartender.
So I learned a corporate career. You know, I became a programmer back then, Cobo programmer.
And the more, you know, I was in that role, the more I realized how much it really did not fit me.
Right. And I wasn't good at it, first of all. And I started to ask myself questions like, what is it that I really like?
And fashion, always fashion, color, creativity was always very important to me. So I went to FIT in New York, and I got a degree in fashion design.
And of course, you know, people who knew me, who wished me well, mostly it's family. They weren't happy with that idea because you can't create real income.
But I really enjoyed it. It was fun. It was my first reinvention to go from corporate, you know, very cerebral job, to creative job.
And from there, I reinvented myself again, picked another career, you know, and I've gone through multiple iterations of asking myself a question like, where do I want to live? What do I want to do?
And, you know, slowly rebuilding myself, you know, know, perhaps one step at a time.
Even though, you know, the tendency was to really have all the answers in front of me.
[00:06:09] Speaker A: Absolutely. And I love the fact that you understood that the thing you thrived in in the bartending industry was the, you know, the fact that you could be creative, the fact that you were mixing with people all the time. And then to go to a cobalt programmer, that kind of seems very introvert because you're stuck behind a computer screen. And so you understanding that I need to get myself out there again was the right step. And I love the fact that you put yourself in the fashion industry. Tell me the steps you've taken in this, the fashion industry, from when you got your degree to where you're at now.
[00:06:53] Speaker B: A lot.
And there was a lot of steps in between when I got my degree in fashion, and I know I spent two years trying to get in into FIT because It was a really, a bit of a challenge at school to get into.
So I became a designer assistant and a colorist and the colorist I really enjoyed because it was all about mixing colors and making sure they all match. That makes collection looks beautiful.
But even work. Working in the fashion industry for some time and living in New York City, I realized that I cannot be a single broke girl, you know, living on the small fashion salary.
So I started doing something else which is working as an analyst in technology side for fashion company. Then I had to reinvent myself to learn technology in fashion. Then it took me somewhere else to do another career in technology.
But, but the love for fashion and creativity was always with me. I just took myself a little bit off track by going more in the corporate again before we ended up where I am here, but actually started, you know, had the courage to start my small T shirt boutique, Claw and Paw, which is going back to creativity, full
[00:08:16] Speaker A: service, you know, and yeah, but, but it all comes together because I can hear it. I can, I can see the path you were on, right, from, from the people person that you are in the bartending industry to the education as a colorist and learning the corporate side, which really gives you the ability to understand the matrix that you need to run Clanpa. And so like you can't remove one of those steps along the way because they all play into who Anya is today, you know.
Tell me about how the creativity came around animals and the storytelling there with clown paw.
[00:09:01] Speaker B: Yeah, great question.
I always loved animals when I was little. Couldn't have them because I had severe allergies. But animals are very loving creatures and the love is so unconditionally.
Color and creativity, I find it very healing, you know, how certain colors make us feel a certain way or creativity. I, I just found that to be very healing. I could have chosen different directions at some point. I was considering doing coaching, but I needed to do a creative side because that's how I found my own journey, my own healing.
So I combine it all together into claw and paw. Claw and paw. Because I have two dogs, two cats. So claw and paw. Right. And I combine those into design.
So when using the animals in my design, it just didn't feel like I was doing it alone. It kind of felt like I have a little team of four legged creatures that were helping me.
[00:10:08] Speaker A: Absolutely. And I'm sure they feel the same way.
You know, for anybody who's watching today, it was kind of like stuck in the old version of themselves thinking, I, I, I love Anya story. I Want to walk a journey like hers, but I'm scared. I don't know really how to begin it. What are some of the small decisions they can make to start, you know, getting out of their old ways?
[00:10:35] Speaker B: I, you know, honestly, for me, it was like trying something new, you know, and if I remove the whole business side and climb pa. I remember when I lived in New Jersey and I didn't leave the house for six months because I was like, I don't want to live in New Jersey.
And I boycotted to coming out, but I always wanted to do ballroom dancing. And I was horrified because those ballroom dancers, they looked incredible. And I would go to a studio and I would watch them, and I finally took that chance, you know, to do ballroom dancing.
And I would stay there and, like, please, nobody dance with me. Right?
But that took me out of the comfort zone to know that, hey, I could do ballroom dancing and I could actually be quite good at it with practice. So now I know that I can take a step and learn about how to create T shirts, how to use color.
Just taking the small step. It doesn't have to be huge.
