Purple Rain
Because it’s raining and feels like winter is already here (yes, I’m a drama queen, who is not a fan of seasonal transitions) AND I was dared to use this legendary song as a blog title ;-).
This time no deep philosophies…It’s been a bit quiet from my side because I have been in over my head with work. Currently juggling 10 different projects of which 4 Marketing Consultancy projects for my company To The Nines, and the rest are (pretty huge) projects for the Wulterkens Store and my textile printing company EW Products. We’ve grown a lot with so many new customers, of which some very big, well known companies and brands (NS – Dutch National Railways, fashion label SuperTrash, many media companies and tv-shows etc.).
Also, I’m on the board of entrepreneurs of all the stores in the Gooische Brink (the passageway where my store is located), which makes me responsible for increasing traffic to that part of the city and organising fun events. With the ”Midnight Shopping” event coming up October 6th, it’s taking up a lot of my time as well.
One of the highlights of the end of august is us being sponsors of the Africa Fashion Week Europe with the Wulterkens Store. It was an awesome event, with amazingly talented designers. To check out my absolute favorite, click here. Some of you might have seen a bit in my Instagram stories and I have some pictures of the night on my Instagram. Up next is the Asia Fashion Week Europe in the city of Arnhem at the end of november, of which we are sponsors as well!
Another highlight: since January this year I’ve been working on developing a marketing campaign for Hilversum City, because Hilversum is an awesome city, with the best specialty stores, all the chain-stores you need and every kind of restaurant you can imagine. It’s known as the media city from which all news is spread to around the globe. It’s the 17th biggest city of the Netherlands, but feels like a village, with a community of friendly people, where everyone pretty much knows everyone. We felt at home very quickly since we’ve moved here, because everything is closeby and there is always something happening. Together with some fellow marketing experts, entrepreneurs and the municipality of Hilversum, we sat together and thought out a campaign that would make people want to come to Hilversum and the people of Hilversum proud to be from Hilversum.
This week the campaign was launched all over the city, and people are very excited about it. Social Media is exploding with people talking about it and so are the local newspapers. For the campaign, the Wulterkens Store is one of the merchandising partners. The municipality spread about 10,000 postcard ladders, which includes one from the Wulterkens Store (with my face on it haha) and it’s been crazy busy since. I’m hoping you will come by and check out the awesome city of Hilversum and get a t-shirt of course! 🙂
Another project I’m really looking forward to is the Marketing training I will be giving in my home country Suriname, along with two other marketing experts, whom I also happy to call friends. It was planned for October this year, but due to our busy schedules and us wanting to make it an unforgettable event, we decided to postpone it to February 2018. It’s very exciting for me to go back to my home town and finally be able to contribute with my knowledge, expertise and experience. My Surinamese readers who are active in the field of marketing, I’m hoping you will join and learn the latest in marketing. Stay tuned and start marking your calendars for February, I will keep you posted on the exact date!
Most of the other projects I’m working on are in progress, so I can’t say too much about them yet. A lot has changed…80 hour-work weeks have become a normality, but I am not complaining at all! I am extremely grateful for all the amazing things coming my way allowing me to keep on pushing myself, growing, evolving and shining.
”Honey I know, I know, I know times are changing
It’s time we all reach out for something new
That means you too
You say you want a leader
But you can’t seem to make up your mind
I think you better close it”. – Prince, Purple Rain.
I wish all the same for you. Go get it!
Love,
Nadira
- Published in Business & Entrepreneurship, Written Archives 2013-2018
Whatever Is Good For The Soul…
Wandering through nature, with everything around me in transition, I finally find myself having a quiet moment in between what’s just a blur of busyness. I realised as I was looking around me, that constantly being in some sort of transition/progress/growth is the basic foundation of life in general. If it weren’t, life would be really boring, though it can be overwhelming at times. Speaking of overwhelming, there is so much going on right now, which is also one of the reasons why this is one of the longest periods that I haven’t been blogging.
What’s happening in short: My textile company Customized Wear is expanding (fast). Next to Wulterkens Lifestyle, my brand Wulterkens is getting divided into Wulterkens Clothing (Casual wear) and Wulterkens Sport, with new collections of both launching end of november, with an entire new look and feel!
And, as if I wasn’t busy enough, I’ve decided to start a third company ”Madame Selfmade” together with an amazingly talented lady. Madame Selfmade is a networking, motivating and learning platform providing a blueprint for all ambitious individuals, to explore their passion and create the life they want by providing guides and tools in several forms towards fostering the right habits, attitude and mindset that will enable one to achieve happiness, personal goals and success more efficiently. More about Madame Selfmade in my next blog. Oh anddd I’m officially starting with my Master thesis!
Don’t ask me where I get the time, because to be honest, I have been struggling, but on the other hand, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Comfort is an illiusion anyway. I’m just really grateful that I am able to do so many amazing things that I’m passionate about. One thing I have really learned these past few weeks is the importance of quality me-time, even if it’s just an hour in the week. I am actually scheduling it in now, because otherwise it simply doesn’t happen. Next to that, I’ve found that starting the day with 30 minutes of meditation, affirmations and visualizations in combination with a good workout, works like magic to get through the day. However, this does require some discipline to get up extra early, which I don’t always have, because I’m not a morning person, but I’m working on it!
Whether it’s going to the spa/salon, meditating, sleeping in, taking a long bath, going for a workout or stroll through a beautiful environment, cooking, listening to some music, curling up with a good book, doing something creative like painting or writing. Whatever is good for the soul….do that!
I’ve given up on obligations if they are not work related and time sensitive. Usually it’s in the weekends that you get more social, visiting family or hanging/going out with friends. I’m not sure if you’ll be able to relate, but if you run 2 businesses, are setting up a third and are in pursuit of your master’s degree at the university, there is little energy left to go to family birthday parties, and other social obligations. If you have energy, you should go, but if you don’t, don’t feel guilty about it. Accept that it’s part of the choice you’ve made, and you cannot have everything. My rule is: if it’s not going to give me any energy (rather take what little I have left), I’m not going. Keeping to this rule and choosing yourself above social obligations will prevent you from starting the week exhausted. It will make you enjoy the experience so much more if you go, and give you peace of mind when you decide not to go. Of course, if you don’t go, make sure you re-schedule some quality time with the people some other time, they will completely understand. And if they don’t, well…that’s not really your problem.
One thing you will find along the way is that the best investment of your time and energy is in yourself. This is not egoistic in any way, because if you can’t be the best version of yourself, you’re not able to give the best to your surroundings. So by investing in you, those significant others will only benefit more too.
I hope this little piece will give you some energy. My blogs will be a little bit shorter in the future, due to being shorter on time, but there is a new one coming up next week. Also, the giveaway I have been promising you will start a litter later than anticipated. It’s worth the wait, I promise! The new Wulterkens’ collections launch at the end of november.
Lots of love,
Nadira
Outfitdetails:
Boots & Pants: Zara (old collections)
Coat & Faux Fur Gilet: Missguided (old collections)
Sweater: WE (old collections).
Bracelets: Anadyla || Earrings: Swarovski.
- Published in Self-Discovery & Growth, Written Archives 2013-2018