Business Lessons I Learned from Barbie
by Anita Windisman
~ * ~
Testimonials
A fun read with great insights into lessons all women can learn from Barbie. Although just a doll, she teaches us that we can lead full lives, have successful careers, and maintain our personal relationships — whether romantic or not!
- Susan Kates, President of Dinnerworks, Certified Matchmaker and Relationship Coach
An entertaining read. A distillation of practical lessons. Inspirational and commonsense ideas for everyone, from an unexpected source — Barbie!
- Michael Zahra, President, Staples Advantage Canada
Once again, my oldest and dearest friend Barbie has shown us that we women — single or not — really can have it all! This book was a true inspiration and a delightful read.
- Jacqueline Parker, Editor-in-Chief www.Solomag.com, a lifestyle magazine for fabulously single women
~ * ~
Business Lessons I Learned from Barbie
Anita Windisman
Published by One of a Kind Publishing Inc. at Smashwords
ISBN 978-1-897471-74-6
Copyright © 2010 Anita Windisman
Barbie is a registered trademark of Mattel, Inc.
mailto:info@oneofakindpublishing.com
4900 Yonge Street, Suite 2200
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M2N 6K1
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher.
All dollar values are quoted in U.S. dollars.
Cover and book design: Linda Nakanishi
Cover photos: Jess Nakanishi
Stock photos: iStockphoto.com
Copyeditor: Emmanuelle Hertel
~ * ~
For my mother, Mary Windisman, who bought me my first Barbie doll
~ * ~
Contents
Introduction
Lesson 1 Be Passionate about What You Do
Lesson 2 Dare to Dream Big
Lesson 3 Every Woman Has a Network
Lesson 4 Embrace Change
Lesson 5 You Are a Leader
Lesson 6 There Are No Mistakes, Only Lessons
Lesson 7 Be Your Own Brand
~ * ~
Acknowledgements
I have a number of generous friends and colleagues to thank for their help with this book. Kate Grainger was my researcher and collaborator extraordinaire. Meg Taylor, my editor, provided valuable suggestions on the manuscript. Emmanuelle Hertel was my cheery and thorough copyeditor and proofreader. The very talented Linda Nakanishi provided the graphic design for this book, while her sister Jess Nakanishi was the photographer for the cover and the numerous photos inside.
I’d also like to acknowledge Leanne Webb, my former classmate and fellow MBA from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, for her review of the manuscript and her valuable input.
Lastly, I’d like to thank my father, John Windisman, for providing my entrepreneurial DNA!
Introduction
My first memories of Barbie
I first saw Barbie in a television commercial when I was four years old, and asked Santa to bring me one for Christmas. While I’d like to think that Santa brought me the doll, it was really my mother, Mary Windisman, who bought me my very first Barbie.
I remember “playing Barbie” on the front porch of our neighbour’s house. I affectionately called my playmate Sue “Suzanna Banana” and she in turn teasingly called me “Anita Chiquita.” Other fond memories include playing with my brother’s G.I. Joe action figures, although they were not nearly as much fun because G.I. Joe was much taller than Barbie and didn’t have nice clothing or any of the neat accessories that Barbie did.
I loved Barbie as a child and I am still fascinated with her as a grownup — all these years later.
Resurrecting my memories of Barbie
Barbie returned to my life two years ago when my parents sold the family home that my brothers and I had grown up in. Before the move to their new condo, we helped to clear out a treasure trove of toys, papers, and other memorabilia stashed away in their attic.
I was thrilled to see that my mother had saved my Barbies in the white case I’d always kept them in. I opened the case, expecting to see my dolls in their gorgeous clothes, just as I remembered them. I was absolutely shocked to see two ratty-looking Barbie dolls with a bunch of clothes jammed inside. Even more horrifying, I found two Barbie heads in one of the drawers. Yes, heads! Gee, just what kind of little girl was I?
The inspiration for my business
That got me thinking about Barbie and the influence she has had on my life. Yes, it was through her that I learned social skills — how to be nice and play well with others, but were there more important lessons I had learned from her? Was I learning while I was playing? Did everyone love Barbie as I did?