Seeking Shelter From The Storm

SEEKING SHELTER FROM THE STORM

Dear Diary,

As I sit here sipping my morning java after an eventful day of grueling communication, I'm taking a moment to reflect. While I am sickened by the erratic and unprofessional behaviors by some women in business, I'm forced to believe life is simply prepping me for what is to come. As I digest and breakdown the fuel that once motivated me to be "The Best" at what I do, the window of opportunity feels more like a door to a dark and dreary swamp where condescending, irrational, obtuse and ruthless women reside-- ready, willing and able to rip her fellow sister to shreds and drown them in a sea of insults. I find myself swimming to the top desperately awaiting to catch my breath.

The sun beats down on my face as I stand before the fear and insecurity that lives inside a troubled woman trying to get ahead, until I become baffled by her spearhead that feels like a xenoestrogen poison disrupting the equilibrium of my frail frame, until I'm jolted back to reality and think, "Would she treat a MAN like this?" A businessman would never put up with this shit. 

How much crap from our fellow businesswoman colleagues are we willing to put up with? And are these so called "women business leaders" climbing the ladder just another round of watered down cheap cocktails keeping our heads spinning; only to leave us stumbling to the kitchen for that unhealthy midnight snack, a stomach-churning hangover, and a few less bucks in our wallets? That toxic hangover is incredibly intense; so intense that praying to the porcelain Gods sounds like more fun and less painful than the ridicule and abuse of the fear-driven woman entrepreneur. I just might need to embrace the sober life, for if I don't it just might kill me and my dreams.

“That toxic hangover is incredibly intense; so intense that praying to the porcelain Gods sounds like more fun and less painful than the ridicule and abuse of the fear-driven woman entrepreneur. ”

She says she's already SO successful, but there appears to be a convenient dash of dishonesty enlodged in her story. In fact, this slew of egotistical women are ready to draw blood with their cat claws in this trivial game of pussycat and mouse on a virtual playground that's leaving war wounds on my spirit. A prideful email, a harsh tone, a narcissistic-- even patronizing selection of words that showcases her desire for superiority can speed up any woman's heartbeat, even lead her to tears when she is the target of another woman's fear... 

A Word On Sensitivity.

Let's face it, I'm sensitive. My feelings get hurt just like the rest of us and I'll even raise my hand high and admit my feelings probably get hurt more frequently than the average feminine leader out there, but I'm not a man nor am I a quitter. I'd like to see sensitivity as a gift (and not some it's-that-time-of-the-month slap in the face), yet with every gift there are its challenges.

sensitive |ˈsensitiv| adjective
quick to detect or respond to slight changes, signals, or influences

The ability to detect abuse of any kind is high on my barometer and it sends my internal seasons through an emotional tornado and like Bob Dylan says, I'm "seeking shelter from the storm." What I'm discovering is that shelter personified are actually beautifully wrapped friendships that protect the sanctuary from unruly weather.

“The ability to detect abuse of any kind is high on my barometer and it sends my internal seasons through an emotional tornado and like Bob Dylan says, I’m “seeking shelter from the storm.””

Friendship to me is what has kept me alive all these years, the backbone to my aspirations and my strength when the going gets ugly. I can't count on all my toes and fingers how many times a true friend has picked me up, dusted me off, and showed me how incredible I am at my job. In fact, they are the roots that continue to help nurture the growth of Holistic Fashionista, for without them, this horticulturist behind the brand slowly decays from the side effects of sensitivity. I know, I am her.

Am I proud to be sensitive, probably not. Is it a gift? Perhaps. Do I know there is a greater understanding behind the chaos that lives inside a sensitive soul? Absolutely. That understanding is friendship. Good old fashioned, stick-with-you-to-the-end, loyal confidante who won't judge you, won't abandon you, won't speak to you like a condescending bitch. Instead she will help you see the magic and lessons that are presented before you paving the path to your next great invention and the bigger roles awaiting behind that iron curtain.

Yesterday I took the first step towards eliminating and uninviting drama into my sensitive world by choosing the hit the "Spam" button and proceeding quickly to empty the spam folder. Maybe it's just a a small step towards preserving my dreams, but it's a big step towards being a role model whom I would admire.

