Pursuit 365 Day 52: Steph Purdy

Steph Purdy-Hopko fills her days toggling between her 2 businesses. She opened Purdy Ideal You, a wellness business, back in 2012. Steph loves supporting and encouraging others and this platform fosters Steph’s “inner coach” by allowing her to help clients work towards achieving their “ideal YOU” – not someone else’s version of what’s “ideal.”

Her other business, Red & Ko, is a creative little take-out sandwich shop that she “Ko-Owns” with her husband, Mike. Red & Ko, which is based on “being different” helps stimulate Steph’s creative side and allows her to bring joy to people one sandwich at a time.

Q. What advice would you give to your past self?

If I could give my past self some advice it would definitely be to slow down, take better care of myself and enjoy the journey to the destination. I wore ‘busy’ like a badge of honour and “Hustle” became my middle name. I spent way too much time with my head down fixated on the goal, but I never enjoyed the journey to it. Then I would move the goal line and get lost in the hustle once again…and the vicious cycle continued.

Q. Who or what has been your greatest influence in business?

My greatest influence in business is my dad, who taught me an amazing work ethic and about taking pride in what you do. He also taught me the importance of not cutting corners and the value of quality products and service. My dad would always say: “If you don’t do it yourself, it doesn’t get done right.” My younger self clung to this and believed it and lived it for many years. Thankfully, as I got older and learned that it is ok to challenge your parents and their teaching, I changed this belief to: “If you don’t do it yourself, it doesn’t get done your way” and that doesn’t have to be a negative.

Q. What is your number one priority when it comes to your daily work?

My number one priority in life and daily work is to stay positive and never stop learning! Life, people, experiences, mistakes etc. are all here to teach us something. I can never know enough and I’m here to absorb all that I can from anyone and anything. I absolutely love the phrase “We are not what we know but what we are willing to learn”

Q. What is your favourite thing about what you do?

My absolute favourite thing about what I do is to use my business platforms as an opportunity to shine a little brightness into people’s lives. I do my best to build relationships with the people I serve and make them feel like they matter…because they do matter! Without people what is business?!?!

Q. Do you have a mantra you live by?

A phrase that was a total life changer for me (it literally threw my head back when I heard it for the first time) is:

“Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes.”

This phrase ties in so beautifully with the wise words of James Baldwin – “Not everything that is faced can be changed – but nothing can be changed until it’s faced.”