Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Hannah Proffitt of Southeast Phoenix Valley

We recently had the chance to connect with Hannah Proffitt and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I wake up and give my dog, Dimitri, some pets and cuddles. I check for any messages or emails. Then most weekdays I go to the gym at 5:00. I come back, make coffee, write in my daily reflection journal, practice on Duolingo, check any coming soon listings for clients, and get ready for the day. I then go to school to teach Pre-K 7:30-3:30. After school, I respond to emails and messages and make any calls. Depending on the day, I could go to showings for real estate clients. After that, I will make toffee or package it, or create labels. Each day is honestly a little different. Some days there are showings, some days there are markets. It is a bit all over the place, but I love it.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a full-time teacher with over twelve years of experience, and for the past couple of years, I’ve been chasing new dreams I didn’t even know were in me. I still absolutely love teaching and learning from the amazing pre-K students I work with every day, but I’ve also found new passions along the way, helping others become homeowners as a real estate agent, creating relaxing stays for short-term rental guests, and expressing my creativity through my bakery, HP Bakery, where I’m always dreaming up new toffee bark flavors.
I like to say I’m multi-passionate, I love connecting with new people, learning, and creating in all forms. In each of my logos, you’ll find sunshine, a reminder that we are all full of light and unlimited potential. We have to believe in ourselves and let that shine.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I used to believe that I couldn’t do certain things, that I was limited in my options. I wouldn’t necessarily call these childhood thoughts, but more from my high school and early college years. I thought that by becoming a teacher, I’d be limited in where I could work or what I could do. But that belief quickly changed once I had the opportunity to teach overseas and learn from people all around the world.

That experience opened my eyes to just how limitless we really are. I’ve learned that there will always be struggles and obstacles, but there are endless ways to overcome them. Our journeys may look different, and that’s exactly what makes them so beautiful.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Haha, probably once a week! I think that’s pretty common for anyone starting their business journey. There are definitely moments when I question why I’m doing all the things I’m doing, but then I take a step back and remember that most businesses fail in their first three years. My determination keeps me going along with knowing that each one serves a different purpose in my life.

Baking is my creative outlet, teaching pre-K is energizing (and yes, a little draining at times with the little ones!), and being a realtor is empowering because I get to help people in such a meaningful way. When I remind myself of that, it all feels worth it again.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that I needed to have all the training and know everything before starting. In the beginning, I wanted everything to look perfect and be “just right” before I put myself out there, but that mindset actually kept me from doing anything at all.
Now, I’ve learned that it’s okay to start messy and figure things out along the way. Growth happens through action, not waiting until everything feels ready. I just do it, learn, and improve as I go.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing? 
I’m not sure if I will regret not doing anything. I have come to a point where I stopped fearing and I started doing. I am no longer wondering ‘what if’ and I am finding out…sometimes finding out for the good and others finding out that it isn’t great or what I wanted.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hpbakery.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_hp_bakery/?hl=en

Image Credits
FemForce Phoenix