Love,

Angel

Photo Credit: Pinterest

The Curse of The Over-Achiever and Her Bright Shiny Objects

THE CURSE OF THE OVER-ACHIEVER AND HER BRIGHT SHINY OBJECTS

Dear Diary,

The Curse of The Over-Achiever

It's 4:57am, Friday morning and I'll be honest-- it's be a tough week. Over the past 7 days I have been on a serious revamping extravaganza in my business, letting go of what no longer serves me and getting really clear about where to go from here. Running a business, being in the social media eye, and speaking on stage has taught me about what I truly want and what I definitely don't need more of. It's time to start cutting out the pieces and creating a future that has makes my heart sing.

Last Sunday I made an announcement that I will no longer be offering one on one coaching services effective August 1st, this includes my little baby called Signature System. This program has showed me so much about the clients I serve, which in turn has taught me loads about myself. Just last month, one of my clients coined me a Business Therapist and that got me thinking about my work in an entirely new light. Signature System is sorta like a therapy session; I even find myself putting my heels on the desk as I listen attentively to my client share her greatest strengths and struggles. I see her beauty and I also feel her pain. I'm sure this is a skill a licensed therapist must master; something I clearly do NOT have credentials in (nor have mastered for that matter) and that may just be where I fall flat.

I realize how overly invested I become in my clients business and want nothing more than to remove the pain that exists in their brand's foundation; provide tools that will help them succeed with the hopes that once Signature System has been achieved they will continue their journey towards building their online empire. But that's not always the case. People give up on their business or move on to the next bright shiny object. For me, that's a bit heartbreaking considering I just put a piece of my soul into that work. I suppose that is why Signature System has been a wild success. Touche´.

While I feel confident letting go of a coaching program that has been the heart and soul of what I do as an online business consultant, the time has come that I distance myself from one on one sessions so I can let go of the heartbreak. Having launched The Willow House of Design just a few weeks ago, a design+marketing house offering virtual courses; this business model comes with a very different kind of investment-- equally challenging, but very different nonetheless.

I pride myself in being a techie backend kinda gal and I know developers already know the anguish that lives behind the code; it can be painfully frustrating and time consuming! One semicolon out of place and the whole thing doesn't function properly. Talk about pulling out your hair-- but I'll take dealing with software and hardware problems over dealing with people's ego any ole day.

As I untangled some bugs in my new membership site at The Willow, you get to know what people are made of-- myself included. Even though I come with a steel tongue with close friends and immediate family, I surprise myself at how professional I am in situations where others simply are not. I'll pat myself on the back for that one, but that doesn't mean there isn't residual dust-off that need happens behind the scenes in order to keep my sanity. I do get hurt and maybe that's the problem with being a woman in business-- those little buggers called feelings. People can be nasty.

“It’s becoming clear that either way you look at it, you can’t escape the fact that business involves people, relationship-building, customer care, and working out the bugs. And just because you’re behind-the-scenes doesn’t mean all the problems disappears. Bummer.”

As I shake myself off and stand tall in my decisions, I'm wavering at what's next for me. I don't want the stage, the spotlight, fame or even some weird social media celebrity status; that's all completely unappetizing to me. My love for the behind-the-scenes work is teetering it's little head, but is that really the solution? Or is it simply MY bright shiny object-- whispering in my ear "If you do this you won't have to deal with anymore egos or get too emotional invested."  It's becoming clear that either way you look at it, you can't escape the fact that business involves people, relationship-building, customer care, and working out the bugs. And just because you're behind-the-scenes doesn't mean all the problems disappears. Bummer.

So I feel a bit sad this morning. One door is closing and another will eventually open, but with each new door I know there with be new problems to solve. Perhaps that is what business is-- solving one problem after another-- problems your clients need solved, bugs that need to be fixed in the backend, and well, the front of the house needs care too. And that's me. The over-achiever in me cannot help but to over-deliver, work hard, encourage others it's going to be alright, and you know what, even a deep tissue massage ain't gonna fix all that residual darkness that's collecting black dust all over my heart. It's as if I'm living in an attic constantly trying to shake the linens clean only to find after 30 rinses you can still smell the mothball that once kept it free from (ass)holes.

“The over-achiever in me cannot help but to over-deliver, work hard, encourage others it’s going to be alright, and you know what, even a deep tissue massage ain’t gonna fix all that residual darkness that collecting black dust all over my heart. ”

It's 6:13am and I don't have the answers. I'm not even going to try to rack my brain trying to find one either-- I know that's the job of the Universe not mine anyway. So I'm putting it out in the ether asking for a sign or a way to find a little peace and to hopefully inspire those who treat others unkindly to look in the mirror-- if you look hard enough you'll see those who stood before you in that email, in that private Facebook post, that telephone conversation, or that coaching call who truly cares about the success of your business and whom wanted nothing more than to give you the world.

