For the past month, I’ve been on a brief hiatus from blogging and social media. However, I’ve been tweeting away at StylebyVal during this time. Twitter is my new addiction. You’d think the 140 character limit would be a turn-off for a writer, not the case with me. I love it! With the exception of my Twitter bingeing, I needed time to reflect on certain aspects of my life— the good and the not so good.

First, I’ve incorporated personal styling as a key service my fashion start-up C’est Mode Chic now provides. Customers can customize their styling session to suit their needs. This is something I’m very excited to introduce. Simply telling someone what to wear is not the goal here. Educating both men and women on how to save time and to shop wisely so they feel more confident in their appearance is at the heart of what C’est Mode Chic is about. However, setting up the necessary tools (e.g. crafting and integrating an online style questionnaire and other website changes) to accommodate this type of custom, one-on-one solution for our customers took time and several glitches to overcome. Now, I’m happy to report we are finally ready to welcome new clients! If you live in either Fairfield County or Westchester County, sign up for one of our personal style packages. Perhaps you need help dressing for a big event or a closet overhaul. C’est Mode Chic is here to give you the special attention and personal touch you deserve.

The second part of this life evaluation is a little more personal and hard to talk about. Since launching my business, I’ve discovered the hardships inherent with being an entrepreneur that no one talks about. If you’re not careful, being an entrepreneur can take a toll on your emotional and physical health because it’s an incredibly stressful journey. Getting your startup off the ground is a long and sometimes thankless process that requires resilience, dedication, and passion.

Even though the news headlines spin a different story, the reality is there’s no such thing as an overnight success. Honestly, it takes years of hard work. Another harsh truth, is the fact that friends and family may not be as supportive of your new venture as you might have hoped. This is the area I’ve had the most difficulty dealing with over the past couple of years. However, I’ve learned that people are comfortable with the familiar such as a steady 9 to 5 job, marriage, kids but once you deviate from the typical life script that’s when people tend to get confused and uncomfortable. Hence, their lack of understanding and at times disinterest in your efforts to launch a business. In this case, I’ve learned to be patient and not to respond with frustration when relatives ask me for the thousandth time, “So when are you going to have a kid?”

Another thing to be aware of is the fact that some friendships are not strong enough to endure as you transition into entrepreneurship and that’s okay. There are other business owners out there who understand what you’re going through because they’re going through the same hardships or have at some point. I highly recommend joining a local group for entrepreneurs such as, attending nearby Meetups and Startup Grind events featuring talks by successful entrepreneurs. Recently, I joined the Greenwich chapter as a volunteer helping with social media and marketing. Startup Grind is a Google for Entrepreneurs community that mentors, educates and connects entrepreneurs. Having this type of support can make a difference in your outlook on life and be the positive influence needed to succeed as an entrepreneur. Building something from nothing can be both a rewarding and frustrating experience but, luckily, you don’t have to do it alone.