We had the good fortune of connecting with Joelle Kelly and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joelle, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The first quality that comes to mind is Courage. Having an amazing insight or product is still ‘only in your head’ until your passion compels you to take the risk of actually sharing or materializing that gem. Courage is knowing you have no guarantees regarding the value of your efforts – it’s a 50/50 leap of faith, but until you launch you can’t succeed or improve for a future success.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My day-to-day business, for the past 35 years, is as a hands on custom shirtmaker and designer of luxury clothing. This was definitely not where I thought I would land had you asked me when I was 18; the addition of teaching Tibetan tantrayana practices was definitely not on the vision board either! I took leaps of faith and followed my curiosity when doors opened for me. It wasn’t always easy and I literally have learned all my crafts, from the ground up, with a lot of stumbling along the way – however feeling engaged and excited about my work has helped me roll with the learning curves and savor my successes when I achieve a goal.
No matter what I do, I truly put all of my attention and focus into doing the best I can; if it involves working with students, I strive to place their comfort levels ahead of mine.
I communicate well and work with a nurturing, compassionate energy that creates a safe environment for learning … and making mistakes.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live with my family year-round in a luxury resort area known as The Hamptons, in New York. Pretty much everything here is a destination! Figuring the hottest trends or locations for everything from people watching to shopping and dining is pretty easy. More challenging is the other side of the seasonal frenzy which is equally cherished by singles and families.
My approach would be to share some of the serenely beautiful spots and experiences that are the natural treasures of my area.
Whether it’s the beach, the bay, vineyards, flower farms, nature trails or sunsets, there are so many nooks to enjoy out here. There’s a reason why so many artists moved out here to establish the East End art community.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family comes to mind immediately as they are always the first to be subjected to the endless process of mental gyrations and/or are my ‘test students’ for new ideas. And some of my teachers/mentors who have pushed me out of my comfort zone to help me see that failure is where growth happens.

Website: https://joellekelly.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelle_kelly_learn/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuJongNewYork

Image Credits
Joelle Kelly ||Lu Jong New York

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