One week after finishing my eight year teaching career in Las Vegas, NV, I was sitting at my new office (the pool) working on my new venture. I decided to write a business plan in the hopes of launching my own fashion styling business. However, I hit a wall. My research and logical brain kept coming up short in terms of profitability. How could I support myself in this business? Was this something people actually do? So, I put my laptop away and attended to my other venture… the perfect tan.
Fast forward one week, I saw an Instagram post by The International Style Institute offering a free ticket to a 3 day fashion styling course taught by celebrity stylist, Anita Patricikson.
Naturally, I entered… And wouldn’t you know… I won! I couldn’t believe it! Initially, I wasn’t sure what kind of course I had won, so after a bit of research, I learned this course would teach attendees, among other things, ‘how to become a stylist.’ I realized this was more than a coincidence as my current business planning, strategizing, and writing had hit a wall, balked, stalled, froze, and every other sports metaphor that explains what happens when an athlete hesitates or can no longer move in a forward direction. I decided this course might be worth the effort to attend, even if it was over 2,000 miles away in Manhattan and started in less than 24 hours!
Luckily, my sister and brother-in-law lived in Hoboken, NJ at the time and were kind enough to house me for the weekend, I found a pretty good flight, considering I booked the day of… confirmed my attendance with The International Style Institute, packed my bag, and I was off! But really, who says no to spontaneous adventures?!
After one red eye flight across the country, a quick refresh and change of clothes in the airport bathroom, a subway ride, and a four block walk…I arrived at One World Trade Center for my weekend of styling education!
I met successful stylists with thriving businesses ready to share their tips to success, received a ‘guidebook for stylists’ written by Anita Patricikson created exclusively for the seminar, and styled a model from head to toe at the legendary Conde Nast floor of One World Trade Center. To top it off, professional photographers catalogued our efforts to add to our portfolios.
Throughout the weekend, I kept looking around while asking myself if it was all real. Amazed at the opportunity, my good luck, what I was learning, and most importantly…more and more convinced that my personal styling business could become a reality.
“When the path reveals itself, follow it!” – Cheryl Strayed
I think the weekend was a mix of both fate and coincidence. What do you think? I’d love to hear from you!
