Independence Week

Happy (early) Fourth of July!

The 4th of July is Independence Day, the celebration of the birth of America’s freedom. Therefore, this week I want you to celebrate YOUR independence from your Mean Girl! Use this week to not listen to any of those doubts or negative thoughts that pop into your head. Stay positive and simply enjoy the week and especially this weekend!

It may be hard. But I know that you’ll feel so amazing once you stop listening to those haunting thoughts. July 4^th is typically a day where you go to picnics, pool parties, and other gatherings where you could meet new people. Sounds fun, right?! Some would disagree because you start to feel self-conscious around new people.

Stop comparing!

The second you hear a thought in your head about how she has a cuter outfit on or he would never talk to a girl like me, shut them down! Recognize the doubts and the negativity and give yourself a little pep talk in your head. Pause and remember how unique you are. There is no one in the world exactly like you! Come on – that’s SO special!

Take back your independence this week and enjoy those fireworks!

"Me" Time

We have all experienced a very full and hectic schedule. For me, May was one of the busiest months of my life! The hardest part was working 40 hours a week and being a part-time student at UC Riverside. On the days I had class; I woke up at 5am to be at work for 7am. I then left at 4pm to drive 2 hours to class from 6-10pm. I did not get into bed until earliest 11:30pm. I did this twice a week and it had been exhausting! My free time after work and on my lunch breaks were filled with homework – accounting is SO much work! 

I didn't have any free time!

And that’s exactly what this post is about. When you’re life gets crazy you need to make sure to fit in some time to relax and quiet your mind. It’s extremely important to find that “me” time in order for you to continue to succeed when things get difficult. 

Because I spend so much time at a desk, in the car, or in the classroom, I take a walk around my office building at least once a day. I also try to walk up the stairs (to the 7th floor!) in order to get my heart pumping. This time-out is for me to reset. I do not think about anything that I need to get done; I listen to the birds and the nearby fountain. I feel the sun on my skin and the wind on my checks. I let the beauty of nature fill my heart. This activity only takes 5 minutes so it’s very easy to fit into that chaotic schedule!

Another trick of mine is to watch a 30 minute TV show I like during dinner. Two birds with one stone! (That’s so morbid…) I love TV; it helps me to relax because instead of worrying about my problems, I’m consumed by the characters. Therefore, on the days I’m on my own for meal time I take advantage. All the health blogs tell you not to eat while watching TV but I can’t take any extra time I have away from homework. So with my plate in hand, I cozy up on the couch and join the world of Younger or New Girl! And by the time the show is over, my plate is empty. No precious time has been wasted and I feel refreshed. 

These tricks are what helped me survive the month of May. I look back and wonder how I stayed strong and realize that I never felt drained. On paper I should have been but I did a nice job of balancing my responsibilities with my “me” time. 

What tricks do you use to optimize your “me” time? Let me know in a comment below! 

Cage Diving

Vacation is one of the best times to discover new dreams. You research and plan and then comes along that “I HAVE to do it” task! Well, when I was preparing to study abroad in South Africa I discovered shark cage diving. South Africa is known for its large number of Great White Sharks and the county has many opportunities to have a once in a lifetime experience with these creatures.

Now you must be thinking, 

"SHE’S GETTING IN THE WATER WITH A GREAT WHITE SHARK!"

Yes, yes I did! And to this day, it’s one of the most fun dreams I caught. Lucky for me my friends were very interested in doing this with me; it was something that was on all of our to-do lists before we even met! So the 7 of us scheduled our outing and made the trek out to the coast.

We had a wonderful lunch together and learned facts and interesting tidbits about the sharks as well as rules to keep us safe so we can have the most fun! We headed to the boat and found a spot on the top to watch the waves while we headed out to sea. No nerves yet! But finally we stop and drop anchor. The shipmates are luring the Great Whites to our boat with fish guts and a foam board shaped like a seal. And the shadows arrived. Slowly swirling around the boat; they look so graceful but the memories of past Shark Weeks just pop right into my mind!

