Today we’d like to introduce you to Lacey Doboszenski.
Hi Lacey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Nordeast Minneapolis with my parents and two brothers, one older- one younger. I am fortunate to come from an amazing family that always stood behind my dreams. Even when it took working extra hours, or even extra jobs to make it possible, my parents found ways to make it happen. I don’t know how they managed, but they always did. By the time I was 12 I was traveling all over the USA with my gymnastics team. Throughout grade school and high school, life was all about gymnastics. With an early passion for travel and a drive to compete in college gymnastics, I was fortunate I ended up at a school where both my passions would fit into. At the University of Wisconsin Stout, I competed for the gymnastics team while pursuing my degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management with a minor in Speech and a concentration in Tourism Planning and Development.
After college, I took some time to just have fun, be young, and of course TRAVEL. After working a couple of different jobs, I landed my dream job at one of the largest vacation wholesale companies in the world, Delta Vacations, and worked there for six years. I loved these six years and learned so much about the travel industry during this time. My job was moved to Atlanta, my husband had just accepted a big promotion in Minnesota, and I was expecting my first child. So, at this time I stepped into stay at home motherhood and also took the time to become a certified yoga teacher and children’s yoga teacher. This was also the time that I started “Minnesota Yogini” and so much has come from what began as a creative outlet. It began with me showcasing beautiful places in Minnesota and beyond, while doing yoga poses everywhere I traveled. Now, it is a travel blog, focusing a little less on yoga poses, and more on a family adventure.
Due to my success and knowledge of social media, Instagram in particular, I was hired by a company in Minneapolis, Yoga Camp, to help with social media, photography, and yoga retreat planning. I also began to work with various small businesses on social media strategy and planning for the Minneapolis-based company, Healing Media. My time with these companies was my first taste of the business world within social media and I learned a lot. Today, I run my own blog and social media as well as do consistent work as a freelance writer, and content creator. You can see a list of past publications on my website.
I live in the Brainerd Lakes Area of Minnesota, in the woods, with my husband, two kids (6 & 8), and our cat, Felix. My husband shares my passion for photography and adventure so we are constantly planning our next trip. Recently most of our trips revolve around road tripping, camping and the USA National Parks and Monuments. We have really been enjoying exploring the USA, and checking states and sites off our bucket list. When we are not traveling we love to fish, do art, camp, hike, cook, play, spend time with our family, and explore the beauty of Minnesota.
In addition to the busy, blogging mom life, I teach weekly yoga classes and am the head coach of the new gymnastics program at the Brainerd Family YMCA. I feel very blessed with the opportunity to share my love of movement and mindfulness with others. I teach kids yoga, vinyasa yoga, gentle yoga and gymnastics. I absolutely love the people at the YMCA and the community it has introduced me to! Working here brings me a lot of joy and my kids also love being a part of such a great place!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My webpage has always been more of a hobby than a business to me, but from it, many business opportunities have come my way. I love this, but I do sometimes struggle with making my own business more successful, rather than helping others grow theirs with my work. I’d like it to be more of a business than a hobby, but I also want to keep it real. So that’s a constant struggle in my head.
My page was more successful when it was all yoga all the time, but that’s not me. So, while now it is not growing as fast, I feel I’m connecting with the right people.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I spoke a bit about this in the first questions but I am a freelance writer. I really enjoy writing and specialize in family travel and adventure, as well as helping others tell their stories, through interviews. I love sitting down with others and learning about them and their stories. It is a joy to share my own stories and tips as well as other people. The more we share with others the more we can all learn together.
I am very proud of all my published work which can be seen on my website. Most proud of my cover story on the Boundary Waters that was in the Lake Country Journal. I was on the cover of that issue, my husband’s photo, and that was exciting for both of us. I also had a photo that I took published on the cover of the Grand Rapids Visitor Guide.
Of course, all of these opportunities came from my work on “Minnesota Yogini” and that is always my number one. I love sharing fun videos and beautiful photos with my followers, who are mostly from the midwest. I love when families have great experiences because of my suggestions. Minnesota is beautiful, and I love showing off what a great place it is for active family fun.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Listen to everybody, and be open to collaborations and ideas. You never know where the next job or opportunity might be. Build as many bridges as you can!
It will be time-consuming, so find a balance. Nothing is worth more than spending time with the people you love.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.minnesotayogini.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/minnesotayogini/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/minnesotayogini/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/minnesotayogini/
Image Credits:
Billy Doboszenski (except family photo)
