Never give up!

Hi everyone,

Hope you are all well!

It has been a busy few weeks and I have been trying so hard to keep focused. My clothing is nearly ready and the last few pieces to the puzzle are being completed!

It's April and I can honestly say that this year so far has not been the best  and I have had so many knock backs that I have been very close to just giving up!

For example, I saw an advert about a Space Academy here at Merland Rise church across the street from me and thought I would grab the opportunity of asking the organiser if I could promote my Future Astronaut Hoodies and To Infinity top to the parents signing their children up. In exchange for this privilege, I would be happy to make a donation to the church for each sale made or even volunteer at the church.

Well you would have thought I had insulted her, the way she replied to me was absolutely shocking! And I am glad I did not sign up my son for the Academy as I would not want to leave my child with this woman!

I realised that people will always want to bring you down especially if they are unhappy with their own lives.  Had I been a weak person, I probably would have burst out crying and given up and my dream would be thrown away all because one poxy little volunteer knocked me back!!

Life is too short to be letting such insignificant people deter you from you aspirations! There will always be jealous people, mean people and people who are just miserable! As much as you want to smack them in the face, hold your anger back and kill them with kindness.

My response to the volunteer was, 'there is no need to be so rude but thank you for your time'! I can honestly say I wanted to say something else but I held back and I am going to do my best to continue to do that whenever someone is rude!

Focus on the end result and never let anyone think they have gotten the best of you! If they think they have, they know they have won and you know how the saying goes, 'misery loves company'!

Here are some great quotes to boost you for the day and remember, no one can stop you! Only you!

Don't forget to like Mini Men UK on Facebook www.facebook.com/minimenukltd

And follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/minimenukltd 

Follow the light! It will lead you to tomorrow!

Hi Guys!

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the soon to be Easter holidays.

I have been super busy since my last post! So much is going on at the moment and it feels like there is just never enough time!

I would firstly like to announce that my new website is up and running! Yay! We are now accepting pre-orders! So if you see something you like, please do not hesitate to make an order!

I am very excited about the launch of the business and have already started thinking about how I can evolve the business!

Since my last post, Mini Men UK has been featured in CWB Magazine! I am very proud of what I have achieved and really hope I can generate some buyers from being in this well established magazine! We are in the 'Brands to Watch' section if anyone wants to purchase Children's Wear Buyer magazine this month!


I have been learning so much about marketing and all the innovative ways to stand out from the crowd! I need to make sure that my customers do not class me as the same as all the other Children's Clothing labels and that Mini Men UK is held in the highest regard for quality, customer service and design!

I am also writing a book that I feel will help others mums or dads who want to help their children become successful in the future! To be able to give them the wonderful tools they need from a young age so that they do not have to struggle to make money and live a happy life when they are adults!

This is something I was never taught when I was younger and I always think if I had, where would I be now! Life is all about choices. Those that make the right choices, live the life they want to live! Those that make the wrong choices, always end up living the life the definitely do not want to live.

If anyone has been watching Eastenders lately, then you will know about the storyline they are highlighting at the moment about Gangs!

'Bianca' talks about her little boy 'Liam' being a young happy boy and then all of a sudden turning into a rebellious criminal who looks up to a gang of youths who show him 'respect'! I believe 'Liam' has turned to the gang life because he was never given the tools to be able to focus on his future and have aspirations. Children who are not from affluent or wealthy families can go two different ways when it comes to making the right choices. They either look at the environment they are in and think that this is all life has to offer them and continue to live in a poverty stricken area and may even turn to crime to feed themselves! Or they could think, this is really not where they want to be and do everything in their power to get out of that area and better their lives.

I grew up like this and guess which choice I made..............................

Your life does not have to end the way it started! Always strive for bigger and better! This is really what we should be teaching our children and I want to help parents teach their children this as soon as possible!

I will keep you posted on the progress of my book and if there are any publishers out there, feel free to contact me!

I also went to see the great new film, 'The Croods' with my sister and our children!
The Croods is a 2013 American 3D computer-animated adventure comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by 20th Century Fox. It features the voices of Nicolas Cage, Ryan Reynolds, Emma Stone, Catherine Keener, Clark Duke, and Cloris Leachman. The film is set in the prehistoric era, when a man's position as a "Leader of the Hunt" is threatened by the arrival of a prehistoric genius who comes up with revolutionary new inventions like fire as they trek through a dangerous but exotic land in search of a new home.

 

If you haven't taken your child to see this movie yet, I highly recommend you do so during the holidays! It is a really great film that shows children about family sticking together no matter what, to never be afraid and to follow the light! It will lead you to tomorrow! Such wonderful things to teach your children while they enjoy all the funny parts of the movie! Mr Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco have really done a fantastic job!

