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| Never stop learning says Gunn. |
Work with what you've got.
Do everything 1000%.
Crazy crises happen. Respond to it. Recalibrate your thinking about time.
These are just some of the priceless nuggets touted by Project Runway Supervisor Tim Gunn in his book Gunn's Golden Rules for Making It Work. A must read for every household in the U.S. I believe.
In the world according to Tim, there are no shortcuts to success. Of course, hard work, skills and creativity are just the beginning. He espouses 18 rules for making life work, achieving goals and the importance of taking the high road, which is the most difficult of all for many.
When I picked up this book at a local library used book sale, my thought was: looks interesting. As I paged through the book, I was hooked, couldn't put it down. You can tell I love it by the creased pages marked it up with highlighters and ball point pen notations because the gems in the book are invaluable. It's my new bible! And, definitely one for my interns.
What I learned about Tim Gunn, a man for whom I have the highest respect, is that he was an unpaid mentor, consultant and supervisor/manager for four months while helping launch the show Project Runway in the face of the naysayers. No one thought that the show would succeed. He believed in the designers, the concept and the results. He never said: I told you so. How many of us would give it all we've got, unpaid, living in a questionably safe apartment with no additional money and never enough food on the table? He got my attention. Besides, he is totally American, rides the subway daily and eats at local food stands in NYC. He is real. He is a master of his craft, good manners and a communicator.
Stories illustrate his points. He talks about his life -- his coming out, family, teaching, show production and all with wit and facts. He takes the high road always.
Here's my favorite passage from his lips to my brain
"Making it work means finding a solution to a dilemma. When we figure a way out of a tricky situation in our own lives, we learn something an gain confidence in ourselves. Making it work is empowering."
This is the man who reivigorated the curriculum at Parson, the most famous design school, authored several books, a speaker, an actor and host of several shows he brainstormed and created. The man's talent is rich and diverse.
Thoughout the book, he talks about the importance of giving back, to be as thoughtful as possible to others and why boundaries are so liberating.
"When you don't have a shopping list, you can easily go astray in the cereal aisle. If you burn out, no one's going to benefit. So it's in everyone's interest for you to do what you can and then make it clear that you can do no more," Tim Gunn -- probably the most modest high profile personality not only in the fashion industry but the world of communications.
Give this book as a gift -- mark it up for your intended reader to make it their's. Then add a little more to the book -- a $5 bill, a gift card, lottery ticket, a handwritten piece of your own advice. Now, that's quite a gift!
