5 lessons from Coco Chanel for business

Woman, entrepreneur and businesswomanthese words describe Coco Chanelwho revolutionized the fashion industry and to date is a reference.

Gabrielle Chanel was born in 1883 in France in an environment of poverty. At age 11, after the death of her mother, she lived in an orphanage in Aubazine, France where she learned to sew during her spare time and later worked as a seamstress and singer in a cabaret.

In the latter, she met Etienne Balsan, a former cavalry officer and heir to a textile company, with whom she began a relationship and who supported her when she began designing hats. Soon after the hobby became a profession.

In 1910 he opened his first boutique, which was revolutionary because at the time it was considered that women should be at charge of household duties; of her husband and her children.

Part of the success he had was improving something that already existed: the clothes and combine the formal with the elegant, without giving up comfort. He also innovated and followed his ideals, combining masculine and feminine garments, giving rise to the concept unisex, which opened the possibility for postwar women to change the corset and puffy skirts. Chanel also established herself as a designer of handbags, perfumes, hats, and jewelry.

Francisco Alcaide Hernández recounts in his book “Learning from the best” that the Second World War and his relationship with a Nazi officer seriously affected the company’s image; however, the company reopened in 1954, when it became more relevant.

we share you five lessons from Coco Chanel for business.

1- Sé original

For the businesswoman, the fact that someone copies you is synonymous with being original. The problem is not that they copy you, but that nobody wants to do it, because it indicates that you are not interesting to people.

Chanel said that when you know it’s original and a different vision is offered, you become someone worth following.

“The only way to be irreplaceable is always to be different.”

2- You are never sufficiently prepared

For the entrepreneur you are never sufficiently prepared and if you expect to be prepared you will never get anything done. The important thing is to have a passion for work, to be an observant and curious person, to constantly prepare and learn.

3- Freedom

For the designer, authenticity was the only path to freedom, on the other hand, when you act based on what others will say and seek the approval of others, you live without freedom.

“Beauty begins with the decision to be yourself and the bravest act is to think out loud for yourself.”

4- It is not the appearance, it is the essence

Appearance, money and clothes are amplifications of who we are, but in reality they are the essence of the person; however, if used properly it helps to enhance the image.

“Dress vulgar and you will only see the dress; dress elegantly and you will see the woman”.

5- Not everything depends on you

Not all things depend on one; however, it is up to everyone to find alternatives to the obstacles that arise. The best weapon is creativity.

“Be persevering but if you realize that you are hitting a wall, put your energies in another way to get where you want to go.”

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