starting your own business & A GIVEAWAY!!

Today my good friend Yvonne of both Lumibon and Bondesal wants to give you advice on how to start your own business (and it's damn good advice, too!) Stay tuned at the end for a surprise, courtesy of Yvonne!!

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There is not a shortage of opportunities. Go make your own job. Stop asking for more chances to go sit around and do what you don't really want to do. Just go do what you really want to do.

My friend Justin posted the above status on his Facebook a few days ago. Then it brought me to a quote from one of my favorite movies, A Star is Born (1937).

Janet Gaynor, Fredric March, Adolph Menjou

...there's a difference between dreaming and doing. The dreamers just sit around and moon about how wonderful it would be if only things were different. And the years roll on and by and by they grow and they forget everything, even about their dreams.

I moved to the NYC area a few years ago to (dramatic pause) be an actress. Got myself a couple of jobs that were less than fulfilling. Got myself stuck making money. I called it 'blood money' because I literally bled out my soul for it. I was not happy and I forgot the whole reason why I even moved up here. I became so angry and sad that I didn't recognize myself.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO AGAINST EVERYTHING YOU ARE MADE OF. YOU BECOME SOMEONE EVEN YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE.

Luckily, I had my.darling, supportive roommates, and a very tight circle of friends who kept me sane, kept my head up, and encouraged me to GTFO of the toxic situation I was in. I quit that horrible job, moved someplace quiet, and started my jewelry line Lumibon.

I'd always loved jewelry. Got that from my mom. I started collecting jewelry when I was 10, and making my own jewelry when I was 12, but all of that fell by the wayside with the pressures of school and other priorities. Art never was far from my heart, though. I went to art school for a spell (official art school dropout), did a year of soul searching, then decided to major in Theater. Everything is coming full circle now, I am using one art to support myself and my other art. It's only been a few months, but I feel like I'm coming back to myself and who I really am.

The lesson here is to stand up for who you are and do what you want to do. Did you read that right? DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART. The rest will follow.

But be smart about it. I am working part-time while making my dreams a reality, but it is a much better situation.

Be your damn self. That's my advice.

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Thanks so much Yvonne! (Don't forget to visit her jewelry store or her personal blog!)

To help celebrate being independent and doing what is right for your life, Yvonne is doing a giveaway of one of these beautiful Candy Rocks bracelets (the color is your choice!) I am so jealous - these are seriously beautiful and you are so lucky to have the chance to enter!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway