Jill Boehler - The Chilly Jilly Wrap
Chilly Jilly Wrap -
Jill Boehler was sick of getting
cold in airconditioned places -
So the Chilly Jilly was invented.
My life has changed dramatically over the past 2 years.
I still have a difficult time understanding how I got here and am still redefining myself. I had been a speech pathologist for 30 years and never imagined I would take on a new career at the age of 52. It is never too late to start again. Instead of dreading mid–life I have embraced the freedom and am enjoying every minute.
Redefining yourself, finding a passion and following a dream can happen when you least expect it to. One evening I found myself in a situation that I had encountered so many times, complained about over and over and yet this one evening the problem led my life in a totally different direction.
I, like many women I know, was always freezing in air conditioned restaurants, theatres, movies, trains, and airplanes in the summer and on vacation. I was always dragging around sweaters and wraps even on the hottest of summer days. I tied sweaters around my waist, on my purse, or left them in the car usually either forgetting them or losing them completely. This one evening we were out with some friends trying a new restaurant and excited to spend a relaxing evening with good friends. The restaurant was intolerably cold and we found ourselves waiting outside in shifts until our food came the then rushing through the meal because we were uncomfortably cold.
“Someone should invent a wrap small enough to fit in my purse.” I said. “Then this problem would be solved and the summer restaurants wouldn’t be so miserable” At the moment I never thought that someone would be me. I mentioned the idea to a few friends and family members. “Someone should invent a wrap small enough to fit in my purse”. I repeated over and over again. One of my children, tired of hearing me repeat the idea over and over again offered up the challenge to me. “Why don’t you do it mom? You talk about your ideas all the time and you never do anything about it?“ He was right and I thought I would see what it would take. I began some preliminary research. The research led to meetings, trips, and the investment of some dollars. I knew the idea would fly but designing the right product with the right fabric and design was not in my comfort zone or skill set at all. As I moved forward and more people became involved, the Chilly Jilly was born. It wasn’t long before it seemed to take on a life of its own with one step leading to the next. There was definitely no turning back.
Chilly Jilly is approaching its two year anniversary and growing rapidly. I am learning, growing, and meeting new people every day because of it. I have entered a world I knew nothing about. I have been featured on television and major media publications and dealt with the world of business which is so different from the world a speech pathologist has to face. One specific problem that stands out occurred after I appeared on The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. I was ill prepared for the thousands of orders that I received after the show. Luckily , my factory was able to work with me. I ordered the fabric to be delivered to the factory and AFTER the product was manufactured, we realized it was the wrong fabric and could not fit in the bags. It seemed absolutely hopeless with no possible solution - I knew I had confrontation after confrontation in front of me.
Advise: Take a deep breath - talk to your support group because there usually is a solution and we did work it out but I had a lot of help.
I think the realization that helps me through is the old saying that you can’t please all of the people. There are going to be people that DON”T GET YOUR PRODUCT. It is a slap in the face but you have to push through it. If you believe in your product so will others.
There are days that it seems way too hard. On those days I have no idea what I am doing,
I am tired of the push (my mega mistakes) and I don’t want to get out of bed but I have learned over and over this year that if I plug along through them and face them head-on,
I will get to those days that are wonderful, exciting and uplifting.
It’s kind of like life and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
I look at Emerson's saying that I have on the wall.....
"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."
Jill Boehler
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