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There is no slow lane for dynamic Nicola

Posted on December 16, 2011

By SUE POOLE

SOME people coast through life, waiting for that elusive event that they imagine will come their way and change their lives forever.

But Mildura’s Nicola Moras isn’t one of them. Nicola is one of those people who fairly grab life by the scruff of the neck and run with it!

She’s the proverbial rolling stone, gathering no moss, and when we last spoke to her in February, she had just launched her new business – Stylish Silhouettes, helping both men and women to learn to dress, accessorise and live for success.

It’s only been a few short months, but since then Nicola has co-written and published a book, has another in the pipeline, and has also established an online college, dubbed the International College of Style and Image.

And, all the while, she has been running her household and looking after her family, including her three children, two of whom are under school age, and working for her own, and other fashion companies, as a consultant stylist.

Whew! And while you’re drawing a deep breath, Nicola is probably taking her eldest to school, and the youngsters to day care, or is caring for them at home, while proof-reading pages for her upcoming book and liaising with her business partner and co-author, Margaret Hiatt, in Melbourne.

And, in her spare time, she is checking that her on-line college is ticking along smoothly!
After taking an enormous leap of faith in March, Nicola left the bank where she had been employed for 12 years to devote her energies to Stylish Silhouettes, and spent the next few months on personal styling appointments in Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide, as well as Mildura.

Picking up clients on Facebook as she went along, Nicola has been very busy helping women, and men, explore their inner selves and learn to make the most of their wardrobe and to be better dressed, with a dash of confidence thrown in! It was not long before she could feel another idea coming along, and was amazed to find that Margaret, who was the person who encouraged Nicola to complete her stylist’s course, was also contemplating writing a book.

Margaret, who like Nicola has a corporate background, now focuses on helping people with public speaking, successful interviews and communicating with in the workplace.

As Nicola says, ‘the sparks’ really fly when she and Margaret are working together. So, with creative juices really flowing, they decided to join forces and the result of their collaboration is an inspirational book, “How to release your inner goddess.”

This is not a book on how to have prettily manicured toenails, or the perfect updo! No, this is a book for those who want to channel the real woman within.

As Nicola says in the book: “A Goddess dances to her own music and chooses others to work with, those who know the tune.

“And she lets them dance to their music, too.

“There are many voices inside a woman’s heart telling her what to do.

“A goddess chooses the one which says ‘love’ the loudest.”

There are many fascinating quotes and observations, which give one pause, and little exercises that the reader can undertake as well as a 30-day challenge to unlock the Goddess within.

Nicola and Margaret’s next book, the second of a “How-to” series, has been entitled “How to live an Inspired Life” is due out before Christmas.

Two of the inspirational women profiled in this second volume have had profound effects on both Nicola and Margaret. Mildura’s Cas Driscoll who has battled cancer and lives with permanent disability, and Kathy Kaplan who left her corporate career to help battered women escape damaging relationships and return to a normal life.

Kathy received no funding for her work, but has managed to raise money to help these women.

“You don’t always hear about these women because they would prefer it that way, but they are the unsung heroes in this world,” Nicola said.

Nicola and Margaret’s next venture, the International College of Style and Image, is also up and running, an extraordinary feat for two women who are already incredibly busy.

The college is the only online college of its type in Australia and as far as Nicola knows, the world.

“The college is a response to the fact that we are very busy and we really cannot work 90 hours a week!” Nicola said.

“Here we can teach others everything we know about how they too can become stylists.

How they can empower their clients, and help people feel better about themselves.

“Of course it is open to anyone, but it is designed to allow those wishing to become a stylist, to put a business plan together and become part of the ‘style revolution!’

“We teach how to deal with retail outlets and the media, everything they need to know and also help those who are already in the industry to maximise their business and potential.

“There is not one stylist in Australia who can deliver what we are promising, and our training is second to none.

While students from all over the world are welcome to participate on line, students from Australia can also join in “hands on” workshops here.

There will be intakes in Victoria in February, and in Brisbane in June and July.

Meanwhile, as if that is not enough, Nicola has also been invited by dynamic brand Metalicus to run a series of work shops for the company!

Head hunted by a project manager, Nicola and Margaret will travel to Melbourne next week to speak to Metalicus’ clients at a special evening workshop. Their subjects will include what to look for when shopping, and how to pack light for travel.

So what does make this pocket dynamo tick?

Nicola is 33, but she still looks about 25, she is always casually but impeccably dressed, with a touch of quirkiness, her hair is great but never looks styled. She is happy to have her children climbing all over her while she is being interviewed and she has an enquiring mind.

Love, family and courage is a simple, personal mantra.

“Without love no one can survive or progress. I am lucky to love and be loved.
The second _ family, is what keeps me going.” she said.

“And the final one is courage. Courage to believe in myself, my ideas and to strive to achieve my goals, even if other people do not share my ideas. I don’t worry about what others might ‘think’ and I do not use the word try, I use endeavour!”

Nicola was in uncharted waters when she established her first business, and she has had to paddle furiously at times against the tide, but now that land is in sight, who knows what else might be on the horizon?

‘How to Release your inner Goddess’ and ‘How to Live and Inspired Life’ are available from Nicola 0409 656 669 or facebook.com/howtobookseries.

For more about Nicola’s International College of Style and Image log onto: www.icollegesi.com.au.

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