 

So with Mini Men UK, writing my book and keeping little man entertained, I think this will be a very busy Easter holidays! Bring it on!

 

 

 

 

 

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Follow us on Twitter- www.twitter.com/minimenukltd

 

 

 

The calm before the storm!

I haven't been majorly busy since my last blog post! I think this is the calm before the crazy storm!!

I signed my contract with The Princes Trust and officially made everything legal! So now I am just awaiting my funds to come through so I can start production on my clothing! Very exciting!

After going to The Princes Trust offices in London, I took a stroll down to Great Titchfield street to a shop called So Tiny London. It is a beautiful gift shop full of great quirky and cute gifts for babies and young children. I went in there to speak to the owner, Emma Kennedy,who gave me so much advice and guidance about becoming a childrenswear designer, retailer and wholesaler. I now have to think about where I want to focus in terms of being a retailer or wholesaler. We also talked about being fair in business and understanding that the boutiques I decide to sell through are my partners and to treat them with respect! Thank you to Emma for taking the time to speak to me! I really loved all the beautiful and varied gifts in the store and purchased a really cute pink 'Little Sister' vest for a friend who is due any minute now! I recommend if you are expecting or know someone who is, buy your gift from So Tiny London. Drop into the shop if your in London or order online at www.sotinylondon.com as they do deliver worldwide!

I also had a really lovely meeting with Justin Cox who owns Pinky Purple girl Ltd which is an online store that sells brightly coloured and gorgeous organic clothing just for girls! We had a lovely tea meeting in The Chalet bakery just here in Tadworth! If you haven't been, you should go! It's has a really awesome atmosphere and the owner is extremely friendly!

Justin and I discussed designing and how to start getting the customers to buy from us! It seems it is not as it looks to get customer to go to your website! Website traffic is something I constantly think about. However I think because I will be selling face to face at Brixton Market, this will give me a little more help in getting people to visit my online store!

It was really lovely to meet up with Justin and we found that we have a lot in common! We have decided to try and partner up in some way but we are still working on when and how that will happen! If you do have gorgeous girls and are Eco friendly and reasonably priced, do take a look at Pinky Purple girl at www.pinkypurplegirl.com

So now I am only a few weeks away from launching, the fear has really hit me and at the same time I want this more than ever! Funny how this time last year, I only had an idea!

I urge everyone to go and do whatever it is they have dreamt of doing! You only live once, why not make sure it's an amazing life?! 

I leave you with these last words from my idol and wish you an amazing rest of the week!

All dreams come true if we have the courage to pursue them.-Oprah Winfrey 

Wreck it Ralph! Good vs Evil

I went to see Wreck it Ralph with my little family and I must say, it was a really good film! It was little Elijah's first trip to the cinema and he was completely mesmerised by the size of the screen! He is obsessed with cartoons (he gets that from me) and I have never seem him sit still and be quiet for so long! I know what to do now when I need moment to myself, Cinema!!!

So while watching the movie, I thought about the amount of parents who brought their children to the cinema on a rainy Sunday afternoon to see this particular film. I'm sure if their children were anything like my son, it would have been because they had been pestered and bombarded with questions, 'can we go see Wreck it Ralph?', 'when can we go see Wreck it Ralph' and 'I wanna see Wreck it Ralph!' To the point you just surrender and take the child to the cinema!

I always think films like this are genius because the creators come up with such great films which we pay to see, then they make toys of the characters which we parents buy for our kids and eventually they make a video game which we also buy! Very similar to Toy Story!

It really is an extraordinary way to build a business! And thought about how I can apply it to Mini Men UK?!

Mini Men UK will be launching in March and selling long sleeve tops, hooded tops and sweatshirts! We will also be introducing an exclusive summer collection that's about getting outdoors and exploring your world around you!

And later on in the year we will be launching new products such as trousers, jeans and cardigans!

Adding innovative new products to the brand is, a great way to gain customers and cater to the existing customers! 

Using your gift of high intellect is the best way to innovate your products and market them! Apple is the perfect example of innovation and marketing!

I thoroughly recommend taking your little bundle of joy to see Wreck it Ralph if you haven't been already and enjoy the wonderful story of good vs evil! This is what Mini Men UK is all about.

Don't forget to 'Like' us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/minimenukltd or follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/minimenukltd 

Happy Sunday everyone!

Going from demotivated to motivated!

For the past few months I have been finding it so hard to get up in the mornings! To feel excited about anything has really been a chore for me! With everything I have achieved, you would think I would be on cloud 9 but alas, this is not the case. I was so happy to have been approved by The Princes Trust and just before Christmas, I was really excited about being well on my way to becoming a business owner! 

