Gay Hendricks book The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level walks you through the hidden barriers you have towards reaching your greatest success and potential.
If that quick summary doesn’t have you wanting to read more, well, I don’t know what to tell you!! What he basically tells us is that we have a hard time maintaining our happiness and success. For varying reasons, we achieve a certain level of success in an area of our lives and then our subconscious freaks out that it can’t be possible to be that happy or successful, etc. so it creates a problem that brings you back to where you started. Kind of annoying, huh? Well, if you equip yourself with the tools, you can start chipping away your Upper Limit Problem (ULP). It dawned on me that this equates very directly to women’s style and inner confidence. It’s also exactly why U*styled exists – to give you the tools to reach your greatest potential in Style, in Career, in Love and in Life. Everything you want to achieve starts with you. So, how are you holding yourself back? This is something I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting upon myself. It never fails that the only reason I haven’t achieved something I’ve wanted is because I’ve gotten in my own way. Again, that’s in Style, in Career, in Love and in Life. What I’ve noticed is that women settle for good more often than going for GREAT. This is the ULP at work in your life. What is holding you back from going for GREAT? Are you settling for the status quo? Please, tell me, I’d really love to know why you don’t think you deserve a great life in style. Time and again I observe the potential in every woman to really be GREAT. And I’ve seen the transformation time and again as I take someone through the Style process.  "A closet full of diapers and nothing to wear!" - It starts at an early age!! Instead of constantly being frustrated at her ‘closet full of clothes and nothing to wear,’ she sees the opportunities to play with new outfit options. Instead of spending 5 hours shopping for the perfect outfit for ONE occasion, she spends 5 hours shopping her closet for endless outfit options for every occasion. Instead of looking at that stunningly dressed woman and lamenting to herself ‘wow, I wish I could dress like that,’ she goes up and compliments her on her amazing shoes and said woman compliments her back on her gorgeous necklace. Are you ready to be the one people notice because of your style? What I love most about the results I’ve seen, is that breaking through a barrier in the Style area of your life often leads to breaking through barriers in other areas – yes, Love, Career and Life. Are you ready to break through your ULPs? Yesss! To your Life in STYLE! |
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Tags: Big Leap, Confidence, Fashion, Personal Style, Style
A couple days ago I had the luxury of treating myself to a day of rejuvination at a clients one day retreat. It was such a beautiful day in so many ways. We were a group of women who shared some key traits. While I was the only who wasn’t a mom, we’re all highly self-motivated, busy, on-a-mission women. Each of us also happened to be entrepreneurs, so our ‘job’ is something very dear to our heart. It really is about our mission. Or, as some may say, our movement.
At one point, our host, Ana, asked us why we were ‘amazing.’ Funnily, even though we’re all obviously amazing, isn’t it so hard to answer the question when we’re suddenly called out to do so on the spot?
I pondered a bit while I let the words come to me. With such a juicy question, I felt I owed it some deep thought.
What tumbled out of my mouth surprised even myself:
“I’m amazing because it’s my mission to make the world a more beautiful place one woman at a time.”
What I’ve realized over the course of my business and working with so many different personality types, ages and careers is that how I work with women really is a transformative process. And sometimes, you have to give yourself a little credit! (I know you do the same thing – we’re women, it’s our nature!).
When someone is ready to invest in themselves to work with someone who can give them the tools to live every day in style … it becomes about much more than the clothes. It’s about confidence, excitement, fun, play, love and action.
It’s a complete transformation.
It’s a decision to stop settling for good and moving into creating great.
So, why are you amazing?
Are you the next woman to make this world more beautiful?
Tags: balance, beauty, Confidence, Esteem, transformation
A Guide to Loving the One You’re WITH!
This fabulous picture to the right is my best friend and I in
our high school lacrosse uniforms (yes, as much as I love clothes, I do love sports as well!). This is relevant because I still distinctly remember the first time I tried on my kilt and how I felt.
I literally cried.
I was SO upset because it made my butt look big.
Now, to put this into context, I was wearing a size 4-6 at that time of my life (at 5′6″), which is by no means anything to be upset about!
So, really I had nothing to be upset about. I was healthy and fit and had a great shape. Yet, all I could focus on was my butt and how it looked in the kilt.
Fast forward to more than 10 years later and I’m just now loving my body and my shape. Seriously, it’s really just in the last year that I’ve stopped obsessing over my weight, what I ate for the day and getting in a workout.
It probably didn’t help working in the corporate world of Fashion where I pretty much ignored some of the trends (try stuffing my curves into skinny jeans? ha!).
Though, it was ignoring those trends and re-working them to fit my style and my body type that ultimately led me to an acceptance of my curves.
This is a quick guide to help you identify your body type with a few overarching tips for dressing your best. Each week, I will go into further detail for each body type with examples and new ideas.
In no time, you’ll be dressing your absolute best!
