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Many entrepreneurs have a perceived image of how being in the fashion industry is glamorous and some kind of action packed adventure from beginning to end…maybe for some people. Don’t get me wrong there are some good times along with the bad, but balancing your workload and having passion for what your doing will be the deciding factor in your fashion business success.

Yes glamorous sounds good, but?believe me you have another thing coming. I’ve learned from my own experience that starting your own clothing line is more business than pleasure and aspects of the business that seem fun like fashion shows and promotional parties have more behind the scenes work than meets the eye. Setting budgets, finding a venue, having models, and executing any project is a headache, when compared to the finish project that runs smooth and looks well polished to the spectator.

Early morning, late nights sound like most of my days. The reality is that once you start your own clothing line it will consume most of your time and then some, because:

• There is no set schedule. Your business hours are from 12am-12pm 7 days a week. Your work never ends, you’ll just finish it in portions. Business calls come all times of the day and night.
• You must be very disciplined. Especially if your business is not a full time venture. You have to take advantage of every waking moment. Since there is no set time for your day to begin and end unlike a regular 9-5, you must set goals and time constraints in order to finish work and meet important deadlines.
• A lot of strain on your social life and personal relationships. With any business for?that matter.?( I know this firsthand also) All the partying and bullsh@t must stop staying out late is not in this equation, unless it’s business. (Just ask Johnny Cupcakes)
• If you do have hobbies are things that are important to you they have to be less frequent and your business must come first. When starting your business everything must change…YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER! This is especially important when starting a business at a young age. I don’t know how many business partners I have ran through, because I try and take a chance with younger business people and?build with them.(They won’t the attention, but not the workload that comes with it. )
• To make money you have to spend money and when your money is at stake there is no other moment more stressful. This part of running a business is not avoidable, but planning and making wise investments will limit your mistakes. Needless to say we all know making more money in return is a good thing.
• How the people closest to you do not understand your passion. Any real entrepreneur will tell you this for the most part. This is because once those long hours kick in and you’re still in the start up phase and not profitable people looking “in” from the outside seem to think it is not a “real” business and your wasting your time. Most will never understand that’s why they work corporate jobs or a 9-5 instead of being an entrepreneur and taking your path, because of the security of their weekly paycheck….makes them feel right at home.

I hope this article put starting your own clothing more into perspective?and showed you that it is more than elaborate fashion shows, and glitz and glamour that are shown on most tv shows like Project Runway. If it’s your passion this article will probably be nothing more than a reminder and you will keep building your business into a successful empire.

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