“Vision is not enough, it must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps, we must step up the stairs” ~ Vaclav Havel
If you’re anything like me, you have BIG DREAMS for your business and for your life.
The problem is, dreams alone lead nowhere and will never make your business wildly successful.
Your visions, ideas and dreams must be paired with the most important secret for success… how you show up in the world – and the actions you take.
I had a dream. I was consumed by it day and night and I visualized it as having already been achieved.
Did I ever doubt myself?
Yes. Absolutely. On more occasions than I care to recall.
Who was I to think, let alone believe, that I could make my mark in the American Bridal Industry?
I had so much going against me: I had absolutely no academic design background – I was an English major; I had no money except for the one green American Express card that I had already maxed out; No one in my family supported my dream – in fact they only laughed at my lofty aspirations. And I did not know anyone in this foreign land.
As I write this I am reminded of so many obstacles I was confronted with… never more so than during my recent visit to Bangkok.
To my surprise I ran into one of the people I’d known for years but had not seen ever since I had moved to Dallas.
It’s always exciting to catch up and trade stories on how much we’ve all grown and where life has taken us.
In fact I recalled that she was among those, who, 32 years ago, scoffed at my dreams, letting me know that my goals were totally unrealistic. She told me I was surely setting myself up for a disappointment, that I should lower my expectations, and that I should live within my means.
Even though I felt deflated initially by her comments putting it down to some jealousy perhaps, to be fair her feedback was sound and I believe now that she delivered her perspective with some compassion, and genuine concern.
I recall so clearly stepping back and reexamining my dream and lofty goals then, realizing that YES they were indeed pretty outrageous, but that was exactly the kind of outrageous that would fire me up and motivate me to work harder just so I could prove everyone wrong.
If you’re like me and you tend to dream big dreams, there’s a good chance you’ll face voices of dissent. And most of these will be from well-meaning family, friends, even strangers.
Tragically though, the most damaging voice of dissent often comes from within us. It’s our self-talk that we don’t have what it takes to succeed, that we just don’t have the right ‘stuff’ to be victorious. It’s this self-doubt that stops us in our tracks.
But I digress…
Now I would like to take you back to that stress filled day in April of 1985. To the time I felt I had really messed up.
Related: Part 1 – Every Success Story Starts With A Dream
Related: Part 2 – Recipe For Success – Set A Goal
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/recipe-for-success-set-a-goal_us_58fabdc2e4b0f420ad99c7a7
It was already the end of the second day of the Bridal Fashion Week and I had not taken a single order. I was starting to get seriously concerned…
I kept looking at the showrooms around me and the buying frenzy that was going on. Every showroom was filled to the brim with people writing orders and shaking hands and laughing.
And here I was, across the hall from them, with no action except for the press taking notes frantically and photographers snapping pictures with their cameras.
I would look wistfully at my beautiful babies – my creations, the luxurious colorful wedding dresses all waiting to be touched and admired.
In my heart I knew this was the most beautiful collection I had ever designed in my life. And I knew it was only a matter of time before buyers would take notice.
They say ignorance is bliss…
Because lo and behold, the next morning as I walked into the glass building making my way to my showroom, a stack of The Dallas Apparel News piled up on the front desk at the foot of the elevators stopped me in my tracks.
My heart skipped a beat as I looked at my face staring back at me from the front page of the Bridal industry’s most revered paper.
The headline read: “ST. PUCCHI DESIGNS DREAM-LIKE GOWNS!”
The media wrote about my courage and daring in upsetting the industry norm. And hailed me as the pioneer for introducing color and silk fabrics to the U.S. Bridal scene.
The American bridal industry as we knew it, had changed forever…
I could not believe my eyes and was so encouraged and humbled by the recognition. I wanted to shout from the rooftops! But kept my composure and headed to my showroom.
There was a line of buyers waiting for me to open the doors.
And I wrote orders…
But now would come the biggest test of all…
Next week: Part 4 – Success Is A Journey – Not A Destination
Now I would like to suggest something, if I may…
If you’re not happy with the success in your business, then you owe it to yourself to do something about it.
If you choose to do nothing, then don’t expect your business, and your life, to get any better, as it’s doubtful that they ever will…
If you’re ready to finally do something about your level of success (except complaining about it or just wishing it gets better on its own), then take action, however small it may be.
Every day do a little something that will move you toward your goal.
Consistency is key.
Know that there’s a big difference between dreaming and doing.
And while no one can deny the power of positive thinking, far too many people neglect to act on those thoughts to make their dreams a reality.
Just do it!
To be continued…
Next week: Part 4 – Success Is A Journey – Not A Destination
© Rani St. Pucchi, 2017
Rani St. Pucchi is an award-winning Couture Fashion Designer, Style & Image Consultant, and a Relationship Expert. She is a Bestselling Author, a Speaker, an Inspirational Success Coach and a Trainer. Her #1 International Bestselling Books, Your Body, Your Style: Simple Tips on Dressing to Flatter Your Body Type http://amzn.to/2eRcOb6 and The SoulMate Checklist : Keys to Finding Your Perfect Partner http://amzn.to/2gXiHFz are now available on Amazon and at Barnes & Nobles.
For more information on Rani please visit www.ranistpucchi.com
Rani St. Pucchi is an inspirational speaker, empowerment coach, bestselling author, image consultant, and founder and designer of St. Pucchi, the internationally acclaimed bridal fashion house. She draws on her more than 30 years in the fashion industry to help women abandon debilitating self-doubt, and become the designers of their own lives. Rani empowers thousands of women across the world with her message of body-positivity and self-love. 
