It’s All About Balance!
Guess who’s back!! I am honestly both relieved and proud to say I have managed to survive the past 2 months! It’s been so busy and hectic, I was extremely stressed out, and at the same time so excited and grateful for all the business growth and great things happening.
As I mentioned in my last post, we had the opportunity to move into a beautiful office and showroom for Wulterkens. So the month February was full of painting, cleaning, interior-design shopping, designing and furnishing the showroom and moving the office.
At the same time, daily work kept calling, so for me there weren’t enough hours in a day. After officially moving, we were so relieved, but then we had to catch up on a lot of work we left hanging during the preparations for the office.
Simultaneously, we were putting a last hand on our new and 5th collection for Wulterkens, which took a lot of time, because obviously we wanted everything to be perfect.
Luckily we had an amazing team from RB-Media Internet Solutions behind us who designed a beautiful new website for us. Take a look at their website, they really are the best.
We’ve been inspired (during interior-design shopping!) to bring back a few of the amazing icons back in the day, vintage style! I’m talking about the gorgeous Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren. They’re already bestsellers for both him & her! I am wearing my favorite of the series, Brigitte Bardot in the pictures.
Wulterkens became famous for the Babe Collections, so in the line of spring we brought into life the colorful and sexy Japanese Yakuza Babes. And as always, we wanted real statement-setting t-shirts, so we created the ‘’Lead by Example’’ series with the powerful messages of 3 world leaders.
Ever since we moved into our new office and launched the new colIections, things like a nice weekend off or getting home from work before 10 p.m. seem like something from a fairytale.
I am seriously considering hiring a personal assistant, because I’ve been struggling to balance everything out. Yup, it turns out I’m not superwoman (even though sometimes, I think I am). The funny thing is…this is just the beginning. I am starting to realize that as my brand is growing, so will the load of work and the responsibility.
I’ve learned from the great Anthony Robbins, that one of the keys to success is to mirror the acts of those who are already successful. So, how does Olcay Gulsen from Supertrash do it, or Michael Kors? They don’t have any more hours in a day…However, I’m sure they have a maid who does the cleaning at home, PA’s and a big staff to assist them. So I guess it’s time to work towards getting some help to deal with the growth, which is exciting, yet nerve wrecking when you’re a little bit (just a little bit, really) of a control freak.
So that’s what I am slowly, but surely working on…finding the balance, the moments of peace in between the chaos. Not getting stressed out when things get busy, because it’s always going to be busy. As they say, when you come out of a storm, you will never be the same person as before. That’s the life of a successful entrepreneur, that’s the life I chose and despite everything…the life I love.
Sending you all lots of love!
Nadira
Oufit details: T-Shirt: Wulterkens Brigitte ; Skirt: Kardashian Kollection Leather Pencil Skirt
Blazer: Zara (previous collections) ; Shoes: Zara (previous collections) ; Bracelet: Hermes Collier de Chien Cuff
“My point is, life is about balance. The good and the bad. The highs and the lows. The pina and the colada.” – Ellen Degeneres
“Your hand opens and closes, opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralysed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as birds’ wings.” – Rumi
“Feeling at peace, however fragilely, made it easy to slip into the visionary end of the dark-sight. The rose shadows said that they loved the sun, but that they also loved the dark, where their roots grew through the lightless mystery of the earth. The roses said: You do not have to choose. ” – Robin Mckinley
“What is joy without sorrow? what is success without failure? what is a win without a loss? what is health without illness? you have to experience each if you are to appreciate the other. there is always going to be suffering. it’s how you look at your suffering, how you deal with it, that will define you.” – Mark Twain
And Though She Be But Little, She Is Fierce!
Yeah baby!! Props to William Shakespeare for the title (from A Midsummer Night’s Dream), which I can totally relate to. The thing is, I get underestimated so often!!!
I’m quite short at 5 ft 2, tiny body, with big eyes, lips and a lot of hair. I am very much aware that because of my looks, the first impression I make might not exactly be ‘’intelligent’’ or ‘’smart’’. Apparently it’s in the nature of us humans to be distracted by the way people look and judge them based on just that. The truth is, I’m a nerd, professional business woman and quite a tough cookie, which can be confirmed by the people who know me closely.
In addition, I have recently discovered I am a ‘’beast’’ at the gym! I’ve really come to get to know a different side of myself. Check out my previous post ‘’That Power I Got’’ where I really go into details about this.
I used to hate it when people underestimated me, I felt like I came short. Now I’ve learned that being underestimated is actually a good thing. It gives you an advantage. I call it the element of surprise. There is no better feeling than surprising those who underestimate you. Especially in business and sports, it’s a huge advantage, but I think in life in general also.
