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Staff post about: Vera Wang Become an Author

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“I never thought I'd be successful,” says Wang. “It seems in my own mind that in everything I've undertaken I've never quite made the mark. But I've always been able to put disappointments aside. Success isn't about the end result; it's about what you learn along the way.”

Wang may not be completely satisfied with her career, but that does not take away from the tremendous success she has had in establishing a lifestyle brand that is known around the world. How did she do it?

Branding: When others were selling uninspired wedding dresses, Wang decided to sell not only chic and classic gowns, but inspired service to boot. From day one, Wang knew that if she was going to stand out, she would have to do things just a little bit differently from the rest. By focusing on creating a unique lifestyle brand, Wang was making hers a name that her customers could not do without.

Ambition: When the fashion press criticized Wang for being a spoiled designer who was riding on the financial coattails of her father, she did everything in her power to prove them wrong. She could have given up and accepted their attacks, but instead she chose to stay the course. She did so not as a reaction to her critics, but as proof to herself that she could always do better.

Expertise: When Wang first decided to become a fashion designer, she did not start off by creating a line of men’s wear. Wang stayed close to home and stuck with what she knew – skating, weddings, and women. By drawing on her own experiences, Wang was able to give her product a unique appeal that was exactly what her customers wanted.

Learning: Wang’s days of Xeroxing at Vogue were far from the dream job she had imagined. But in following her father’s advice to make the most of her experience, Wang used the time to soak up everything she could possible learn about clothing and fashion. Even once Wang had made it to the top, she continued to take on mentors, believing that there was always something to be learned.

Dedication: “When I was [young] I thought nothing of waking up at four in the morning and rushing to the rink just to have 10 minutes longer on the ice than my competitors,” recalls Wang. “I had to sacrifice things, like a social life, to be a skater at 15. But I loved skating so much that it was worth everything to me.” Whether it was skating or business, when Wang set her sights on a goal, no amount of work was too much in order to achieve it.

“The key is falling in love with something, anything,” says Wang. “If your heart's attached to it, then your mind will be attached to it. When you have a passion for something then you tend not only to be better at it, but you work harder at it too.”

Today, Wang sees no end in sight for the company that bears her name. And, her customers, from the likes of Mariah Carey to Victoria Beckham, are breathing a collective sigh of relief as a result.

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