Sound business advice from Project Runway? For those of you who don’t watch television, Project Runway is a break out television show in its 12th season. It’s a reality series about undiscovered fashion designers, one of whom wins as the best designer of the season. Tim Gunn is the mentor for the designers and works with them to do their best designs.

I think what he says about being in business and life are worth considering. This is what inspired me about his New York Times interview.

“There are many ways you can establish your own path,” he said, sounding very much like the teacher he is. “The reason I love my catch phrase, ‘Make it work,’ is because it is not just about what is happening in the workroom, it is about life. Taking the existing conditions, the things we have available to us, and rallying them to ascend to a place of success.” Tim Gunn: A Lifetime of Making It Work.
New York Times, 10.11.13

Looking at this quote from a coaching perspective, I find its true for successful entrepreneurs. They succeed because that’s what they do. They are presented with a set of circumstances that challenge them, and they literally mold those challenges into success.

You have done that yourself or you wouldn’t be reading this newsletter. However, we forget sometimes that we have that power. We lose heart; we think we are failed business owners when things we want to happen don’t. This is exactly when the brilliance of Tim Gunn steps in to save the day. What he recommends is this: “Take the existing conditions, the things we have available to us, and rally them to ascend to a place of success.”

I think the first thing is to realize that we are successful in life. We have created success before and can and will do it again. And when you forget about your strengths perhaps you can remember Tim’s words. And that you and what you do both matter. You are a success and can stare circumstances in the eye and “Make it work”.

I invite you to share in the comments below about how you have had your business work. I am looking forward to hearing from you!

*photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos