Entrepreneuress 101: what I have learned in 7 years of being a #girlboss

It was September 2009 when I took the leap and launched this blog, my baby. I was working full time at an art gallery and just one day decided to launch it. It made absolutely no sense to be honest, but I knew deeply in my heart that I had something to share, something more to say and a passion for interiors that I wanted so desperately to dive more into. Within 6 months, it grew to being recognized by thousands of readers and from there, it grew to a full time business. 

As I celebrate the 7 year anniversary of TheDecorista.com, I'm most proud of the magnitude of the faith I had on my journey. As this career path was pretty much unchartered territory, I couldn’t even grasp the sense of what I was actually experiencing. I really didn't have a set plan, In some ways it seems like there was a guardian angel guiding me all along the way. I’m thankful for what I knew and for everything I didn’t know about this path, because It was the passionate quest to learn more, absolute faith in God and a desire to grow and expand that led me to where I am today. Looking back, each roadblock, detour, and intersection seems like it was exactly where I was supposed to be at that time. 

a shot from my career interview on the everygirl

Along this path I've learned so much and because of that I have been led to share, I have spoken on panels, participated in interviews, given lectures, etc. The experience of Solo-preneurship is so amazingly awesome, yet much more than I can share in just one conversation. Which is why over the years I have created my E-course, Unleash Your Ista, which details each and every shortcut and strategy I have used and/or learned from others who have mentored me. I have created several E-books like Secrets of Style Blogging Success, The Paid Decorator and The Passionista Playbook which explain different aspects and tips for building a strong brand. 

Throughout the 7 years, my spiritual path has grown right alongside my business and in many ways they have become intertwined. I've always been tapped into my spirit and have grown to have such a deep connection now, I feel more inspired than ever. Over the Summer, I paved a way for my love of entrepreneurship, my community of inspiring people and my personal spiritual path to all come together with the launch of my E-mag ISTA MAGAZINE. The best part of it all for me is the realization that the journey never really ends, it actually feels like its still just beginning. Just when you feel like you've done all you could possibly do, a new wave of inspiration just pours over you. The journey Is what you make it, we have full control. 

 When you are on the right path, doors will open and it won’t feel like struggle. 

 Each and every day when on the journey of solo-preneurship, its a completely different day. You try things and you succeed or fail, doors open or close and you may even have days where you feel like you want to give it all up. It's about how you roll with the waves. How do you look at things? If a door closes, will you give it all up or will you go another direction? When a door opens, will you take the opportunity or will fear and doubt hold you back? It's important to practice wisdom, patience and have unwavering faith. 

Here is how I know I am on the right path for me: I'm having a blast! When I am feeling lit up, inspired, ideas and creativity are flowing through me. This is how I know I am on the right path for me. It shouldn't be a struggle to be doing what you are meant to. It's should be easy and if it isn't you should simply try a different route. 

Your success isn't meant to look like anybody else's. 

Believe me, I know how hard it is to see other people's path to success and want to follow it so you too, can achieve what they have. It's just NOT the right way to go. Your path is your own and should look unique to you, that's how you will know its real. You can have faith that it's meant for you when it is completely catered to who you are and your personality. No one will understand you like you can and you have to be okay with that. Your life and success is precious and its yours, treat it like the beautiful pearl that it is. 

Don't be a hater. 

It's important not to judge anybody else, especially because you don't want to be judged. Most importantly, don't judge yourself for where you are or where you are not. Stay fired up for yourself and fired up for others no matter how hard it is. I have had my fair share of haters, people who copy my ideas and work and call it their own, people who judge my intentions and challenge my integrity. Just give those people space, take a break from them if you need to. 

One caveat, I don't really encourage the attitude or the mean girl mentality that doesn't care about anybody else. Practice kindness to your haters, be easy on them and allow them to be themselves. Just don't go to that level, don't hate back. When you allow others to be who they are, you also subconsciously give yourself permission to be who you are. It's a spiritual practice that allows you to be more at peace and lets the floodgates of your individual creativity to flow to and through you. 

All it takes is a commitment to living the life that you desire. 

I have learned, and I believe it is the most important thing, that this all requires strong COMMITMENT. Commitment to the journey, commitment to being your best self and commitment to the life that you want to lead, the person that you want to be. You have to be 100% committed in every way. In the first few months of my blog, I believe that the success of it was due to my commitment. I was going to make it a success no matter what it took. I wrote 2-3 blog posts a day, I answered every comment, read every email, replied to every question and tweet and I had a relationship and full time job. I was having a blast and I was committed to making it happen. You have to be committed to the lifestyle that you want to lead. 

Do you know what kind of life you want to lead? If so, click here.

Entrepreneuress 101: 5 simple ways to find your back to school groove

Man, I am feeling so good. I can't tell you how much I just live for Fall. I've never been a huge Summer lover, the hot weather at the end of Summer always drains me. I love cooler air and the freshness that the season brings. Doesn't it always feels like you get a fresh start at almost everything when Fall comes around?