And then a huge spanner in the works came along! I was having trouble getting approved for a business account with Natwest bank! Why? I hear you ask?! I still do not know! But this problem meant that I had to push the launch of Mini Men UK back because without a business bank account I could not sign for my funding from The Princes Trust which meant I could not buy my stock or marketing materials!

I can't tell you how upset I have been because of this and even had thoughts of giving up! I mean why put myself through all this stress right?! This ONE thing pretty much tipped me over the edge and i lost it! highly stressed and strung, I was having sleepless nights and I was extremely irritable! I couldn't get out of bed until sometimes 11am! Which If you have young children or run your business, you know this is way too late to be getting out of bed!

This has been going on for 2 months now! And I have finally realised that this is all a test! It is a way for me to be tested to see how badly I want this business to work! Will I give up at the first sign of trouble or persevere and keep pushing until my dreams are achieved?! 

I have decided to keep working hard and pushing to make my dreams a reality! You may knock me down but I will keep getting up! It may take me a while to get up but I will make sure I get up!

If you have ever felt this way or are feeling it now, don't suffer in silence! Talk to your friends and family. Go and see your local GP to get some professional help and keep believing that everything will work out fine! All is well!

Someone once said to me, 'If you want to be successful then that is what you will be! Only you can determine what you will be. No one can stop you but you!' And with that, I say if you have ever wanted something, go for it! Don't let anyone or anything stop you from achieving your dreams!

The best way to determine what you want is to write it down.

Firstly make a list of the things you want but write it as If you have it already.

Example: I am a successful fashion mogul

I live in a 6 bedroom house in Miami, Florida

I own a black Bentley Coupe Convertible with the number plate Mini Men

The more detailed you are the better! Get really clear about what you want and put this list of things in your visualisation book or board!

You need to look at your board or book every day and visualise yourself having the things you want! No matter how big or small your dreams are, you have to believe that you can have them and that you deserve to have them!

Remember, our thoughts become things and whatever you think about, you will 'be' about! 

We all have a purpose in life! I would love to know what your dreams are! No matter how small or big! Send me your list of aspirations and believe you can achieve them!

Teach Your Children to Think BIG! Think Mini Men UK

Hi everyone!

I hope you are all well and getting prepared for your Christmas festivities!

Let me start with my good news........ Mini Men UK has been approved by The Princes Trust! We are now able to officially start preparing for launching! I can not tell you how excited and happy I am! My life is about to change so much for the better and not just mine but my families also!

Which brings me to my topic today! Teaching your children to Think BIG! I remember when I was younger I wanted to be a professional dancer. I absolutely loved dancing! It was my entire life! I trained hard every single day, took extra classes at Pineapple Studios and studied Performing Arts at College of North East London. 

I had the great opportunity to perform at the Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall, I was in the local Haringey paper, I performed every where and anywhere I could because I believed that I was good, I knew I was good! And then I turned 21 and my mother said those dreaded words to me, 'What?! You cant possibly think you will make a living from being a dancer? That is not a REAL job! You will not make any money from being a dancer! Go and study to be a doctor or lawyer! A stable job is what you should be focusing on!'

I still remember those words she spoke like she just said them to me yesterday! The reason I remember them is because, it changed my whole view on dancing. I believed her!!! I was young and thought my mother knew best!
Now for anyone who has African parents, or black parents in general, you will know that our parents do not believe in having jobs that are 'creative'! If you turn around and say to your mother and father that you want to be a singer, dancer, rapper, actress or designer, they look at you like your an alien and tell you to go and read a book and study Medicine, Law or Finances! 

Now when this happens, most children do as they are told! They forget their dream of performing to thousands of people and go and waste money going to University to study a subject they have no interest in, no passion for and couldn't really care less if their patient Mr Jones has Hypertension, if their client Mr Smith has been charged with GBH and is facing a sentence of 5 years maximum and if their client Mrs Chatterbox is being audited for tax avoidance! I mean, I see it all the time and I am living proof of it! I often wonder if I had not listened to my mother, where I would be now?! Would I be on tour with artists like Nicki Minaj or Jennifer Lopez, dropping it likes it's hot? Would I be running my own dance company and creative directing for artists like Usher and Tinie Tempah? Who knows because I let my dream go!

It saddens me to know that we are not encouraged by the people who are closest to us and it is not until you 'Show them the Money' that they believe in you! What happened to having a little faith?! 

We as parents, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunties, uncles and friends need to encourage the youth to believe in themselves!!! I believe that the 2011 London Riots happened because those children had nothing better to do and had they been encouraged to pursue things that they were passionate about, they would have been too busy focusing on that then worrying about looting a JD Sports for £50 trainers??!! They would have been educated enough to know that everyone has to be responsible for their actions!