We get the cue that our group is next. We head to the deck of the boat and slip into the wetsuits. We are laughing and goofing around but I can feel the nerves creeping in. We walk to the edge where the ladder leads into this metal cage alongside the boat. I was very nervous now and too scared to be the first one in, so I waited until I would be in the middle of the cage. The water was cold and you could feel the suit suction to your body as you took each step down the ladder until you were completely submersed!

Once you’re in, there’s a bar you can stabilize your feet on and another bar to hold onto above you. Shaking from the cold ocean water and the nerves, you wait until you hear the shipmate yell a command. She would yell front, left, or right. This was the direction you were supposed to look and there you will find that wonderfully ferocious Great White shark.

FRONT!

I dunk myself, the goggles are clear but the water is foggy. I know the shark is going to be coming from the front but I didn't know she was coming straight for me! Through the dark water the figure gets closer, the teeth are seen first and then the black eyes. Directly in front of me she swims until she senses the cage and slips to the side, her fins grazing the cage in front of me. Her nose just about slipped into the small opening for our unobstructed viewing. At times the cage would shake because she bumped into it. (Apparently this one female shark circled the boat for a very long time and just wanted to be near our cage while in the water, we had to stay in longer because she wouldn't leave).

The extremely close proximity I was to such a powerful animal was invigorating. I can still feel the adrenaline when I think back on this experience. I could not have dreamed of how rewarding this was going to be. The ocean is so mysterious and magical to me and I am frightened to be in the deep dark water, but this was a dream I had to catch. I never let fear take over, and used my friend’s energy to power me through. Reaching dreams with others is important. So if there is a mutual adventure you and a colleague share, take that journey together! It’ll bring your friendship to a more meaningful level and will create a memory that you both can hold special in your hearts because it is yours, something created by both of you and no one else. And personally, sharing a rewarding experience with another is WAY more fun! You can reminisce for years to come, reliving that incredible memory! 

Comment below and let me know if there are any dreams you have caught with a friend? 

Year 25

Today is the first full day of my 26th year of life. I don’t feel too much older but I am starting to hear a clock ticking! (Yikes) Last year at this time it was an important birthday for me; it was a quarter of a century! I made a vow to myself to make 25 my best year yet. The main goal was to reach for the stars and start moving forward with a career and to grow into a strong woman. I’m not sure if I can say it was my best year, but I do know that is was a successful year! I wanted to see progress and I did!

Early birthday dinner at Disneyland!

I started the year out strong while I began to grow towards a more active, healthy lifestyle. This has slowed down but what I learned about my health was important and I will always have that. I have also found that I enjoy the benefits of daily exercise – has that motivated me enough to be active every day, no, but life is a work in progress right? I’m listening to my body more and trying to give it what it needs in that moment. That’s the main lesson I learned; 

Listen to your body to create the healthiest lifestyle for you! 

I also went in 100% with starting my career. I made a plan, which has changed from time to time, but I am constantly working to move forward. The best part of my journey so far is taking classes at UCR Extension. What was holding me back for so long was the fear and doubt that I didn't have enough knowledge to own my boutique. But in year 25 I eliminated that doubt! Each course completed feeds my soul; I am that much closer to my dream job. Now I have a time-line that has “Open for Business” on it and I couldn't be more excited! The main lesson I learned:

No obstacle is too big to get over! 

Year 25 may have been filled with an immense amount of joy but it was also tainted by a dark cloud. I struggle with acute long-term depression and this past year was a very hard one. There is no particular reason, as depression is from a chemical imbalance, but it is very hard to move forward and grow when it’s there. However, this dark cloud might have been the most important part of my 25th year. I have fought so hard to continue to grow into someone I am proud of. Despite what my mind tells me some days, when I go to bed each day, I know I am that much stronger because of that fight. I have changed into someone who values her body, her health, and her heart. I have grasped my life’s mission and have charged forward by starting an I AM THAT GIRL local chapter, going back to school to own my own business, and started writing a motivational book. 