 Being an entrepreneuress, I feel like I have a never ending workday. Sometimes I sit at my desk until midnight coming up with new schemes and ideas. My work seems to pile up but the Fall weather just makes this so much easier with the earlier nights, ability to finally light the fireplace and drink hot tea. There is something about those delights that just make me so happy and brings an ease to my work load. 

I often like to read at night, when not watching Netflix and right now I am so into Damages. I just can't stop. In one of the articles, I came across this cute little graphic and it just struck me in such a way that I had to stop and really re-think about how I spend my time. I decided to print this baby out and frame it right in front of me on my desk in a glam little frame. 

This sweet little graphic absolutely rocked my world. It got me to get up the other morning and get ready for a kick a** BACK TO SCHOOL season! After I completed my new morning routine, I felt such an air of confidence around the rest of my work day. I just felt an all over eagerness for a new way of working. A few of these really stuck out to me and I will list them for you so if you want, you can try them too. 

1. LET GO OF PERFECTIONISM: I sometimes can be a little OCD, like if I mess up a word when I'm writing my TO DO list, I will tear out the page and do it again. In my planner, when things start looking a little too messy, I get myself an entire new calendar. A little dramatic I know but its just how I roll. Then I thought about this idea of "perfectionism" and I just decided, I am letting it go. Which got me on a roll pinteresting images from the planner community and I am not the only one with a sort of scribbly planner. I am obsessed with my planner, you can get one like mine here. I got my LV planner pre-loved, they didn't have any in stock at the time. These are HOT items. I think if I sold mine now, I could get more than I paid for it. Just saying, its a good investment for sure.

LESSON: Get yourself a rockin' planner that inspires you, schedule out your days so you feel on TOP of your game, become obsessed with @gritandglamour LV agenda collection like I am and LET GO of the need for it to be perfect or look the way you think its supposed to. 

2. PURGE YOUR BELONGINGS: Okay, so I have this thing with pens. I've been obsessed with school supplies since I was like 5 years old. I absolutely love colored pens, gel pens, sharpees, highlighters, etc. I think I had about 35 pens sitting on my desk in a pretty little vintage cup. I tossed them. All of them. Almost, except for the pretty colored ones, I just can't lose those babies. Once I did that, I kept going. Business cards that I have held onto for so long just incase, tossed em. I even threw out some of my favorite magazines. With each tossed item, I kind of garnered this sense of power and strength, like I could literally do anything. I don't know what it is for me, I can clear out the clutter of my home but of my business, I tend to hold onto a LOT. I never realized this before but once I threw the pens out, a whole world opened up for me. I GET TO BUY NEW PENS. This time, they are all going to match and look so chic. I just felt so revived and refreshed. Excited for my new school/work supply shopping.

LESSON: Curate your supply wardrobe like you would your closet. Make it chic so you get that burst of excitement you've been needing. 

3. MOVE CLOSER TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE: Let's get real ladies, where do you want to be? Who would you be if you were being your best self? Are you doing it? If not, now is the time to create the vision of who you want to be! The thing we have to do is get on the BE, DO, HAVE method. You've got to act like you already have what it is that you want to HAVE. Here's an example. If you want to HAVE a dancers body, you have to first BECOME who you need to be for that dancers body. In order to BE, you have to DO. You do the things that it takes to BE a woman who has a dancers body. You take dance classes like crazy. You become friends with other girls who love dance and are on that same path. You watch dance documentaries and shop at dancers clothing shops, etc. You live and breathe dancers body. IS THIS MAKING SENSE TO YOU? Insert whatever it is that you want to have and take the necessary steps. 

LESSON: Here is ONE way to stay focused on your particular goal. Make a new vision board of where and who you want to be. Paint the picture for yourself, put it up by your desk to keep you inspired and on your path! 

4. WEAR MINIMALIST CLOTHES: Being a New Yorker, you get really used to wearing black and keeping things clean and simple. That's how the most successful do it. When you streamline a chic wardrobe down to a capsule collection of your most favorite things for Fall, you aren't spending money all over the place for the moments when you don't know what to wear. If you need, hire a stylist or read this article on creating a capsule wardrobe. I'm currently curating mine now and I have got to tell you, I can't wait to set up my situation. 

LESSON: Stick to the basics and splurge on a few of your dream items. Get your capsule wardrobe together and plan your Fall outfits ASAP! Then show it off for Instagram and you will be feeling so good about yourself. 

5. RUN SLOWLY, YOU'LL GET THERE FASTER: Well, I don't really encourage running slowly or even running at all but what I did take from this was to slow down at everything. With the TO DO lists for Fall slowly getting longer and longer it can really seem like we are moving on all cylinders. What happens when we do things super fast (especially when Mercury is in retrograde like it is right now), we tend to miss things like deadlines, missed emails, wrong numbers, etc. For me, playing relaxing music helps me while I work. Remember to focus on slowing down and breathing. Connect with yourself and intuition and give each and every task 100 percent focus. Don't eat and work. 

LESSON: Do things slowly and intentionally. You'll get them done right the first time around and you will be feeling like a BOSS! 

images via: @thedesignco | @gritandglamour | Tumblr