CHANGE AGENTS: THE ARTISANS OF THE WORLD

Dear Diary,

As I sit here under my acrylic chandelier facing a wall made of windows in my new home office with Bandit (my 1-year old puppy) resting at my feet, sporting my cabernet red Harley Davidson hoodie, Ugg boots, and parted-in-the-middle hippie hair, I feel a sense of clarity around my accomplishments. I understand how I got here and how it wasn't all my doing. Even with my office still be in a bit of disarray, my staff is strong, my head is clear, and my tribe, well they are ridiculously cool. I feel very fortunate.

While each day presents a new challenge that often feels like a winding flight of stairs that often leads to a door I've never opened before, today I'm standing on top of the staircase with 5 pieces of golden advice.

RESOURCES ARE GOLD
Firstly, you absolutely must have a team or a phone-call-away roster of phenomenal resources, aka as PEOPLE that get you. Without the talent to support you on your journey, you’re really left with a bunch of ambitions that may or may not come to fruition. The stronger the team, the stronger your products, programs, services will be, and the more lives you will touch. It’s finding these people that is the real challenge. I now understand why interior designers hoard their resources, because it took them years of trial and error to find talented people who can help execute their vision. Resources are like BLING. They are gold. Treat them as so.

HUMILITY IS ATTRACTIVE
Secondly, being humble in your business keeps you open-minded. I cannot tell you how many times I ask my interns, assistants, and random (smart) people their opinion on something, even something as small as do you like that “line” there. The details are important, but in the end you must make the final decision, even when it feels impossible. That is why joining a mastermind group or having a small group of friends who share similar goals is priceless. I cannot tell you how valuable being humble can be for your business, and more importantly, finding those special people who you trust to share that humility with.

“An artist goes their own way without worrying about what others think, say, or do. An artist allows herself to be vulnerable, thinks for herself, and decides what’s best for her.”

YOUR WORK IS ART
Thirdly, every day I get closer to understanding my business through the lens of an Artist. An artist goes their own way without worrying about what others think, say, or do. An artist allows herself to be vulnerable, thinks for herself, and decides what’s best for her. I feel that being an artist is one of the highest forms of creativity, for it is our art that celebrates our individuality, inspires others to be more of themselves, and ultimately creates a planet filled with new ideas and more love. When we accept that we are all different, that acceptance becomes a powerful force for change. I’ve dedicated my life to being a Change Agent for Individuality.

Over the past 13 months in business I have worked diligently to build an incredible team, tribe, and work of art. I trust my instincts. I listen to my inner voice. I fine tune my craft obsessively. On a daily basis, I take action to meet like-minded people who are passionate about their work! I choose to surround myself with smart people who see beneath the phony bullshit of those so-called-leaders who belittle + condescend others to grow their bank accounts. Those very special people who are here to make a serious difference in the world through their art, who feel deeply, and who strive to keep a smile on their face because seeing the beauty is far grander, are people I admire. I refer to these individuals as Change Agents. In fact, I've built a tribe of Change Agents. How cool is that!?

STOP BEING PUSHY
This exclusive group of individuals remind me that being a Change Agent is hard work because it involves a heavy dose of humility. I often wonder if humility has gone out of style or something? Every time I stumble upon a Facebook ad or magically end up on someone’s mailing list, for whom I never subscribed, everybody seems to be preaching about how they have all the answers to your problems, as if they have the magic pill or something. I call BS on that. They aren't Change Agents; those people are pushy salesmen.

“I will continue to do the self development work to be a better leader, to be more patient, take deeper breaths, and remember that I am an Artist. ”

PRACTICE BEING A LEADER

Being a good leader has become a very important role to me. I know I can improve. I know I can be a better example of the change I wish to see in the world. I will continue to do the self development work to be a better leader, to be more patient, take deeper breaths, and remember that I am an Artist. Even if I don’t paint, draw, or sing on stage, I have an art that is being crafted daily; it’s bringing me closer to my truth, which in turn is bringing me more success that I ever thought imaginable, even though success is a feeling I haven't mastered.

I wonder if my inability to feel successful is a characteristic a Change Agent. Is that why the Change Agents I've met and loved are so humble? Perhaps being a Change Agent isn't about feeling or even being successful; maybe it's truly about changing the world and showing others how important their role is on the planet no matter how we choose to label them. What I do know for sure is I cannot change the world alone. I need a team, a tribe, and a dose of humility to continue to be the leader I wish to see in the world. And that takes practice.

Love,

Angel

Photo Credit: Media Cache

THE SUCCESS BLUES

Dear Diary,

This month marks the 1 year anniversary of Holistic Fashionista and to be honest, I don't really feel like celebrating. Over the course of 12 months, the road has been anything but smooth sailing. It might be shocking, but behind closed doors it's actually been an uphill battle.