Looking back, year 25 has been one of my strongest years. I grew so much that I can’t help but be overwhelmed with excitement for year 26! The strength I gained will help me to continue to take control and demand my best life. Year 26 will be filled with so much fierceness and courage – I’m so excited for YOU to see where I go! And through my strength I hope YOU find your courage to charge forward as well! 

Aquatic Dreams

While I was growing up, my family spent many vacations at our condo in Florida. We were a close drive to the beach and many magical attractions. I had been to SeaWorld a handful of times, always admiring the trainers. I would daydream about what it would be like to swim with dolphins and orcas whales. I mean, what 90’s kid didn't want to be best friends with an Orca named Willy?!  

A few years ago, my boyfriend and I went to SeaWorld in San Diego. We had a long weekend therefore it was time for an adventure. I was reminded of how much I love getting to know the animal species from the ocean. It’s a whole different world, mysterious and magical. And lucky for us, our ticket came with a year free of park admission! We made our way back a few months later. This trip was a surprise birthday gift for me. And what a way to spend my 25^th birthday! Because we had free admission, my boyfriend registered us for multiple animal encounters.

All of my aquatic dreams came true!

We started the day at Dolphin Cove to meet some of the swimmers. We learned training tricks and spent quality time with adult and baby dolphins. We got a little wet but to have a dolphin do a flip because you signaled it to, was an experience I had always imagined. The second encounter for the day was something special just for me. I slipped into a SeaWorld wetsuit, climbed into Arctic water, and met the most wonderful Beluga whale! I was in the water hugging and training the Arctic’s sea canary. We bonded so much that she even gave me a kiss! And after our interactions, we ended the day relaxing with a delicious dinner by a private training pool for the Orca whales. Just on the other side of the glass wall were the beautiful creatures. The close proximity to this animal was just enough to make tears of joy trickle down my cheeks.

This my friends, is a once in a lifetime experience; a dream of mine that I never expected to reach. I know you have them too, goals or dreams that are so fun to think about but you feel that you may never get the chance to actually reach it. That’s why it is so special when you have a support system. Sometimes you need help reaching a dream, and sometimes the journey is that much better when you work with someone else. In these moments, when you catch that intangible dream, be grateful for whatever got you there! Remember how blessed life can be.

What dream did you catch that you never thought you would?

Patience is a Virtue

These days we have everything at our finger tips. Our society thrives off of instant gratification. (I know I absolutely do!) Our smartphones are right in our pockets with knowledge and access to a global community with opportunities only a click away. And now waiting has become difficult.

Mother always said, patience is a virtue!

Dictionary.com has a great definition for patience - quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence. These are all great words to consider when you are reaching for a bigger dream. Sometimes it takes time and you need to be patient, you need to trust that it will work out. That’s not always easy! I have struggled with patience for a few dreams of my own.

So how do YOU get through it? 

1. Daily or weekly reminders of the bigger picture. Remind yourself of why you are reaching your dream; what is it that gets your blood pumping with excitement? With intensity? With ferocity? 
2. Distract yourself from rolling it over in your head a million times. Stop thinking so much about how eager you are to catch that dream. Find fun and challenging activities to consume your days. Don’t waste your precise life by waiting for your next dream. Go out and do something!
3. Meditate, as cliché as it sounds. You don’t have to be a holistic pro, just take a few minutes out of your day to sit, close your eyes, and take a few deep breathes and feel the muscles in your body. This allows you to keep calm and focus on the moment. (Instead of when you’ll reach that dream).

