Sunday 16 November 2014

Book ~ "#GIRLBOSS" (2014) Sophia Amoruso

From Goodreads ~ At seventeen, Sophia Amoruso decided to forgo continuing education to pursue a life of hitchhiking, dumpster diving and petty thievery. Now, at twenty-nine, she is the Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Nasty Gal, a $100+ million e-tailer that draws A-list publicity and rabid fans for its leading-edge fashion and provocative online persona. Her story is extraordinary - and only part of the appeal of #GIRLBOSS. 

This aspirational book doesn’t patronize young women the way many business experts do. Amoruso shows readers how to channel their passion and hard work, while keeping their insecurities from getting in the way. She offers straight talk about making your voice heard and doing meaningful work. 

She’s proof that you can be a huge success without giving up your spirit of adventure or distinctive style. As she writes, "I have three pieces of advice I want you to remember: Don’t ever grow up. Don’t become a bore. Don’t let The Man get to you. OK? Cool. Then let’s do this.”

I hadn't heard of Sophia Amoruso or Nasty Girl but someone I'm friends with on Goodreads had added it to her to-be-read pile and it sounded interesting ...and it was (I like reading bios).

Nasty Gal is an American-based and owned online retailer, founded by Sophia Amoruso in 2006, which specializes in fashion clothing, shoes and accessories for young women. She originally launched an ebay store in selling vintage fashion that she would find at secondhand stores.  In June 2008, she moved Nasty Gal Vintage off eBay and onto its own site ... and she hasn't looked back.

It was interesting to read her story.  She didn't like high school so quit and had a lot of jobs from working at Subway to selling shoes to rich women to working in the lobby of an arts school.  She didn't have passion or commitment for these jobs and would eventually quit or get fired.  At times she had to resort to stealing and dumpster diving to survive. She sounds like an interesting no-BS person.  The conventional rules didn't work for her so she made her own rules.

Besides telling us about herself, she also gives advice on how to become a #GIRLBOSS ... like staying true to yourself, creating an effective resume and cover letter, and the importance of being nice and polite.  In addition, there are portraits of #GIRLBOSS such as Madeline Poole of MPNAILs and Norma Kamali.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

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