Your Style Rehabist
Monika Nielsen has been helping people in their closets/wardrobes for decades! With a background in retail, fashion, merchandising, and born with the gift of very efficient shopping, she has brought these elements together into a service that will help ‘Cleanse, Clarify and Capsulate’ your wardrobe and closet. A self-proclaimed first-generation purger, she understands the emotional ties that we have to our things and the reasons we don’t want to get rid of them. They remind us of a certain time of our life, or we are mourning what is or what was. Think of it as 70% counseling, 20% quick organizing, and 10% mad folding skills.
Monika helps women walk through the chaos of their closet and wardrobe and gives them the opportunity to thoughtfully donate the items that no longer work for them to local nonprofits. The goal is not to slash and burn through your closet, it’s to set you up efficiently, honoring your memories, teaching you what is best for your lifestyle and personality, and getting you to a place you can get ready quickly, feeling fiercely confident and supremely beautiful.
The INTERVIEW
Q: First things first... what is the name of your business and how did you choose it?
A: Your Style Rehabist! When I was just getting started, moving beyond the friends and family, my neighbor was so impressed with our shopping trip she told me she was going to cancel Stitch Fix and I was her Stitch Fix “rehabber”.
Q: What excites you about the community of Women-Owned Wednesdays?
A: The best part about networking and community is the chance to know other women in business, support them and cheer them on!
Q: What was your mission when starting out?
A: Still the same mission - I help women breathe again... one closet at a time! It's time to drop the guilt, honor the memories, get you sorted out and set up.
Q: Who or what inspires you?
A: Gosh - so many women inspire me! I cannot believe I am surrounded by brilliant, passionate women who are making a difference in their community. Whether it be with their children full time, their business, their philanthropy - it's incredible!
Q: How do you start your day and how do you make it productive?
A: We are still on our 21-year homeschooling journey with our youngest, so 2 days a week we jump right into 5th grade! The other days he is in a collaborative program, so I get to work! If I don't have a pile of post it notes in front of me, I don't get things done.
Q: What have been the most important factors that you have learned with the success of your business?
A: Do it. Do it messy. Do it often. You'll get better. Most importantly, commit to finding a good mentor, coach, and community.
Q: What have you failed at recently and how did you overcome it?
A: I had a big fail last year when I didn't go with my gut and invested with someone who didn't deliver. I'm now not quite so quick with decisions and I'm having my hubby review all contracts.
Q: What advice would you give your 17-year old self?
A: The only thing you can control in this world is your thoughts and actions - choose them well. (And when you don't-give yourself grace).
Q: What are your favorite online resources for your business?
A: I use IG for marketing, love making things pretty on Canva, and Flodesk keeps my newsletters looking good.
Q: What keeps you going and growing your business?
A: My clients! Every single client I have is so grateful to have clarity in their wardrobe and peace in their closet. Women carry so much guilt in their closet... so much power is given to a piece of cloth. I am beyond honored when I can walk them through it. When they let that go and start showing up in the world the way they want to - there's nothing better!
Q: Share what you do daily/weekly to include personal development in your life for growth?
A: I have a rotation of podcasts and books to help me grow and learn.
Q: What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, build and grow a brand or a business today?
A: The old sales adage is "Find a need and fill it" - I think that's the easy part. Understand there are hundreds of people who do what you do, but they can't do it the way you would do it! Find a good coach and invest, even if you're just starting out and scared.
Q: What do you do to unwind and take time away from your business?
A: I love to read - we have a Sunday routine of hitting the library and then settling into a good book for the afternoon. I make sure it's not to be a better wife/mom/business owner/community activist. It's just to enjoy!
Q: What is your motto or mantra that you live by?
A: Love God and Love your neighbor - everything else flows from that. I also believe we are built to serve - "The meaning of life is to find your gift - the purpose of life is to give it away." (The print I have of that quote says Pablo Picasso said that… but I haven't fact checked it.)
Q: What vision do you have for yourself in the near future, personally or professionally?
A: Nothing would make me happier than to just be in women's closets, helping them find peace - I'd love to hire someone to take over all the behind-the-scenes systems and paperwork.
Q: How do you support other women-owned businesses?
A: Any chance I get I promote, introduce, and make connections, or shop!
Women-Owned VIBES
My guilty pleasure is: Lemon drop martini's
Best time management tip: Get off your phone - it's sucks up your day in 20 minute increments.
The best book I've read in the past year: The Light of Days - The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitlers Ghettos by Judy Batalion. POWERFUL read. Hard to read at some points, but so good!
My most listen-to podcast, song or artist is: If my kids are in the car, we all belt out the Hamilton Soundtrack like its 2018. Top 3 favorite podcasts are She Sells He Sells (Krista and Brian Demcher), The Mel Robbins Podcast, Here's Where It Gets Interesting (Sharon McMahon).
Greatest gift I have ever received: Too many to list! The gift of my family, the opportunity to homeschool all these years, the gift of time and freedom to start a business, the gift of grace and mercy.
Three things that I cannot live without: Mascara, friends, books.
The coolest person I've ever met is: I'm in awe of the incredible women I meet every day who are all driven to make a difference. I'm so lucky!
Lake, Mountains, Beach? Mountains - with a small lake.
Quality I cherish most in a friend is: Laughter! Life is nutty, we have to be able to laugh.
The title of my autobiography would be: It was Messy - But it Didn't Define Her