A big WHY for taking Style Power on Tour, aside from getting the reach of the Style Power message out there in a much bigger way, was to practice the art of letting go.

It was also about tuning in. Trusting myself.

Simply trusting.

This Friday is actually U*styled’s 6 year anniversary.

6 years ago, August 15th 2008, was my last day at BCBG.

People have told me that I’m brave or courageous for taking that leap. There is truth to that, but at the time, it was also that I was simply naive.

It was also what I knew I HAD to do. I couldn’t tell you why it was or how I knew, but I KNEW.

What I know now is that I had a LOT to learn.

About myself, about mindset, about marketing, about my clients, about systems, about building a team and certainly about money.

So, my business wasn’t a roaring success when I first started. I built my first website and thought ‘if I build it, they will come.’

Well, that didn’t happen.

But I kept going. And I had my first client. And then my second. And then my third.

And they were all ideal. Somehow, miraculously in spite of myself, I attracted ideal clients from the very beginning.

However, they were all spaced out with lots of lag time in between, so those were some lean times.

But I still knew in my heart that this was my path I was meant to follow.

So, I kept digging in – to myself, my business, and my marketing.

I also worked on the side. For the first 4 years in business, I had part time jobs that helped me get through, month to month.

It hurt my ego at first – why couldn’t I make this work?

And I had a lot of shame around it for that very same reason. I didn’t tell anyone but my family and close friends.

Now I see that part time job was a tool. It was how committed I was to making this business work. Not for my sake, but for yours and for the millions of women we will reach.

Eventually I also realized that this part time job was such a blessing. It gave me stability so I could focus on slowly, organically growing my business. So if I needed to pivot, I could easily. If I made a mistake or some new lesson came up, the expense of learning it was on a much smaller scale.

Sometimes you have to slow down to speed up.

Now that momentum is building with Ustyled and I prepare to take some bold moves to grow the business and reach more women, I am re-learning that lesson.

It’s so exciting to see women really responding to the message of Style Power. And to see my clients continue to step into their power. To witness their personal and professional success. To watch them shine.

We may be working with style and clothes, but it’s about so much more.

So, I could keep go-go-going. It’s always been my nature.

Fortunately, after 6 years in business, which is essentially the BEST course in personal development there is, I know myself well enough to make sure I take time to slow down.

I’ve created systems for myself to ensure that I slow down, even when I’m incredibly busy. I have to.

I’ve fought anxiety all my life and when I’m go-go-going (aka pushing), I can feel my chest tighten up and my breath shorten.

So, I have to slow down. I get out into nature, move my body and focus on my breath.

I’m not ashamed of my anxiety (anymore) because I now realize it’s a tool. It tells me when I have to slow down, get back into my body and focus on my purpose. It also tells me when there is something not working that I have to address.

My best tool for addressing the anxiety + challenge? A walk in nature. Essentially, a moving meditation. So I can appreciate the beauty around me. Be inspired or in spirit.

Sometimes you have to slow down to speed up.

And a break for a hike or a walk in the middle of the day is the perfect slow down to speed up tool.

The solutions come to me naturally. Opportunities open up that are even more than I could have imagined. I create effortlessly.

For instance, ‘Style Power on Tour’ has been amazing and successful since June, but nothing was quite coming together for the upcoming planned visits in Raleigh or Charlotte.

Rather than beat myself up for it not being a successful tour stop, I tuned in.

And then I realized I was wiped. I didn’t want to force a trip to either city just because. I needed to slow down. I had to let go and trust that stopping for a moment is actually what I need right now.

‘But I could do this and connect with her and I could explore here.’ – the chatter in my head

Yes, but not now. Now, I must slow down. Then, I can speed up.

So many great things happened for Ustyled in these last three weeks, that I needed to integrate.

So, here I am in Chicago a few days early. A bit of extra family time.

And more time to focus on these next bold steps for Ustyled.

I’ll make it to Charlotte and Raleigh, but not this time. And that’s OK.

 

If you’re an achiever with big dreams and ambitions like I am, it can be hard to allow yourself to slow down.

 

So let me give you permission. What it will open up for you will be amazing. Just trust.