[00:11:38] Speaker A: That's right. Just taking that one step. A little bold move to where you're not comfortable. So listen, we're going to take a quick break here, and before we do that, I want to just remind our audience that legacy often begins long before anyone calls it legacy.
It begins with the quiet decisions that really keep us in who we are and the truths we have.
After the break, we'll talk about stewardship and values and how things we believe about responsibility, money and people begin to shape the businesses that we build. Stay tuned.
Foreign.
Hey, welcome back to your life and legacy. Stay connected to this show and every NOW Media TV favorite, live and on demand. Anytime you'd like, Download the free Now Media TV app on Roku or iOS and unlock non stop bilingual programming in English and in Spanish. Hey, are you on the move? Catch the podcast version at NOW Media tv. From business and news, lifestyle, culture and beyond, NOW media is streaming around the clock. Ready whenever you are.
Well, welcome back to your life and legacy. I'm Christopher Nudo and I'm here with Anya Filva, founder and creator of Claw and paw apparel. Before the break, we talked about reinvention, confidence and courage to choose a new chapter. And we got to learn so much about Anya, but there's so much more to know.
Now I want to bring the conversation into stewardship, a word we often use on this show because it asks a real deeper question.
What are we doing with the gifts and opportunities, relationships and resources entrusted to us.
For an entrepreneur, values eventually become visible. They show up in how we treat our customers, make promises, respond to setbacks, and decide what kind of growth in our business is worth pursuing.
Anya, on this show we often talk about all the gifts that we're given as business owners. You know, the successes we have, the money we make, the relationships that we develop, just, you know, the really great experiences. Tell us about Claw and Paw and the journey it's been on and what, what the Lord has really given you to stewardship through this journey.
[00:15:00] Speaker B: Yeah, it's, you know, the stewardship to me is having the responsibility without losing myself.
You know, I, as I'm growing Claw and Paw and I'm seeing what my customer responds to, what they really enjoy, I really pay attention to how do I stay true to that vision, to myself and you know, still have that authenticity, what and why I initially started the brand and how do I serve my customers without really sacrificing my core values.
And I, I love to hear my customers feedback and you know, there is a fine line when I'm looking at, hey, this is what sells, this is what I need to be doing versus like, well, it doesn't really belong to the core value of what I want to provide.
And I don't want to lose myself in doing something that it's not me because, you know, I've done this for so long, you know, in a corporate career when I always had to put masks and how do I balance those responsibilities to creating something special for my customers that they will love and still stay true to myself.
[00:16:24] Speaker A: Let's talk about those personal values because I think that's really what connect with the audience and who, if they really understand Anya's personal values, then they'll really appreciate Claw and Paw and all that it stands for, notwithstanding the merchandise. So what are tell us about Anya, your personal values, what you hold dear to you and, and why?
[00:16:51] Speaker B: That's a great question.
[00:16:53] Speaker A: I.
[00:16:54] Speaker B: So I think number one on the list of my values would be self expression and authenticity.
Perhaps. These two are very important to me because when I was growing up, I wasn't allowed to be myself. I was always this creative kid who just seek God or spirituality Again. I grew up on ussr, there was no such thing as God, right?
So I was always seeking some deeper meaning to life and being creative loving animals.
But the culturally expected it was math and science. I was not good at either.
So I had to hide myself to be somebody else. So try to Fit in. So that's why self expression, authenticity was always on top of my list, because I believe every person and because, you know, I'm kind of geared more women because I know a little bit more about women than men.
I know a lot of women struggle to be authentic. Right. So it's not just me. And it was just always wanted women to be able to express themselves without fear of judgment, creativity, because for me, it's a healing quality. The next core value I have is resilience.
And resilience to me just means always adapting to what life throws you. And it doesn't mean beating a dead horse. It means to me that finding ways, if something didn't work, readjusting and finding a way to make it work.
[00:18:30] Speaker A: And what I love about your response is, I can just envision your customers wearing their T shirts proudly and really aligning themselves with you, Anya, and those core values that you just shared with us, you know, as an entrepreneur, it forces us to deal like money and risk and responsibility, which sometimes can conflict with those very core values that you were just talking about. How do you balance those items with who Anya is to remain true to yourself?
[00:19:18] Speaker B: Yeah, that's, you know, it's something I'm still learning, to be honest. It's a journey for me. Right. It's.
I would love to just create something, whatever it is that I want, but if I'm not making sales, I'm not serving myself or other people.
Right? So it's always that balance of creating something that my customer want, and it's something that sells.
