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Setting the standard for online shopping, Natalie Massenet is a bit more than an inspirational figure. Her pioneering spirit has pushed the fashion industry to an entirely new level. After launching Net-A-Porter in 2000, having perfected the art of grabbing the attention of the online audience worldwide, she introduced a men's concept [Mr. Porter] in January of 2011. Both equally successful, she has created two platforms for shopping online, at any time, anywhere in the world. With fresh concepts, style-inspiring online magazines for both brands and plans for moving to print with Net-A-Porter's magazine THE EDIT [headed up by former Harper's Bazaar Editor-In-Chief, Lucy Yeomans], this fierce fashion icon is on fire and it won't stop there. During her talk at the Vogue Festival in April, the newly named British Fashion Council (BFC) Chairman, listed her life lessons that I found rather inspiring and thought they would be a good mid-week share...
LIFE LESSONS FROM NATALIE MASSENET:
- If you want success, be unique
- The harder you work, the luckier you get
- There is no recipe for success - it is as unique as you are
- Sometimes it's easier to get something big if you divide it into small amounts - I started by calling 30 people and asking them for £10,000 each
- Why be like everybody else? Try to be like yourself
- Follow your instincts: I was told by a very respected American buyer that my first idea - to launch a range of luxury scented candles - would never work because nobody would ever spend more than a dollar on a candle. My other idea was a coffee bar chain. Evenutally I realised I had to go with my instincts
- Don't be afraid of what's on the other side of the mountain
- As long as you put your consumer first there is no tension
- Everything has to start somewhere and usually it's small
- People think success looks like a direct line but actually it's a very wiggly line
- Sometimes the plan you have for yourself doesn't always turn out to be the plan
- There is no "i" in team
- Never be afraid of what is on the other side of the mountain
- When you visualise something with self-belief the universe conspires to help you - you still have to work hard but it can happen
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- Plan the best you can and then jump in and go for it. Adapt as you go. That's how progress happens
- Why walk when you can run
- Don't sleep on the job
- Make yourself indispensable
- Be nice to everyone because you will come across them again
- The only limits are the ones we put on ourselves
- Once you start a business you have to grow it and grow with it - starting a business is not just for Christmas
See, what did I tell you? Inspiring, right?
Did I mention... Using Instagram as her platform for telling her story of success at Vogue's Festival, she once again pushed the limits of forward thinking and presentation as she veered off from the typical and instead added an interesting twist to keep the on-lookers interested. #brilliant
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Did I mention... Using Instagram as her platform for telling her story of success at Vogue's Festival, she once again pushed the limits of forward thinking and presentation as she veered off from the typical and instead added an interesting twist to keep the on-lookers interested. #brilliant
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For anyone working online, it is absolutely no secret that their inspiration and source for that needed "kick in the butt" to get into gear is Net-A-Porter.com - long before my career launched you could find me perusing N.A.P's pages for my fashion fix, their newsletters left me starry eyed and their magazine, well, I don't think it needs much explaining... it speaks for itself! Starting out as bloggers, Criseida and I always clicked over to Net-A-Porter for clean design inspiration, where I think I can speak for the both of us in saying that we fell hard for their fonts, styled looks and clear images.
Turning 26 in less than a month, its sad to say that 25 has come to an end - I feel as though I'm "offcially" growing up. Which is in turn forcing me to really think about my future and how I see it all panning out... hard work pays off, and Natalie Massenet is there to prove it as my daily reminder. Something I will remember from her talk is "The only limits are the ones we put on ourselves" - I'm ready and willing to push the limits, Natalie, thanks.
...Let's go 26! I've got this.
Turning 26 in less than a month, its sad to say that 25 has come to an end - I feel as though I'm "offcially" growing up. Which is in turn forcing me to really think about my future and how I see it all panning out... hard work pays off, and Natalie Massenet is there to prove it as my daily reminder. Something I will remember from her talk is "The only limits are the ones we put on ourselves" - I'm ready and willing to push the limits, Natalie, thanks.
...Let's go 26! I've got this.
#hardworkpaysoff