For now... while I await patiently for the Universe to work its magic, I'll tighten up my terms + conditions and make it known to future clients (and to the Universe at large) that my company has a no-Asshole policy. I care too much to help those who disrespect me and my staff, don't think before they speak, and are careless with their communication style. Business is business, NOT a therapy session and I'm taking this one to heart.

Love,

Angel

Photo Credit: Tumblr

Before I Put On My Make-Up, I Say A Little Prayer for You

BEFORE I PUT ON MY MAKE-UP, I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER FOR YOU

Dear Diary,

Yesterday... all my troubles didn't seem so far away; they were right in front of me rearing their pretty little faces. Technical glitches, important decisions to be made, and a behavior I was forced to look at dead on. It's not easy to have the breath ripped from your lungs only to find yourself gasping for air in a noisy restaurant that leaves you in a panic. That's what happened to me last night.

I was starving. I hadn't gone grocery shopping in weeks. I needed my green juice and frozen strawberries. I was famished. While I was impatiently waiting for my How to Increase Traffic with SEO Vimeo presentation to finish converting, My husband came home early last night so we could go to dinner-- he pulled up front to grab me. I hate keeping people waiting, especially my clients, but I had to eat.

When we arrived at one of my favorite lunch spots, I had no idea they had become such a hot spot for dinner dining. I ordered a spring greens salad with an apple cider vinegar dressing, asparagus, radishes, and delicious butter lettuce and a teeny tiny coconut cupcake for dessert. As I waited anxiously for our food to reach the table, a noisy party of 8 sat behind us and let's just say they were having way too much fun!

Laughter like hyenas danced around the high ceilings creating echoes that were burning a whole in my soul, at least that's what it felt like. I plugged my ears. I wanted it to stop. My heart began racing faster as my starvation took over and flight or fright set in. I jumped out of my seat, leaving my husband at the table snacking on his food (mine was prepared incorrectly and sent back to the kitchen) as I ran outside to catch my breath and to get away from the hyenas that were killing me.

I hid in the corner near a little mid-century boutique where I had shopped with a girlfriend a few weeks prior. I tried to collect myself, but I was afraid to go back in. I didn't. I couldn't. Eventually, my husband came outside to look for me and asked if I was okay. I told him I wasn't and that I couldn't go back inside. So we grabbed a table outside to finish our meal.

“I couldn’t go inside. Was I becoming agoraphobic? Did I hate people? What the hell what the problem?”

With Vimeo in the back of my mind, I scarfed down my food and the luscious coconut bite-size cupcake and told my husband we desperately need to go grocery shopping. We can't live in a household without food. He agreed. As we finished our last bites, the feeling of panic didn't subside, the tears filled up my eyes and the thought of going to Trader Joe's froze me in my tracks. The thought of all those people shopping next to me left me feeling paralyzed. I couldn't go inside. Was I becoming agoraphobic? Did I hate people? What the hell what the problem?

And then I remembered those days of panic and anxiety attacks that once ruled my life just 5 years ago. I feared for my life. Fear that the oxygen will not be available and that my little heart would be so fast that one day it would just stop working. 

Instead of leaving Trader Joe's, I powered through it. I needed my vegetables, fruits, and healthy food to remedy this health crisis. I needed my chamomile tea! Food is what healed me those years behind me and it could heal me again.

Once we returned home, I went to my office and posted my Vimeo presentation that anxiously awaited hundreds of registered guests and off my newsletter went to complete my workday.

But the real work was not over. Important decisions were dangling in front of me, decisions that didn't involved food or loud noises. The decisions that were plaguing me, clouding my vision, and wearing my heart thin. Today, I am prepared to make those decisions and seal it with a Prayer.

When all is said and done, it is you I choose.

When the going gets tough, it is me I will choose.

When time is limited, it is for me I will choose, not you.

When it comes to work, it is you I choose.

When I'm unable to breathe, it is me I choose.

And when it's time to let go, it is now I will choose.