 Everyone has a dream and we need to nurture these dreams for the youth! To teach them that if they want to be a Doctor, Lawyer, Designer, Singer, Dancer, Accountant, Entrepreneur, Footballer, Actor or whatever it is that all these aspirations can be achieved and they are all as important as each other!!! I can not stress this enough! 

Do you want your child to grow up and be in a job that he/she hates, working 40 hours a week, depressed about going to work everyday! Being worked hard, receiving no appreciation for her/his work and being heavily taxed by the government! Having no sense of achievement and just working to pay the bills! I lived that lifestyle for many years and this is not what I want for my son! I would rather see him doing something that he is truly passionate about and excited about! To know that he is fulfilling his dreams and aspirations and that I was part of his journey in achieving his goals.

If you want your child to achieve his/her future success, you need to start encouraging them from when they are young! Have faith in your precious little one and nurture their dreams! Teach them that Anything is Possible! And you can start doing this by going to www.facebook.com/minimenukltd and 'Like' my page and order a top now from my Autumn/Winter collection!  You can pre-order your items now by contacting me through the Facebook page! The Mini Men UK website is under construction and will be ready in 2 weeks!

Now I have a new dream and I will NEVER let anyone deter me from achieving my success! I have big dreams, huge dreams and I have no idea how I am even going to attempt to achieve them but I am absolutely positive that they will be achieved! Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but they will be achieved!

I hope you all Teach Your Children To Think BIG! Think Mini Men UK!

Happy Holidays everyone!!

Mind of a Winner

Hi everyone,

Well it has been a very eventful month!

In my last post I talked about my upcoming photo shoot. Well, I can tell you the photo shoot went so well! Much better than I thought. All the boys were happy and smiley! There were no hitches! It must have been the most smooth sailing children's photo shoot ever! Lol

I would like to thank all my handsome models and their mothers for taking the time to help me pursue my dream. I know how busy you all are and I really appreciate you all! 

I should be receiving the images of the shoot this week and I now need to go out there and get as much interest and intent for my product as possible before I go before the Launch Group with The Princes Trust! 

It only seems like it was yesterday that I thought to myself ' I'm going to start my own clothing line for boys' through sheer frustration! And here I am, 7 months later with a completed Business Plan and about to go to Launch Group! Life is so amazing!

I also talked about signing up for The Millionaire Mind Intensive in my last post which I completed this weekend just gone with Venus Chrome. The Millionaire Mind Intensive was created by Mr T. Harv Eker, a personal development coach that went from zero to a millionaire in 2 and a half years! His story is incredible!

The 3 day programme was hosted by Marcus De Maria and co-hosted by Mac Attram. Both men through trials and tribulations managed to complete T. Harv Eker's programme and became financially free through using his money blueprint habits/ techniques.

All I can say about this programme is that it is emotional, it will make you realise where you have been going wrong all this time! How you can change your money blueprint immediately and keep striving for success and greatness even when you are soooo scared!

Due to a confidentiality clause I agreed to, I can not tell you too much about the programme but I will say that if you are serious about being successful and managing your finances, you NEED to attend this programme immediately. You learn some vital lessons about life and the way you are living it and how you can change it with some simple new habits! 

As well as learning so many new things, I met some incredible people and felt like I made some really great new friends who I will definitely be keeping in touch with! 

I would like to say a personal thank you to Marcus De Maria and Mac Attram who were our wonderful energetic hosts for the entire weekend! You both really did keep my energy up the entire 3 days and I will never forget the two phrases 'How you do anything, is how you do everything!' And 'Thank you for sharing!' Lol. I will admit I said that to myself before I started writing this blog! 

I would also like to thank Richard Tan, T. Harv Eker and Success Resources staff! You are all phenomenal people. I feel very grateful as I was not even meant to be at the programme but as they say, right place, right time! Yay!!

So it is now time for me to put my theory into practice! To get out there in the big world and sell, sell, sell! I won't lie, I'm scared however, in life you have to do things you are scared to do in order to get to where you want to be and I want to be at the top with the likes of T.Harv Eker, Marcus De Maria and Mac Attram! You have to model successful people right?!

My next post will be the big one! The one where we can celebrate because I have received my funding from The Princes Trust and I am on my journey to success!

Please spread the word that Mini Men UK is launching and I am about to conquer the world as I conquer my fear of the unknown! 

If anyone is interested in becoming a customer and would like to see my product, please do get in contact with me! kmantas@hotmail.co.uk

Until next time, please do take of yourself and I will see you very soon! X