Quick side note here: This is exactly why the urge to constantly reinvent ourselves is always on my mind and a permanent fixture in my discussions. It can be exhausting for a brand, but I truly believe it’s the key to staying top-of-mind. 

I was flabbergasted by the number of people there on Friday. I think there must have been over 100! It was just surreal. And I have to admit, this opening came at a great time in my life. I’ve mentioned it a bit on social media, but lately, I’ve been truly exhausted. Both mentally and physically. It was as if, through the daily challenges and being constantly buried in operations, I had lost sight of my why. That deep-down reason why I love spending my life building Womance and Sans-Façon. I feel like this past year has been one of the most difficult of my career as an entrepreneur. Of course, we tend to forget with time and things always seem harder when you're in the thick of it, but this last one was particularly demanding. It was anything but stable, and at the same time, I guess I have to get used to it because that seems to be the norm for many expanding businesses! It was also filled with major decision-making. The biggest decisions I’ve made so far! Changes and choices that I am convinced were necessary and will be beneficial for years to come.

Following the opening, I decided to take a week off. A total disconnect. No social media, no emails. I deleted all the apps from my phone (that’s the trick!). A first in my life! And I LOVED it! I can’t wait to do it again. It allowed me to truly unplug. It’s crazy how, because of Instagram, I am alwayssss in work mode—analyzing trends, looking for newness... it never stops! On Wednesday, I had 3 meetings I couldn’t reschedule and answered a few emails, but then I closed everything back up. I rested so much. I slept as much as I could and read a lot.

By the way, if you’re interested, I’m currently reading 3 books:

Unreasonable Hospitality: A gift from my friend Frédérique. It’s mainly about hospitality in the restaurant industry, but the author/entrepreneur explains how he takes the dining experience a step above what everyone else is promising. Since I’m always looking to reinvent the experience we offer, both online and in-store, this book is so relevant!

Le leadership bienveillant: A gentle, easy-to-read Quebec book. It’s written by two women, and I really like how they present leadership. It’s funny because it doesn’t completely contradict the next book I’m going to mention, but it brings a different perspective.

Vous n’êtes pas une famille: Do you know Dominic Gagnon? If not, he writes very eloquent articles in Les Affaires. If you’re an entrepreneur, follow him on LinkedIn! I find him so relevant +++. At the beginning of his book, there's a clear warning: if you don’t want your business to change, don’t read this book. It’s a real call to action to make companies more efficient. According to him, we see many companies hiding performance behind "kindness," and I have to admit I don’t disagree with his point. The goal: build a healthier, high-performance corporate culture based on elite sports. Each chapter brings in the perspective of Jean-Paul Richard, a former Olympic coach, who draws parallels between a company and a sports team. "In a team, you might trade your best player at some point to get rookies. You’ll be ready to bench someone if they haven't been performing. It’s not a lack of respect. The important thing is the collective. And the important thing is winning." He also talks about the concept of the "trophy in the center of the locker room"—the idea that if your team doesn't know why they are playing, they won't be able to win. I’ve barely read two chapters, but with all the changes and big decisions lately, I have to say this book arrived at the perfect time. I find the sports team/business parallel highly relevant!

Otherwise, I spent the rest of my week with my dog. We walked a lot. I also went to the spa and ate crab (soooo delicious).

I want to say a huge thank you to all our customers who came out for the opening at Place Ste-Foy. Seeing you in person did me so much good. Having the chance to hear your feedback and seeing in your eyes that you found the shop beautiful really touched me. Hearing you say you love Womance because it makes you feel good when you wear it put my why right back in front of my face. That deep desire to make women feel good through what they wear, when they put on makeup, or when they shop. How can I keep making it better? That’s my why.

I also want to mention that I won't be doing these journals every month like I used to. I’ll probably do them every 2 or 3 months, depending on inspiration. This will allow me to be more thorough and take the time to do them right. We’ll talk again in late June or early July! :)))