What makes me tick is researching and digging. My love for learning and sharing is what gets me jumping out of bed and onto the computer to explore what is unknown to me. It isn't about the spotlight or even the money. It is knowledge that keeps me invigorated, motivated, and inspired to help others. the only thing that holds me back is my inability to say No. Not Right Now. Some other time. Thanks, but No thanks.

Today, I am letting go of things that I need to say No to. Things I cannot do Right Now, things I need to say Thanks, but No thanks. It might have taken an annoying technical glitch and the wind knocked out of me to find what truly matters to me, but it's clear now.

• Having an ONLINE business 
   

• Researching + Sharing My Information with My CLIENTS
   

• Having a Stocked Fridge of HEALTHY FOODS
   

• Taking more time for MYSELF

For now, everything else is for some other time. Thanks, but no thanks.

Love,

Angel

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Before I Became Part of The Coaching Industry, I Was a Human

BEFORE I BECAME PART OF THE COACHING INDUSTRY,
I WAS A HUMAN

Dear Diary,

Before I became a coach, I was a human. 

In 2011 I was introduced to the coaching industry. I had no idea such an industry existed and was completely astonished to learn how people were making a living simply sharing their expertise. Sure, I had heard of Life Coaching, but an entire industry just for coaches? Call me naive, but that was really the extent of my knowledge.  I had to dig deeper. 

Almost instantly, I got sucked in and was drinking from the bottle of Kool-Aid. I was finishing up my certifications as a Nutritional Consultant and Holistic Health Practitioner, so it was only natural that coaching be introduced to my career path... I just had no idea to what degree it would consume my entrepreneurial aspirations.

Like many holistic practitioners, coaching is a natural career path to bringing your expertise to commerce and help others improve their health. I was ecstatic to learn more about how this coaching world worked and how I could benefit from coaching as a business model. However, the longer I stayed in the coaching industry, the more saturated I saw it become, and the more Life Coaching certification programs on the market seemed to increase exponentially. It was appalling to say the least, especially since the Life Coaches I knew could barely find enough clients to make ends meet, and now we're marketing more certification programs? It just seemed odd, but I kept drinking.

Before I became a coach, I used to think for myself.

The coaching industry quickly seduced me in that expensive-designer-sunglasses kind of way. It stared my right in the eye like the aisles of Saks Fifth Ave where everything looks and smells perfect, yet when you flip over the price tag your heart skips a beat. Before you know it, you're talking yourself into why you have to have those $500 Marni sunglasses that will pair famously well with that high-waisted American Apparel swimsuit you saw on Chictopia last week.

But unlike that fashion film playing in your head or on that Pinterest board you conveniently named // T O T A L L Y  O B S E S S E D //, coaching was swallowing my artistic abilities leaving me feeling constipated. But I wasn't about to let some pipe dream take away my love of creating, even if my coach at the time scolded me for revamping my website--for the 50th time. Thankfully, my inner rebel took over and I didn't listen to her. Nobody was going to tell ME what I can and cannot do. Period. I don't care if you are my "coach."

“The high felt so good until it wasn’t, and the new neural pathways forming in my brain quickly were yanked back to reality thanks to my street smarts who were telling me to get a grip! ”

While the coaching industry was opening my mind to new possibilities like those cucumber margaritas by the pool at The Viceroy blurring my vision, no one told me all that sugar was going to leave me stumbling drunk straight to the porcelain God himself. The high felt so good until it wasn't, and the new neural pathways forming in my brain quickly were yanked back to reality thanks to my street smarts who were telling me to get a grip! Sure the idea of making a living charging thousands of dollars for my expertise felt like a dream come true-- and like any entrepreneur, you're bound to entertain the idea as long as it's keeping you daydreaming about making money-- since you probably aren't making much of that yet-- that is, until you can't take the beating any longer.

Before I became a coach, I was an entrepreneur.

As ridiculous as the feeling felt at first, I stood proud in my new shoes as a coach. I wanted to learn everything about it! In fact, I became addicted to knowledge, to "the secret" information on how to build a six-figure business by sharing information and support with others, to the selling and purchasing of digital products, creating passive income streams--- it was hard not to fall in love and down the rabbit hole I went just like little Alice in Wonderland.

When I awoke from my slumber, and the vivid colors that once represented happiness like those days at Narnia, the math major in me decided to whipped out her calculator only to find I was missing $20,000! Okay, it wasn't missing, but I did miss the money I had spent on coaching!

