In this edition of our Women in Business highlight series, I am thrilled to share the story of a remarkable woman who holds a special place in my heart – none other than Diane Stull, my mother and a beacon of inspiration in my life. Her journey embodies resilience, wisdom, and an unwavering spirit that continues to inspire me every day.
As her daughter, I owe much of my entrepreneurial drive to my parents. I vividly recall the days of my childhood when my parents ran their own business. From attending networking events across the southeast to listening to motivational tapes during family road trips, my parents instilled in me a passion for business (and travel, but that’s another story!). I knew then as a young girl that I wanted my own business. With the help of their guidance and foundation for my own aspirations, I am eternally grateful.
As a child, you don’t often realize your mom has their own life until you become older. My mom is a spectacular woman who has her own story, of which I still learn about to this day. She has become instrumental in my adult life for advice and who I cherish life with from family game nights to our family business. This article about Diane will be a delightful homage to my mom.
A Journey of Design
Diane's journey began as a devoted stay-at-home mother, dedicating herself to raising my brothers and me. As I mentioned, my parents had a business when I was younger, and then as life evolved, she recognized the need to step into a role as an educator. For over two decades, she taught in both high school and middle school, specializing in Family & Consumer Science and Design classes to include interior design and fashion design. Her joy stemmed from witnessing her students' "ah-ha" moments as they grasped new concepts and embarked on their own journeys of discovery. Although she enjoyed teaching and loved telling stories of her students, she knew it was time to take the next step into retirement. `
In the realm of retirement, she has embraced the newfound freedom with grace and enthusiasm. She seamlessly transitioned into a life of purposeful leisure by volunteering in the community as a reading pal with pre-k age kids, taking leisure learning classes at University of West Florida, and of course traveling with my dad, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Yet, retirement did not mark an end to productivity for Diane; rather, it opened doors to a new chapter in entrepreneurship with our family business, SF5 Investments LLC, a real estate investment business. She is vital to our family business as she helps seek out and vet properties as we decide if the property is a good investment.
When she attended Florida State University she majored in House Design. So, design is in her spirit – from design courses to designing properties! It’s one of the best parts of the business. Her innate passion for design and her love for older houses found expression in this venture, where she delights in breathing new life into properties and creating homes for families to cherish.
Looking ahead, Diane envisions expanding our real estate portfolio with more properties and a special dream of establishing a rental property known as the “Lollie House” in honor of her name and her grandmother’s name. For Diane, entrepreneurship is not merely about profits; it's about building a legacy for our family.
Reflection
When reflecting on her sources of inspiration, Diane fondly recalls her mother (my Granny), a dynamic woman. She recalls when her mother retired, that she was so active and always on the go. It used to be a semi-joke that you would have to call my Granny to see if she was home before you went over because she probably wasn’t home! She would add something to her list that she wanted to do, and then she would do them.
Diane has mentioned that my Granny would always say – “go, do.” If she wanted to go on a trip, then she would go and do it; and she expressed the same advice to others. She didn’t want to hold you back from anything and Diane followed the same advice. Diane would also love to be able to sit down and speak to my grandmother one more time. She would love to be able to learn further about our family members and connections as well as personal reasons that she would love to see her again. My Granny was also a business owner as a Mary Kay consultant, so as you can see entrepreneurial spirit runs in the family.
Additionally, Diane humbly acknowledges the inspiration she draws from me, her daughter. She admires my independence and my entrepreneurial pursuits. That statement was surprising to me, yet I felt honored to hear that from my mother.
Just Do It
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Diane’s words are simple, “Keep doing it.” Don’t listen to naysayers. If you want to do it, you can. If you’re unsure of how, then research it and learn how to do it. It’s so easy to find answers now and can Google anything. She references again her mother that you wouldn’t really have to ask her a question about going anywhere or doing anything because her answer was, “Yes.” Basically, if you want to start a business. Then do it. Do you want to keep going? Then do it.
In moments of challenge, Diane finds solace in her faith and the unwavering belief that everything will fall into place. She has always expressed those sentiments and now is no different. If anything, I have found to appreciate more those same sentiments. Diane is a resilient and strong woman to transition from teaching to volunteering, helping operate a family business, and treasuring her family, and a wonderful lady that I get to call mom. She reminds us, that even though you may be retired, there’s still a lot to do, see, and accomplish!
Connect
If you’re considering selling your home and seeking a fair offer for a property that needs a little TLC, feel free to reach out to our family business, sf5hometown@gmail.com, and we’ll see if we can help!
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Diane Stull is an amazing woman anyone and everyone can learn from! Thanks, Cara, for your loving and inspired story of your mother!!! 😁