Sophia Amorusa has lived many lives and I’m jealous of all of them. From her days as a freegan dumpster diving hitchhiker to where she is now, the CEO and creative director of the uber popular online boutique Nastygal.com, Amorusa has been kicking ass and taking names.
My parents own their own business together so I’ve been surrounded by books about how to run a business my whole life. Sophia Amorusa’s book #GIRLBOSS is completely different from those guides written by middle-aged men, thank god. This book is by a girl for girls and doesn’t dick-around with bullshit stereotypes about women in charge. In the beginning of the book, Amorusa writes:
“I, along with countless other #GIRLBOSSes who are profiled in this book, girls who are reading this book, and girls who are yet to become a #GIRLBOSS will not do it by whining- but by fighting. You don’t get taken seriously by asking someone to take you seriously. You’ve got to show up and own it. If this is a man’s world, who cares? I’m still really glad to be a girl in it.”
#GIRLBOSS is littered with crazy inspirational quotes like that. They’re so good, I’m going to print some out and put them up on my wall. Even the timeline Amorusa provides in the very beginning of the book shocks the reader into instantly wondering how she went from eBay shop owner to CEO of a $100-million-plus business in 8 years with no debt. You heard me right: she started and funded her business with no debt.
I was especially fond of the stories from the early stages of her company, originally known as Nasty Gal Vintage, on eBay. She describes the hours she spent in an old fluffy bathrobe in her mother’s house, carefully organizing the vintage clothes and making sure customer service was her first priority. You can really see the characteristics that make her an excellent merchant and leader during this time at the infancy of her online business.
Graduation season is upon us, and I know exactly what book I’ll be getting all of my ladies who I know will build amazing careers.
Images Courtesy of NastyGal Blog
