1/2 (Vaguely) Personal. 1/2 Motivational.

The path to success is really just a long, bumpy road full of potholes, gridlock & terrible drivers. It's basically Dufferin Street during rush hour.
I have never been a patient person. Always finding where my mother had hid my birthday/Christmas presents weeks in advance, sneaking a bite of dessert before dinner had even been served. Heck, I even remember trying to shave my hairless, 3-year-old legs (and failing miserably.... My God! The blood!) because I "wanted to be a grown up".
When I want something, what I really want is to find the quickest shortcut possible. To cross through the tunnel instead of having to dig my own. Unfortunately, the older & more experienced I become, I begin to understand that isn't always a viable option. Sometimes the only choice we have is to throw on that crappy old t-shirt we found at the bottom of our closet & get our hands dirty (metaphorically speaking, of course).
I would be lying if I said that lately I haven't been discouraged. I chose to take a great professional risk with an unforeseeable payoff. I left an environment I was finally beginning to feel comfortable in, in hopes of greater future advancement. Which, in theory, would be a very smart, humble & strategic move.. But my greatest struggle seems to be adjusting to a new & undesirable timeline. The rational side of me understands that these situations take time to break themselves in, & that a positive attitude goes a long way. Yet the typical, impatient, only-child in me wants to 100 meter dash towards the finish line. I want to do anything & everything. Every project. Every client. I want to prove my capabilities & shine like the beautiful diamond I know I am. But the hardest thing seems to be surrounding yourself with people who won't hinder your development, who will instead work with you to push your limits & abilities. Someone who is genuinely interested in your growth, with no ulterior motives. No games.
So is it a blessing or a curse to want everything so deeply? Does being impatient do more harm than good or does it motivate us to work 10x harder? Lately I've had to remind myself that sometimes it's necessary to take a step back in order to propel ourselves towards our full potential; but I also understand that without that true, burning passion & drive to succeed, we won't ever get there. And if we leave it up to other people to make our dreams a reality, we may as well be wishing on a star or throwing pennies into a fountain. Failure is inevitable. You will fail many times before you reach success. But what's also inevitable is that with hard work & determination (& one Hell of a thick skin), you can have all the things you've ever dreamed of & so much more. You just have to keep reminding yourself. You are good. You are capable. You are valuable. You will come out on top.

Fall 2014: Hottest Hair Colors

Autumn is arguably one of the most popular seasons, and for good reason. There's something about the smell of the crisp leaves, the cooler temperatures and the beautiful colors all around, that inspire a sense of change in the most positive way. In honor of this new season, I have decided to dedicate this blog post to 2014's most popular Fall hair colors. Whether you're looking to make a drastic change, or just enrich what you already have, this year it's all about versatility, while maintaining a natural-looking, cost-effective style. These references have been gathered from a September post published by Harper's Bazaar online, one of the world's leading beauty & fashion resources. 

Rose Gold

Wheat Blonde

Bronze

Dark Highlights

I'm baaaaaack.

It has been 2 years since my last post. I will admit that since originally starting this blog, life in Toronto has proven itself to be more of a challenge than I had originally thought. As a young professional trying to break ground in this industry, I don't think you are ever fully prepared for the challenges you will face, most importantly finding the right fit. It has taken me some time and 2 different environments to develop the plan I have now set forth going forward in my career. I have learnt that branding is one of the most crucial aspects in building any business. It is of the utmost importance to identify and develop a brand that you are proud of. I have learnt that in any environment you will be placed in, there is always going to be opportunity for conflict & encounters with those of whom you do not get along. But in order to move forward, you must overcome these challenges & never lose sight of your ultimate goal. I have learned that for every negative influence, there will be 10 supportive ones, eager to nurture & develop your talents.  I have learnt that your attitude is literally everything, & most of all I have learnt that without passion there isn't much of a point. I've been broker than broke. I've eaten nothing but Sidekicks for dinner, for weeks on end. I've had moments where I've seen the light (and the cash). I've been torn down by those who promised to help build me up & my ego has taken more blows than a box of Kleenex. But at the end of the day, I am hopeful. I am determined. I am motivated. I am successful.

(and I'm blogging again)