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Business Ideas – 3 Business Lessons From Anita Roddick


hi I’m Evan Carmichael and welcome to

hi I’m Evan Carmichael and welcome to another edition of modeling the Masters

another edition of modeling the Masters

another edition of modeling the Masters I believe that the fastest and most

I believe that the fastest and most

I believe that the fastest and most effective way to grow your business is

effective way to grow your business is

effective way to grow your business is to model the strategies of people who’ve

to model the strategies of people who’ve

to model the strategies of people who’ve already done what you’re trying to do so

already done what you’re trying to do so

already done what you’re trying to do so today we’re going to look at how mother

today we’re going to look at how mother

today we’re going to look at how mother of two was forced to start her own

of two was forced to start her own

of two was forced to start her own business after her husband left her to

business after her husband left her to

business after her husband left her to travel across America having no formal

travel across America having no formal

travel across America having no formal training her survival instinct kicked in

training her survival instinct kicked in

training her survival instinct kicked in and she was able to go from nothing to

and she was able to go from nothing to

and she was able to go from nothing to building one of the most trusted brands

building one of the most trusted brands

building one of the most trusted brands in the world this is a story of body

in the world this is a story of body

in the world this is a story of body shop founder Anita Roddick and the top

shop founder Anita Roddick and the top

shop founder Anita Roddick and the top three lessons that you can learn from

three lessons that you can learn from

three lessons that you can learn from her success Anita Roddick was a British

her success Anita Roddick was a British

her success Anita Roddick was a British businesswoman human rights activist an

businesswoman human rights activist an

businesswoman human rights activist an environmental campaigner that’s known as

environmental campaigner that’s known as

environmental campaigner that’s known as the founder of the body shop a cosmetics