When I originally started, I started the brand, I went with the path of, oh, let me do what people sell, what I know is the best sellers are, and just take a spin on it. And as I did my research, I realized there was like 500, 500 T shirts of the same thing. And I'm like, yeah, I don't really want to be like that.
So I started putting my own spin on things and watching how customers react.
So when I get a positive review or somebody emails me and tell me how much they feel joy when I wear that T shirt, that's my feedback to do more of that.
And with that.
[00:20:34] Speaker A: That's fantastic. And. And I love the fact that you take.
Yeah, I'm sorry to cut you off. I, you know, I love the fact that you are taking the feedback of your customers. Building it into.
It does two things, right? It builds into Anya personally, but also feeds the business in a very authentic way.
So, you know, when what does being a good steward of a small business look like, you know, it's limited because it's a small business, but in your bigger picture, like, where. Where is Claw going?
[00:21:15] Speaker B: Yes, it's going to expand, right? Like, being a good steward right now. Have to wear multiple hats. And there is, of course, restrictions of time.
Right.
I may make a plan for the week. That's huge. And I may only get 10 done. Right. So it's like being a good steward is really recognizing what is the most impactful and important for me to do and leave the rest a little bit for later.
So I think it's also, like, managing my time better so I don't get overwhelmed or stuck in analysis paralysis that I'm actually not serving myself or anybody else.
[00:22:00] Speaker A: Yeah, that. That's excellent. And we all suffer with that, Anya. We, you know the two things, right?
Putting together a plan and only getting 10 of it done and getting stuck in our own heads with these thoughts, and we can't escape, and we have to try and just keep the train on the track.
So let me. Let me. I looked at your website, looked at your merchandise. I see a lot of T shirts. Have you ever thought of expanded, Expanding into dresses, blouses, things like that with the.
The clown paw merchandise?
[00:22:41] Speaker B: Yes, that's an.
That's a great question I have. I am always thinking, and I think now, you know, I've tried different T shirt types, and I finally found the type that I think it's a really good quality and my customers respond well.
So now that it's getting colder, finally, you know, I'm going to launch some of the sweatshirts. Then I also research some other type of clothing that I can do as well as, you know, expanding more into dog apparel.
So I have a whole bunch of ideas that I'm working on.
And again, for some reason, I feel like I'm always running short on time. And to create a design, I feel like it takes me longer than I wish.
So sometimes I'm not producing as much as I would have liked, but I'm definitely expanding in the different products and different design styles as well as, like, I'd like to create some gift boxes for the holidays, which I think it would be wonderful for the ladies.
[00:23:50] Speaker A: I agree. I completely agree. And, you know, when I was looking through your merchandise, I could totally see kind of like a sundress kind of thing with your design on it, which in. In my mind, which is the male mind, is more like an overgrown T shirt in some respects. But anyway, listen, we gotta take a quick break. And so before that stewardship is not only about preserving what he, what we have, it's about also developing it wisely, making decisions that align with resource and values, and allowing growth to serve something larger than growth itself. And we've seen how Anya's been so disciplined in that. Next, we're going to look at the harder side of building. Uncertainty, setbacks, discipline, and the resilience required to keep creating when the outcome is not guaranteed.
Stay tuned. You're not going to want to miss it.
[00:25:10] Speaker B: Foreign.
[00:25:23] Speaker A: Resilience, creativity, and the courage to keep building. Hey, welcome back to your Life and Legacy. I am continuing my conversation with Anya and we've talked about reinvention and stewardship. And now really, I want to focus on what happens when the path gets difficult. When progress is slow, sales might be slow, design might be slow. And this is really when confidence gets tested, or the business might ask more than, you know, you were expecting.
A meaningful life is not built without uncertainty. Neither is a meaningful business.
Resilience is not pretending that those seasons are easy, not in the least. As a matter of fact. It's really about learning how to keep moving with integrity and with perspective and enough courage to take the next step.
And you know, Anya, we've talked about the great successes you've had, and we've talked about the path that you went on to get there.
[00:26:33] Speaker B: But.
[00:26:33] Speaker A: But what has really been one of the hardest parts of building claw and paw?
What do people really need to know about the. You know, I like to say how the sausage was made that they may have never seen, but they got to listen to you here on our show.
[00:26:53] Speaker B: Yeah, it's the sausage that keeps have to be reinvented. I love how you said that life is not about, like uncertainty. And I think what people don't see, and I actually heard a comment about that too. What people don't see is like emotional wave or roller coaster that I have to go through.
