What is xoNecole?
Over the last year, I’ve been bombarded with messages about the launch of my new beauty/lifestyle brand xoNecole and I am happy to say that it’s coming and I couldn’t be happier!   The name and logo was derived from a meeting with my web firm back in March 2013.  A year prior, I remember reading some of the commentary on my celebrity gossip and entertainment news site in regards to celebrities, and wishing that I had a destination that those same readers could go to, to talk about life, love, beauty, style and relationships in a, positive, uplifting and supportive environment.  I wrote my goals and plans for the site down, but it wasn’t until January 2013, when I reread ‘The Dream Giver’ that I really got the balls to make this dream a reality.
Long story short, The Dream Giver is about a nobody named Ordinary who lives in the land of Familiar. One day, he decides that he doesn’t want to be a nobody anymore, he wants to be a somebody, so he decides to pursue his big dream, but first he has to leave his comfort zone and walk through the wall of fear. Then, of course, there are obstacles, like getting past his bullies, walking through the wasteland, finding faith and facing Giants. The book had a very spiritual undertone but helped me realized that in this journey of success, I had at some point become comfortable with just existing again versus really following my true passion and having fulfillment. To me it was wanting to do something that really made a difference and impacted lives in a positive way, so I had to get back to my journey of finding the path of fulfillment once again.
The thing is, when you are trying to do something that is outside of what people know you for, it’s a very scary thing, but, they say if your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.
I got back at work again, and from there the full site was scheduled to launch June 2013 during BET Awards Weekend, but it never did.  I set another launch date for October, and again, I ran into more than a few hiccups. By the end of the year, I looked back at the time and money that was spent on bringing the project to life and started to ask myself was this really worth it.  I was in what the book considers ‘The Wasteland’.  During that time, the character, ran out of food and water (I was running out of money), and would call out to ‘The Dream Giver’ but would get no answer. He started to doubt his dream and had thoughts of turning back, but at some point, before he lost all hope, he met a woman name ‘Faith.’
And you know once you meet Faith, she will take you where you need to go.
I say all this to say, after some reflecting, taking a break from the Internet and running off to Europe for 10 days, meditating, praying and surrendering my dream to God,  I am back to working on bringing this project back to life again.
Things are going well, but the biggest lesson I learned in all of this was is that you have to work at your own pace versus rushing things. Perfection and greatness takes time. It’s not going to be perfect the first time around, and it might not be perfect the second time around, but you have to keep pushing, and working, and tweaking, until your dreams become reality and everything is how you always imagined it to be.
The other lesson I’ve learned is that, you can’t do everything alone. Success isn’t a road that’s meant to be traveled alone. You have to connect with people, you have to partner with people who make sense and whose visions and goals are aligned with what you want to do and where you want to go, and it will be those partnerships that will help take your brand to the next level.
People look at me and say, ‘I want that success’, but the truth is, I’m still on my journey and it’s far from being over. I’m just getting started and working hard to get where I want to be.  I’m at the edge of my comfort zone right now, and boy is it an uncomfortable place, but I’m excited for what’s to come.
In the meantime, the temporary xoNecole.com site is up!  Currently, you can view our last three events, and sign up for our mailing list to receive a weekly email from me.
Over the next year, xoNecole will host a series of women empowerment events all over the U.S. (and maybe even Europe!), and it will transition into a portal where women can discuss what’s hot in beauty, fashion, fitness, health, travel and love.
The xoNecole store will also carry “Pretty Girls Read Too” and “Reading Is Sexy” shirts for my lover of books.
Thank you for your many blessings and patience.
Necole
Book referenced: The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson
P.S. I want to thank the lovely Virginia State University grad Nadine for redesigning the temp site.  I  love when I have the opportunity to meet young, ambitious go-getters, especially young women of color who are just looking for opportunities to prove their greatness. You are amazing Nadine and have been my Godsend.
 
 

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