Monday, January 31, 2011

Becoming a Life Stylist

Something's missing... again (Photo Credit: NYT)

In 2006 I was introduced to Ladies Who Launch, an organization for entrepreneurs. I am an entrepreneur at heart which goes back to when I had lemonade stands as a child as well as my own handmade t-shirt company (Q-Tees!). I've written before about my dissonance with corporate America and for me, being my own boss is what I know works best for me.

Ladies Who Launch was instrumental in helping me determine what type of business I wanted to launch. I felt that I was good at a myriad of (Type A) things such as cooking, bargain hunting, mentoring, crafting, offering career guidance, trip planning and budgeting that I couldn't quite fit it into one category. Over my life people have always come to me for random information (remember I'm the child who used to spend hours repeatedly reading The Big Book of Tell Me Why) and have always been amazed that I knew answers and if I didn't I could try to find someone or somewhere they could find it. I am the friend you need when you need to phone a friend! Someone had even suggested becoming a life coach, but I didn't like the connotation and honestly it sounded a bit hokey.

Instead after reading this NYT article about up and coming life gurus in NYC I knew that it was the direction I was headed, but instead of being a life coach I really wanted to be a life stylist (I don't like the word guru either). As a life stylist I envisioned being able to help young women create the lives they want to lead whether it be learning domestic skills, tweaking their resumes or finding the best way to get involved in their local communities.

I've held a Quarter Life Crisis Cocktail before as a Wellesley College young alumnae event, and it was a lot of fun and good therapy too! I'd like to re-implement these as I know so many young women in their 20s-30s who are still trying to figure out what they want to be when they grow up.

I've put a call out on my blog before to do something similar and didn't get nary a response so instead I'll be e-mailing those of you I know locally who I think would be ideal for this posse of sorts. And yes, it will involve food!

I don't claim to have all the answers, but one thing I noticed when reading the NYT article was a lack of color - and I don't mean in clothing choice! Diversity is so important to me and people always exclaim when I have get togethers that they can't believe how diverse of a group my friends are. People said this at my wedding too. I really don't want to just be with people who are exactly like me. How boring is that?

I also noticed that some of the "gurus" were a bit too new-agey/faux-spiritual for me, and I find that uber annoying. I prefer authenticity, transparency and straightforwardness. 

Anyway, if you're local please be on the lookout for an e-mail from me (I'm trying to plan this during a thaw of all this stupid snow we keep getting). And if you're feeling proactive and want to be sure to be included on the invite list go ahead and send me an e-mail. 

{I'm hoping this will pull some of you local lurkers out the woodwork too, I know you're reading!}

Have a great week everyone!

3 comments:

  1. I think you'd make a great life coach, good luck launching your business!

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  2. @Teresha@Marlie and Me Thank you! I appreciate your vote of confidence =)

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  3. Don't know how I missed this post, but that is such a great idea especially for those who are looking to start a business but just don't know where to start!

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