By Kate Wright
Most people would view losing their job as a curse, but for Sarah LaFleur, it was a blessing in disguise. The podcast, “How I Built This- M.M. LaFleur”: Sarah LaFleur with Guy Raz, brings you along on the journey of the ups and downs of taking a risk and starting your own business. For Sarah LaFleur, her Harvard degree didn’t get her where she expected it to.
Her plan was business school. Living in New York City working a corporate job, living a lifestyle where money wasn’t a problem. However, life doesn’t always go as planned. Being a woman from Korea, Sarah felt out of place working at jobs dominated mostly by men. LaFleur was not a fashion guru by any means, but the thought of being able to wear comfortable and professional clothing during her long work days inspired her to open a clothing store, a store specifically targeted at working women. LaFleur had a clear vision for her company. She wanted women to feel confident at the workplace, but also wanted clothing that came at a fraction of the cost. LaFleur faced many struggles, struggles that almost knocked her down. Her savings account was slowly dwindling away, but LaFleur knew she had to take a chance and continue to promote her line in all ways possible. She refused to give up, and was willing to do anything to keep her company, M.M. LaFleur, afloat. LaFleur’s hard work paid off, and she successfully turned her vision into a multi million dollar business.
In this episode of “How I Built This”, Raz informs the audience about entrepreneurship, fashion, and the practice of business all together. Throughout the podcast, I felt inspired by LaFleur’s story. It made me believe that anyone can do anything if you put your all into it. Although at times things may get hard, it is important to follow your heart and never give up. In this story, LaFleur made a point to encourage people to do what they want to do, and to not give into the pressures of society. I think this message is really important for aspiring entrepreneurs today. The question and answer format of this podcast made me feel as if I was in the room with them. It was very conversational and LaFleur made sure to give clear answers to all of Raz’s questions.
Critics have said that the “music gets distracting”, but I believe the music that played during parts of the podcast was very peaceful and definitely set the tone of the story. It was not overwhelming but instead gave the listener a sense of relaxation. LaFleur had a background that many could relate to. She felt misplaced and scared of what her future held. This aspect of her story made me relate to her on a more personal level as well. It has been said that the podcast seems to be “overproduced” and “very focused on getting specific answers”. However, without the way this podcast was produced, there wouldn’t be much structure and it would have been hard to follow. Also, Raz was very focused on getting answers to specific questions because these were key questions that helped the story be more cohesive. When starting a business it is important to know what you need in order to make it thrive. LaFleur gave great advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, or anyone willing to listen. I agree for this episode that “5 stars is an understatement”; not only are you getting guidance to aid you in your future, you also get to hear the speaker be vulnerable and raw when talking about their past. This podcast helps people “peek behind the curtain of the business world”. Not only is it interesting to hear what goes along with starting a business, it is also very motivating to hear that success can come to anyone that wants it.
Image source: https://mmlafleur.com/mdash/sarah-lafleur-practice
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