the founder of the body shop a cosmetics

the founder of the body shop a cosmetics company producing and retailing beauty

company producing and retailing beauty

company producing and retailing beauty products that shaped ethical consumerism

products that shaped ethical consumerism

products that shaped ethical consumerism she was born into a hard-working

she was born into a hard-working

she was born into a hard-working immigrant family and her mother ran a

immigrant family and her mother ran a

immigrant family and her mother ran a successful cafe which kept the young

successful cafe which kept the young

successful cafe which kept the young Roddick occupied for most of her

Roddick occupied for most of her

Roddick occupied for most of her childhood in addition to a strong work

childhood in addition to a strong work

childhood in addition to a strong work ethic her mother also taught her the

ethic her mother also taught her the

ethic her mother also taught her the concept of recycling and how valuable

concept of recycling and how valuable

concept of recycling and how valuable could be for businesses after graduating

could be for businesses after graduating

could be for businesses after graduating school she took a trip around the world

school she took a trip around the world

school she took a trip around the world and eventually wound up in Johannesburg

and eventually wound up in Johannesburg

and eventually wound up in Johannesburg South Africa where she disobeyed the

South Africa where she disobeyed the

South Africa where she disobeyed the laws of apartheid by tending the jazz

laws of apartheid by tending the jazz

laws of apartheid by tending the jazz club on Black Knight and was sent back

club on Black Knight and was sent back

club on Black Knight and was sent back to England upon arriving back home she

to England upon arriving back home she

to England upon arriving back home she might Gordon Roddick and felt you had an

might Gordon Roddick and felt you had an

might Gordon Roddick and felt you had an instant bond with him the two married

instant bond with him the two married

instant bond with him the two married and opened up a restaurant and hotel

and opened up a restaurant and hotel

and opened up a restaurant and hotel together after three years of running

together after three years of running

together after three years of running the two businesses Gordon decided that

the two businesses Gordon decided that

the two businesses Gordon decided that he wanted to fulfill his lifelong dream

he wanted to fulfill his lifelong dream

he wanted to fulfill his lifelong dream of riding the horse from Buenos Aires

of riding the horse from Buenos Aires

of riding the horse from Buenos Aires Argentina to New York City they sold the

Argentina to New York City they sold the

Argentina to New York City they sold the restaurant business and Anita stayed

restaurant business and Anita stayed

restaurant business and Anita stayed home with their two children while

home with their two children while

home with their two children while Gordon was away on his adventure she

Gordon was away on his adventure she

Gordon was away on his adventure she decided to create her own cosmetic store

decided to create her own cosmetic store

decided to create her own cosmetic store that would sell natural and

that would sell natural and

that would sell natural and environmentally conscious products she

environmentally conscious products she

environmentally conscious products she started off selling 15 cosmetics

started off selling 15 cosmetics

started off selling 15 cosmetics products that she made in her garage and

products that she made in her garage and

products that she made in her garage and packaged in recycled bottles to reduce

packaged in recycled bottles to reduce

packaged in recycled bottles to reduce the cost she soon opened a second

the cost she soon opened a second

the cost she soon opened a second location and by the time her husband had

location and by the time her husband had

location and by the time her husband had returned from his trip but were already

returned from his trip but were already

returned from his trip but were already asking about franchising rights

asking about franchising rights

asking about franchising rights by 2004 the body shop had almost two

by 2004 the body shop had almost two

by 2004 the body shop had almost two thousand stores and served over 77

thousand stores and served over 77

thousand stores and served over 77 million customers around the world it

million customers around the world it

million customers around the world it was also considered one of the most

was also considered one of the most

was also considered one of the most trusted brands in the world a March

trusted brands in the world a March

trusted brands in the world a March seventeenth 2006 L’Oreal bought the body

seventeenth 2006 L’Oreal bought the body

seventeenth 2006 L’Oreal bought the body shop for 973 million dollars with the

shop for 973 million dollars with the

shop for 973 million dollars with the sale Robert became more involved in

sale Robert became more involved in

sale Robert became more involved in charity work and began giving away her

charity work and began giving away her

charity work and began giving away her money to cause as she believed it when

money to cause as she believed it when

money to cause as she believed it when she died in 2007 she left her estate to

she died in 2007 she left her estate to

she died in 2007 she left her estate to charities action item number one get

charities action item number one get

charities action item number one get past survival we all have big dreams

past survival we all have big dreams

past survival we all have big dreams what we want ourselves and our companies

what we want ourselves and our companies

what we want ourselves and our companies to become but in order to make those

to become but in order to make those

to become but in order to make those dreams a reality you need to first get

dreams a reality you need to first get

dreams a reality you need to first get past a survival point with your business

past a survival point with your business

past a survival point with your business you need to know that your company will

you need to know that your company will

you need to know that your company will be able to give you enough money to put

be able to give you enough money to put

be able to give you enough money to put food on the table and pay your bills

food on the table and pay your bills

food on the table and pay your bills this is one of the most important first

this is one of the most important first

this is one of the most important first steps you need to accomplish as you

steps you need to accomplish as you

steps you need to accomplish as you start your business once you have enough

start your business once you have enough

start your business once you have enough money coming in you can focus on

money coming in you can focus on

money coming in you can focus on shooting for your bigger goals when

shooting for your bigger goals when

shooting for your bigger goals when Anita Roddick first started the body

Anita Roddick first started the body

Anita Roddick first started the body shop it wasn’t because she wanted to

shop it wasn’t because she wanted to

shop it wasn’t because she wanted to create social environmental change with

create social environmental change with

