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Showing posts from January, 2020

How Successful Entrepreneurs Overcome Self-Doubt Each Day

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Diane von Furstenberg is a Belgian fashion designer who has built her namesake company into one of the most recognizable in the world. Furstenberg has been listed as the world’s 68th most powerful, received an honorary doctorate, and been president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America for years. Confidence should come easily to someone like this, wouldn’t you think? But Furstenberg does not see herself this simply. She believes she’s a constant work in progress and says successful people (like herself) probably feel like losers at least once a week . Furstenberg said she feels self-doubt continually. What does that look like in her life? “Oh, just, you know. You feel like a loser, you wake up and you doubt. So my trick is, I look in the mirror and say, “If you doubt your power, then you give power to your doubts.” Squash Doubt to Bring Your Best Work to Life Can you relate to Furstenberg? You’re not alone. Even successful business owners grapple with self-doub

How Re-Purposed Malls Can Teach Entrepreneurs a Lesson

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Have you been to a dying mall lately? It can be pretty depressing. Empty storefronts litter the hallways like missing teeth in a hockey player’s mouth. Dim lighting seems to permeate each corner, and mall walkers bring more energy than any hint of retail activity. What was booming 30 years ago now feels like a bust. With consumers shifting more of their shopping from physical to online spaces, young generations have a different perspective on what a buying experience should bring. This explains why some malls are dying, while others are thriving. What’s the difference? In Maryland, one mall is renting space to a theater company while, in Michigan, one mall is now home to a cultural association that sponsors Chinese festivals. Some malls have transformed parts of their space to offer thriving art schools for walk-in shoppers. Others have created customer-centric experiences, like combining fashion consultants with on-site purchasing options. Like most other sales venues, there i