The Clifton Review
The Clifton Review is a tri-weekly column that examines the question of the Clifton project along with the evolution of the war between two billionaires. We covered the start of this war with articles describing the battle over easement rights, the mysterious burning of a home, the blocks to rebuilding, and countless questionable court filings.
The 2018 series salutes fashion mogul Peter Nygard’s Golden Jubilee detailing his rags to riches story and incredible business success over these past fifty years. The Clifton Review will take an inside look at how he did it.
The Opportunity For Rebirth
By P.J. Malone
Do you feel that your career or business is absolutely perfect right now?
I don’t imagine that there is anyone who will attest to that. No matter what the state of affairs of your career or business, everyone will likely agree that there is room for improvement.
What better time than the time of Easter and its significance of rebirth to take the opportunity to look at ways to make improvements to your professional life whether as a business owner or employee.
First, it requires you to do a bit of an assessment. Is opportunity knocking? Have you gotten any gentle nudges lately?
Remember we previously told a story of a very successful business executive who got fired and in his anger decided to start his own company to get back at his previous employers. His new business made him a rich man. His wealth increased to a level that could never happen working for his previous employers.
The suggestion is not that you need to get angry to get inspired. The idea is to look at even negative situations and understand how they may represent a wonderful kick in the butt. You know the saying, ‘everything happens for a reason’.
Just like the passengers who may have missed a flight and also missed death on a plane that crashed. There are a number of these types of stories.
The point is, even negative situations can represent opportunities for something better in your lives. So, consider looking at those as well for the opportunity that may be knocking.
Also consider the gut feelings you may get. Remember, fashion mogul Peter Nygard got a strong sense that he should give up his date with a Miss Sweden to go on an interview for a job he didn’t particularly have an interest in, but he listened to his gut. And though he didn’t know it at the time, it turned into a multi-million-dollar opportunity.
Then there are the practical considerations like how you approach your business or career. There were a number of inside secrets we learned from Peter Nygard in terms of the factors and his approach that have taken his business from 800 thousand to 800 million over 50 years. Here are three questions to consider:
Do you have strategy meetings?
These provide wonderful opportunities to assess where the business is and the extent to which it is aligned with your business goals. It is also an opportunity to figure out how to put it back on track or improve its trajectory.
This even applies to careers of employees. Do you stop to reflect on how your career is developing and what you can do to skyrocket your results? Reflections can reveal important insights.
How do you approach challenges?
Are you a type of individual that sees a glass with liquid at the 50% watermark half full or half empty? Are you able to look beyond the challenges of a situation to find a solution that brings about the results you want? Looking at the way you handle challenges can lead to a shift in perspective that can change the circumstances you want to change.
How do you treat others—both employees and co-workers?
No one is suggesting that you give employees $10,000 each like Peter Nygard did on his 35th and 50th anniversaries. However, the way you treat employees can make a difference in their level of loyalty, as research shows, and commitment to the business’ success.
Also, Employees would do well to treat co-workers with respect especially because some employers take the approach of asking co-workers their thoughts about an employee before considering that individual for a promotion.
What better time to look at resurrecting your business or career to bring about the results you desire than during this sacred holiday of Easter?
