2020 Issue 6 Nov/Dec - Focus Mid-Tenn Magazine

It’s consuming and can
steal away so much of your
energy. I remember when
I first started working on
Clifton+Leopold I did 100%
of the work in my dining
room. Big mistake! There
was no longer the ability to
have friends over for dinner.
There was no way to get up
in the middle of the night
to snag a drink of water
without passing all the
work hanging on the wall
that had yet to be finished.
There was no distinction
between my personal space
and this project that was
quickly consuming me.
The key to fixing all of this
turned out to be SHARE
MORE! It didn’t matter if I
didn’t have it all figured out
or know all the answers,
smart people didn’t need
that. They were more than
happy to plug in and help
me figure it out. It didn’t
matter if I didn’t know how
I was going to use that
incredible fabric I just found
or that I had spent two
weeks trying to figure out
the exact Pantone color
for the tissue paper in the
shipping box. My friends
and supporters were
thrilled to play a part.
So I would say to anyone
who is working on a similar
project right now, open
it up to the right people.
Define that core group of
people you trust and give
them all the information
they need to be helpful and
then ask for help. For me,
it was helpful when they
would just ask “How do I
help? What do you need?
Give me the latest update?”
You don’t have to have
it all figured out. You
just have to know what’s
important for your brand
and where you want to end
up. From there the right
people can help speed you
LEARN
MORE
Visit
Clifton+Leopold
online.
up or even land you in a
better place.
What is the future of
Clifton+Leopold? Will
we see different types of
accessories or whole new
branches of fashion?
I don’t really know the full
answer here because it isn’t
really up to me. I’ve done
my part and will continue
to do my part but it is the
Clifton+Leopold community
that will help determine
where we go ultimately.
Now, we know we’ll
continue to grow and add
to our product lines. In
my mind, Clifton+Leopold
has always been a lifestyle
brand and that will always
shape who we are and
take us in new product
line directions. That’s why
we launched our very own
candle line last month.
You’ll continue to see little
twists like that. We want
people to say “oh that
is so Clifton+Leopold.”
But ultimately we want
the people who love
Clifton+Leopold to play a
role in helping us shape the
future. And that’s exactly
what’s been happening.
Anything else you would
like to add?
Nashville is a wonderfully
odd city. The support
and willingness to help
each other in our business
community is rare. I
couldn’t imagine launching
Clifton+Leopold in any
other city. EVERYONE in
Nashville is trying to figure
out how to help each
other out, especially in the
LGBTQ community.
So I would challenge
anyone thinking of turning
their passion into a business
to reach out to as many
people as possible, buy
them coffee and then pick
their brain.
Join the LGBT Chamber
of Commerce, it’s an
incredible resource and
sponsors some great
networking opportunities.
The resources are helpful
but the people you’ll meet
are invaluable.
Get plugged in and then
spend 30% of your time
helping out someone else
on their journey. Rising
water raises all boats.
CHEERS! / NOV+DEC 2020 / focusmidtenn.com / Page 15