Pear
Your body is fuller at the hips and rear, and smaller on top.Wear darker colors on bottom and draw attention to your slimmer top half. Try dresses with fitted open-neck or strapless tops enhance your upper body and draw the eye up, while full or A-line skirts help hide wider hips.
Apple
Your body has it’s narrowest point above the natural waist, at the ribs.Bring the focus up to your collarbone and rib cage by adding neck details. Take advantage of the fuller blouse trend to draw the eye up, taking attention away from the middle and allowing a looser fit. Full skirts and A-line styles create an hourglass illusion.
Straight
Your body has little definition between bust, waist and hip measurements.Create curves by adding a belt over a sweater or flowing top. Fitted sheath dresses play up your lines, while babydolls and A-line styles will also help create some curves. Look for jackets, sweaters and dresses that have details that create curves and interest.
Hourglass
Your body is curvaceous, with full bust, defined waist and full hips.Work the curves in clothes that fit. An advantage to this shape is that no matter your size, hourglass can work it! Wear those belts and fitted tops. Choose clothes that skim your curves rather than hug them too tight. Wraps, knits and dresses with fitted waists enhance your classically feminie form. Look for adjustible-waist styles for the best fi
Full Bust
Your bust measurement is fuller than hips and rear.Do not add bulk to try and hide it! And definitely do not wear anything high-necked. That just accentuates your bust. U-necks, V-necks and halters draw the eye dowward for a slimming effect. A-line styles, full skirts and details at the hem help balance out the bottom half.
Tags: Body Image, Body Type, Confidence, Fashion, Personal Brand, Personal Shopping, Personal Style, Personal Stylist Los Angeles, Self Esteem, Self Love, Style
 What’s a better confidence boost than knowing you look amazing?
Here are some quick tips to ensure you always look and feel GREAT! 1) Know your Purpose 2) Consider your Audience Even in a corporate setting, your presentation is important. Reallyputting effort into your wardrobe and presence tells your boss that you take your job seriously and are looking to get to the next level. You are a representation of the company, and it wants to be perceived as the best. Prove you do too! 3) Play with Color! 4) Build that Perfect Outfit 5) Have Fun! |
Tags: Color, Confidence, Dress for Success, Image, Personal Shopping, Personal Style, personal stylist, Purpose, Styling, Stylist
One reason why I enjoy listening to music while I work is the inherent motivation that often lies within the lyrics. A favorite of mine to get started with is Madonna’s “Give it 2 Me.” If you read the lyrics, they’re incredibly empowering, And if
you listen to the song, you can’t help but get up, dance a bit and feel rejuvenated. I’ve edited the lyrics a bit to save you from re-reading the chorus over and over.
“GIVE IT 2 ME”
What are you waiting for?
Nobody’s gonna show you how
Why work for someone else
To do what you can do right now?
Got no boundaries and no limits
If there’s excitement, put me in it!
If it’s against the law, arrest me
If you can handle it, undress me
Don’t stop me now, don’t need to catch my breath
I can go on and on and on
When the lights go down and there’s no one left
I can go on and on and on
Give it me, yeah
No one’s gonna show me how
Give it to me, year
No one’s gonna stop me now
They say that a good thing never lasts
And then it has to fall
Those are the people that did not
Amount to much at all
Give me the bassline and I’ll shake it
Give me a record and I’ll break it
There’s no beginning and no ending
Give me a chance to go and I’ll take it
Don’t stop me now, don’t need to catch my breath
I can go on and on and on
When the lights go down and there’s no one left
I can go on and on and on
Give it to me, yea
No one’s gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one’s gonna stop me now
You’re only here to win
Get what they say?
You’re only here to win
Get what they do?
They’d do it too
If they were you
You done it all before
It ain’t nothing new
Give it to me, yeah
No one’s gonna show me how
Give it to me, yeah
No one’s gonna stop me now!
Now that you’re inspired, take action and don’t stop! Whatever area of your life you want to uplevel, do this:
This could be big or small, but either way you’re setting an intention to accomplish something for yourself. If it is a big goal and you’re concerned about getting overwhelmed, then break it down into smaller goals. The point is to have that goal. This will propel you forward and you’ll soon be achieving things you’d previously thought impossible!
It’s really easy to say you’re going to do something, but it’s much harder to actually do it. If you set a plan, it becomes manageable since it’s just one step at a time. Always set a parameters to allow you to track your progress – this includes a timeline, the tasks, who to reach out to for help, your reward, etc. And be sure to write it down! Get it out of your head!
For instance, if you wanted to boost your confidence in your professional style your plan would include setting a budget for clothes, seeking out help from experts and friends, looking for inspiration and setting a timeline to achieve and then maintain your results.
If you tell someone, you immediately create accountability.
You’ve succeeded! Now take some time to celebrate what you’ve accomplished. In fact, you should be celebrating on the way as you get closer and closer to your goal. This will keep you motivated and moving forward. What is the reward you set for yourself in your plan? Go out and get it!
Tags: Challenge, Confidence, Goals, Madonna, Performance, Success