Maintaining gratitude

A few months ago, I made the decision to close Jen Tennill Interiors and accept an opportunity with another designer whom I had long admired and respected professionally. It was a pretty huge leap, as I have not worked for anyone else in over 20 years. Recently, we mutually determined that we were not a good fit for each other and decided to part ways. Choosing to become an employee again may have seemed like an unusual decision to make at this stage of my career, but I have built my business on gut instinct and recognizing opportunities and I chose to take that risk because I truly saw an opportunity for professional and personal growth. While the outcome may not have been what I expected (let’s be honest, what in life ever is?) I absolutely grew from this experience. It’s taken some self-reflection to evaluate why this experience was essential to my journey, and I will continue to evaluate this more deeply as I plan for 2024, but the biggest thing I learned from this experience is the following:

My relationship with my clients is the foundation of JTI.

I will never be at my best in an environment where I don’t have a personal connection with the people I am designing for. My designs are people-driven and come from you. Your unique needs, experiences, personalities all inform my designs. My creativity is fed by you because I am creating for you.

Jen Tennill Interiors has never been about me. It has always been about you. And I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to experience a different approach to design because it made me appreciate the connections I have built with you all throughout the years. So on this day of thanks, please allow me to express my most sincere gratitude for YOU, my clients, colleagues and friends who have inspired me, trusted me and honored me by allowing me to serve you.