My advice: never underestimate, especially not if that person is in some way your opponent. Never judge, especially not based on looks. Always encourage others. No matter who you are or what you do, you have the ability to inspire someone in your surroundings.
On a last note, which I think is most important: NEVER EVER underestimate yourself. You can do ANYTHING you set your mind to. You will have to work hard and fight for it. But remember: All limitations are self-imposed!!
Stay fierce ladies, no matter how ‘’little’’ you are!
Love,
Nadira
”Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us” – Wilma Rudolph
”I love when people underestimate me and then become pleasantly surprised” – Kim Kardashian
”If a man achieves victory over this body, who in the world can exercise power over him? He who rules himself rules over the whole world” – Vinoba Bhave
”Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live” – Jim Rohn
”Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity” – John F. Kennedy
”Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power” – Lao Tzu
- Published in Self-Discovery & Growth, Written Archives 2013-2018
Don’t Be Like The Rest Of Them, Darling
I’ve always been different compared to the people in my surroundings, and I have this feeling I always will. Not because I desperately want to be different, but just because I am the way I am.
From the age of 6, I was bullied (not in a severe way though), called teacher’s pet, made fun of etc. In my teenage years, I wasn’t bullied, but I think very misunderstood. I wasn’t a typical teenage girl. I’ve always been more mature for my age.
I used to feel awkward and out of place, though I had many friends. I was the kid with all the different groups of friends. In high school I was friends with the nerds, but also with the beauty queens, the punkers and the rockers, and also with the basketball team. It was because these ‘’groups’’, all had something that I had within me, they all represented a certain side of me.
I remember at my 16th birthday party, I invited all the groups, and I was running around from group to group to give them my attention, because, they didn’t seem to get along as one. It was a great party though, I think it was called the party of the year at school. I come from Paramaribo, Suriname in South America, with only 500,000 people, so it’s small community where news travels fast.
My closest relationships are with people older than me and my boyfriends always have been a lot older than me as well. Somehow, I seem to be able to communicate and connect with them better on a certain level. No, I’m not superior to anyone else of my age, I’m just different. Some people say I have an old soul. All I know is, my focus, attention and priorities have always been more serious/mature, ambitious and there was a lot less playing around, ever since I can remember really. I’ve always been searching for more real, deeper connections.
Although I remember my mom telling me to be myself and that I didn’t have to act a certain way, because the rest was acting that way, I always thought there was something wrong with me. And I’ve really hated it, until the past few years.
Even today, I’m in a place in my life at age of 24, being an entrepreneur, owner of my own successful brand, while others are still playing around, focusing on completely different things.
For the first time in my life, I am at a point where I am embracing this ‘’being different’’. I see it as a gift. Coco Chanel said ‘’In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different’’ and I completely agree with her. Nobody can be Nadira, the way I walk, talk, think, smile, my energy, my vibe, my grace. Same goes for you. There is a lot that can be copied, but if it’s not genuine, it will never leave an impression.
I believe everyone is unique, but not everyone is or wants to be aware of it, they rather hide behind others and blend in the mass. In my opinion this is fine too, because it automatically gives the spotlight to those who dare to be and express themselves in whatever way that may be. I think it’s the most beautiful thing, to embrace your unique self and share it proudly with the world.
I am ready, to take over the world with Wulterkens, that is shaped by me and my partner’s unique selves, beliefs and visions, with which we want to inspire others to share theirs. When we had to come up with a slogan for our brand, we started with what Wulterkens stands for. We wanted to create clothing for those who really want to set a statement, distinct themselves from the grey mass and were tired of the mass clothing that was available in all the stores. We came up with the slogan ’’Lead When Others Follow’’.
But what is a leader? The only thing that makes a leader, is the followers. Being a leader has nothing to do with rank, intelligence or superiority. If people are willing to follow you, you are a leader. What is a follower? Someone who chooses to follow you, your style or message. If your style or thoughts happen to be unique, that makes you the leader and everyone else thereafter the follower.
What Wulterkens really praises is the idea of distinction, being different from the mass, being the leader in your own uniqueness, wearing our statement clothing. We do not mean to manipulate you in any ways, we want to inspire you. Inspire you to express yourself and your beliefs through wearing our clothing, making you Lead when others follow.
Don’t bother with all the followers and copycats after, they can never be YOU!
You’re unique, embrace it and LEAD!
Love,
Nadira
Outfit: T-shirt: Wulterkens: www.wulterkensclothing.com ; Pants: Zara, Jacket: Amisu; Shoes: Colin Stuart
- Published in Self-Discovery & Growth, Written Archives 2013-2018