Cool Garments for Hot Women

“I have no fear.”
“I faced my own mortality.”
“I learned not to put all my eggs in one basket.”

Do those sound like words from a business owner or a Breast Cancer survivor? Could it not be both? I actually had the honor of hearing each of these empowering phrases in my conversation with Haralee Weintraub, founder and owner of Haralee, which is her women’s sleepwear line.

Haralee started the business after being diagnosed with Breast Cancer, to fulfill a need for comfortable sleepwear. She experienced sweating to the point where she would have to shower and change clothes 2-3 times per day; needless to say, sleeping at night was disastrous. Then one day she decided to cut up her biker shorts, because of the wicker, sweat absorbing material, and sew it into a nightgown. She was able to sleep throughout the night and was not as drenched in sweat as before. She presented the idea to her Breast Cancer survivor support group, who experienced the same discomfort and loved the idea.

“I never in a million years would have thought I would be an entrepreneur,” Haralee said. “I had a great career in pharmaceutical sales, and I was happy.”

Haralee has been cancer free for 9 years, but she likes to remind others that there is no cure for Breast Cancer and that you’re always in remission. Her diagnosis was very unexpected, considering that she had mammograms regularly, but it changed her life “forever”. Haralee is her way of having a rewarding career while giving back. A percentage of each sale goes to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research.

Haralee feels that starting a business and surviving Breast Cancer are similar because they both require the same mental attitude.

“You must have resilience,” she said. “When you first hear you have Breast Cancer, it’s devastating. Yes, there are about 40,000 people who die every year, but that doesn’t mean you die today. There will be times in your business when it gets tough and lonely, and you will need to really believe in it and love it to get through it.”

As a businesswoman, myself, I am always looking for ways to inspire others to follow their passions and speaking with Haralee was just that—a true inspiration. I challenge everyone to support small businesses and entrepreneurs. To check out more information about these “Cool Garments for Hot Women”, please visit www.haralee.com or follow on Twitter @Haralee.