Today on The Ms. CEO Show, I chatted with fellow Ms. CEO Kathy Ireland, CEO of Kathy Ireland Worldwide (KIWW), a billion dollar corporation. This former model and actress is not only a billion dollar business woman, she’s also a mother, wife and author has just published a new book: REAL SOLUTONS FOR BUSY MOMS: Your Guide to Success and Sanity. She shared great insights and inspiration for women entrepreneurs, and the funniest stories from her childhood on today’s show, so check out the full interview; and check out these Top 10 Takeaways for women entrepreneurs from what Kathy Ireland had to say.
- Life comes in seasons. We can have it all but not all at the same time. Kathy said her 20s were about learning. Her 30s were about motherhood. And currently life for her is about growth as a businesswoman.
- Crisis is a time for teaching and learning. Kathy says the economic crisis has been an opportunity to teach our children about what matters most and about the value of a dollar.
- Rejection is noise; just turn it off. Kathy says she experienced a lot of rejection and plain ol’ rudeness when she was a model and struggling entrepreneur (she even once had to re-organize her company through bankruptcy). To her this is all “noise”. It’s really no big deal when you learn to turn it down, tune it out, and move on with a better strategy.
- A sacrifice for your dream isn’t really a sacrifice. Kathy says be willing to give up material things in the short term to really live your dreams. This is not a sacrifice—it’s a bold investment in your future. Also, realize that most stuff that we think is a big deal, really isn’t. Kathy once slept in an airport on a trip to save money—this was just a small act to her to achieve the BIG results that she was on the way to: A company that does more than $1.4 billion a year in revenue.
- Put everything to the mission statement test. Kathy says that all new products considered and eventually developed by her company must be in alignment with Kathy Ireland Worldwide’s mission statement: Finding solutions for families; especially busy moms.
- Every woman is a brand. Kathy says we are all a brand—every individual. What’s your brand? Know it, change it (if necessary) and live it.
- Don’t lose your “real” self in your press kit. Kathy says to know and be okay with our ”real” versus our “retouched” selves (she said this in reference to a photo) and to know when it’s time to get control of our real self, and make some adjustments for our health and well being.
- Good old sound business advice still applies (and works). Kathy says to build a billion dollar corporation you’ve got to have a plan, strategy and timetable—then work your plan and honor your priorities.
- Your customers are the boss. Kathy says that her complete success is tied up in her relationship with the moms who buy her products. She is in contact with her customers all the time and they are her boss—and she says she works everyday with this in mind.
- How you start your day greatly predicts how your day will be. Kathy says getting to bed earlier and getting up earlier gives her the time to read the Bible, pray and reflect on what she is grateful for—and that makes all the difference in her day.
