11.16.2009

Nancy Corzine as Inspiration

Hello, I hope you had a good weekend. Mine a good mix of social and relaxing time, with a little bit of shopping thrown in. I got nothing done around the house though. I have had these half-completed projects that I can't seem to finish. Oh well.

I wanted to talk about the second event I went to at the Washington Design Center late last week. I listened to Interior & Furniture Designer Nancy Corzine speak. She is an amazing woman! Such an inspiration.



She got her start rather accidentally by simply telling a bank that she had experience as a designer (when she had none!) Then she would study books and magazines at night to learn what she was doing. Through a series of events, she started selling furniture for a showroom (in order to obtain contacts in the business) and eventually moved on to designing interiors, textiles and furniture for hotels. Her business boomed from there. You can read more about her here and here.


Vogue Living Fall 2006. I've had this picture in my inspiration folder since then!

What is so intriguing about her is her intuition and enterpreneurial spirit. She has taken on seemingly impossible jobs - and met them with success - just by believing in herself. Never taking no for an answer, she continued to show that she was a strong, dedicated woman capable of anything she put her mind to. And she did it all while raising kids and not having a degree! I wish I could have taped the lecture, because this woman is just incredible!


Veranda

Her biggest advice is to find a mentor. Her first one told her to become an enterpreneur so that "others are making money for you while you are relaxing or having fun." She actually did not listen at first, and wanted to become a lawyer! Her second mentor, Howard Smith, provided the major push for her starting her business. He helped not only by funding her first showroom, but mostly by believing in her talents and helping motivate her to keep going.


Veranda

If you ever have the opportunity to listen to her, I highly recommend it! Tell me, who is your biggest motivator?

Sources: NancyCorzine.com

3 comments:

karen@fitnessjourney said...

She sounds like a real inspiration. Someone who really has inspired me (not a designer) is Randy Pasch. He wrote a book called "The Last Lecture". It is based a lecture he gave at the University where he taught. He was battling cancer and talked about lessons he's learned in his life. The most important thing that I took away from the book was that you'll never know if you can succeed unless you try. I won't go on and on, but it's a short book and so inspiring you anyone in any type of career.

Living It At Home said...

Very inspirational story. I have always loved anything to do with decorating or hunting down something special for my home. I think I am a "wanna be" designer. Often thought of going back to school for it. Glad I stopped by! ~jamilyn

Flavia @ Estilo Home said...

Karen - that sounds like a great book! I must check it out.

Jamilyn - thank you for stopping by! You should take a class in design, you never know! If nothing else, they are so much fun. I started off by taking a night course on "decorating your home" and discovered my true passion from it.

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