13A: Reading Reflection 1

Assignment 13A: Reading Reflection #1

I read about Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel in Lisa Chaney's Coco Chanel:

• What surprised you the most?
• What surprised me the most about this entrepreneur was that she was able to create such an enormous empire despite all of the adversity she experienced throughout her life.   She experienced poverty throughout her childhood, drug addiction later on in her life, and even had an abortion; however, as her dedication to her work continued to grow, her brand and name continued to live on as her innovation and work never failed to increasingly gain popularity.  
• What about the entrepreneur did you most admire?
• I most admired that Gabrielle Chanel used what she was given (even if that was very little) to create a name for herself and to create change in a society of stability.  It did not matter that she came from nothing with no money and no name.  Instead, she used her knowledge of sewing that she gained by being put into an orphanage and taught by nuns to kick start her career as a designer.  Additionally, Chanel was great at networking and using the people she knew to converse and gain connections.   
• What about the entrepreneur did you least admire?
• Although she was very talented at gaining connections to prolong her company and career, I least admired how Chanel seemed to use people close to her just to get her way.  As discussed in Lisa Chaney's book, Chanel even left a man (Etienne Balsan) that she was involved with (who even offered to help her start her own business) for Balsan's wealthier friend.  Although it may have seemed like a good way to increase her opportunity at success, I do not believe that she needed to use people the way that she did.  I think that there is a fine line between using someone and making connections for the right reasons.  
• Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?
• Chanel was born into a state of adversity as she was placed in an orphanage by her father after her mother died and was forced to learn to sew by nuns.  However, she took this terrible situation and turned it around for the better as her knowledge of sewing is what jump started her future career and work.  Throughout her years of success, Chanel encountered numerous obstacles.  Even after she closed her company due to the chaos of World War II and fleeing to Switzerland to escape the judgement of the people of France for having an affair with a German soldier, Chanel rose back up and launched a new line of clothing, demonstrating her unwavering desire to achieve success.  
• What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited?
• I think the greatest skills that Gabrielle Chanel exhibited was her ability to use her confidence as a way of branding and creating networks.  By creating networks with some of the most influential and famous people of her time, Chanel was able to expand her company and receive enormous amounts of fame.  Most importantly, I think that Chanel's greatest skill was her ability to stay in contact with the desires and needs of the public which is demonstrated as she created clothing that was comfortable yet stylish, appealing to the very likings of society.  
• Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.
• As I read through this book, I was confused about the information that was discussed about the middle of Chanel's life regarding the people she knew.  Chaney quickly discusses and lists numerous names of famous people that Chanel knew and people that she engaged in relationships with and it became difficult to follow the story line while also keeping up with all of the different names.  I think if Chaney discussed each character that Chanel encounters in her life more in depth depending on their importance, it would be easier to follow. 
• If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?
• I would ask the entrepreneur how she was able to come back from more than a decade of being out of business and create yet something new that consumers wanted.  And according to Chaney's writing, society did not openly accept Chanel's new products at first; however, with her ingenious designs, she was able to extend her infamous company.  I would ask this question because once someone experiences success and makes it big and either sells their product or starts their company, it is so simple to fail as so many things can go wrong.  Therefore, I would like to know what it took for Chanel to make a comeback and reinvent her name.  
• I would also ask the entrepreneur what it took for her to turn her childhood of poverty around into a money-making company and name.  It would have seemed nearly impossible for someone like her who had absolutely no family and no money to make something that could support her for the rest of her lifetime.  I find it extremely admirable that she was able to have enough determination to make a new life for herself. 
• For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?
• I think that Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel's opinion of hard work was completing a task and seeing it through until it reached success.  According to Chaney's writing, Chanel was a determined and powerful woman who did not stop until she got exactly what she wanted.  Chanel wanted to create an empire for women as she believe that men had too much power in the fashion business and she aspired to make a difference in fashion.  I agree with her opinion of hard work as I believe that hard work is giving something all of the effort you have and giving it your best so that you can reap the benefits.