When design sells, great, but when it doesn't, and I thought it was gonna be like a bestseller. Oh my gosh, like I put like weeks into these designs and there's crickets, right? So the things get tested and you know, the patients get tested, the fear kicks in, the self doubt kicks in, right? And I heard somebody say to me, it's like, how hard can it be? You just run the store and it runs itself.
But what people don't see behind the scene is, you know, constant trial and error. You know, while I'm getting to enjoy, like different designs, I grab like pictures of different florals. You Know, I'll go through some old magazine, 1930s, like snap some photos of what I like, combine those into ideas.
While this is fun, but when I get to create a design, launch an ad and I hear crickets, that tests, you know, some patience and self doubt kicks in. And some days are better, some days are worse. And I think it's all about learning curve. Right? It's about learning curve and readjusting.
And the thing what I learned is have patience. And the feedback, whether something sells or it's not, is just an information and not jumping to the conclusion. Nope, I can't do this. This is not for me. Right. It's just more about, okay, so let's try something different. Because the truth is ROM wasn't built on a day.
And there was a lot of classes that I've taken in the past which I saw people as an overnight success.
But not everybody's story gonna be that way. Right. So what people don't see, I think it's always a journey. Some days are gonna be easy and effortless and some days is going to challenge your, you know, self worth doubts and you know, why am I doing this on a hole in the first place?
[00:29:23] Speaker A: Absolutely. And we all know from a very biblical perspective that getting rich quick doesn't really happen. And for those who have the appearance that it did, often what's missing is the long journey behind it that people just don't know. I love the way you brought out self doubt and fear. And because we all have that, especially in the entrepreneurial business sense, when we're trying to build something, we have love and passion and it's not necessarily accepted all the time.
Tell us about your inner circle of support so that when that self doubt and fear comes, who do you reach out to? Who do you rely on for just somebody to hold you tight so that you know you can get through the next season.
[00:30:16] Speaker B: Yeah, great question. I think support, support system is very important.
And like I can say about my family, they more on go back and get a real job kind of thing. Right.
But what support means to me now is being around people who are doing a similar thing.
It's either, you know, people who build businesses, tried, failed, rebuild multiple times, people who've gone through many experiences in life and they know that the life and success is not a straight line. And they always remind me that you're never too late.
Everybody's journey is different. And you always on the right track. Right. Is people who can support and recognize that an entrepreneurship is a journey.
Failure is only a Lesson and not a death sentence, a life sentence. Right. And so I like to reach out people who are in the same business who can, you know, bounce off idea. And what I'm looking for in my support system is non judgmental people who not going to say it's like you're doing this wrong, you should go back to a real job. They just help me to show that there's patience and as long as I persevere and try different things, I'm always on the right track.
[00:31:50] Speaker A: That's perfect. And you know, I'm a firm believer in Anya, you've done nothing wrong ever as it relates to the business. All you've done is you've found the natural stopping points for some ideas and created new starting points for new ideas.
One was not right, one was not wrong. It was the progression to get you to where you're at today. And, and in that respect, how do you protect creativity from becoming consumed by the pressure to see, sell and perform?
And really the better question is comparing yourself to other brands that are similar.
How do you protect yourself and create and maintain your identity?
[00:32:42] Speaker B: Yeah, sometimes I have to stop looking. You know, there is a tendency, not just like in business for me when I'm looking at some brands and I see they sell and I look, you know the product, I look at, you know, how to structure the store and I see they're selling, they angle may be a little bit different, you know, they may be having business for a little bit more time.
I learned not to compare myself before because if I start comparing myself then I'm gonna go into perpetual circle of self doubt and eventually give up. Right. And what I learned is everybody's journey is different.
Some people probably found their niche sooner they, you know, been at it longer and comparing ourselves to others is really not doing any good. I use other brands as an inspiration to see what they've done well and how can that be translated to me what can I, what is it that they do that could be cool? In my own way.
But initially when I started I was comparing myself to others and that's one point when it starts creeping into self doubt because I'm like why is it that they sell and I'm not right?
But there's different aspects that go to it. There's a little different angle. They've been doing this for a little bit longer and we all have our own timeline that we're not gonna escape. So some people do it faster, some, some of us it's gonna, and that's okay. It's just staying true to your journey and have patience.
[00:34:24] Speaker A: Absolutely. And you know what I say is, I say your competitors should be looking at Clown Paw and asking themselves, what are we not doing that she's doing? Because you look like a success.
