When I first decided to transition careers ( I previously worked in Healthcare Management), I started school, then researched and tested out a few jobs to help me figure out exactly what I wanted to do in “Fashion”. Do I want to do PR? Be an MUA? What about becoming a Buyer? Stylist? These were all things that ran through my head because when you love fashion, you really don’t care WHAT you do within the industry, as long as you can be in it. On one hand, I had a lot of fun experimenting with different jobs but on the other, I was spinning my wheels. I was busy, but I really didn’t feel like I was accomplishing anything. A huge pet peeve of mine is hearing someone say “I Love/Am Fashion!” but when you try to talk to them about what they want to do, they’re all over the place. I never wanted that to be me. It’s fun to make that statement, but if you want to be taken seriously (and actually be successful at something) you HAVE to define what it is you’re passionate about within the industry. Here are 4 things that helped me define my passion. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/REUTERS Read One of the first things that I did was purchase a book about fashion careers. Depending on what your strengths are, you want something to help you figure out where to start, what to study, etc. In Fashion: From Runway to Retail, Everything You Need to Know to Break Into the Fashion Industry is a great place to start. Research your Career Idols I’m a huge fan of Rachel Zoe. Not so much for her styling work (I mean, obviously) but because of her FULL story. The Rachel Zoe of today didn’t happen over night. She spent 20 (twenty!) years working at magazines, assisting, sleeping on couches, etc. in order to get where she is now: designing her own line, writing books, starring on TV, etc. She worked HARD to design and create the career she wanted. Knowing the backstory of the people whose career I admire is pertinent in me designing my own. Set Goals Once you have a general idea of what you want you want to do (Stylist, Designer, PR Pro), what will it take for you to get there? How long? If you never set goals, you will never be able to measure your success. It’s extremely difficult to be strategic in building a career when you have no clue what you’re working towards. Get To Work & Be Consistent You can wish, plead, and make all of the vision boards in the world but if you’re not actively working towards whatever career you’ve chosen, what’s the point? If you’re not being consistent with your approach and maintaining good follow-through, how will you progress? What you do may not be perfect in the beginning but it’s necessary. The more you do, easier things get, and the more opportunities come your way. You can’t wait for it to fall in your lap, you have to work for it! Have you defined your passion? What are you doing to become a success? Cuff Statements | Fancy Baubles under $50 Photos | KP Fusion visits Dots Fashions