These might work, but maybe you’re thinking ‘no way in hell will these vague tips work for me”. Well here are a few more ideas to really get your mind to be more patient:

Get in the longest line at the grocery store

Watch the 1996 film, Hamlet (242 mins)

Suck on a never ending gobstopper

Take a drive during rush hour

Watch still water turn to a rolling boil 

Listen to Jethro Tull "Thick as a Brick" (43:54)

How do you practice patience? It’s a difficult concept so every tip and advice is sure to help! 

The Voice In Our Heads

You know that voice in your head that interrupts your dreams and goals. It’s the voice that reminds you that your idea is stupid or that you couldn’t possibly reach it. Well I hear it ALL the time! I call it my Mean Girl – she’s always tearing me down for NO reason. It’s so hard to quiet this voice or to not listen. You start to believe what its saying and become discouraged. You start to feel worthless and incapable of reaching your goals so you stop dreaming.

Never stop reaching for the stars!

Feeling incapable and inadequate is unfair; there is no reason why you can’t reach a specific goal. There will always be a way so NEVER stop believing! There are a few tricks that I use to shut down the voice and remind myself that I CAN DO IT.

Why Not? Listen to what your voice is saying and ask why not; figure out what is holding you back. Usually what’s holding you back is not genuine, it’s something that you can easily fix or solve. Or it’s a little bit of fear getting in the way. Just take a moment to come up with a plan to find the courage and eliminate the obstacle.

Who Says? You can also ask yourself who says; figure out who told you you can’t reach that goal. Most likely you’ll come up with yourself, the media, or maybe even a friend. If it’s you, that’s just fear talking again (find that courage!). If it’s the media, remember that those ads and everything else are marketing; they trick you into feeling a certain way so you will believe them and buy their product. Nothing is real in the media, it’s all exaggeration! And finally, if it’s a friend, go talk to them. Find out if it’s coming from a good, caring place or maybe a place of jealousy. Talk it out! 

Just remember, it’s your dream and nothing but your heart and soul matters!

I know I’m not the only one with this voice in my head. What does your voice say? What do you do to keep it from sharing it's opinions? Comment below! 

That Time I Ran a 5k

The mundane life of a cubicle employee…

I had been working full-time for about a year as an Administrative Assistant. I had only known part-time jobs and school semesters; change was always happening around me. So being in the same position doing the same routine each day was getting old. Boring! I was grateful to be working full time but I couldn't help feeling like I wanted more. My solution was finding instant gratification. What could I accomplish quickly to feel purposeful and re-energized? 

My solution: Running a 5k!

High school was my athletic years. I had played soccer, danced on the Dance Team, and was a part of the track team! I ran the 800 (twice around), the 4x8 (twice around with a relay team), and occasionally the 2 mile (8 times around!) I figured that I had trained with the distance team so I knew I could gain that muscle back and could accomplish a 5k, which is a little farther than 3 miles. This was never a dream of mine, but I needed to bring some excitement into my life. And I am SO happy I made it a dream!

I trained for about 3 months. I went online to find tips and a workout plan. I felt strong and healthy and was starting to realize more benefits than just instant gratification. This was turning into so much more than changing my mundane life. It was hard, and I struggled on a lot of days. However I kept going, I didn't want to add failing to my dream check list! I found a support system who could keep pushing me on the days I couldn't push myself. 

And that gloomy August morning I ran and I ran and I ran! The adrenaline pumped through my veins and my pace was quicker than I planned. All I wanted to do was finish without walking. And that's what I did! 

Mid-run, posing for the picture! 

The feeling of accomplishment was invigorating. I was so proud of myself for setting a goal, working hard and never giving up, and finishing it with a smile! I received a medal at the end and that medal will always signify strength to me. I did something for myself; not to prove anything to someone or to win a spectacular prize. I did it to empower who I am. And that kind of goal or dream is irreplaceable!

How do you empower yourself? Comment below and maybe I'll add that to my list of dreams! 

Career Change Decisions

Remember when I told you that change is okay? Well I had to remind myself of this recently. A few months back I had created a specific plan with check-points and goals to reach my dream of owning my own clothing store. At the end of February, I was at a turning point. I had planned to make a career change to allow myself more time for school and to further educate myself, through work, on the retail business.