When I started Holistic Fashionista I was full of hope, excitement, inspiration, and dedication. It was a motivation I had felt in the past, like those days as a clothing designer at Sunday Driver. I was like a little kid running through the candy aisle-- high as a kite like an injection of glucose running through my veins. What happened? Where did the giddy little child go?

Perhaps the dose of insulin has hit my bloodstream and now things are balancing out. The thrill of the chase lost, now that my business is in full effect. Or maybe that burning desire to achieve my goal got satiated... Has the hunger gone forever?

As I grace the cover of Holistic Fashionista magazine in celebration to our 1 year anniversary, I just don't feel like toasting; I feel like hiding. I suppose over the course of 12 months I probably took on too much, launched too many things, and changed my website zillion times too many, but it was those very events that kept the thrill of the hunt exciting and mysterious. So now what? More of the same? I'm bored.

As I head into my second year, I want something different. I want to surprise my audience and keep them on their toes. I want to break-free from anything and everything that has ever held be down in my life-- I'm dying for shock value. Part of me wants shout from the top of my lungs "It's my life! I'll do what I want with it! It's my business, I'll conduct it as I see fit." And I'll change my website and my mind as often as I please.

“It’s my life! I’ll do what I want with it! It’s my business, I’ll conduct it as I see fit. And I’ll change my website and my mind as often as I please.”

If anything, my 1 year anniversary has me a bit bewildered that what I've created doesn't totally match what I set out to achieve. I built something I thought I wanted yesterday and I made a bunch of new friends along the way. How is that possible that I've worked with some of the most amazing women as clients, made a great living doing it, and I still yearn for that deeper understanding of what success is really about. I think I have the success blues.

So here I sit, at Wholefoods sipping electrolyte water, having just downed a three salad melody of steamed veggies and two flavors of chopped cabbage slaw, one purple, one light green. Am I really that different than I was 12 months ago? I'm still eating the same good 'ole crap. I'm still sitting here typing on my computer talking shop, but why do I feel so different?

Part of me thinks I just don't really know how to celebrate my accomplishments. Maybe the way I celebrate is to internalize and reflect on what it is I truly want. Maybe I want to have a pity party instead of noisy festivity with organic margaritas. Maybe everything I am teaching in my business coaching is who I truly am, and I just need to continue to dig deeper to find the hidden treasures that lay beneath the depths of my soul to continue to expand my personal brand and inspire others to do the same. Perhaps I need to stop judging myself for not doing things the way others want me to do them and accept the fact that Holistic Fashionista is who I strive to be, not who I am now or will ever be. And when someone has an opinion about how I 'should' be running my business, it's okay if I just ignore them.

“When it comes down to it, perhaps success is a personal journey. It’s not an accomplishment or destination, or something you get a medal for to display on your trophy shelf.”

When it comes down to it, perhaps success is a personal journey. It's not an accomplishment or destination, or something you get a medal for to display on your trophy shelf. Perhaps it's a movement, a voyage into the unknown, a rite of passage that is sacred to your soul moving through the growing pains, sitting alone at WholeFoods and sipping electrolyte water while asking yourself, "what is it that I truly want?"

Everyday I get closer to knowing exactly what that looks like, tomorrow is a chance to visualize it happening, but today is a time to reflect and sit with my success journey and figure out what the heck it is I want for the next 12 months. I'll sit peacefully alone next to this salad bar and digest my accomplishments-- I might even go get a mint tea latte. So maybe I don't feel like celebrating in the traditional manner; I can tell at this moment that this just might be how I celebrate: internalizing and questioning what I want while fantasizing about a mint tea latte. And now I'll go get that latte.

“I don’t need a party. I don’t need fan mail or hate mail to know I’m successful. I also don’t need to pat myself on the back or reward myself with some extravagant gift. ”

I don't need a party. I don't need fan mail or hate mail to know I'm successful. I also don't need to pat myself on the back or reward myself with some extravagant gift. I suppose the real gift is sitting here in front of this computer and choosing to share my truth. I could give two sh*ts about fame. I could give two damns about opinionated bystanders. I could care less about seeing my photoshopped photo on the cover of a magazine. What I care about is getting to know myself better and sometimes seeing yourself on the cover of a magazine helps you see yourself in a new perspective.

That's all I really wanted anyway--a new perspective to keep me motivated to keep going even when my feathers get ruffled. And then maybe tomorrow I'll have that organic margarita with friends because I allowed myself to celebrate in my own way today. ME time is celebration time and I can toast to that.

Love,
Angel

Change Agents: The Artisans of the World