ok. I am absolutely in love with this book. I originally went to the thrift store to find books that I could use for my art - and was looking for books that were aligned with what I was trying to express. Empowerment basically is always what my intention is.
This book looked too good to just use for my art I decided to read it first. Now I am absolutely in love with it and will keep it on the bookshelf to lend out and continue to inspire myself and those around me.
The timing was so right. As I have recently hired my first 3 employees! I know actually huge for me, my business really is a thing. This book is all about a young entrepreneur starting a company with no budget, how to work with people, how to be a boss ass *CEO, and more.
I recommend it to everyone even if you're not starting a business. The energy is phenomenal and the writing is beautiful. I love how she wrote it because it was so real and some. I connected with it and absolutely powered through it. It got me stoked for the day and told me exactly what I needed to hear.
It also reminded me that I absolutely can succeed with no"budget" and to just make it work with what I have.
Get ready to be empowered af!!!
#GIRLBOSS for life.
1. So You Want To Be a #Girlboss?
You take control and accept responsibility. You're a fighter. pg.11
Always on your own terms. You know where you're going but can't do it without having some fun along the way. You value honesty over perfection. You take your life seriously, but you don't take yourself too seriously. You're going to take over the world, and change it in the process. You're a badass. pg.11
You combine hard work, creativity, and self-determination, and things start to happen. pg.16
If you believe in yourself, the people will believe in you, too. pg.16
2. How I became a #girlboss?
letin and blog post pg.29
running a successful business: knowing your customer and knowing how to get free marketing. pg.29
responded to every single comment that anyone left on my page. pg.29
went with my instincts and treated my customers like they were my friends. pg.29
When you hold yourself to the same standard in your work that you do as a friend, girlfriend, student, or otherwise, it pays off. pg.29
Every week, one full day was spent shooting in the drive-way. pg.29
the night before pg.29
Suring that no two similar items were listed at the same time. pg.29
This way, my items weren't competing against one another. and I was able to maximize the potential of each. pg.29
Many people assume that working from home is like a vacation, where you get to do what you want when you want. This was not the case for me. The demands of eBay put me on the strictest schedule I'd ever endured. Because my auctions were tied, there were very real consequences for missing deadlines, The prime time for auctions to go live was Sunday evening. If mine went up late, that meant my customers, who were likely waiting to pounce on my latest batch of vintage gems, might end up disappointed, instead of giving another seller their business. If I took too long to respond to a customer inquiry, she might get impatient, choosing to bid on something else. Shipping orders out late might result in negative feedback, and if I didn't steam and prep all the clothes the night before a shoot, there wouldn't be time to get through everything in one day. pg.33
Systems to increase my efficiency whenever and wherever. I uploaded all my photos to an FTP and used a template for my listings, My finger was a carpal-tunnel whirlwind, typing out primitive HTML in the equal form to a twelve-year-old hacker. When I wrote product descriptions, I exalted the details. I included styling tips in the copy, in case someone was considering biding on a Betty White-type windbreaker but wasn't quite sure how to pull it off as MIA could. I included all of the details: shoulder-to-shoulder measurements, armpit to armpit, waist, hips, length...I noted every flaw and was always totally honest about the condition of everything. pg.34
Auction titles on eBay are more of a science than an art. pg.34
I got as OCD on the USPS pg.34
I was a one-girl assembly line. pg.34
stuff as much as we do! - even though "we" was just me. pg.35
I took a lot of pride in how carefully I affixed those labels. pg.35
You can't sit with me: The ebay clique
I completely dropped out of everything for two years. From the time I woke up until the tie I went to sleep, eBay was my entire world. pg.36
Dealing vintage is like dealing drugs - you never reveal your source. pg.37
What made me successful wasn't necessarily what I sold, but how I sold it. pg.38
I focus on making my store as unique as possible. pg.38
If the business is war, I always think that's the kind of #GIRLBOSS I want next to me in the trenches. pg.41
me is when I hear no, I rarely listen. ph.41
It takes a special kind of stubbornness to succeed as an entrepreneur. And anyway, you don't get what you don't ask for. pg.41
If it sold, we learned. If it didn't sell, we learned. And we kept on learning. pg.42
"market research" or "direct to consumer" pg.43
"demographic" pg.43
"org chart" pg.46
first $100,000 day, and I decided to celebrate pg.46
I rented a giant, horse-shaped bounce house and had it blown up in the warehouse. Send a few e-mails, bounce bounce bounce. Ship a few orders bounce bounce bounce...It was pretty much the best day ever. pg.46
3. Shitty jobs saved my life
may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. -Douglas Adams
say "yes" instead of "sure"; or "let me check" instead of "I don't know" pg.58
A very important tidbit about customer service: just apologize to people. pg.59
"Our philosophy" pg.59
Fight the boredom
To be, in a word, unborable...It is the key to modern life. If you are immne to boredom, there is literally nothing you cannot accomblish. -David Foster Wallace
"#GIRLBOSS training" pg.65
When you approach everything as if it's a big, fun experiment, then it's not that big of a deal if things don't work out. If the plan changes, that can be even better. There are secret opportunities hidden inside every failure pg.65
You'll appreciate your amazing career so much more when you look back at your not-so-amazing obs in the past pg.65
You've got to work for what you want pg.66
School: It's not my jam
The whole philosophy behind this book is that true success lies in knowing your weaknesses and playing to your strengths. pg.67
a free pass to cut class and head straight to Burger King, but I do think we should acknowledge that school isn't for everyone. pg.71
4. Shoplifting (and hitchhiking) saved my life
The only way out is in. -Junot Diaz