create social environmental change with her husband gone she had to find a way

her husband gone she had to find a way

her husband gone she had to find a way to make money to support herself and her

to make money to support herself and her

to make money to support herself and her two children the main reason behind

two children the main reason behind

two children the main reason behind opening the body shop was so that her

opening the body shop was so that her

opening the body shop was so that her family could survive as an example she

family could survive as an example she

family could survive as an example she couldn’t afford more than 700 empty

couldn’t afford more than 700 empty

couldn’t afford more than 700 empty bottles so she took the unusual step of

bottles so she took the unusual step of

bottles so she took the unusual step of offering five sizes of every product

offering five sizes of every product

offering five sizes of every product even though she had very few products

even though she had very few products

even though she had very few products initially when you entered her 370

initially when you entered her 370

initially when you entered her 370 square foot store it would give the

square foot store it would give the

square foot store it would give the illusion she carried over a hundred and

illusion she carried over a hundred and

illusion she carried over a hundred and twenty products according to erotic

twenty products according to erotic

twenty products according to erotic nobody was stupid enough to offer five

nobody was stupid enough to offer five

nobody was stupid enough to offer five sizes of long product it simply didn’t

sizes of long product it simply didn’t

sizes of long product it simply didn’t make sense we turned it around into a

make sense we turned it around into a

make sense we turned it around into a survivors option customers pick up the

survivors option customers pick up the

survivors option customers pick up the size they want and come back every week

size they want and come back every week

size they want and come back every week for a refill recycling had nothing to do

for a refill recycling had nothing to do

for a refill recycling had nothing to do with being environmentally conscious at

with being environmentally conscious at

with being environmentally conscious at that point my goal was livelihood at the

that point my goal was livelihood at the

that point my goal was livelihood at the forefront of my mind the time there was

forefront of my mind the time there was

forefront of my mind the time there was really only one thought survival I

really only one thought survival I

really only one thought survival I started the body shop in 1976 simply to

started the body shop in 1976 simply to

started the body shop in 1976 simply to create a livelihood for myself and my

create a livelihood for myself and my

create a livelihood for myself and my two dollars while my husband Gordon was

two dollars while my husband Gordon was

two dollars while my husband Gordon was trucking across the Americas I had no

trucking across the Americas I had no

trucking across the Americas I had no training or experience and my own only

training or experience and my own only

training or experience and my own only business acumen was Gordon’s advice to

business acumen was Gordon’s advice to

business acumen was Gordon’s advice to take sales of 300 pounds a week

take sales of 300 pounds a week

take sales of 300 pounds a week nobody talks of entrepreneurship as

nobody talks of entrepreneurship as

nobody talks of entrepreneurship as survival but that’s exactly what it is

survival but that’s exactly what it is

survival but that’s exactly what it is and what nurtures creative thinking

and what nurtures creative thinking

and what nurtures creative thinking action item number two use your business

action item number two use your business

action item number two use your business to do good the most successful

to do good the most successful

to do good the most successful businesses seem to be the ones who don’t

businesses seem to be the ones who don’t

businesses seem to be the ones who don’t just focus on making money but instead

just focus on making money but instead

just focus on making money but instead try to be a force for good in their

try to be a force for good in their

try to be a force for good in their industry entrepreneurs are also now

industry entrepreneurs are also now

industry entrepreneurs are also now leading the way to help others beyond

leading the way to help others beyond

leading the way to help others beyond their customers they’re using their

their customers they’re using their

their customers they’re using their companies to support the communities

companies to support the communities

companies to support the communities around them and give back not just

around them and give back not just

around them and give back not just because they can but because it also

because they can but because it also

because they can but because it also makes good business sense Anita Roddick

makes good business sense Anita Roddick

makes good business sense Anita Roddick social and ecological conscience

social and ecological conscience

social and ecological conscience initially stem from a lack of money she

initially stem from a lack of money she

initially stem from a lack of money she had the recycle bottles because she

had the recycle bottles because she

had the recycle bottles because she couldn’t afford to buy new ones the

couldn’t afford to buy new ones the

couldn’t afford to buy new ones the store was painted green because she

store was painted green because she

store was painted green because she wanted to hide the damp stains on the

wanted to hide the damp stains on the

wanted to hide the damp stains on the walls however as the body shop grew to

walls however as the body shop grew to

walls however as the body shop grew to become a powerful player in the

become a powerful player in the

become a powerful player in the cosmetics business Roderick began to use

cosmetics business Roderick began to use

cosmetics business Roderick began to use her newfound influence to try to have a

her newfound influence to try to have a

her newfound influence to try to have a positive impact on the world around her

positive impact on the world around her

positive impact on the world around her according erotic I hate the beauty

according erotic I hate the beauty

according erotic I hate the beauty business it’s a monster industry selling

business it’s a monster industry selling

business it’s a monster industry selling unattainable dreams that lies it cheats

unattainable dreams that lies it cheats

unattainable dreams that lies it cheats it exploits women I want to work for a

it exploits women I want to work for a

it exploits women I want to work for a company that contributes to and is part

company that contributes to and is part

company that contributes to and is part of the community I want something not

of the community I want something not

of the community I want something not just to invest in I want something to

just to invest in I want something to

just to invest in I want something to believe in if I can’t do something for

believe in if I can’t do something for

believe in if I can’t do something for the public good what the hell am i doing

the public good what the hell am i doing

the public good what the hell am i doing action item number 3 learn by doing it’s

