What work have been you doing beforehand?
I labored for 9 years as a Visible Merchandiser Supervisor for a number of style manufacturers.
The manufacturers included Moschino, Dolce & Gabbana, Costume Nationwide and La Rinascente and I used to be accountable for coordinating and supervising the visible picture of shops worldwide.
I managed different visible workers concerned in creating shows. I personally oversaw new retailer openings in addition to the organising of boutiques, showrooms, particular occasions, and commerce gala’s.
What are you doing now?
I’m working as a retail advisor.
I particularly assist retailer house owners enhance communication, product show, and total retailer picture.
I additionally help them in enhancing the client expertise and creating strategic and industrial options to spice up gross sales efficiency.
I am concerned in training within the subject of Visible Merchandising. I at present train on the worldwide college Istituto Marangoni within the “Style Styling and Inventive Path” and “Style Administration” programs.
I additionally train on the skilled institute ACOF in Milan for the “Style Styling” packages.
I run numerous programs by totally different Chambers of Commerce throughout Italy, Federmoda and different non-public organizations.
Why did you alter?
I made a decision to vary my life as a result of, as an worker, I felt trapped in a routine.
Routine left no room for my private life, experimentation, examine, or progress – each personally and professionally.
It felt as if yearly was the identical: the collections modified, however the tempo and dynamics remained unchanged.
When was the second you determined to make the change?
I spent two years fascinated with quitting my job and altering my life earlier than I lastly discovered the braveness to do it.
In the future I instructed myself: you continue to have loads of time forward of you (I used to be 34), a stable CV behind you, and an entire world ready for you – simply do it.
Worst case, you may all the time return.
After resigning with none backup plan, I took a while off – a much-needed interval of relaxation – and determined to go on a journey with no fastened plans and no return ticket.
My first cease was Rome, then the Maldives, adopted by India, and eventually Bali.
I spent a couple of month and a half within the final two locations, looking out not just for a potential new lifestyle, however maybe extra for myself.
All of the individuals I cherished have been really again in Italy. Being so far-off made me rediscover and deeply admire my nation, so I made a decision to return – however to not Milan.
I selected as an alternative to begin a bucolic expertise engaged on natural farms in central Italy. In the long run, my sabbatical stretched into three years.
How did you select your new profession?
Because of an sudden alternative – a contact on LinkedIn – I started consulting for an Italian model with two boutiques in Capri and Palm Seaside.
That’s when the spark of my ardour for the world of Visible Merchandising was reignited.
From there, I began taking up extra consulting initiatives, which introduced me again into the retail world – not as an worker anymore, however as a freelancer.
Are you proud of the change?
I’m very proud of the change I made.
Being in charge of your individual life, being current for the individuals you like, and with the ability to develop totally different initiatives on the identical time is actually priceless.
Life has regained its which means, and though issues aren’t all the time straightforward with out a fastened month-to-month earnings, the rewards are considerable.
I’ve been capable of fulfill a number of long-held desires, together with beginning a household, writing a guide on Visible Merchandising, and shopping for a house surrounded by nature.
I dwell near Milan, but removed from the chaos – in a slower, more healthy surroundings.
What do you miss and what do not you miss?
What I miss most about being an worker is the teamwork, colleagues, shared initiatives, and naturally, the regular paycheck and the perks.
I positively don’t miss the routine or the sensation of being chained down.
How did you go about making the shift?
My change didn’t comply with a rigorously thought-out plan, however moderately the pure move of issues, which I selected to belief.
It wasn’t one thing rational or premeditated, however extra about listening to my emotions and following my instincts and wishes.
Generally the trail reveals itself as you stroll it; you don’t see it straight away.
How did you develop (or switch) the abilities you wanted to your new function?
Since I stayed virtually inside the identical subject I got here from, all my earlier abilities proved extraordinarily helpful in dealing with my new job.
These abilities gave me the credibility I wanted to enter a brand new and far broader market.
I needed to examine lots to refine my data and be taught the whole lot essential to, in a approach, turn out to be an entrepreneur. I took many programs, learn a number of books, and did lots of networking (by no means sufficient).
