Today, we’d like to introduce you to Lori Roddey.
Hi Lori, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Back in the early 90s, I met my future husband while working at Costco. It was such a blessed synchronicity to have met there at the young ages of only 20 & 21. In those early years, I was filled with ambition, drive, and excitement for life. We grew up together, with open hearts, and support for one another’s dreams, along with constant, open “truthful communication”, we’ve forged a beautiful partnership. We’ve been happily together for 34 years now.
Choosing to be child-free, our lives have been about ourselves, our individual independent self-discoveries, along joint adventures together and apart. I believe it was Gary Zukav who called it a spiritual partnership where we encourage each other’s growth. In my heart, I knew corporate life wasn’t for me. I was way too much of a free spirit. I had a difficult time being told what to do and how to do it! I didn’t like strict time schedules or structured lifestyles.
I never felt compelled to go to college, either. I always loved learning, but I always knew I had to learn on my own terms. I was a quick learner. I preferred to do things my way while working at my own pace, learning the topics/subjects that resonated with my heart.
I never did well in the subjects I had no interest in. And I definitely didn’t want to be quizzed on what I learned- that was too constricting for me! Hence why college and I weren’t a good fit. I needed complete freedom to learn on my own! I am a true autodidact- self-taught, self-made, and proud of the way “I followed my own heart”- while going against the societal grain, so to speak.
I loved to travel, so while working part-time at Costco, I also became a travel agent, learning to use computer language, what we call “coding” these days. I didn’t even know it at that time, but I was being initiated into my future self. I set up my “travel agent office” right from my tiny apartment bedroom and had dial-up internet service (it was super slow and loud) to connect to all the airlines & hotel computers in order for me to start my travel bookings.
Little did I know I was preparing my future for what was yet to come. I always wanted to create an online business so I could ultimately be free/while working from home. Though I had no idea what I’d be selling online, I asked my sister (who at that time owned a wig salon), and she suggested that I sell wigs!
I said, “Who’d buy a wig over the internet when they couldn’t feel, touch, or try them on?” Lo and behold, a flash of insight came over me; I was going to sell wigs over the internet, why not try it out? So I bought the only 3 books they sold at that time at the bookstore on “How to Start an Internet Business.”
Sure enough, after creating an LLC and finding a website designer and hosting company -along with a million other business details, just 3 months later (in 1998, even before Google was established), my dream of owning an online business became my reality. Wigsite.com was created and is still going strong 26 years later.
Looking back… I was a futurist, a pioneer, a forerunner. But during those early years, I had no idea I was ahead of the game, who knew the internet was going to rule all of our lives while becoming a shopping Mecca as well. Running this business throughout these past years created many loyal customers but also created major burnout for me. I didn’t have any knowledge about creating a work/life balance, it took all of my energy and was difficult on my marriage too.
Luckily, after decades of both myself and my husband working the business, we couldn’t continue at that frantic pace any longer, I finally put out to the universe to find us help, and the best couple came to us. We couldn’t be more grateful to have been given the gift of finding this loving, devoted team to cherish and care for our business as much as we did. Universe provides! But most of all, when your heart calls to you, follow it.
The path might not be easy, but the challenges are real. This is how we become the people we were meant to become. Life is a journey, and there are many lessons we need to learn along the way, but when we have a deep knowingness, a dream that’s brewing inside of us -that needs to be created, things usually fall perfectly into place. Synchronistically, things shift in our favor to help us ultimately birth our creations.
We have to trust and allow things to unfold the way they’re supposed to. Early on, I learned the hard way by trying to control everything, but that’s not how this universe works. It’s only by letting go, by fully trusting in the flow, that’s when the real magic takes place. I FULLY believe the universe conspires to help us. Things happen “for us,” not to us!
Once I let go of holding the reins too tightly, I saw how beautifully this universal flow actually works. I was able to recognize, then realize, that everything happens on universal timelines, not the timelines that I was desiring and trying to make happen. Trust was my biggest teacher. It’s still a daily practice but the more miracles you witness by just surrendering, the more trust you gain. Life flows gracefully if we’re willing to allow it to.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not knowing how to create any sort of work-life balance was a huge challenge for me; I worked myself to the bone, thinking this is how it’s done when you own your own business: you give it all of yourself!
Thinking I had to do everything on my own, wear all the hats… yet feel weak if I had to ask for any help. What I discovered years later, is this way of thinking is part of an old program, society’s conditioning making us believe we are weak if we ask for help that we have to remain productive at all costs.
Many of us fall victim to believing this old, false programming, but it’s just not true. It’s a complete falsehood that we’ve only believed as truth. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way by having major burnout. Depression, depletion, and a sad feeling of dread took over my mind and my body. I could no longer function properly on a daily basis because my cup was so depleted. I had nothing left to give.
I was so out of balance in my life, thinking that work needed to come first -before anything else – that was one of my biggest wake-up calls. Yet this lesson forced me to finally look at my life, to look at my relationships, to know that I needed help, and to make some major changes to find balance again.
I learned that it’s important to ask for help. Asking for what we need is not a weakness, it’s actually a form of strength and very courageous! And to trust in the universe to find me the help that I truly needed. This help wasn’t only important to assist my business. I needed this help for my own wellbeing, along with the well-being of my marriage.
This burnout phase was the biggest, most profound gift that I received. While completely learning from its crucial lesson, I put into action the changes that I needed to make. No one should ever put their work life ahead of their personal life. Proper balance and harmony are the most essential factors in a well-lived -healthy lifestyle- period!
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Wigsite.com?
My business name is called Lori’s Wigsite. Our online website displays 1000 high-quality wigs, made with 100% human hair, synthetic fibers, heat-friendly fibers, as well as blended fibers that consist of human hair with synthetic fibers. We lovingly supply wigs and hair pieces to women, men, and children from around the world.
Most of our clients suffer from some form of hair loss, whether it be from Alopecia, cancer/ chemotherapy treatments, trichotillomania (hair-pulling), or female patterned baldness. We provide exactly what our customers need through our helpful customer care team and highly visual catalogs via our online website.
We stand apart from the many other wig companies out there because of our unique customer service. We treat our clients like family members; providing the kindest, most caring, devoted support to assist their individual needs. We’re happy to say that we’ve maintained the same loyal customers for decades now and cherish each and every one of them,
We carry the highest quality, most popular wig brands in the industry. Our website is always up to date with the newest wig and hairpiece styles, so we can provide the best quality products to choose from, along with the latest fashions for those in need of our services.
We pride ourselves on serving with the highest integrity, along with the best prices available. Our customers completely trust us, and many of them have become lifelong friends. We truly love what we do, and it shows through our customer’s commitment to us.
Contact Info:
- Website: Wigsite.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wigsite
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wigsite
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/wigsite
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/wigsite