Create boundaries and structure! You have to be your own parent! pg.97
You will never regret trying to fulfill your dream! Don't get caught up in hanging out and drinking or parting. Celebrate when there's something to celebrate. pg.98
Don't do sloppy work. Be the best. pg.98
5. Money looks better in the bank than on your feet
There is no disnity quite so impressive, and no independence quite so important, as living within your means. -Calvin Coolidge
part of the reason Nasty Gal has been so successful is that my goals were never financial ones. pg.103
attention to something as small as a crooked shipping label. pg.103
I see that it's those small things that can make or break a business. pg.103
Learning how to manage your money is one of the most important things you'll ever do. pg.103
Big companies are like the mob pg.106
Get them before they get you: Pay up, and pay on time. pg.106
Cash is king
Money is a guarantee that we may have what we want in the future. Though we need nothing at the moment it insures the possibility of satisfying a new desire when it arises. -Artistotle
George S.Clason's The Richest Man in Babylon pg.110
just imagine that those new shoes were actually made out of crisp $20 bills. pg.111
They do not. That's because money looks better in the bank than on your feet. pg.111
Have you actually flat-out asked for it? pg.112
Learn to separate your money from your emotions as much as you possibly can. pg.113
6. Hocus-pocus: the power of magical thinking
We control our thoughts and our thoughts control our lives. pg.120
CHAO MAGIC
Those who don't believe in magic will never find it. -Roald Dahl
To create a sigil, start by writing out your desire in a single word, a couple of words, or a short sentence. Then remove all the duplicate letters, then all the vowels. pg.122
left with pg.122
into one symbol. pg.122
embeds these wishes into your subconscious, and then your subconscious makes it happen pg.123
You have to leave room for the universe to have its way and play around a bit. pg.125
What is right should be easy. pg.125
When you think about people, you give them power.
You have to kick people out of your head as forcefully as you'd kick someone out of your house if you didn't want them to be there. pg.128
But before you start to think you just got lucky, remember that it's magic, and you made it yourself. pg.129
7. I am the antifashion
"There's zero correlation betwee being the best talker and having the best ideas." -Susan Cain
Failure is your invention
"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." -George Bernard Shaw
When your goal is to gain experience, perspective, and knowledge, failure is no longer a possibility. pg.138
you belong wherever you want to belong
be yourself; everyone else is already taken. -Oscar Wilde
I belonged anywhere I wanted to be. pg141
I could act like a CEO or I could really be CEO, which means doing whatever I need to do pg.141
to make the best decision for my company pg.141
Alter your clothes all you want, but don't you dare alter your inner freak - she's got your back as much as I do. pg.143
Remember, #GIRLBOSS: it's not cool to get drunk on your own success. pg.145
Portrait or a #girlboss: Norma Kamali, Fashion Designer and Entrepreneur
"Know thyself" pg.146
have a unique point of view and stay relevant and authentic, you will make an impression. pg.146
Good idea is only good if there is a well-thought-out plan to make it a reality. pg.147
"Learn how to take care of yourself so that the man you marry is the man you choose to be with and not just the man who will take care of you." pg.147
to dream and never stop dreaming pg.147
8. On hiring, staying employed, and firing
then fake it till you make it pg,152
Cover Letter Mistake #1: The cover letter is all about what you want. "passion for fashion" pg.152
Cover Letter Mistake #2: Your cover letter basically says that nothing you've ever done is even remotely applicable to the job you're applying for. pg.153
Cover Letter Mistake #3: You give so-called constructive criticism - without being asked. pg.154
Cover Letter Mistake #4: hiring great writers pg.154
I like real words on a resume. pg.155
that are necessary to bring your ideas to life. We don't need people who just have ideas; we need people who can also execute them. pg.156
but some flattery never hurts. pg.157
Treat your Linkedin profile like an online resume pg.157
self-identify as "visionary" pg.158
You don't get what you don't ask for pg.158
but because I hunted him down pg.158
I like honesty and I value curiosity, pg.159
Knowing when to speak up and when to shut up will get you very far not only in business but in life. pg.160
"That's not my job." pg.163
Resist the urge to overexplain or even to apologize. Keep it as short and sweet as you possibly can. pg.171
9. taking care of (your) business
When you begin with the finish line in mind, you miss all the fun stuff along the way. pg.181
tweak and grow pg.181
rather than dictating what I thought my customers should buy and wear, I listened instead. pg.182
I let them tell me along the way. pg.182
just do a good job. pg.182
keep your promises. pg.182
Give your customers something to share, social media is built on sharing. pg.183
Social media allows me to have my ear to the ground even when I'm out pounding the pavement. pg.183
Believe that Nasty Gal is a feeling pg.183
just going for it can be much more rewarding pg.184
Turn on the jets and ready, set...listen. pg.184
Starting a business also takes a lot of personal sacrifices. If you start a business, expect that you're probably going to be broke for a long time. If you're not broke, consider yourself broke, it is shortsighted to pay yourself a big salary too early. Dream big all you want - but know that the first step toward those dreams is probably going to be a small one. pg.184
I googled it. pg.185
I, like every #GIRLBOSS, am a wolf in wolf's clothing. pg.186
All humas are entrepreneurs not because they should start companies but because the will to create is encoded in human DNA. -Reid Hoffman
defined "entrepreneurship" as "the pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources currently controlled. " pg.186
I want problem-solvers who take nothing at face value. I want people who fight for their ideas, even fight with me. I want people who are comfortable with disagreement. pg.187
Businesses often forget about the culture, and ultimately, they suffer for it because you can't deliver good service from unhappy employees. -Tony Hsieh
Nasty Gal Obsessed: We keep the customer at the center of everything we do. Without customers, we have nothing.
