Conquering the Runway of Life

From the front row of the Charleston Fashion Week runway, there is a contagious buzz in the air. You can feel momentum brewing for this week of fashion. On opening night, six semi-finalists have “won” their spot; that precious 10 minutes of showing their ideas to the audience. This audience filled with media, other fashion designers, store owners—any of which can change the career direction of these six hopefuls with one phone call, one write up, one simple order. Then, BAM! A hopeful young designer has a business.

WHOA! A Business. That is the goal, right? I pause to think of these creative, hopeful souls. They’ve just spent days, months, and countless late nights tapping into their creativity, technique, and execution. I think, WOW! What an experience, to have that moment of glory…the applause, the possibility. I couldn’t help but think, what separates the success stories from the one-minute wonders?

Here are three ways to steer any new direction in life, whether you are on the runway at Charleston Fashion Week, considering a new career direction, or simply looking to get more out of your current situation:

Get Clear! Write down a specific and measurable goal. Brainstorm what you want to take away from each conversation, from each interaction. Do you know what you hope to accomplish? Do you dream of being the next Marc Jacobs? Do you want to expand your customer base? Your actions will vary based on what you want to accomplish.

When you are clear, set an intention and think of it often. Think of your intention as the vehicle that will guide you to your goals. Your intention is bigger than a goal. It’s a purpose…a passion….It’s the “why” behind “why you are here.” Your goal may be 5 new customers, but your intention might be “to design wearable fashion that inspires women to embrace their self esteem, and feel confident and prepared to change the world.” We will all face some sort of rejection, but when you know you’re “why” the rejection will not matter, and you will attract those who ARE supporting your intention.

Be Courageous! When you are charting new territory, chances are, you are not going to feel comfortable. You are going to be in new places, with new people, and new feelings. No one reaches a new place with out embracing change. If you want something different, you have to be comfortable DOING something different. So, when you find yourself saying “I don’t know.” Shift that to “I don’t know, but I’m brave enough to find out!”

Get into Action! Momentum will serve you well.  Choose a target in your business or in your life and list five action steps that get you closer to that goal.  You will be amazed at how quickly life shifts when you set it in motion. 

Yoga tip: want find more courage? Do a pose you’ve never done before, like handstand, or headstand. Challenge yourself to be afraid, and see what that feels like. And know that you are ok. When you accept a simple challenge on the mat, your brain gets a little message “ah ha, you CAN handle scary situations” then your runway of life will be a little more manageable.