Michelle Pfeiffer wanted the fragrance industry to change its ways. The fragrance industry said no. That’s when she discovered what it really means to be an entrepreneur: If you want something done, you do it yourself.
When Michelle Pfeiffer calls someone, they generally answer. It’s a benefit of celebrity. And so, many years ago, when Pfeiffer wanted to solve a problem, she assumed the solution would be that simple. “I did what, traditionally, a lot of celebrities do, because that was really the only thing that I knew,” she says.
She wanted a fine fragrance company to create a “transparent” product—that is, a perfume or cologne that would list every ingredient it contains, just like you’d find on the side of your morning cereal box. Nothing like this existed, but perhaps, she thought, that’s just because nobody like her had asked for it. She started reaching out to major cosmetics brands (she won’t name names, but think about the bottles you’d find at Macy’s) and offered her services to them: If they made a transparent fragrance, she’d attach her name to it.
They all said no. “They were unwilling to be 100 percent transparent,” Pfeiffer says. A movie star’s unstoppable star power had met the immovable object: the secrecy of the fragrance industry.
Pfeiffer never really desired to start a business. She’d accomplished plenty as an actor, and a new career wasn’t on her bucket list. But now she faced the kind of crossroads that creates entrepreneurs: Something doesn’t exist in the world; there is a problem to be solved. And there’s only one way to solve it. I will have to do this myself, Pfeiffer thought. I will have to build a company.
“I hope you realize what you’re getting yourself into,” she remembers a friend telling her. “Is this something you really want to do?”
Back then, around 2011, Pfeiffer was dogged and full of optimism. “I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s go!’ ” she recalls.
Esta historia es de la edición June 2019 de Entrepreneur.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición June 2019 de Entrepreneur.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Charities Are Getting Down to Business
Nonprofits are struggling. That's why more charitable leaders are taking a page from their for-profit peers-and learning how to make money.
HOW TO ASK SOMEONE FOR A MILLION DOLLARS
Philanthropic fundraisers often get donors to give $1 million-and their tactics are useful for anyone trying to win over someone else's dollars.
MAKE YOUR FIRST TAX-FREE MILLION
It's legal, smart, and great for your long-term savings.
MAKE A MILLION DOLLARS IN A WEEKEND?
OK, you won’t earn it ina weekend. But serial entrepreneur NOAH KAGAN says you can start a thriving business quickly—if you’re willing to move fast and be uncomfortable.
THE MILLION-DOLLAR MEETING
Once your company hits a million dollars in revenue, many more investors (and private equity buyers) will start taking your calls. Here's why.
MILLION-DOLLAR UNLOCKS
New companies rarely get off the ground without some roadblocks, setbacks, and unforeseen decisions. Here, 10 founders describe the pivots that unlocked their growth and catapulted their profitability.
THE PATH TO MILLIONS STARTS HERE
A million dollars sounds sexy. But what is it, really? For some, a dream.
What SEO Insiders Know
Looking to boost your SEO? We asked a bunch of insiders: What do you know about your industry that most outsiders don't?
Pack These for Your Next Trip
Want to make your next business trip a pleasure? Gear expert and two-time Emmy Award winner Mario Armstrong has five items you'll want to make room for.
Finding Your Dimension X
Why do some people thrive, while others fall behind? As Google's first chief innovation evangelist, I believe I found the answer: Successful people harness what I call their \"Dimension X.\" Here's what it is.