Ladies Who Launch

Passionate Launching: Katie Hellmuth

Katie Hellmuth is the designer for Katie James LLC, an accessories label for fengtual, feminine, and funky designs for accessories and collectible pieces of clothing. High-quality fabrics are used in all accessories, and the color combinations delightful.

I'd say that while debating a career in television programming as a temp in the research department of the Food Network, I decided to take a class in fashion design at FIT, and promptly fell in love. I never thought I'd be making and selling accessories, but that's where the venture has taken me.

You've got to tap into your passion - really tap into it and accept it. And accept that it changes. After getting this question to write about, I searched around my brain to pinpoint my passion(s), because it's not like I think about them everyday. So far, the list includes: lines, color, space (like the space between two objects), light, nature, love, my family, my dog and kitty, helping people, expressing, and money. My boyfriend's passions are: "Work, YOU...I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT YOU, Ohio State football, my family, and to be honest, I am passionate about being a good person."

By accepting and believing in my passions, no matter how simple or complex, I've allowed them to root themselves around my heart. At the same time, I have to let some ideas go if they aren't working out in order to make room for new ideas. Take Elle Woods from Legally Blond. She follows her passion (marrying the "right," rich guy with a convertible), which takes her to Harvard "to be a law student" to get him back after he dumps her (of which she works very hard to get in), where she discovers that her passion for doing the right thing, helping people, and promoting pink at all times, reveals that she is quite good at being a lawyer. And best of all, it makes her happy and satisfied. Her passion switches from a guy (who is icky) to law.

In the words of Elle, the following can bring you happiness and success: "Passion, courage of conviction, and a strong sense of self."

For slightly more, visit FashionMista.blogspot.com, the blog of Katie James, for a complete post.

Passionate Launching: Kimberley Osborne

Kimberley Osborne is member of the Incubator from Cleveland, Ohio.

Yes! I have launched something related to my passion. I think it is very important to launch passions. I would not launch anything I did not feel passionate about. In fact, I try to live passionately everyday!

I am very surprised when people do not listen to their hearts and work against their passions. I feel life is about enjoying the journey and following your dreams. It may not always be profitable but at least you feel a sense of pride and fulfillment inside.

To many people worry about money and followa path to where it may be, but they are left feeling empty even when theirbank accounts are full. True happiness stems from fulfilling your soul, your dreams and your passions.

Not everybody has the "guts"tofollow their passions. They think they may fail, but how can you ever fail when you have your spirit? Passions fill your soul and lift your spirits. Even when your passions may have not turned out assuccessful as you would have liked...you still felt a sense of joy in the journey.Many people can not even allow themselves to feel joy andfreedom and a direction towards true happiness. They are so hung up on failing, reputation andmonetary success thatthey
forget what truly matters in life.

Passionate Launching: Marisa Haedike

Marisa Haedike is an artist who is based in Los Angeles. Her website is Creative Thursday.

Passion is a Thrill and a Must

...especially in the world of launching.

Knowing and trusting your passion -  this is ultimately what determines your future, in my opinion. When you are truly passionate about an endeavor, and I say "truly" because there is a difference between somewhat passionate and truly passionate, people can tell; and most importantly you can tell when your heart is passionately engaged to its fullest capacity. I believe when your heart is fully engaged, this is when things start to move in your life!

In this case I speak from experience many times over. My heart has finally found its home as a creative and entrepreneurial spirit. From the time I left college as an advertising major, I was on the search for what has always existed inside of me. I am an artist. And under this artist umbrella, I am a painter, an illustrator, a designer and a podcaster and a teacher, as I love encouraging people to follow their dreams, to find, exactly this subject, their passion!