our ootra philosophy…

when you walk through our doors…we style your spirit and not your physical self…we look into your eyes…your smile…and sense your inner energy….we style your TRUE self….

xoxo

ootragirl

never allow your style to become stagnant
when you sense it
shake it up…
come to ootra
we are experts at
“tweaking” you up!!
xoxo

things are never perfect..
what are you waiting for?

the sooner you learn.. nothing is perfect..and that you will never have everything you need to launch..

once you accept this and begin..
the clearer your vision will become..

you are going to always worry…always stress..
never wait til everything is in line..

believe me..
there will never be enough money… enough time…enough support..or enough anything ..to make it easy..

you have to suffer.. you have to be frustrated… you have to go through pain .. to comprehend the sacrifice it takes to GO!!

set up with less.. this is the way..
ootra in naperville began with $500 .. there was nothing more important than getting the doors open and letting me begin meeting ..talking and making it happen..

the chappaqua ootra opening again on a shoestring … but that’s what makes the process magical..

money doesn’t create success
your passion .. intensity of drive.. your fierceness to make it happen.. this is what does it..

who are you? what are you made of?
only a small percentage of people
embody the spirit …
who are truly entrepreneurial in mind..spirit and body..

to dream ..to envision and to create your future …happens today..

you have to step to the edge..and let go of everything safe and familiar..
yet eyes wide open..

accept missteps.. don’t beat yourself up.. rather .assess…learn ..correct and improve…immediately..

things just don’t happen..
at the end of every day
assess what you did.. how can you make it a better experience..

I walk home from work and take that time to go over every movement every action and figure how can each of my team become better.. how could each interaction be more potent..
the nuances that make all the difference..

you have to be afraid
actually if you aren’t afraid something is wrong..

fear is the excitement
the edge
the driving force..
the unknown is the challenge
the thought anything can happen
this is living..
creating your own challenge..
being your private adversary
analyzing every move you make..

manic..
perfection..
the highs..the lows…
the wanting to close the store forever.. give up..
and yet wanting to expand to 5 different cities..
this is a natural state of mind..

you must
trust in yourself
your intuition.. your vision..

intensity beyond comprehension..

difficult to do but you need to learn to release parts of your brand… to others and to trust..this allows you time to fly..

mistakes occur..
teaching you to become stronger.. they strengthen your drive..

opening a store? sounds wow.. it is in theory…
in reality ..fun.. stressful.. exhilarating and yet frustrating..

knowing how you would love to set it up and yet the expense makes it impossible..financing ..funding small businesses..impossible.
but money doesn’t create success
good ol’ passion does..

you make do …we are opening our second store with alot of passion and belief…paint brushes in hand..

we do everything we can in manpower..to set up.. no expense other than materials..
saving money…key component

think… is it better to begin? and do with less? or wait til everything is perfect?

expansion created through determination and passion..
two stores
fulfilling a goal..

you have an idea?
get off the couch..and make it happen..
quit making excuses…
what’s the worst thing to happen?
you fail?
who cares…
try again..

never create through ego
ego kills a brand
as you begin you need to be able to adapt..
your horizon will alter daily..

if your eyes and heart are open then you will feel the nudge.. sense the thoughts that might veer away from original goal yet
become an even better idea..

adaptation is vital..

vision
drive
belief
intensity
listen
adapt
team
endurance
trust

listen to critique from trusted sources
never to criticism
know the difference..
surround yourself with positive people… your shield..
avoid negative influences
rather be the beacon
others follow..

lead with heart and your vision
your passion is your fuel..
gather a team of others who love doing what you dislike to do but is necessary for growth..
this is how great brands arise..

forget finding funding
just begin
and the money will be there

embrace being afraid
push through..
be resilient..

trust..
xoxo

those who critique.. I listen
those who criticize .. I ignore
those who are positive.. I love
those who are negative.. I avoid
xoxo
ootragirl