Sure it was helpful information that appeared relevant-- if you're anything like me, you can learn something from even the trivialist of things. Until one day, I couldn't find anything new and I was craving for more! Coaching was a friend I took great pride getting to know intrinsically only to discover her soul was not as deep as I'd hope it was. Boo-hoo. Was that it? Should I get certified in something else? Should I buy another book or attend another seminar? What's a girl to do!

The Math Nerd in me was once fascinated by the "formulas" of the coaching industry, which kept me satiated all those years. There was a formula for everything, which kept the information feeling seductive, but was it merely foreplay without ever delivering the green orgasm? The more I saw a formula in her every move, the less interesting she became, and the more fraudulent she appeared in my eyes.

There was a formula for everything: writing a sales page, laying out a newsletter, where to put an opt-in box on your website (above the fold), how to build your mailing list, how to sell things to people, and a bunch of other lessons the coaching industry teaches if you want to be a successful coach... Hmmm.. then why are there so many unsuccessful coaches!?

The more I questioned these formulas and concepts, the more advertisements I saw for coaching certificates, affiliate programs for coaching programs, tele-summits to promote coaches, coaching conventions, and the word COACH taking over the world... It was no mystery why the coaching industry was thriving as a business model, but was it thriving for just a FEW select coaches? The majority of coaches I know are barely making ends meet; you had to wonder. And I had to get out. After all, I missed being REAL. I missed speaking my mind. I missed thinking for myself!

Just like that hot vegetarian doctor with that perfect smile who owns that beautiful mid century house up in the hills with just enough rooms for 2 children and a dog; if he's too good to be true, he probably is. 

Before I became a coach, I was an artist.

I used to think about how I would make a living doing what I love, pursuing my wildest talents whatever they be at that moment, and sharing my love for fashion, health, design, and business in the most creative way I kn0w how. I tried being a blogger, selling vintage clothes on Etsy, until one day I labeled myself a coach. It wasn't until I went against the grain and did what everyone said I couldn't do, that everything fell into place. I mixed and matched. I played by my own rules. I pissed some people off, and I started speaking my mind again! And I STOPPED calling myself a coach.

The people I work with are much more than a coach; they are artists, designers, healers, introverts, over-achievers, rebels, tastemakers, and visionaries. Coaching just happens to be one tool in their toolbox that becomes a valuable asset in their business, but it's not THE business or industry they are really in at all! They are in the health industry, the fashion industry, the internet industry, and so on.

The business you are in is helping others solve a problem with your product or service and being a damn good marketer. That's it. Even graphic designers and accountants use "coaching" in their work, but it's not the service they charge the big bucks for. It's their expertise and vision.

I'm an artist, a writer, a business consultant and if you ever decide to hire me to grow your business, you'll discover coaching is a relevant tool in my toolbox, but it's no where near the only tool. My clients come to me to help them build their online business, not to build their coaching business! I see things in them that are far more lucrative and sellable than just a coaching program.

As valuable as coaching truly is to our society, it can be integrated into any business model. If you've been in the coaching industry for a couple years and you're still wondering when your next client will arrive, you're not alone. There are more coaches struggling to find clients than there are "coaches" racking in the dough and that leaves me to wonder...  who is the coaching industry really making rich?

Would You Like a New + Improved
Approach to Building Your Online Business?

Love,

Angel

Photo Credit: Pinterest

If You Spit on Los Angeles, You're Spitting on Your Dreams

IF YOU SPIT ON LOS ANGELES, YOU'RE SPITTING ON YOUR DREAMS

Dear Diary,

On a fun-filled vacation to sunny Palm Springs with gal pals this past weekend, I knew there was bound to be deep conversations and incredible awakenings— that’s just how we roll. Over cocktails (actually, rose wine) and beautiful photography spreads found on the pages of the second issue of Porter magazine, I started to think about this teeny-tiny town that I call home—Los Angeles. I began analyzing what Los Angeles truly represents when something fascinating dawned on me.

Over the course of 18 months in business, Holistic Fashionista has taken some twists and turns, and throughout it all, it continues to strengthen and deepen like the ocean’s strong current; it might beat you up and tear up the soles of your feet on reef beneath you, but you take the beating anyway— the benefits are far too rich and healing.

“In a city where rules don’t apply and weirdness is totally accepted perhaps even praised, a big lightbulb in my head shined so bright I decided to let my mind wander into the depths that is Lala-land.”