action item number 3 learn by doing it’s

action item number 3 learn by doing it’s hard to learn how to be an entrepreneur

hard to learn how to be an entrepreneur

hard to learn how to be an entrepreneur from a book you can read to get inspired

from a book you can read to get inspired

from a book you can read to get inspired or to get new ideas but nothing is

or to get new ideas but nothing is

or to get new ideas but nothing is really going to happen until you start

really going to happen until you start

really going to happen until you start to apply those ideas into your business

to apply those ideas into your business

to apply those ideas into your business you can use books and courses to

you can use books and courses to

you can use books and courses to supplement your knowledge and give you

supplement your knowledge and give you

supplement your knowledge and give you the guidance but you have to actually

the guidance but you have to actually

the guidance but you have to actually apply what you’re learning if you really

apply what you’re learning if you really

apply what you’re learning if you really want to understand and retain the

want to understand and retain the

want to understand and retain the information Anita Roddick never learned

information Anita Roddick never learned

information Anita Roddick never learned about being an entrepreneur at school

about being an entrepreneur at school

about being an entrepreneur at school instead she learned from her mother who

instead she learned from her mother who

instead she learned from her mother who she saw worked tirelessly to make her

she saw worked tirelessly to make her

she saw worked tirelessly to make her cafe successful while other cafes kept

cafe successful while other cafes kept

cafe successful while other cafes kept regular nine-to-five hours her mother

regular nine-to-five hours her mother

regular nine-to-five hours her mother opened the dawn for the local fishermen

opened the dawn for the local fishermen

opened the dawn for the local fishermen and didn’t close until the last customer

and didn’t close until the last customer

and didn’t close until the last customer had left Roddick had never read a book

had left Roddick had never read a book

had left Roddick had never read a book on economic theory in her life and while

on economic theory in her life and while

on economic theory in her life and while her naysayers believe this would be her

her naysayers believe this would be her

her naysayers believe this would be her downfall Roddick saw it as one of her

downfall Roddick saw it as one of her

downfall Roddick saw it as one of her competitive advantages accorded neurotic

competitive advantages accorded neurotic

competitive advantages accorded neurotic I often get asked to talk about

I often get asked to talk about

I often get asked to talk about entrepreneurship even by hollowed

entrepreneurship even by hollowed

entrepreneurship even by hollowed institutions like Harvard and Stanford

institutions like Harvard and Stanford

institutions like Harvard and Stanford but I’m not at all convinced

but I’m not at all convinced

but I’m not at all convinced it’s a subject you can teach how do you

it’s a subject you can teach how do you

it’s a subject you can teach how do you teach obsession because more often than

teach obsession because more often than

teach obsession because more often than not it’s obsession that drives an

not it’s obsession that drives an

not it’s obsession that drives an entrepreneurs vision why would you march

entrepreneurs vision why would you march

entrepreneurs vision why would you march a different drum beat if you are

a different drum beat if you are

a different drum beat if you are instinctively part of the crowd they

instinctively part of the crowd they

instinctively part of the crowd they will not teach you the most crucial

will not teach you the most crucial

will not teach you the most crucial thing of all how to be an entrepreneur

thing of all how to be an entrepreneur

thing of all how to be an entrepreneur that might also SAP what entrepreneurial

that might also SAP what entrepreneurial

that might also SAP what entrepreneurial flair you have as they force you into a

flair you have as they force you into a

flair you have as they force you into a template called an MBA if I learned more

template called an MBA if I learned more

template called an MBA if I learned more about business ahead of time I would

about business ahead of time I would

about business ahead of time I would have she’d been shaped into believing

have she’d been shaped into believing

have she’d been shaped into believing that it was only about finances and

that it was only about finances and

that it was only about finances and quality management by not knowing any of

quality management by not knowing any of

quality management by not knowing any of that I had an amazing freedom potential

that I had an amazing freedom potential

that I had an amazing freedom potential entrepreneurs are outsiders they’re

entrepreneurs are outsiders they’re

entrepreneurs are outsiders they’re people who imagine things as they might

people who imagine things as they might

people who imagine things as they might be not as they are and have the drive to

be not as they are and have the drive to

be not as they are and have the drive to change the world around them those are

change the world around them those are

change the world around them those are skills that business schools do not

skills that business schools do not

skills that business schools do not teach so remember get past survival use

teach so remember get past survival use

teach so remember get past survival use your business to do good and learn by

your business to do good and learn by

your business to do good and learn by doing to finish up this video I wanted

doing to finish up this video I wanted

doing to finish up this video I wanted to share one of my favorite true stories

to share one of my favorite true stories

to share one of my favorite true stories about Anita Roddick and some of her best

about Anita Roddick and some of her best

about Anita Roddick and some of her best quotes Anita Roddick first location was

quotes Anita Roddick first location was

quotes Anita Roddick first location was next to a funeral parlor given a whole

next to a funeral parlor given a whole

next to a funeral parlor given a whole new meaning to the body shop name when

new meaning to the body shop name when

new meaning to the body shop name when she began franchising she had little

she began franchising she had little

she began franchising she had little experience and decided not to charge

experience and decided not to charge

experience and decided not to charge startup or royalty fees however before

startup or royalty fees however before

startup or royalty fees however before she would accept franchisees they would

she would accept franchisees they would

she would accept franchisees they would have to interview with her product ass

have to interview with her product ass

have to interview with her product ass off the wall questions like what is your

off the wall questions like what is your

off the wall questions like what is your favorite flower and how would you like

favorite flower and how would you like

favorite flower and how would you like to die to get to know her candidates on

to die to get to know her candidates on

to die to get to know her candidates on a more personal level

thank you for joining me for another

thank you for joining me for another dish at modeling the Masters if you like

dish at modeling the Masters if you like

dish at modeling the Masters if you like the video and you want to see more

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the video and you want to see more please give it a thumbs up below I’d

please give it a thumbs up below I’d

please give it a thumbs up below I’d also love to hear your thoughts if you

also love to hear your thoughts if you

also love to hear your thoughts if you want to leave a comment under the video

want to leave a comment under the video

want to leave a comment under the video and stay tuned for the next episode

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