I chalk a lot of life’s mysteries up to kismet and the belief that things happen for a reason. But the other day I was talking to a friend and successful businesswoman, and she said something self-deprecating about her achievements. Springing into an emergent defensive mode, I told her: Your success is not an accident. I reminded her that she had worked her way into the right rooms, that she had spent years doing every menial thing under the sun to get her business off the ground, and that it is neither a surprise nor a stroke of good luck that she has landed where she is.
I am thinking now of all the scotch tape that holds every new business together behind the scenes. A few examples I’ve heard fellow entrepreneurs mention: manning the customer service lines/accounts themselves (under aliases), hand-delivering products to customers, shooting campaigns in their parents’ homes, storing inventory in their closets. That effort, continuously applied, becomes the grist of success. Success is never a fluke.
Other things that are never accidents:
+clear writing,
+a finished project,
+a new personal best in an athletic or fitness undertaking;
+happy customers,
+most importantly: kindness.
Ticking through this list, I am heading into today with focus and intention. What do I mean to do today? What do I mean not to?
Onward!
Post-Scripts.
+On making everything you do the most important thing.
+On being in the murky middle of things.
+Everything feels chaotic right before you level up.
+Things that are welcome inconveniences.
Shopping Break.
+LOVE this La Double-J inspired feather trim top (under $100) for a fun night out. I’d pair with dark rinse denim and a suede ballet flat.
+I can’t tell you how often I’ve been wearing my wool-silk blend bandana scarf in brown this season. It looks so cute layered over a white tee or simple sweater! I actually ordered mine directly from the brand in France and paid a small fortune in shipping, but you can buy for less here. I think I’m a scarf girl now, because I just added this to my cart, too. I feel like the colors will go with everything!
+I just got these suede flats in and they are, well and truly, a perfect ballet flat. Shape, color, fit, comfort. 10/10.
+I did end up ordering this dress from HHH — so versatile and easy to style; can imagine layering with brown suede, beneath a denim jacket, with a boot or flat, etc — and this striped skirt. I own the skirt in another pattern and it is so comfortable and chic. I have worn it on travel days twice because it feels like wearing a nightgown but looks pulled together, and I find packing separates for trips extends the wardrobe / gives you more options. (Helpful for me – I am a terribly moody dresser and hate having to predict what I’ll feel like wearing.)
+A really chic twist on fair isle.
+I’m addicted to this buffing bar. I always use it before a big night out on shoulders/decolletage because it leaves this luminous, pearl-like shine on your skin — it is unbelievable! They come in a pack of two and I saved the spare to give my sister when I visit her in Boston (she loves stuff like this and actually first introduced me to the brand last Christmas, when she raved about their overnight hand repair cream, and I promptly ordered one for my bedside table). The brand also just released a gentler version of their buffing bar. (Be warned: the green banana original version is pretty abrasive — which I like — but the new one purports to be a little more gentle.). And the packaging…!!! This is on my mind as a possible candidate for a “favorite things” gift exchange around the holidays.
+Donni’s fall drop two just landed. I keep coming back to these pants in the oxblood color with a great flat. I know so many of you own and adore their pants and I think I’m going to try them…
+Almost to glove season! These $29 cashmere gloves are INCREDIBLE in quality. I own in the sand color but just added the brown to my cart.
+Affordable skincare brand VERSED just launched a rich barrier cream yesterday. They sent me an advanced sample a few weeks back and it is REALLY good for winter/cold weather skincare, and only $20?! The price astounds me relative to quality — a really nice consistency and blends beautifully. Skin feels gorgeously hydrated after. I’m truly psyched about this! I’m currently writing from Pennsylvania (on a little fall getaway with my parents!) and I packed it to bring.
+Three other items I packed with me for our two-day trip: Crown Affair Dry Shampoo (I always toss this in my bag while traveling because I find I’m more likely to want to stretch between hair washings while in a different place!), my Dyson AirWrap (I think this is the most high-maintenance thing about me…), and these magical undereye masks, which totally erase dark circles and leave you looking rested. I tend to find them most useful after long air travel days but now I just associate them with the “reset” of travel and bring them wherever I go, even for short car trips.
+I still use these Julia Amory toiletry cases for every single trip I take. These are one of those things I feel like will eventually be discontinued and people will say, “God, I wish she’d make those again; there is nothing like them.” They are lined on the inside in case something spills, can be tossed in the wash when the exterior gets dirty (just air dry after running on gentle cycle), and have lots of helpful interior pockets. I also think the three sizes are perfect. The biggest can hold a brush, full-size deodorant, etc! Use code JEN-15 for 15% off. A GREAT gift for a mother, girlfriend, sister, etc.
+Speaking of great gift ideas: Smathers + Branson has these really cute “life belts” where you can customize all the needlepoint icons to reflect your husband’s interests, school and sports affiliations, even the date of their wedding! I had a blast putting one together for Landon. (OMG, they even have an airedale — in memoriam sweet Tilly!). They are currently $50 off with code LB50. A great gift to buy now and sock away for Christmas. I also thought this would be a cute gift for siblings to go in on for their Dad!
+Currently wearing this fab sweater. The color sold me. I love it styled with browns, greens, rusts, denim!
+I feel like I’m always looking for a fun take on an evening bag — this stopped me in my tracks!
+My friend Lisa is closing her shoe business, Maylis! All inventory is 50% off!
+Truly drooling over this $$$ evening dress…!
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