I had a moment the other morning as I stood at the hostess station at my work, wrapping up a phone call with another demanding stranger. I looked up to see two gentlemen in suits requesting to see the manager, they relayed that they were from ESPN and they had a scheduled meeting with him. As I reach down to pick up the phone and call him, I realize that I know the younger of the two men. He went to one of the Prep Schools not too far away and I may or may not have blown off his advances as a cocky, slightly drunk teenager. He's standing there giving me that obligatory kind of smile that a guy in a suit has to give a girl in an apron. The only words that echoed through my brain in repeat were "I don't have a five year plan. I don't have a five year plan. I don't have a five year plan. I will be a waitress forever because I don't have a five year plan."
I had seen a clip of Kelly Cutrone talking about her crying policy online. I've always taken her words into serious consideration being that she's a head bitch in charge who's been through some shit. More or less, I look up to her. Kelly sets the bar for the "fashion bitches" as she so fondly refers to us. When I remembered that she had just released a book titled "If You Have To Cry, Go Outside- And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You" I decided that the time had come for me to read it. I need a little inspiration, a literary kick in the ass, a check list/guideline for my trip from the bottom up. If You Have To Cry provided me with all of this, as well as character identification. Cutrone and I have more in common than our affection for Comme des Garçons. Our upbringing was similar, our spiritual beliefs are basically one in the same, and our beliefs about women were all on the same page. She talks about technical things you probably wouldn't think of on your trek to the top. For example: Do not apply for jobs in the fashion industry in May, as it's the slowest time of the year- she insists that January and August are best. She says that you should always know your role in your pack- if you are an assistant, you are there to assist. If you are a director, you better direct. This segues into delivering the amount of work a man can do if you wish to be treated equally. [I'm a firm believer in this- I may be 90lbs and wearing 4 inch heels but if you ask me to unload 40 fed ex boxes, and carry over stuffed garment bags three blocks on uneven sidewalks I'm going to do it and I'm never going to tell you I can't handle it. I'm small in stature, NOT handicapped. If I insist that I can make as much money and be as successful as the next male CEO, I'm going to meet the physical demands of the job]
Kelly tells wildly entertaining stories about her various bi coastal endeavors, expresses her deep adoration for her daughter, and insists that though she may come off like a hideous wintour-esque tyrant, she still has feelings and is very much human despite the media picture being painted of her.
I underlined paragraphs, and folded down pages. I will refer back to each chapter upon questioning my will, and my ability to do an AMAZING job at whatever it is I am expected to do. Girls, if you want a little motivation, if you need another member of your tribal council this is a book you should pick up.
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