After reviewing my budget with a job offer in consideration, I realized that I needed to change my plan. Switching roles was not going to support me financially like I had previously thought. So I had to come up with a new plan. I am no longer planning to make this career change so that I can save enough money to start up my business sooner than anticipated!

However, this change did not come easy. I spent two days as an emotional wreck. I wrote about 5 different Pros and Cons lists as I flip-flopped with which decision to go with. I had conversations with family members and friends in hopes that their opinions could help me navigate the thoughts in my head. I was realizing that neither decision felt right but I couldn’t find option 3! So what I did was modify my options. I stripped them of any and all emotions and focused on the big picture.

It doesn't matter how you get there, as long as you get there!

I may not be 100% happy with my decision, but I am 100% about changing my plan. I know that this will be more beneficial for me and my business.

My advice for you:

Strip the decisions of any emotions. When you make your Pros and Cons list look at the items and figure out if your feelings are driving it. And I mean all emotions, good or bad. Look at the reality. This was the hardest part for me!

Modify the options. Try to adjust them so that they fit your big picture plan as best they can. My job offer did not provide enough compensation so all I did was ask if it was negotiable. Come to find out it was, they offered me more and they even offered me a different position that provided even more compensation than the second offer!

Talk it out. Present your decision to family and friends who can look at it from a different angle. They can provide their opinion and help you understand more Pros and Cons for your options. You’ll find incredible support by doing this. But remember, the decision is yours and yours alone. Do not let anyone else make it for you!

I know I’m going to have many more of these “forks-in the-roads” so I’m going to need to hear from you! How do you make extremely hard decisions? Comment below.

How Do YOU Succeed at School?

We know I found my weak spots which led me to returning to school. This January I started my first class towards completing a Small Business Management certificate offered through the University of California, Riverside. The class is called Human Resources Management; I’m about halfway through and I can feel the pressure! 

It’s been a few years since I have had to read a book, answer essay questions, and ace a quiz each week. I had forgotten how much time this takes. I had also forgotten how much focus it takes too. I have always lacked interest and dedication to my course work so taking this class online, where I have to hold myself accountable, is SO DIFFICULT!! 

Understanding the big picture is easy, but taking it day-by-day has proven to be hard for me. So what I have done is marked up my weekly calendar. I have been scheduling in my reading, essay writing, and quiz time. This way, my calendar holds me accountable (sort of). I also remind myself how much money I dropped on this class – that usually gets me motivated!

What do you do to motivate yourself?

This quarter for me is simple, one class that is online. But next quarter and the following I have more than one class and they will be online and in a classroom 56 miles from my house, over an hour drive! I fear that I will not succeed as well as I would like to. I need YOUR help and advice. How do you stay on track with your school work? What are your best study tips? 

Comment, Comment, Comment! 

How I Got To Study Abroad

Traveling the world is on the list of dreams for A LOT of people. I’ve been fortunate enough to do some. But there was a certain type of traveling that was very important to me and that was studying abroad. My sister spent a semester in Denmark and described her experience as life changing. So I knew that I had to study in another country, whatever one it may be.

When the time came in my college career I went to the study abroad office and fairs for as much information as possible. I ended up deciding I had to go to South Africa. I had been involved with the ONE campaign and had a large curiosity surrounding the HIV/AIDs epidemic therefore South Africa seemed like a great choice. And on top of that, I figured at some point in my life I would make it over to Europe so I didn’t NEED to go there. I also wanted something very different from my county and culture. Again, South Africa was the best choice.

I ended up choosing the AIFS program to study at Stellenbosch University – this is the best decision I have ever made in my life!

It wasn’t easy getting there though…

There were two major obstacles I had to overcome. First, I had to apply and get accepted into the program. And second, I had to pay for the trip.