Own it: Take the ball and run with it. We make smart decisions, put the business first, and do more with less.
People are important: Reach out, make friends, and build trust.
No assholes: We leave our egos at the door. We are respectful, collaborative, curious, and open-minded. pg.188
Learn on: What we're building has never been built before - the future is ours to write. We get excited about growth, take intelligent risks, and learn from our mistakes. pg.189
Have fun and keep it weird. pg.189
all investors are not created equal. pg.192
People want to invest in businesses that don't need money, and that your ability to execute has to be just as strong if not stronger, than your idea. pg.193
Venture capitalists want to invest in businesses that also "aren't for sale." pg.193
A desperate business is not a good look, and most investors won't touch that with ten-foot people. pg.193
Turn-ons:
Good people: There is no time for losers. pg.194
Scalability pg.194
Evidence of demand pg.195
Outside validation pg.195
Uniqueness pg.195
Turnoffs:
Overconfidence pg.196
Talking about how soon you plan to exit pg.196
Typos and general unpreparednesspg.196
without risk, there is no reward and no change. pg.197
Create your own job. Become the master of what you do. pg.199
10. Creativity in everything
the world outside the church pg.205
"worldly world pg.205
was a place full of gluttonous distractions that kept us from discovering our true spiritual selves. pg.205
gave me the framework to be free within a set of rules pg.207
To this day I blur my eyes when I edit photos. I load all my photos on Bridge, shrink them down super-small, then cross my eyes like a goofball and flag the images that still catch my eye. This allows me to edit quickly without getting distracted by the details - if the composition or silhouette sucks, it doesn't matter what the model's face says. The DNA of a successful image, and brand, must be encrypted into its tiniest representation while gracefully telling the same story in its largest incarnation. My thumbnail photos were the postage stamps to Nasty Gal's success. pg.210
Create team, they have to look at things from three views: their own, the customer's, and mine. pg.212
When the brand was an extension of just me, I never had to stop and ask myself whether or not it was "on brand." pg.212
I also think you age a lot quicker if you can't keep yourself busy and under the right, healthy dose of stress. pg.214
Overwhelmingly busy is a much better state to be in than overwhelmingly bored. pg.214
to get excited about the mistakes you'll make. pg.215
It's cool to be kind. It's cool to be weird. It's cool to be honest and to be secure with yourself. pg.225
And it means getting dressed for yourself pg.226
Confidence is more attractive than anything you could put on your body. pg.227
Get dressed, #GIRLBOSS, and let your freak flag fly. pg.227
11. The chances
Someone has to succeed, so it might as well be you. pg.236
really want something badly enough, I have it within myself to make it happen. pg.236
But, here's the real shit: You can't have it all, ad nothing comes easy. You will make sacrifices ad compromises, get let down and let other people down, fail and start over. break some hearts, take some names, and learn to pick up and continue when your own heart gets broken. But difficult doesn't mean impossible, and out of the billions of things in this universe that you can't control, what you can control is how hard you try, and if or when to pack it in. pg.237
"Stay hungry. Stay foolish." pg.237
Compete with yourself, not with others. pg.237
Life stops for no one, so keep moving. Stay awake and stay alive. There's no AutoCorrect in life - think before texting the universe. pg.238
Once you've found success, don't stop. pg.238
An advantage of being naive is being able to believe in oneself when no one else will. og.238
If you start listening, you should find that your heart has known what's up all along. pg.238
I know that the most fantastic things are too awesome to even imagine today. Great entrepreneurs are like Indiana Jones: They take leaps before seeing the bridge because they know that if they don't, someone else will get that holy grail. That holy grail is yours for the taking. pg.239
We've arrived, and we're killing it. pg.239