We were lucky to catch up with Rhonda Cole recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Rhonda, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. –Johann Wolfgang von Goeth
My optimism comes from my parents, especially my mother who encouraged me to follow my dreams. Coupled with reading, ” The Power of Positive Thinking” by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, at a young age, I begin to realize anything was possible. That was only the beginning of understanding how to harness the power of positive thinking to achieve my goals.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a New York City based fashion designer of luxurious white blouses for women. Subtle sophistication and clean lines with a contemporary feel are elements that best define my collection. Designed in natural fabrics, they’re crafted in New York City and Peru. As founder, it’s exciting to create garments that reflect my personal style.
Without formal training in the business of fashion, I spent a few years learning how to navigate The New York City Garment District. Although, I found it extremely challenging, I was undeterred, and produced my first collection in 2016. When one of my designs landed on a character in the popular HBO series, “Succession”, I was simply thrilled and knew I was on the right track.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, three of the most impactful qualities for me in my journey were having a vision, plan & education myself about the industry I would work in.
Vision – I had a clear vision as to the type of business I wanted to establish years before I took action.
Planning – Having a vision is the first step toward creation, however, without a solid plan I knew my vision wouldn’t come to fruition. Planning gives direction and guidance to help achieve your goals. You’ll still make mistakes, as I did. Identify and learn from them to avoid repeating them in the future.
Knowledge – Get the knowledge you need before you establish your business. My first plan of action was to learn as much about the business of fashion as possible. My knowledge of the industry was through the lens of a consumer. Designing and producing a garment is totally different from shopping for one. I spent approximately two years visiting trade shows, fabric houses and garment production facilities in The New York City Garment District and I’m still learning.
My advice to anyone starting a business is to also prepare for setbacks, disappointments, and sacrifice. Consider the financial implications and hard work required because vision alone doesn’t guarantee success. With that said, don’t give up, be resilient, persevere and above all, maintain a positive mindset.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did was to emphasize the value of a good education. Education was the foundation for everything I’ve achieved. At an early age my goals including relocating to New York to establish a career in publishing and eventually start a business. With that said, life is not linear. Things don’t always turn out as planned. Events occurred, positive, as well as negative and my dreams were delayed. Through it all, I remained optimistic. I found the courage to leave my job in 2014 and never looked back.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rhondacole.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhondacole_whiteshirts_ny/
Image Credits
Brigitte Altenhaus
