So, I made the decision to leave my job and become a Fashion Designer, Part I

BY LATIFA PINNOCK

One of the biggest questions asked of children, very early in life is “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Back in the days, the typical answers would be, lawyers, doctors, police and firemen. If you were to ask children of the new millennium what they want to be when they grow up, their answers would be mind-blowing.

Back in the days, leading up to the late 90’s, children were way more susceptible to walk in the footsteps of their parents. In fact, in some households, it was almost forbidden to follow your own dreams and become who you want to be. “I am so glad that we are past that era!”

As a young adult I have always been fascinated with the industry of fashion, but my biggest fascination was watching people in the industry doing what they love to do and having so much fun while doing it; to me, it was the epitome of a dream job.

Do you consider the job that you’re doing to be your dream job? Does it bring you joy? Do you wake up each morning, with new and exciting ideas relating to your job? If you answered yes to all three questions, this article is not for you, but we all know someone that can certainly relate. Studies show that 8 out of 10 people are not doing what they love, and are simply working for the sole purpose of a paycheck, but what if you could get paid while doing what you love?

Truth is, most entrepreneurs start their careers working for companies for many years, before they decide to start their own business. Some use their skills/years of experience, simply to start their own companies within the same field, while others branch off into something totally different. The decision to be your own boss is one of the biggest life decisions you will ever make, and one should first test their passion for the business, before making the transition. Start off by making the business a side hustle. Unless you win the lottery, then it’s a completely different ball game.

My passion for fashion was not a childhood dream, to be honest. If someone told me years ago that this would be my dream job, I probably would have laughed and said, “As much as I love fashion, I don’t think I’m going to become a big designer or anything.” Well I guess I would be putting my foot in my mouth, because, in 2022, that is exactly what I am striving to be!

I started my brand in 2015, but I didn’t have the drive or the passion that I have today, but the one thing that kept me going was when I realized that people were willing to pay for what I was selling. It took me a few years to realize that I had something special, and another few more years to even foresee a future in fashion. I didn’t have a plan, I had no money put away, but some way, somehow, I was going to make it happen, Once the decision was made, I knew that in order for me to succeed, I was going to have to juggle my day job and my dream job for a while, until I am able to figure out a flexible plan and budget.

To be continued….