I applied to the program for Spring semester, apparently this was the more difficult semester to get into. I was rejected. With my devastation I fought back. I spoke with mentors and teachers and perfected my second application for the following semester. There was no way they could keep me from going to South Africa! And they didn’t – with a bit more focus and help I was accepted. (Everything happens for a reason, right?!) Now with the application process out of the way I needed to figure out a plan to pay for this extravagant semester. I worked with my school about getting scholarships and grants. There were only a few I qualified for but of course I applied to one. Unfortunately, I was rejected. I had spent so much time on this application for nothing. I was starting to think that this trip was doomed! Clearly the universe was trying to tell me not to go. But, because my mentor saw how passionately I felt about going she worked some magic and created a scholarship for me. She reached out to Chapman Trustees and found someone to support me. I then became a Henley International Scholar.

We made it!

Passion got me to South Africa! And that’s all you need for your dreams as well. Let your passion drive you and let it plow through any obstacle you find! A bit more realistically, work with your school's study abroad office, scholarship department, or a professor from your major (if your semester abroad is related).

Where is your dream travel destination? Comment below and tell me why you HAVE to go! 

Find an Outlet for Your Passions

A big part of reaching your dreams is finding a way to incorporate your passions into your day-to-day life. We all feel like there are not enough hours in the day but honestly…

You have the same amount of hours in a day as Beyoncé!

I took this into consideration and went searching for a way to embrace my passions and to find the time. I discovered I AM THAT GIRL: a community, a support system, and a movement inspiring girls to LOVE, EXPRESS, and BE who they are. This nonprofit’s mission was exactly my own. It seemed like the perfect organization for me to get involved with while I am filling in my weak spots for my business venture.  So I took the next step and created a local chapter, I AM THAT GIRL: North Orange County. I have created a safe place for myself and others to be exactly who they want to be without judgment. The best part is that I can use my passion to fuel our meetings and I get to schedule the meetings around my time. I have found an outlet that is flexible and can absolutely fit into my every-day life . Now that I have I AM THAT GIRL, my day-to-day feels like I’m living a DREAM!  

So how do you find your outlet?

1. Fly Solo

Pick up your local newspaper or visit their website and search for events related to your passion. You can also find events in the local magazines, coffee shops and smoothie spots always have those. Once you have found an event, mark your calendar and tell all your friends and family that you’re busy. You need to attend this event ALONE. Going by yourself means distraction free and you can be yourself without worrying what your friends might think. Also, you don’t have to worry about not making any new friends because you already know you have something in common!

2. #Hashtag

Use Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to search hashtags related to your passions. You’ll find events and people all over who love what you love. Instagram is a huge marketing tool these days so you can find events, books, movies, stores, anything you can imagine. (I discovered IATG on Instagram from a hashtag that Sophia Bush always used). Twitter is also a great place for people to voice their opinion and share news; this can help you find current events happening NOW that you can get involved in! Social media is great for voicing your opinion and sharing your passions with people all over the world, so look for them!

Once you have found this new network of people, so many doors will open. You’ll find new information to devour and new ways to directly get involved. Your day-to-day lifestyle will change once you surround yourself with people who share the same passion.

It’s all about who you know, right?!

Leave a comment below and let me know what hashtags you searched? Maybe I can guess what your passions are!

Change is Okay

As you may have figured out, I had wanted to be a Fashion Design/Costume Designer in the past. I traveled to California to be in the middle of that industry and learn the trade. I had a fabulous year at school, I designed and created clothes, learned about the history of Fashion, and took multiple art classes. I was doing everything in my power to reach that goal, that dream job of mine. During that journey I made WONDERFUL friends. And some of these friends encouraged me to join the Associated Student Government. I had never done anything like that before but because it was a small school and they were going to join as well, I thought ‘why not’!

