Want to Start a Company? Start with a Vision

One of the questions I’ve gotten the most over the last two years since setting out to establish Inspired by Dawn and creating the Style Rx is “How did you figure out how to do it? How did you know where to start?”. The truth is I didn't know. I had no idea about all the steps and strategy tweaks that it would take along the way. In fact, no one really does. There is no secret recipe or map leading to successfully launching a business and a brand.

Instead, I found more than ever it's about vision. I had a vision for different ways to make women's lives easier - by marrying style and function - and a strong focus on the core values and aesthetic that I wanted Inspired by Dawn to represent. Those were my guiding principals. I had a clear focus on what I wanted to put out into the world, and every time I was faced with a decision - whether it be a Pantone color for a printed pattern or final supplier choice - I weighed the options against my vision and often the choice became clear.

Before I started, maybe I knew all of this intellectually - define your vision, refine your strategy along the way, and the tactics will come into focus. But now I have lived it. I know it to be true. So the answer to "where to start" is to start at the end. What do you want to build, create, provide? What does it look, smell, feel like? Who do you want to reach with your product or service? What need do you want to address? What emotions do you want to illicit in those who interact with your brand? Start sketching out these ideas and give life to your vision. As you define that vision it will start to fill the blanks on where to start. And with a little luck and a lot of focus you can start your journey to Live Life Inspired.