Make Your Own Job

I hope none of you has had a rougher go of it than I have.  In the past twelve months, I have gone through a divorce, had to split custody with my ex, move twice, close a business (which included having to let go my own sister and an extremely dedicated employee who was like a sister to me), and deal with debt problems.  The business I closed was what I once thought was my ultimate dream.  I founded and ran a regional publication called Scoop.  It was successful, but it fell on hard times at about the same time that I, personally, fell on hard times and something had to give.  I had to call it quits.

But instead of looking at it as a failure or as if that was the most successful and fulfilled I would ever be, I looked at like this: if I can do that, what more can I do?  What bigger dreams can I accomplish?  It's time to shoot even higher, not settle for less.  So, I'm going after something even more improbable.  I know nothing of the apparel industry, other than I know good quality and I know trends.  I'm launching a line of clothing.  There.  I said it.  It's out there.  I'm doing this.

In this blog, I'll be recording my triumphs and setbacks.  I'd love your feedback on my designs, my ideas, my marketing strategies, etc.  Or maybe you're attempting a similar venture.  I've read a lot about this and I've talked to a lot of people.  Maybe I can help you.  Maybe we can help each other.

This is my new life as a single mom, an entrepreneur and debt-strapped designer.  It's challenging and worrisome, but strangely, I'm incredibly happy.

Stay tuned.

--Melanie