I had always enjoyed helping others and giving back and this opportunity helped me express that. One of the changes we made at Woodbury University was bringing in ceramic dishes and metal silverware to the cafeteria to eliminate the use of plastic and styrofoam. I felt like we had really made a positive impact for our environment. In addition, we held an event with teachers and board members open to questions directly from the students. We wanted to bridge the gap between the two and give the students a voice to improve the school’s campus and general education program. Being a part of something that was actually making a difference made me realize how important that was to me.

Now for my “Quarter Life Crisis” – my world had changed. I was confused about that dream I had wanted for SO long. It was no longer as clear as it used to be, I wasn't sure if that was the dream I wanted to catch. At this point, I was looking into transferring schools, moving across the country, and changing my major. I wasn't sure what I wanted anymore but knew that the Fashion Industry might not be what I needed. It was an extremely difficult and emotional time. I can remember a day, back at home in Massachusetts when I received the 5^th rejection letter from a transfer school. There was only one more school I needed to hear from and if that was a rejection too, I was going to be stuck going back to Woodbury. I freaked out, cursed in front of my parents, ran outside to sit on our porch swing, and let the rain fall on me. I sat and cried for a long time in the pouring rain. I just did not know what I wanted – there was no clear dream to chase.

Keep your head up and keep moving forward!

The lesson I learned from this was that dreams do change, and it’s okay. You may put a lot of time, money, and effort into a certain goal but if it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be! Learn from your actions, be proud of your devotion, and move on to the next. We grow every day and so will our goals – just never stop reaching! One may end and the other might not be there waiting but look for it anyways. Take time to adjust and make yourself happy. Do things for yourself, and while doing that, it’ll be clear what dream you need to catch next.

The First Step Towards Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship - the process of starting your own business. It is risky, ballsy, dangerous, and all those other synonyms! But it can also be very rewarding; this is usually the reason why one takes the leap. 

I’m taking the leap because just about every time I talk about negative self-esteem in young girls, I cry. A mentor of mine tells me that those tears are my passion.

As mentioned in a previous post, How I Discovered My Latest Dream, I told you that I want to open my own boutique with a focus on providing young girls with tools to build a positive self-esteem. So as a recent graduate, working as an Administrative Assistant to pay my horrendous bills, what am I supposed to do?! How do I even start the process of opening up a store? 

Find your Weak Spots!

I started to think generally about what it means to open and maintain a boutique. I realized that I absolutely needed to learn about Business – management, accounting, legal forms, etc. I also realized that I needed to learn more about the Fashion part – buying, merchandising, etc. So what’s the best way to learn, go to school!! I mean that’s what I’ve done for the past 23 years, of course that’s the easiest way to learn something new.

And that’s exactly what I did. This is where I can turn my weak spots into strengths. The first class that was offered at a local college, at night after my full-time job was Retail Store Management. How perfect does that sound? Well it wasn't perfect at all. The department worked the system so that this course could actually be about E-Commerce, online shopping to make it simple. That sounds like a really great trade to know; however I do not have any plans to create an online store for my boutique (for now). But I stuck it out at the first class to hear what the teacher had to say and to get an idea of what I might learn. 

What did I learn, EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON

I stayed in the course because the teacher had a lot of Industry experience and currently works at True Religion. I learned a lot of great things, including how to start and run and online store. I have firsthand experience with industry platforms such as Shopify, Magento, and Demandware. I also found myself walking out of every class with so much energy and drive. Each class there was something that was said or learned that justified my dream; opening up a boutique is EXACTLY what I am supposed to do. I was meant to be in this class so I can get that boost of energy. Early in the stages of entrepreneurship it's hard, the work can be tedious and slow, waiting around can be discouraging. And that’s what this class has helped me with. Not only do I have new skills but I have even more DRIVE to catch this dream!

I’m sure many of you will try entrepreneurship; my recommendation is to find your weak spots and make them your strengths. And know that there might be another story to be heard with every opportunity you experience.   

I want to hear about your business dreams, what kind of business do you want to own? Comment below.