My Pile of New Belts, I love MADRAS!
On my snow day, Wednesday, I was shoveling and thinking, who wants the easy way out? If I didn’t have a challenge standing before me regarding achieving my business dream, what would I have at all? I know I am grateful for having self confidence, curiosity, a supportive family, and smart, good friends. At times I can become focused on what I haven’t accomplished yet with my business, but that doesn’t do any good! I have even been known to be envious of other women who’s husbands fund their ventures, but for real, from the bottom of my heart, I have to say now I wouldn’t have it any other way! I never in a million years thought I would come to that conclusion, but there is a lot to be said for being “self-made” for going through it all, learning, and enjoying the journey. I am enjoying it so much now, especially because I have taken a major step in educating myself about “business”.
I am more the creative force behind the brand, make the product and do literally everything right now, and it is invaluable, tiring, but stimulating! My second class at SCORE Norwalk kicked major a$$! It was lively, engaging, and informative. I also signed up to work with a mentor and am excited to find out who they pair me with now. Mr. York told me that his mother in law had a similar business to mine in the 60s which is neat. Maybe I can go talk to her sometime and get some wisdom. All I know is that I get a steady stream of phone calls from clients telling me they love my belts, they want more large, they want more men’s, they want to sell them, they want to carry them in their stores, and that used to frustrate me because I knew I couldn’t fulfill all their desires, but now that I am on the road to growing it, I feel much happier for those calls. I used to feel overwhelmed when customers would come into my tent and say you should do this, that and the other thing, and I would say, “Yes, I know, but I am one girl with a sewing machine.”
I had a great time talking with my friend Sue S. as well. She is taking the classes as well. She is a seasoned business woman who has a fresh perspective! It’s super fun to have something to be passionate about and I urge you, if you don’t have anything, try to think of something you can do for yourself or grow into a business. It is like the hardest puzzle or game you could conquer. It is not for everyone, but it sure is fun! You will have to go without, you will have to live smaller than you think, but you have purpose.
With that being said, I got a big pile of madras fabric to sew up, and I am pretty excited because it is great for men too! I will be making some larges too! YAY! Bring it on weekend, I have a lot to do and am grateful. www.olivergreenonline.com
If I had my own apparel label, I would be making harem jeans left and right! I found them on All Saints, but some elements I don’t like, and would change! I want a pair to wear with cute black combat boots, and tight cute tee shirt and of course a great belt. An oliver green belt, non leather, the new one I am making that looks like WOOD! Yes, wood!
