Supernatural Botanicals

     Barbara Turf is the first woman CEO of Crate and Barrel.  In an economic time when Linens n’ Things filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and other high end cookware retailers, like Williams-Sonoma, has revised its revenue guidance downward, Crate and Barrel seems to be forging straight ahead, largely due to Turf’s leadership.

Turf’s career has certainly been a Cinderella story, or sorts.  After all, she went from walking through Crate and Barrel’s doors in Chicago 40 years ago to interview for a part-time sales clerk position, and landed the job.   Today, she is their first women CEO.

Although women in business leadership were a rarity at that time, Turf displayed incredible courage when she found she was making less money than one of her colleagues.  She brought it to the owner’s attention, and got a raise on the spot.  (We hope to see less and less of this thanks to the Fair Pay Bill that President Obama just passed.)

Via Pink Magazine, Turf shares with us 5 Success Secrets:

1. Work a little harder, get a little tougher, and you’ll reap rewards. Women are such a powerful and important group of decision-makers and consumers, and it’s more important than ever that we make our voices heard as leaders.

2. Life/Work balance can be achieved, but you must have the desire and be very energetic, because you have to put a lot of effort into work and also have energy left over.

3. As leaders and business owners, it’s always a good time to look to the future. We at Crate and Barrel believe that the best ideas often come from the next generation.

4. Success isn’t about money or the power you have. It’s about staying true to who you are, to your gut, and being happy.

5. Do what you love and the successes you achieve will just be the icing on the cake.

Mondays are a perfect time to reconnect with your inner positive self, and to look at your goals.  Instead of typical Monday Mayhem, perhaps we should look Monday straight in the eye and feel confident because (A) we are learning to be fearless leaders and (B) creating a plan for your life and career makes the walk through the corporate lipstick jungle far less fearful.   Be inspired by women like Barbara Turf.  Learn from their trial and tribulations.  One of my favorite quotes, by another fearless woman leader is, “When you know better, you do better.”  Maya Angelou.

If there was a perfect time to create a vision board, today would be the day.  The new year is open to anything you want to make it.  It’s all about laws of attraction.   Get connected and get focused on your goals. 

Not sure what a vision board is?  Click here to find out

   Have you ever considered vintage?  I truly appreciate vintage…vintage linens, vintage dresses, vintage magazines, vintage jewelry, etc.  This vintage Vogue magazine reminds me of my senior year in high school.  In 1986, my home economics teacher had scads of vintage magazines around the room, magazines from the 70s.  I would pour over them and fall in love with the fashion and with the notion of being an independent woman with ultra style and class and dancing at Studio 54.  In 1986, I was quite certain that I’d move off to New York the next year to be a fashion designer.  I had no doubt that I’d make it.  I had planned on being a Rockette, you know, as a side career to support myself in New York…at least until my name was synonymous with Gloria Vanderbilt. 

Not only would my home economics teacher let me day dream and share my vision of my oh so successful future, she encouraged it.  Never once did she question if I’d be a successful fashion designer, or even a Rockette, for that matter.  I think she liked seeing a student dream big and she supported it fully.  It was a very special time in life, filled with hope. 

I applaud those who teach kids to dream big.  My teacher inspired me and made me feel I could do anything I wanted to do.  She made me believe in myself, and even let me turn in sketches of dresses for grades.  She taught me the beauty of vintage, taught me to appreciate beautiful old objects such as pressed napkins and gorgeous tablecloths, and made the 1950s housewife seem like someone I aspired to be…that along with the fashion designing career and Rockette gig on the side. 

Discover vintage.  You may just fall in love with vintage style.  I did. 

“Find out how to get paid for doing what you love.”  Oprah Winfrey on inspiration.