INTRODUCTION

Work Is Work If It’s Work

So far, I have had a fantastic career. I started out with nothing—no experience and no career guidance—and became CEO of one of the most prestigious men’s companies in the world and then the CEO North America of arguably the finest luxury company in the world.

The fact that you’ve picked up this book and started reading means that you’re at least a little interested in knowing more about the fashion industry and how to succeed in it. You’re probably even more interested in finding out what you can learn from my experiences that will help you in your own career. If you work in the fashion, retail, or luxury-goods industries or want to, I believe this book will help you in ways you never thought possible. If you work in any other industry, this book can help you because much of what I’ve accomplished, achieved, and learned over the course of my career applies to anyone working anywhere.

This book grew out of the desire to help people who may be in the same situation I was in when I started out. I knew no one. I had no connections. I had no advisors. I had no idea how to get started in a career. I only knew I wanted to. I am first and foremost a creative person. I learned early on, however, that creativity without business knowledge and skills is limiting. And I was willing to work hard, very hard.

I believe the story of my career and the experiences I’ve had—good and bad, successes and failures—will be helpful to other people, and not only people working in the fashion or retail industry but people working in any industry. I’ve learned everything I could about the workings of the fashion business—and business in general. I have gained a wealth of knowledge and learned lessons that I think are interesting and inspirational and can help people learn and grow. I’ve lectured to students from many walks of life, and whenever I do, the majority of questions I’m confronted with and asked to relate to take the following form: How did you get where you are? How did you become successful? What were the key elements of getting ahead? These questions come not only from young people who are just starting out but also from senior executives in other businesses and industries. As we all know, in today’s economy, there are many people who are out of work or in jobs they’re unhappy with or who don’t have the careers they want. I’ve been asked so often about my success that I’ve started to feel more like an employment recruiter than a business manager: so many people seek me out and ask for help.

This book provides guidance on problems that many people in many industries face. Simply put, if you love what you’re doing, you’re going to love your career. It’s very important to find something you can enjoy doing every day. If you don’t, it will be work. You’ll be miserable, and you’ll suffer through each day. If you really want to get ahead, you have to find your niche, something you really are passionate about; then you’ll never complain, you’ll never feel work is drudgery, and you’ll be moving in the right direction. Your work won’t be perfect (it never is), but you will be fighting through the politics and people and focusing on learning and performing, not on the drudgery or misery of misspent time.

I realized right away that I enjoyed the world of fashion, and everything I did grew from this feeling in my heart that I was doing something I wanted to do and could be good at and excel in. People need to find their calling. Maybe you won’t find it right away, but if you really want to have a chance to be successful, I advise you to look for something you’re going to enjoy and not be afraid to change direction if you don’t. I truly believe that one of the most important factors—maybe the most important factor—in being successful is finding something you want to do.

Some of you reading this book may think, That’s easy for you to say: you found what you love right away. Some of you may feel you don’t have any idea what you want to do with your lives. I understand that, but I believe that if you really think about it, you may already know in your heart of hearts what you want to do. Or you may learn what it is from a teacher or someone else in your life: a friend, a partner, a family member. You may not realize it in your first job or your second job, but I believe you’ll know at some point during the course of your life. I ended up in fashion by accident. I had no idea what I wanted to do when I graduated from college. Then, when I started working at my first job, it just felt right. That’s what happened to me, and I believe it can happen to you, too. I believe there are lessons from my career that can help others have the kinds of careers they want to have. And I’m willing to share my story, mistakes and all, to provide that help.

I’ve organized this book into four parts. Act I describes how I got started in the fashion business, the hurdles I overcame, and the lessons I learned as I worked my way up from an entry-level position as an assistant designer to the CEO of the largest shirt company in the world.

Then I was fired, and I had to learn how to find a job after working for a single company for 33 years. The Intermission reveals how I applied myself to the search for a new position. Even though I could easily have retired and never worked another day in my life, I didn’t want to do that. As too many people today know, looking for work when you’re older is no picnic—not even if you’ve been a CEO. But I persevered, and I found an even more exciting position at Donna Karan International and LVMH.

Act II describes the challenges I faced when I began the second phase of my career at DKI. The brand was bigger than the business, and my mission was to meet the company’s financial goals. To do that, I needed to build the brand, find new ways to market it, and establish some basic rules and procedures to ensure that the company ran smoothly. Along the way, I learned about the women’s fashion business and global business, and I share those lessons here.

Act III provides a variety of other ideas and principles that I think are helpful to anyone working in any capacity today. Some of this is specific to the fashion industry, but all of it is useful for anyone who wants to succeed in any business. I hope you agree, and I wish you good luck in your career. But remember, luck will take you only so far: the rest is up to you.