Lots of the topics we discuss here at CGD tend to be quite serious – your career, after all, is an important part of your life. However, it’s important to sometimes lighten up, let your hair down and have a good old laugh. Injecting a bit of fun and humour into your work and lifestyle is just as important, and yet it’s often something we forget.
Two women we can take a great deal of inspiration from in this respect are Jane and Jean Ford, who are the founders of Benefit Cosmetics. They base their whole business concept on the mantra that “makeup doesn’t have to be serious to look good.” Benefit products are known all over the world for their fun names and creative packaging, and it’s this light-hearted side of their business that has allowed them to be so successful. So what lessons can we learn from Jane and Jean Ford?
1. Sometimes things happen by chance, and sometimes you get lucky
Jane: “One day we literally stood on a street corner in San Francisco and flipped a coin. Heads we’d open a casserole cafe; tails we’d open a makeup boutique. Tails it was!”
2. It doesn’t matter where you come from
Growing up on a farm in Indiana may seem like an unlikely place to get involved in beauty and cosmetics. But the twins’ rural background proves that if you have a good idea and know what you want then you can achieve anything.
3. Fake it ’til you make it
Jean: “When we were 13 our mom wanted us to get jobs, which really cramped our style. We wanted to work on our perpetual tans…”
Jane: “…So we put on sailor caps and parked our keisters by the pool with a sign that said “Poolside Sitters.” That summer we got paid to watch kids while we got toasty bronze. Soon after we started modelling. ”
Inspirational mantras & quotes from Jane & Jean:
“Glamour is grabbing life by the giggles and not letting go”
“Know that the sun will rise tomorrow and all will be different. Most moods change by the hour. Shake it off!”
“Put on twice as much makeup. On your way out the door half of it will blow off and you’ll be looking perfect by the time you arrive”
“If at first you don’t succeed, apply more lipstick”
“If you can’t be good, be gorgeous”
and finally…
“Laughter is the best cosmetic…so grin and wear it!”
OUR BENEFIT FAVORITES
Lovely readers, CGD has been nominated in the Bloglovin’ Awards 2015 . It would mean the world to us if you could vote for us! It’s thanks to your constant support that we’ve made it this far! Thanks so much. X