Mya Murdock grew up on 500 acres in rural upstate New York, where long days outdoors, caring for animals, and helping her family taught her responsibility early. The quiet of the countryside shaped her creativity, while volunteering weekly at a local meal program with her mother sparked a deep sense of empathy. Those experiences built the foundation for the way she works and lives today.
As a teenager, she explored sports, gardening, crafting, and anything she could make with her hands. She learned discipline from her father, who ran the family business, and spent her senior year shadowing him to understand how a company truly operates. That experience led her to study Business Entrepreneurship at the University of Tampa.
After graduating, Mya started her career in high-end custom apparel. She learned the power of strong relationships, distinct service, and showing up with consistency. Her path eventually brought her to Charleston, South Carolina, where she now serves as Operations Manager at 2 Cumberland, a growing boutique led by a female founder she admires. She also works independently in sales with Blue 84 and continues to build her own jewelry venture.
Outside of work, Mya leans into her “old soul” nature. She flips furniture, knits, crochets, cooks, and reads. She finds peace in creating things with intention. Through her mix of creativity, discipline, and care for others, Mya shows how a grounded upbringing can shape a meaningful career—and how small acts of consistency can build a life filled with purpose.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My day starts early, which is a habit I’ve had since growing up on a farm. Mornings were always for identifying what needed to be accomplished that day and planning accordingly. This routine feels natural to me. I make coffee, tidy a small area, review my long term goals, and write down my top three tasks for the day. At Two Cumberland, I move between managing inventory, supporting our team, and solving the unexpected issues that come with retail and operations. My most productive days are the ones where I stay focused on the tasks at hand while maintaining a loose structure that allows for creative problem-solving.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I start with something physical. Whether it’s a jewelry design or a new workflow for the boutique, I sketch, test materials, or build a small sample. I grew up crafting and making things by hand, so I think best when I’m interacting with something tangible.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Slow fashion. People are valuing handmade, intentional products again. That mindset aligns with how I grew up—focused on quality, not excess.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Doing one grounding task before anything else. Cleaning my counter or organizing a drawer resets my mind and gives me a quick win.
What advice would you give your younger self?
“Don’t rush. Good things need time.” I used to want every answer immediately. Now I know growth happens slowly and consistently.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Not every hobby needs to become a business. Some things should stay purely joyful.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Care for something living—plants, a garden, anything. My childhood garden bed taught me patience and presence more than anything else.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I move. I take a walk, stretch, or clean something small. Physical motion clears mental clutter.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
I observe leadership closely. I learned a lot watching my dad run his private practice and later watching the founder of Two Cumberland lead with creativity and calm. Studying how leaders make decisions has taught me how to manage my own responsibilities more effectively.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Early in my independent sales work, I took on too much at once. I said yes to everything and stretched myself too thin. I started missing details. I overcame it by simplifying—setting limits, and building systems. I learned that details and consistency matter more than intensity.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A “repair-and-refresh” service for jewelry or small accessories. People want to extend the life of what they already own, but not many small shops offer it.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Notion. I use it to track inventory ideas, store customer notes, plan jewelry designs, and organize long-term projects. It keeps the creative parts of my brain in one place.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
It is difficult for me to choose just one favorite book. I am especially drawn to stories that explore social injustice, which is why Evicted and Just Mercy stood out to me – they encourage greater awareness and remind us how important it is to keep examining the world we live in.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently watched The Pursuit of Happyness again. It’s a powerful reminder not to give up, even when circumstances feel overwhelming. It also underscores the importance of patience and compassion, as you never truly know what someone else is carrying – often unseen – while encouraging us to look for the food in people and situations.
Key learnings
- Consistency and small daily habits can create long-term stability and clarity.
- Hands-on experimentation is a powerful method for developing ideas.
- Observing strong leaders in action can be as valuable as formal training.