In a city where rules don’t apply and weirdness is totally accepted perhaps even praised, a big lightbulb in my head shined so bright I decided to let my mind wander into the depths that is Lala-land. What is this place called Los Angeles and what does it have to do with Holistic Fashionista? It was a question I needed answered.

Los Angeles The City of Dreams

The first and most obvious is I live in Los Angeles; it is where Holistic Fashionista was born. I came to Los Angeles for the sunshine and to pursue a dream—  but it spit on me and taught me some valuable lessons, lessons I am forever grateful for. But like the ocean’s strong current and waves that rip your bathing suit top off leaving you exposed, it just kept giving back and promising me more than meets the eye.

What started out as a window of opportunity and an open door to pursue my wildest passions, it is also became a staircase that I kept me climbing just like the dirt path that lead me to the Greek in Griffith Park where I was greeted by a community of creative souls who too had the balls to jump in their car, get their butt on a plane, and go after their dreams in this crazy city called Los Angeles.

But dream-pursuing doesn’t come without its bruises; it also doesn’t come without important life lessons in business. With approximately 4 million people wandering the streets of the Los Angeles that sure is a lot of dreams floating around in the atmosphere (and huge community of people who understand what you’re going through). Even if some are just in the preliminary stages of REM, daydreaming counts in my book. Aspiring for anything always starts with a vision and a dream.

One of Holistic Fashionista greatest accomplishments is the people in our community. These over-achievers with dreams so big they’ll have to grow in to, work incredibly hard to bring their vision to fruition and that’s a mandatory ingredient for true success. You need to surround yourself with others who get you, who cheer you on, who help pick you up when the roses welt and the dream appears to be anything but a joy ride at Barcade—same is true of Los Angeles.

“After moving from the dreary and cold San Francisco where my body was desperately craving an overdose of vitamin D, Los Angeles was a place that taught me about health. ”

The more Los Angeles became a friend, the more the layers of its soul were revealed, and what I discovered through me for a loop, but I’m down to make new friends and go on coffee dates with virtual Facebook friends. After moving from the dreary and cold San Francisco where my body was desperately craving an overdose of vitamin D, Los Angeles was a place that taught me about health. Your days are so fast here (or slow depending on the grueling traffic) that if you forget about your health, panic and anxiety attacks will surface; if you're unlucky you'll get a whole bunch of health issues all at once. I know, because it happened to me; you’re bound to get a little granola.

New Yorkers might despise our organic decaf cappuccinos dolloped in hemp milk with xylitol as our sugar substitute behaviors, but what they might fail to understand is we HAVE to be this way. Whether we are talking about our spiritual awakenings, gorging ourselves in overpriced vegan cuisine at Real Food Daily or attending yoga in Silverlake looking babelicious-as-hell far too frequently, what we are really trying to do is feed our soul the nourishment we need to keep going! Do you even understand what type of person it takes to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and die trying to fulfill your creative endeavors!? A strong one. Correction. A fucking ridiculously strong person. And with a whopping 4 million entrepreneurial people trying to get their dreams to make them a buck or two, there’s bound to be rejection, bankruptcy, credit card debt, failed relationships, and countless odd jobs in your future. Without eating healthy and taking good care of yourself, negativity is sure to set in and that’s no highway to success; I don't care how hard you work!

So how is Los Angeles any different than a creative entrepreneur? It isn't. Let me break it down.

1) Los Angeles is a creative population of artists, actors, models, designers, writers, entrepreneurs, and a multitude of individuals who came here with a dream.

And they work hard to make their dreams come true.

2) Los Angeles will spit you out if you give up on your dream!

She’ll make sure to punish you and discipline you when you get a nutty idea that moving back to your hometown is even remotely a good idea. When the going gets tough, Los Angeles will make it harder for you—she wants to see how dedicated you really are!

3) Los Angeles is a talented community of people struggling to get by gently infused with a those who finally got their big break.

You have friends who have made it and those who are still trying to make shit happen. Segregation is foolish and blocks creativity. We embrace all walks of life.

4) Los Angeles is a melting pot of Gucci handbags mixed with people who don’t give a shit!

If you want to hit Whole Foods in your pajamas without makeup and big sunnies to hide the bags under your eyes from a night of crying because you fell in love with a narcissist, so be it. We won’t judge you. Plus, you look normal compared to the homeless-looking guy who’s driving a beamer.

5) Los Angeles isn’t like any other city in the world, and you know what? It isn’t trying to be the next New York, Paris, London, or any other hippified city in the world.

