@mikemonnette Not shown: refreshing @shopify about a million times #entrepreneur #abbreviated #abbreviatedapparel #mensstyle #smallfashionbrand #independentfashion #smallbusiness ♬ My Silver Lining - Joanie Loves Chachi
If you've ever thought to yourself, "I should start a clothing brand," you might wonder what a typical day looks like. Running Abbreviated—a brand that makes the best clothes for shorter guys—is a mix of creative work, operations, and making time for the things I love. Here’s a look at a day in my life as a solo entrepreneur.
6:00 AM – Morning Routine
I start my day early with coffee, meditation, a quick Duolingo session, and physical therapy. Keeping my mind and body in shape is crucial for staying productive and focused throughout the day.
8:00 AM – Business Calls Over Breakfast
As I eat breakfast, I take calls with a marketing agency and then a SaaS provider. These partnerships help keep my business running smoothly, from advertising strategies to backend operations.
10:00 AM – Midday Ski Break (With Some Work on the Lifts)
Since I’m working from Tahoe for a few weeks, I take advantage of the location and hit the slopes for some mid-day skiing. Even on the lifts, I stay connected—responding to emails from customers and my warehouse to keep things moving.
11:00 AM – Sourcing Call
Back on solid ground, I jump on a call with one of my sourcing contacts to discuss materials, production timelines, and any new developments in our supply chain.
12:00 PM – Lunch & Learning
I grab lunch at the mountain while listening to business podcasts. I find that staying informed on industry trends and other entrepreneurs' experiences helps me make better decisions for Abbreviated.
2:00 PM – Grocery Run & Transition Back to Work
Heading back home, I stop by the grocery store to grab some essentials before diving into the next set of tasks.
3:00 PM – Design Work & Sample Review
New samples just arrived, so I spend the afternoon reviewing fits, fabrics, and details. Designing clothes for shorter guys means every inch matters, and getting the proportions just right is key.
6:00 PM – Video Editing & Ad Optimization
I work on editing video content and optimizing ads. Creating engaging content is crucial for brand growth, especially since a lot of our customers discover us through organic and paid social media.
7:00 PM – Dinner Break
I take a step back from work to cook and enjoy dinner. Taking breaks helps me recharge and avoid burnout.
8:00 PM – Vendor Communication & Financial Modeling
The evening is dedicated to catching up with vendors and running financial models to assess business performance and plan for growth.
10:00 PM – Unwind with a Movie
I mentally decompress by watching the first half of a movie. A little downtime helps me reset before another full day.
11:00 PM – Bedtime
Time to rest up and do it all again tomorrow!
The Perks of Entrepreneurship
Running a clothing brand is a lot of work, but the flexibility makes it worth it. I get to set my own schedule and make time for the things I love—like skiing and spending time outdoors. It’s not always easy, but for me, building something meaningful is worth every challenge along the way.