Happy Monday Travelers,

Over the past few years I have noticed that more brands, networks, and publications have been providing more programs, shows, and panels/workshops on the business of fashion. It appears that as the fashion industry becomes more accessible to people they are not just interested in the glossy surface of fashion but the gritty business that makes it run.

I am actually pretty pleased to see this new interest as I have seen many a student come into FIDM thinking that all they need to do is dress great, smoke a ciggy, and have a jaded attitude with a camera and you're straight up fashion. That is so not true and every quarter there are tears and drop outs for the unprepared. But for those who understand that this will take so much more work than knowing the difference between Marc Jacobs and Marc Ecko, school plus the invaluable information provided by the various media outlets, can prove to be the foundation of a great and successful career in the industry.

Online zine Fashionista just recently had a panel discussion with select leaders in the industry about what it takes to build and maintain their retail businesses. Here is the article. I am interested to watch the live stream they will provide next year as I as not too impressed with the recording of the minutes of this meeting I feel there might have been some vital information and quotes that were left out of the notes or summarized which could minimize the points the panelist where trying to make.

One of my favorite sites The Business of Fashion as a great series on FashionStake and a detailed look on building their company. This is for the hardcore business minded but the terminology is priceless for being successful on the other side of the runway. Let me know what you think!

Happy Reading and Happy Travels,
"One Step Forward, Just Glance Back! No Fear, Just DIVA"
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Well Hello there Travelers!

Yes yes yes I am back. I know I know the pic of Jay-Z's Black Album I found to be appropriate as this was the worst "This is my last post." Experience ever LOL! So let me be honest about my "retirement" from this blog, and take you through the steps of what lead to my return:

1. I started a new blog Confessions of a Modern Day Clacker. If you follow me on Twitter (@FirstThreeInc), then you will notice that when I tweet about my work I include the hashtag #ConfesssionsofaModernDayClacker. I really thought that this would replace NFJD, but in all honesty they express two different aspects of the industry. This blog is to show the opportunities out there for going for your career, where as Clacker is my personal experience out there with what I have learned from DIVA. Using the tools of DIVA I have been able to create Clacker. Does that make sense?
   
2. I am just really not consistent with blogging. I have yet to figure out how to balance life and this blog. I added WordPress for BlackBerry to my phone which makes it easier for me to maintain Clacker, but blogger has yet to have a similar component. (Let me be honest I am not even consistent with Clacker even though I have the tools) So the posts may not be updated on a consistent basis, which can affect my readers and reader count I know, but I promise the content will be worth it.
3. Being a perfectionist. I don't even know how that is possible b/c nothing is perfect, but I have been letting that hold me back from actually posting. Well that will be happening no longer!!
   

So keep a look out Travelers as your Fashion Freeway will be fueled and up and running in no time!

Happy Travels!

"One Step Forward, Just Glance Back. No Fear, Just DIVA"

Today's post is all about watching your mouth at work. I was going to do this in two separate posts but I think that it works well in one.

One day the office manager asks me "Mei-Li, is this your first real office job?" Before I could allow myself to get offended I had to think, and it was. Well I mean, I was a leasing consultant for a year but to be honest the interaction with my boss there is nothing like the interactions with my boss/woman I want to be like when my fashion career grows up.

I told her it was (after going through practically all my previous jobs) and she sent me an article that she thought would be of help to me as she has said it has been help to her throughout her career. I want to share it with you:


I could have easily caught an attitude and missed a growth opportunity, but since the answer to her question was in the affirmative, it had merit. Sometimes when we are in a position of open vulnerability(ie the ending of my probationary period) we have a tendency to act as if every comment that is not open praise is an attack on you/your character or performance. This can blur the lines between genuine help and unsolicited criticism.

So if you are like me and love your job and are turning it into a career, read this fun article about taking criticism gracefully. It's a good read and fun to read with a British accent. But reading between the lines the writer makes a good point throughout the entire post: Your boss cares about RESULTS so fire the middle man named BS and take heed to what they are saying to you. Excuse, Blame, and Dissertations are all ways to kill office report (sp?) and is a sign of immaturity. Don't be this girl:

Yeah we all know Stephanie from Kell on Earth and her fate.

Happy Travels!

"One Step Forward, Just Glance Back. No Fear, Just DIVA!" [source1] [source2]

Unrelated to my career in fashion I started taking a dance class and after about one month I was bumped from Beginner to Intermediate. I was too excited I was ready to dance with the big kids, but I soon learned that I was going/am going to have to work much harder at these classes as well as the work I do to prepare in between classes if I ever want to move up to Advanced and I can clearly see now that will not happen in one month like with the Beginner classes. Not as much was required of me and it was at a much slower pace.

I'm starting to find similarities in my career. Sure I graduated FIDM with an A average, but there are days at work when I feel as if I am pulling in a big fat C. Remember the post on the book What Got You Here Wont Get You There? I still have not read the whole book but already do I understand the concept. I'm living the concept. I don't have a week to put a project together, I have 3 hours. There is no 5 min grace period and that eye for detail that you will one day grow into you need by the 3p buyers meeting. Multitasking is a must and there is no way to compartmentalize your life by completing work for one class and then moving on to another. Your classes are all rolled into one with a pretty stiff deadline.

I have full intentions to take this picture (which I took) and do some Photoshop magic but in the meantime I felt it appropriate for today's post.

So this brings me to the title of this post and the picture above. It takes more to build a career. Your whitty self in class that made your teachers smirk and say you have potential is just annoying to your boss. Your hours of visionary labor to create the perfect mood board is not cut to just 30 minutes. You need to be better; and if you want to stay where you are let alone GROW where you are you need to stay better. Work harder, think faster, and refuse to give up. You can't ride along your Fashion Freeway on Cruise Control thinking that it will maintain your speed and build your career. Put your foot on the gas and GO! Because as you can see it takes miles/years to get to a career, and this my dear Travelers is the desired Point B.

Happy Travels!

"One Step Forward, Just Glance Back. No Fear, Just DIVA!"

Just one day after I post the WSJ video with Russell Simmons and him speaking on how teamwork and delegation contributed to the growth of his empire, I read this article talking about how some of the top names in Fashion are now 70+ and have yet to even mention a successor. I don’t mess with politics here on No Fear, Just DIVA but it just really reminds me of McCain for some reason… Anywhoo, the truth stated in the article is that no one lives forever, at one point a designer must succumb to the inevitable and another must take their place to continue the brand. But is the fear that no successor can give the house the immortality that cannot be achieved by the designer himself or is it just a matter of control and not wanting to let go?

I am still learning much about the business of fashion but I think that with anything a good leader knows when to let go and pass the baton to their subordinates. When properly trained an employee/apprentice/intern should be able to successfully promote to a higher position and maintain the core values of the company.

Just once I tweeted “I’d rather them assume I know nothing and teach me everything than think I know everything and teach me nothing” When accepting my position my boss made it very clear that they were looking for someone teachable which let me know right away I was walking into a trusting environment that is about growth and promotion.

What are your thoughts and experiences Travelers? Review past post about the Secret Truths of the Fashion Industry. There is a “truth” in there about the insecurities of co-workers and employees that are used to hold each other down. I will do a separate post about that soon, but I think it may tie in pretty nicely with this theme. On that note Bravo! to employers and business persons like Russell Simmons who is more than ready and willing to pass on the baton to his readily trained subordinates.

I know I sure can’t wait until my boss says to me “Stick!” (track term for those of you not familiar)

Happy Travels! [source]