If Los Angeles were a person, she would be an individual. She’d do as she pleases, wear what she wants, and live in her own little universe of creativity, even if that means she lives in a 400 square foot studio in trendy Los Feliz that nearly burned down in flames-- at least she's got rent control. Whether she’s looking to find herself, investors for her business, or a die-hard tribe of kismet clients who were born to buy what she was born to create, Los Angeles is a chick who is going to do it her way— and she’ll give you the birdie if you disrupt her “I am Grateful” affirmations over that Macrobiotic bowl with sea vegetables at Cafe Gratitude; even if she thinks it’s cheesy too, at least it got her thinking about the infinite possibilities.

Los Angeles isn’t just a place; it’s a lifestyle and you don’t need to move here to reap it’s insane lessons in entrepreneurship or cozy up with a dose of wheatgrass to cleanse your blood. What you can learn from Los Angeles is how to introduce the principles and this way of life into your business so you can start playing by your own rules. Here at Holistic Fashionista we are dedicated to helping you: embrace your weirdness, celebrate your individuality, showcase your work, get involved with community of business trendsetters who understand the entrepreneur's journey, feel supported all the way to the top whatever that may look like for you, and use the characteristics of Los Angeles as a muse to inspire your creativity.

After all, when push comes to shove, you’ll see who’s left standing. It won’t be the copycats, it won’t be those who were deterred by the crashing waves, it will be the ones who believed in the beauty of their dreams, took the time to care for their mind, body, and spirit, and those who jumped off the cliff and took the risk! Los Angeles is different and that’s what makes her so cool; she’s a heroine in her own right and she’s not going anywhere but up.

Til Next Time.

Angel

Photo: Pinterest

Thank You Mean Girls for Making Me So Successful

THANK YOU MEAN GIRLS FOR MAKING ME SO SUCCESSFUL

Dear Diary

As I sit here ready to launch the new interactive version of Holistic Fashionista magazine's 10th issue, I'm pondering the growing pains of rapid growth. While I knew Holistic Fashionista would gain a lot of popularity-- the article i wrote 16 months went viral-- I had no idea of the internal battles I would endure along the road to success. Literally, I had NO clue.

Misfits Are Cool

With too many twists and turns, partnerships + clients gone rye, last year I was pretty beaten up as I got to know my own kind, 'women"; not just any kind of woman, the highly intelligent woman in business. It reminds me of high school and all the cattiness between the ladies, but I'm trying to see the bright side and how it will inspire my speech at the Digital Marketing Business conference I'll be giving in front of 1000 people (to say the least, this is way out of my comfort zone) this May. High school was full of catty bitches + their evil stares and I'm finding being in a circle of smart entrepreneurs is tainted with the occasional evil eye as well.

I remember just 18 months ago wishing my business would move faster, make more money quicker, and hurry-the-fuck-up. I was incredibly impatient. I worked day and night and cried all the time. I was a wreck, but I kept trotting along anyway. Today, I discovered why rapid growth is not really an ideal situation AT ALL. In fact, it's kinda the pits. However, I'm challenging myself to see the bright side.

The growing pains have now morphed into valuable life lessons in business etiquette (if that even exists) and the self-discovery expedition I am on as a woman entrepreneur; how at times it brings out the mean girl side in some, just like those catty little girls in high school. I wanted to RUN with the Misfits in high school, get away from the chaos of being a 'pretty girl' or the 'popular girl', for which I was always misjudged. After all, I wasn't the majority; I was the only brunette in the popular crowd and I stood out like a sore thumb. I also had a bitchy side, which I used regularly to protect my nerdy guy friends and to steer the catty bitches FAR, FAR away from me. I might have made a few enemies while I was at it, but at least I was clear-- don't mess with me or my friends.

What I failed to realize as my journey to success flourished, was I was being guided, even as far back as high school. Every wrong turn I made lead me to another open door, which I voluntarily walked inside. I cried along the way and I hid my hurt feelings well. I was determined to find what I was looking for.

The hardships were and still are there to prep me for what's to come. As I write this speech for the convention in Raleigh this May, I'm doing a lot of reflecting, soul searching, and internal dialoguing that is preparing me for that even bigger audience. Just as those mean girls in high school were prepping me for the catty women entrepreneurs who would pass my path last year (and I'm sure the many years to come); I have continued to embrace my inner misfit, stand up for myself, and delete those who are unkind to me. Success is about making 'room' for bigger and better things, just as clearing the clutter in your home might bring you a killer relationship; the Feng Shui of rapid growth is always constant.

