Nathalee Dixon, working away on her sowing machine.

May arrived with lots to do.

The first weekend brought with it an all-day, all-night rush job from the Kencot Seventh-day Adventist Church's children's ensemble to provide uniform accessories, such as sashes and rosettes for the girls, and bow ties and cummerbunds for the boys. Though tedious and time-consuming, I enjoyed getting them done.

Then that Sunday morning, I awoke to the realisation that my name and photo were published in the Sunday Gleaner's BizTrack feature as one of the Churches Cooperative Credit Union Entrepreneurs awardees.

The photo shoot in preparation for the newspaper feature had made me anxious as it was my first such experience, but it was worth it all to see the outcome.

Self-worth, satisfaction

In fact, the excitement which the article on my company created among my relatives and friends generated a feeling of self-worth, satisfaction and a determination to work even harder to make Dixon's Creations a big success and to play my part in helping to make Jamaica a better place.

The attention also excited my mind and brought ideas of various kinds rushing in. These included an idea to engage fellow awardees in projects that can assist other young entrepreneurs to gain confidence in their abilities to start their own businesses.

The awardees bought into the idea and are awaiting a written proposal from me.

Then, just when I was settling down and getting used to the attention which came from the newspaper articles, I received a call from HEART Trust/NTA inviting me to contribute articles on fashion designing.

Wow! Like wow! I am just way too excited about what has been happening, but I maintain my composure and humility, remembering that God has His hand in all of these events.

I have always wanted to make my presence felt in that institution, since that is where I believe the change process can begin. I readily accepted the offer.

At church, the congratulations continued from members who had seen the Sunday Business feature and the service was even more enjoyable for one of my clients who announced that her outfit had been made by Dixon's Creations.

Maiden radio interview

The excitement continued at the start of the mid-month work week with a discussion with Innovative Ideas, communications consultants to Churches Cooperative Credit Union, on a request which had come in from a Caribbean magazine to do an interview with me, following the Sunday Gleaner exposé. I also had a follow-up conversation with HEART Trust N/TA.

But it has to be my maiden radio interview that brought the biggest rush of all.

As a result of having read the Biztrack articles, Nationwide News Network invited Janet Johnson of Food Express and me, to join Mr. Basil Naar, general manager of Churches Cooper-ative Credit Union, to an on-air discussion with Cliff Hughes and Carol Narcisse on the Entrepre-neurs Awards programme.

Time did not allow me to expound on the various elements of my business, but at the end, we were invited to give out our contact numbers on air.

After all of that, I spent the remainder of the evening into the night cutting materials for outfits on order. In fact, as I continue to work long hours to meet deadlines for jobs on hand, I give thanks to God and have come to the realisation that I need to get an assistant, because I need rest.

- Nathalee Dixon