We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Long and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, what do you attribute your success to?
Determination, persistence, and commitment. Starting your own business takes all three of these factors to the extreme. I also love what I do! That’s a must…you have to be passionate about what you’re doing and stay true to who you are. Success does not come from being lucky, it takes hard work and determination. It means getting uncomfortable. It means having ups and downs with business success. Especially when you’re running a business on your own, you have to be self-motivated and really want it. When there are parts of the business that are not within your skill set, such as website design, you just have to research and figure it out. Get uncomfortable. Learn new things. Businesses are more likely to fail than succeed. After running my business for three years now, I can see why. You definitely need that fire.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
How did I get where I am today business-wise? It’s in my personality. I’ve always been very self-motivated and determined.

After graduating from college at Penn State, I was a pharmaceutical sales representative for ten years with Pfizer. It was a fabulous career! I’m so happy I had that valuable business and sales experience.

When our kids were born, I did not want to work in corporate America anymore and miss out on raising my babies. My husband and I started a business during that time, but it did not keep me from being with my kids full-time. Looking back now that they are preteen and teenagers, it was absolutely the right decision and I’m so grateful that I was able to stay home with them. Those are precious times that you don’t get back. There is plenty of time now that they are older and in school all day, to pursue my own business and other passions and interests.

Modern Farmhouse Glam began after I opened up an Instagram account to share my passion for home decorating and life. My husband and I had just finished designing and building our dream home. I started sharing pictures and videos of my home, decorating ideas, DIY projects, recipes and cooking, entertaining tips, holiday decor, and gardening. Some projects included a dream master closet makeover, DIY stone accent wall and a home theater room. I was met with an overwhelming response on social media. I also opened up Modern Farmhouse Glam LLC and website, including products for sale and my own private label coffees and dip mixes.

My husband and I have spent a lot of time making our home feel like an oasis or vacation spot so that it’s where we want to be, rather than always spending money to vacation somewhere else. Getting involved in home projects together has been a fun experience and the outcome of an accent wall or a game table that we made together means so much more. One of our favorite DIY projects we have done is the queen-size bed swing for our backyard patio. It is the perfect comfy spot to enjoy sunsets together. It’s that much sweeter knowing that we built the swing ourselves.

Was it easy? Of course not. I have worked hard, really hard. It’s all about consistency. I stay true to myself and my brand and followers. I love being creative, which comes naturally, but some days you just aren’t feeling it. That’s when you have to be patient with yourself and take a step back and let your mind clear until you become inspired again. Sometimes I create a piece of content for Instagram or TikTok that I think is great and it doesn’t do as well as I had hoped or expected. I try to remind myself that it’s a similar scenario to a singer‘s album, not every song is going to be a big hit. And sometimes the big hit was not the one you thought it would be. So keep going, keep creating quality content and it will come.

Lesson I’ve learned? One thing I tell my kids is to act confident even if you don’t feel that way in a certain situation. When you feel nervous or unsure about something and get through it, you have grown as a person and gained more self-esteem. One way I have been successful is to not just “talk” about goals, but take action. Don’t wait for doors to open, start knocking.

Most proud of in my business? Over the past three years, the Modern Farmhouse Glam brand has received national recognition. I have been featured in two national magazines, one a six-page spread featuring me and my home at Christmastime, and have been interviewed on several podcasts and featured in other news articles. My DIY shiplap wall was featured on the Good Morning America Show.

One of the most exciting parts of my business is partnering with brands. I have worked with over 50 brands, including Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Behr Paint, Overstock and Keurig. I only consider partnerships that truly fit into my brand. Trust with my audience means everything and that’s one reason why I have been able to build a loyal following.

A huge bonus has been connecting with other women across the country with similar interests. That’s an amazing thing about the internet and social media! It’s incredible to be able to share ideas, inspire, and connect with people who you have a lot in common with. I’m thankful for the friendships I have made with many of my followers on TikTok and Instagram.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I absolutely love the state of Arizona! My husband and I moved from the cloudiest city, Pittsburgh, to the sunniest city, Phoenix, 15 years ago and never looked back! The best way to experience our incredible state is to see the desert on a dune buggy. We love sharing this experience with our friends and family.

There are endless trails through the desert to view the unique landscape of Phoenix, including tall saguaro cacti and mountainsides covered in wildflowers in the Spring. It’s fun having a picnic lunch at the top of the peak. The quiet and peaceful feeling at the top of the mountain is priceless. Sometimes we even see a few wild horses along the trails. Dune buggy riding is a unique way to see the beauty of the desert. It feels so refreshing being in nature!

My fave Arizona spots:

Sedona is a must-see, the red rock views are spectacular! My husband and I got married outside along Oak Creek at Red Rock Crossing. Get in nature and hike, it is magical there.

Lake Powell- the scenery is breathtaking! One of our favorite vacations ever was staying on a houseboat with our family friends on Lake Powell. The lake is surrounded by steep red sandstone walls and is a boater and water lover’s paradise.

My fave local spot for restaurants and date nights is Scottsdale. You can’t go wrong at Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter. I like healthy, flavorful foods and try to order things when I’m out that I don’t typically make at home. I’m definitely a foodie! Toca Madera is a fun spot with ambience.

Arizona is all about the outdoors, so get out and hike or camp. My husband and I got engaged on Camelback Mountain, which is a must-see landmark in Phoenix. There are some stunning homes around that area in Paradise Valley. The Grand Canyon is an obvious place to check out. In the fall and springtime in Phoenix, there are so many fun outdoor festivals and open air concerts.

With the kids, a go-to hang out spot is Top Golf. The Wildlife World Zoo is fun and The Verde Canyon Railroad is neat, too. Lake Pleasant is a beautiful place to have a peaceful afternoon on a pontoon boat or dune buggy adventure and maybe even see a few wild burros. And of course our kids love the gigantic three story mall in Scottsdale. Cave Creek is a little town that makes you feel like you’re in the old Wild West. You can watch bull riding while eating great BBQ and listening to country music. In the summertime when it’s hot in the valley, Flagstaff is a short two hour trip to escape the heat where it is at least 20-30° cooler. In the fall time, there is a gorgeous Aspen Tree trail with a sea of yellow leaves.

If I had to pick my very favorite spot in Arizona, it is right in our backyard, with our fantastic sunset view, hanging around the firepit with my husband, kids and some friends.


Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to my FOLLOWERS! I am consistently wowed by the support and genuinely nice and sweet comments I get from my followers everyday. It’s amazing and special to me that people take time out of their day to write a thoughtful comment to me.

It’s also very rewarding when followers share with me that they have followed one of my tutorials for a DIY project and created it in their own home.

Home decorating and DIY is such a positive hobby and creative outlet. I’m proud to be encouraging others to create spaces where families enjoy spending time together. If you throw out positive energy, you attract like-minded positive people. You attract what you are. I’m honored that I get to share this passion with other people and inspire them to beautify their own homes.

Website: http://www.modernfarmhouseglam.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/modernfarmhouseglam

Other: TikTok http://www.tiktok.com/@modernfarmhouseglam

Image Credits
Modern Farmhouse Glam

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