The more tears I cried, the more times I was burned, the more followers/fans I gained, and the more money I made, new problems were presented. The only difference now is I know it is all part of a master plan. As tough as it's been, the new friends I have made and the clients that continue to teach ME while I coach them has been surreal. They SHOW me my worth. They SEE things in me I don't see. They are prime examples of the superpowers the Universe possesses.

In a few months I will attend my 20 year high school reunion and you know what? I hope the mean girls stay home. It's onward and upward from here. The more lives I touch, the more value I bring to the world, the more settled I feel in this flux that is Rapid Growth.

Love,

Angel

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Freeloaders Are Annoying, But They Aren't Evil

FREELOADERS ARE ANNOYING, BUT THEY AREN'T EVIL

Dear Diary,

Constant freeloaders are wearing my skin thin! They are wearing down my patience and leaving me feeling terribly disgruntled. Perhaps I have given too much of myself or invested too much of my own creativity in others' pursuits and as a result it has left me feeling the ‘glass half empty’ whatever the reason, I am irritated to say the least.

What is the perfect balance of give and take? How can I assure that my giving is going well-received and appreciated at the very least. It appears, the more apparent the problem becomes, the more I want to see the trend in this freeloading frenzy. Who are these people?

Maybe it's the marketing dork in me, but I like to analyze, optimize, and find trends in things. What I have noticed is that freeloaders aren’t evil. I have taken a good hard look at who these people are outside of their business pursuits, and have discovered they are truly extraordinary people looking to do great things in this world, at least that's what it looks like from the outside. They work hard to bring their message to light, marketing themselves in rather unattractive ways (in my opinion), but mostly they have difficulty seeing how they are standing in their own way and bugging others with their problems too frequently.

“What I have noticed is that freeloaders aren’t evil. I have taken a good hard look at who these people are outside of their business pursuits, and have discovered they are truly extraordinary people looking to do great things in this world, at least that’s what it looks like from the outside. ”

But just as there is a yin to every yang, their is also the dark side of the freeloader. Many of the freeloaders I have had the not-so-pleasure of meeting and working with are rather self-indulgent— as if they are the only one working their tail off to bring their magic to commerce. They preach their wisdom, practice holistic living, and overcompensate about how they are an expert in their field (even go as far as to embellish about how successful they really are or are NOT), but I have to wonder sometimes… is it all a big facade?

I work with women entrepreneurs, so just as I know how my sister ticks (because we have the same blood running through our veins), women entrepreneurs are wired a certain way, and when you understand ‘your kind’ you see through the bullshit. Many of these entrepreneurs are lying between their teeth, acting like they are more successful than they are, pretending to be sensitive when hurt while simultaneously plotting some evil email or passive aggressive scheme to let you know you crossed them. Big whoop.

What I FAIL to feel in these cases of freeloading baloney is sorry for them. I don't feel sorry for you! I know no one works harder than me; i put in 16 hours a day building my business and sacrificing downtime in order to build a company that I am proud of so one day I will be able to purchase my dream home and travel without a budget. It might not be their dream, but it sure is mine and i plan to make that dream come true with good ole fashioned HARD WORK not griping about how someone didn't promote me enough.

I wasn’t brought up expecting things to be handed to me, in fact, it was the cold harsh chill of life that gave me the work ethic and the I can do-it-alone mentality that has me typing away working on my business to the wee hours because I know business is NO easy task. In fact, I often tell my friends that if they truly don’t want to have their own business, by all means DON’T! It’s not going to be handed to you on a silver platter just because you redid your website and it still looks like crap.

Freeloaders fail to realize that nothing will be handed to them when you EXPECT something SHOULD be done for you… especially without paying someone for their service or product. No matter how special you think you are, how beautiful you think you are (the pretty girl syndrome), or how you’ve spent most of your life getting everything you wanted because daddy made sure of it, I promise you, you WILL have to work for it, pay for it, and give thanks to those who were kind enough to invest in your vision.

Bottom line.. freeloaders might not be evil, but they are annoying. And I’ll put myself in check right now because bitchy entrepreneurs are annoying too. Tomorrow I’ll try to be less of the latter.

-Angel

Photo Credit: Pinterest