“Heeeeeeey Kelly! I am so glad you are here!” She beamed and gave me a gigantic hug like we were long lost friends.
Approach-ably chic in her ripped skinny jeans, a graphic tee, black booties and a rock-star jacket, she flipped her long blonde hair from one side to the other. In the next sixty seconds, she managed to quickly wrap up her meeting, coordinate timing with her adorable assistant, and kick start our meeting all at the same time. Her grace made us each of us feel important, thanked and welcomed. Wow. Pro-skills.
I imagine the majority of her days are spent like this…Juggling. Balancing. Prioritizing.
We walked through the impeccably stylish corporate office, each space more magazine worthy then the last. An open warehouse, redefined with simple white walls, pops of black trim, and rooms filled with all things fashionable from fabric samples to completed clothing on garment racks. For a brief moment, I was transported back to early start of my career in the fashion industry in New York City. I took a deep breath, looked up at the wall labeled INSPIRATION, and knew that the reason for my visit may just be as bold as that message.
“Wow Dana.” I said in my most adult voice trying not to sound too excited, too giddy, too immature, too valleygirl, too well….me. “This. Is. Awesome.” To which she replied, shaking her head, in a state of almost equal wonder, as though she wanted to pinch herself too. “Yeah, it really is.”
Meet Dana Spinola, founder and Chief Visionary Officer of fab’rik Boutiques and author of a new book called “Love What You Do: A plan for creating a life you love filled with passion and purpose”.
We plopped down on two white fluffy slipper chairs in the middle of a gigantic open workroom, and began the interview. We chatted, compared notes, and during our conversation I kept thinking….she made time for this. She, who has a million things on her to do list, and an endless amount of priorities made time for me. So, like a sponge, I not only soaked up practical entrepreneurial lessons about setting boundaries, but personal advice on scheduling in date night with my husband and putting myself on the back burner. Lessons learned from experience. Life lessons she also details in her book.
Her experiences have not always been as pretty as the latest collection showcasing the front window of her stores. She humbly shares the story of the launch of her first boutique. A story she never used to share, as it didn’t have quite the picture perfect ending she imagined. Did that make her fearful of another disaster? Nope. Afraid of hardship? Nope. Apprehensive about the uphill battle of recovery? Nope. Was she resilient…yes! Tenacious…yes! In pursuit of her passion…Yes! Yes! Yes!
Dana, a self professed avid dreamer, with an abundant heart for inspiring others to find meaningful passion and purpose to life, has clearly defined her own. Behind the chapters of her book, the doors of her stores, the smiles from the women she serves though her free fab’rik non profit organization, or the Asher clothing line dedicated to orphaned children in Africa, Dana is all heart. She strives to improve and enrich the lives of the women not only in her community but across the globe.
How does she do it all? “I had to come to terms with the fact that I can do anything, but I can’t do everything.” This is just one of the eleven compelling quotes that appear between chapters in her book. Also found at the end of each chapter is a manageable action list for thinking, recognizing, questioning and visualizing. You know, the stuff we put off doing, because there is homework to be done, dishes to be unloaded, or emails to be answered. Dana challenges us to find the sweet spot of happiness where passion and purpose, mission and vision intersect.
Vibe Fitness is highlighting extraordinary women that have a unique quality that they unabashedly “own” courageously and without hesitation. Women who lead by action and example. We are honored to have Dana Spinola kick off our 2019 Fearless Women Campaign.
So what exactly does it mean to be fearless? According to Dana, “Fearless is not the absence of fear. Fear is completely natural. God is pushing you to grow beyond your boundaries. God is good, he will protect you. The fear you feel will be your guide to get uncomfortable and take the next step.”
Just like the in-store “wow” experience fab’rik creates for every customer, I left our meeting feeling inspired, motivated, encouraged and acutely aware of the value of being intentional. Her story is a real life example of how the depth of passion and purpose are woven together. Dana Spinola, Fearless Visionary.
“She who shines bright, unconsciously gives others permission to do the same.” ~Author Unknown
Love What You Do: A plan for creating a life you love filled with passion and purpose
by Dana Spinola
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