And you know when you look like a success and you feel like a success, Excuse me, you are a success.
So what would you tell somebody who believes that they've missed their moment? You know, unlike you, Anya, who is constantly reinventing, pushing and pushing and I love that about you. But some people have that self doubt and think, think they miss their opportunity. What would you tell them?
[00:35:06] Speaker B: Well, first of all, thank you so much for your kind words. That means a lot to me. Really.
The one thing I have to say to someone who may feel like they missed the moment, they didn't. You know what I learned throughout life is we are given multiple opportunities to do something.
About five years ago, I saw a boutique for sale and everything in me said, you have to buy it. Like you have to buy it. And I knew I had exactly the same the amount of money to buy it. I just got really scared, right? Because I'm like, oh my gosh, I just bought my first home. I can't let it happen.
So I got scared. And for several years after that I'm like, I missed my opportunity, right? But the opportunities were never missed. There's always another opportunity and you cannot escape the life you are meant to live.
So if you had one opportunity, right, that's kind of what I came to realize. Like your life is always yours and you cannot escape it. It. And if you missed one moment, I'm sure there'll be another one for you to create something even better. And that's just one thing to remember,
[00:36:22] Speaker A: boy, if nobody takes anything from this show, they need to take that very last thing you said there and that really is that you defined resilience so well.
You know, resilience is part of a legacy because the people around us learn not only from what we achieve, but how we respond when life doesn't cooperate with, I don't know the plan we think we have. Listen, after the break, we will close by looking at impact what Anya hopes her work gives to other people and what it means to build a legacy that is measured by more than just business results.
Stay tuned it.
[00:37:31] Speaker B: Foreign.
[00:37:41] Speaker A: Welcome back to your life and legacy. Stay connected to this show and every NOW Media TV favorite live or on demand, anytime you'd like. Hey, Download the free Now Media TV app on Roku or iOS and unlock non stop bilingual Programming in English and in Spanish on the move. Catch the podcast version at NowMedia TV. From business and news to lifestyle, culture and beyond, Now Media TV is streaming around the clock. Ready whenever you are.
Welcome back to your life and legacy. I'm Christopher Nudo. And today we are to close. Closing today's conversation with Anya, founder of creator, founder of Claw and Paw apparel. We've talked about reinvention and stewardship. We've talked about Anya's resilience and really building with intention. In this final segment, I want to bring that all back to legacy.
Not only what we own or leave behind financially, but the way we make decisions and the way we make people feel and the examples that we set. And, you know, how about the courage we give others to become more honest and more about really who they are? You know what a brand like Claw and Prop, a claw and paw can sell a product. Product.
But you know what, it can also communicate a message.
And I know that Anya's message is centered on comfort, playfulness, creativity, self expression, and the idea that confidence can be rebuilt one honest choice at a time.
So, Anya, as we start this final segment here, when a woman wears something from Claw and Paw apparel, what do you hope she feels beyond simply just lightning? Her T shirt?
[00:39:52] Speaker B: Yeah, I, I want her to feel like herself, just a little bit more joyful. Right. I, I don't just want her to wear like, oh, it's nice quality T shirt, but I want her to wear is like, oh, yeah, that really represents my feeling and feel a little bit more and hopefully receive some compliments that will make her smile.
[00:40:19] Speaker A: That's fantastic. And I know you're like, you know, your background is in colors and, you know, you have all this education, you know, and your education is not only from school from, but from the school of hard knocks of what works and doesn't work. And so do you sense that women really appreciate the different colors you've put together and designs that really are supposed to define individual expression?
[00:40:50] Speaker B: I do. You know, I thought it's a school of hard knocks. Yes. School of life is very interesting. Sometimes it brings a lot more experience than any school combined.
So I do, I do find that my customers do get appreciated certain aspects, like either to flowers and the cat, it's the color.
Because I do get some of the feedback and some, you know, some wonderful customers will email me and they say, hey, I like this, but what about you creating something like that? So it's always that feedback loop. And I always appreciate having, you know, a positive feedback.
Luckily, I haven't heard much negative. I'm sure it's gonna might come but you know, their feedback of what they like and how they made them feel and like throwing some ideas my way, what I can do better that I always appreciate that and I definitely learned from this.
[00:41:53] Speaker A: I, I really believe that your positivity really will refute negativity. So even when the negative does come, you remaining positive will. Will quickly dispel and overcome. And what I often find with negativity is that it's hollow anyway, lacking a lot of specific and merit.