As a freelancer, you now not have the backing of an organization’s title behind you. It’s important to construct a brand new picture for your self that’s credible, robust, and dependable.
That positively requires assets, not solely by way of effort but in addition financially. It’s important to be taught to spend money on your self and I’ve discovered to do this, although not with out making a couple of errors alongside the way in which.
What didn’t go nicely? What incorrect turns did you’re taking?
Earlier than deciding what I actually needed to do “once I grew up,” I invested lots of time, power, and cash into two different entrepreneurial concepts.
The primary one, whereas I used to be nonetheless employed, was an try to begin a vegan-vegetarian catering enterprise with a pal.
Nonetheless, the venture stalled earlier than it even acquired off the bottom – not with out costing us loads of power, time, sleep, and cash and in the end, it additionally marked the tip of our friendship.
The second false begin occurred once I tried to arrange a small lab for producing recent aloe juice alone.
After a yr and a half spent determining learn how to make the enterprise authorized (Italy’s meals laws are actually a nightmare), viable, and economically sustainable, I spotted the venture simply wasn’t possible.
As a freelancer, I additionally created digital merchandise that I used to be by no means capable of promote alone. This resulted in losing a major amount of cash and, above all, numerous hours of labor.
My Visible Merchandising video course (obtainable in each Italian and English) is being offered on-line by a companion platform, which handles all of the digital points, together with launch, promoting, and promotion.
I consider collaboration is likely one of the important parts for any freelancer, as a result of doing the whole lot alone is actually inconceivable.
How did you deal with your funds to make your shift potential?
Luckily, I’d all the time envisioned beginning a private venture at some point.
So, throughout my years as an worker, I managed to save lots of a good amount of cash.
This later allowed me to step away from my job and dedicate myself totally to my very own path.
When you keep away from spending cash on pointless indulgences, I can guarantee you that it’s potential to save lots of a major quantity over time.
What was probably the most tough factor about altering?
Change is frightening.
My largest worry was, firstly, disappointing my dad and mom by leaving a wonderful job, an important place, and a great wage.
Then, in fact, there was the worry of uncertainty – I really took a leap into the unknown, with no plan besides a one-way ticket.
For me, this transformation coincided with the will and necessity to maneuver away from Milan, so it additionally concerned the worry of leaving associates and, basically, the second life I had constructed there.
I’m initially from southern Italy, so it wasn’t straightforward for me to depart the whole lot and transfer to Milan again in 2005. Naturally, I felt the identical apprehension when leaving Milan in 2014.
What assist did you get?
The best assist I acquired was emotional assist.
It was rooted within the certainty of actually realizing and feeling my household’s assist.
What have you ever learnt within the course of?
Freedom is priceless.
Residing with out regrets is priceless. Life is a superb journey, and it takes braveness to dwell it to the fullest.
However it additionally teaches that earlier than letting go, maybe we have to be taught to relaxation once we’re reaching our limits.
Working away out of your fears doesn’t assist – they comply with you wherever you go. And true associates will await you even after the storms diminish, however those that keep, keep for all times.
What do you would like you’d accomplished in another way?
Earlier than leaving for my journey, I had the chance to interview with Louis Vuitton for a really attention-grabbing place in Dubai.
I’ve to confess, I type of want I’d gone by with that interview, simply to see what would’ve occurred subsequent.
What would you advise others to do in the identical state of affairs?
Simply GO.
What assets would you advocate to others?
Be trustworthy with your self, search your uniqueness, your reality, and comply with your intuition.
Nonetheless, don’t soar in with out at the least a small security web – I imply, a minimal degree of planning is important earlier than dealing with the unknown.
Ensure you have at the least a funds that lets you dwell comfortably for a few years, as a result of readability doesn’t are available only one month!
Begin residing with much less straight away – observe it – as a result of usually dissatisfaction comes from already having the whole lot.
To seek out out extra about Monica’s guide, go to https://mmvisual.it/libro/
What classes might you’re taking from Monica’s story to make use of in your individual profession change? Tell us within the feedback beneath.