You know, I believe your brand really speaks to identity and confidence and self expression. As a matter of fact, I see it in you. Even the brand itself itself is your self expression. How do you feel that really translates into the women who wear your apparel?
[00:42:40] Speaker B: Yeah, I actually, you know, I wasn't just building my brand. I guess I was trying to build my own self expression into the brand. Right. So I was trying to take my own self values and what was important to me and birth it into the brand that would have those values. And I know there's a lot of women that struggle with finding those values. Right. Struggling to finding that voice. And at point it may seem just like it's just like a T shirt, but I think even energetically, the effort and the care and desire for women to feel good wearing it that I put in, they actually feel it. So. And that means a lot to me.
[00:43:30] Speaker A: Absolutely. You wouldn't do it if you, you know, it would just, you'd be just a T shirt company if, if you didn't want each T shirt to tell a story, to have a message, to build confidence. And I believe that that really plays into this segment about legacy.
So claw and paw and, and the, you know, today it's an apparel that they wear, but they might hand it down to a daughter or, or it may become generational as the brand grows.
Talk to me about personally what legacy and how it matters to you in going forward.
[00:44:14] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm so, you know, I'm so grateful for the this question because throughout my life, the definition of legacy has changed.
For the longest time, I thought legacy is something huge that you leave behind. Right. It's some like generational wealth and huge businesses, something that you pass on from generation to generation.
And when I even looked at the word legacy, it would scare me because I'm like, I don't have that kind of legacy. What am I passing, you know, after?
But what I realized, to me, legacy is more about the impact that I'm Making in the world. And it doesn't have to be world as a huge. But even if I make a difference to one person's life, to me it is a life worth living. Right. So to me, Legacy now is about an impact, inspiring somebody. How did I leave the person that I just met? Have I inspired and encouraged them and supported them? Are they left better in a better place now? Right. So it's more about making an impact and not just financial aspect of it as well.
[00:45:27] Speaker A: I think that's fantastic. And, you know, our viewers, they want to know more about Claw and Paw. They want to see your designs, they want to see what you're doing.
Do you have a website? What are the. What's the best way for them really to learn about Anya and Clown Paw?
[00:45:48] Speaker B: Oh, great questions. I appreciate you asking.
The first thing, of course, is my website, clawandpoco.com this website, you know, this is where I'm posting designs and I'm working on some fall stuff like for September.
There's also at this website, at the bottom there is a message box and they can reach out to me and will go straight to my email.
I also have Instagram and Facebook under Claw and Paul Co.
So those are, I guess they call my handle, you know, the social media verbiage.
And I also have my personal Instagram, Instagram and Facebook under Anya Fuleva.
[00:46:40] Speaker A: That's fantastic. And I, I hope our viewers, as soon as they're done watching here, head right over to your website.
If there's one idea that you want to leave behind, one story about your life that you want to leave with the viewers, that would really be meaningful. What would that be, Anya?
[00:47:04] Speaker B: You know, I would have to say that you don't have to be fully ready to start.
You know, it doesn't matter if you want to start a business, change a career or pick up a hobby.
I think the reinvention and the new life will begin once you have the courage to stop asking somebody permission or asking somebody for advice.
For me, I think the most profound thing was when I was looking at myself in the mirror and I was doing the same thing over and over and over again, expecting different results.
And at that time, I knew that my life, the way that I knew, wasn't working anymore, but I still was trying to fit myself in it anyway.
So eventually I took a chance and took a class and I, you know, took a courage on one step that's small, smaller than my fear.
And that what I would encourage everybody else to do, just take one step of something that feels like you and don't wait to have your whole life figured out.
[00:48:18] Speaker A: There is real wisdom in there. Anya. You know what? A lasting legacy is not created in one grand moment. As Anya so eloquently just put. It's really built through repeated choices. How we use what we have, how we treat people, how we respond to difficulty, and whether the life we are building reflects the values we say matter.
Thank you for joining us today on your life and legacy and for sharing the story of your reinvention, your creativity, your resilience. Anya. And choosing authenticity one step at a time. For everybody who's watching, Legacy is not just a financial account or a business. We leave behind those things matter. But legacy is also formed by the values behind the decisions. And the way we choose choose to shape people around us. Ask yourself, am I building a life that reflects what I say and what I value? That's what Anya's doing.
Am I really a steward of my relationships and talents and resources that really matter?
Those are the questions you need to reflect on. I'm Christopher Nudo, and thank you so much for watching your life and legacy here on NOW Media tv.
