The beauty industry totally captivated the young woman. She spent many nights trying to find the perfect formula for the skincare, and during the day, she visited her clients and promoted the beauty products. But the main point is that she never gave up on her goal and was really persistent. The legendary woman once said, “I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” If you want to succeed in life, it is not enough just to dream. Make sure you change your mindset, fully dedicate yourself to what you love, take risks, and never doubt your abilities.
When Estée was in her early twenties, she met her dream man, Joseph Lauder, who was an accountant and a successful businessman, and married him. Soon enough, the couple had their first son, Leonard. However, the legendary woman did not see motherhood and marriage as an obstacle to her successful career. She went on to conquer new heights. Unfortunately, career is often the reason for divorce. So, the star couple was not spared from this destiny. They divorced in 1939. And you know what is amazing? Their love proved stronger than circumstances and misunderstandings. Three years later, Estée and Joseph remarried. Soon after, their second son, Ronald, was born.
In 1946, Estee officially founded her namesake company together with her husband. One of the key success factors of the company was Lauder’s innovative approach to beauty products and their high quality. Estée Lauder created the first-ever night serum (the Advanced Night Repair Serum), which became legendary in the beauty industry. According to her biographers, “Estée was one of the first to understand that skin is best able to repair itself at night and that a lightweight texture (what we now know as a serum) was better able to penetrate deeply into skin’s surface to help it repair.” What’s more, Lauder pioneered the strategy of offering free samples and personalized consultations. The female customers were thrilled: they could now test products on their skin before purchase. One of Lauder’s best ideas was to cooperate with such famous department stores throughout the country as Saks, Bloomingdale’s, and Macy’s. Curiously, the great woman personally picked and trained the sales personnel. She also made it a rule to give away gifts with every purchase. Lauder’s next goal was to venture abroad, and she did it. There was one funny thing, though. When the managers at Galleries Lafayette in Paris refused to stock her products, Lauder “accidentally” spilled her iconic fragrance called Youth Dew on the floor. The outcome surpassed all expectations. Customers started lining up to ask where they could buy that product. Those strategies helped her to build a loyal customer base.
Today, Estée Lauder continues to thrive and collaborate with A-list celebrities. The company owns a diverse portfolio of brands, including La Mer, Clinique, Jo Malone London, and Tom Ford Beauty. Even though the legendary woman passed away on April 24, 2004, her company is still one of the major players in the beauty industry.
Vocabulary
beauty salon [ˈbjuːti səˈlɑːn] – салон красоты
customer [ˈkʌstəmər] – клиент
arrogantly [ˈærəɡəntlɪ] – высокомерно, надменно
humiliate [hjuːˈmɪlɪeɪt] – унижать
bite the bullet [baɪt ðə ˈbʊlɪt] – стиснуть зубы, собрать волю в кулак
prove one’s worth [pruːv wʌnz wɜːrθ] – доказать свою значимость
skincare [ˈskɪnker] – уход за кожей
fragrance [ˈfreɪɡrəns] – парфюмерия, духи
entrepreneur [ˌɑːntrəprəˈnɜːr] – предприниматель
entrepreneurship [ˌɑːntrəprəˈnɜːrʃɪp] – предпринимательство
gorgeous [ˈɡɔːrdʒəs] – великолепный, прекрасный, шикарный
appreciate [əˈpriːʃieɪt] – ценить, высоко ставить
grace [ɡreɪs] – изящество, грация
fascinated [ˈfæsɪneɪtɪd] – зачарованный, завороженный
game changer [ˈɡeɪm ˈtʃeɪndʒər] – прорыв, событие, в корне меняющее ситуацию
captivate [ˈkæptɪveɪt] – очаровывать, пленять, увлекать
promote [prəˈməʊt] – рекламировать, продвигать
persistent [pərˈsɪstənt] – настойчивый, упорный
dedicate oneself [ˈdedɪkeɪt wʌnˈself] – посвятить себя
obstacle [ˈɑːbstəkl] – препятствие
conquer [ˈkɑːŋkər] – покорять
namesake company [ˈneɪmseɪk ˈkʌmpəni] – одноименная компания
serum [ˈsɪrəm] – сыворотка
penetrate [ˈpenətreɪt] – проникать внутрь
pioneer [ˌpaɪəˈnɪr] – первооткрыватель, быть первооткрывателем
free samples [fri: ˈsæmpl] – бесплатные образцы продукции
cooperate [kəʊˈɑːpəreɪt] – сотрудничать
make it a rule [ˈmeɪk ɪt ə ˌruːl] – взять за правило
purchase [ˈpɜːrtʃəs] – покупка
accidentally [ˌæksɪˈdentəli] – случайно
thrive [θraɪv] – процветать, преуспевать
collaborate [kəˈlæbəreɪt] – сотрудничать
Exercises
1) Who was Estée Lauder?
2) What was the most awkward situation Lauder had been in as a young girl?
3) What impact did this situation have on Lauder?
4) Who had the greatest influence on her career choice?
5) When was her entrepreneurial spirit ignited?
6) Was Estée married or single? Did she have any children?
7) What was the reason for her divorce in 1939?
8) Did Estée and her husband find a way to be together?
9) What year did Lauder found her company?
10) What were the key factors that contributed to Lauder’s success?
11) What is happening with the company today?
дядя по материнской линии; кто сегодня упал, завтра может подняться; едва сводить концы с концами; собрать волю в кулак / стиснуть зубы; сменить род деятельности; ценить красоту и изящество; дух предпринимательства; посвятить себя любимому делу; это событие кардинально изменило ее жизнь; изменить свое мышление; новаторский подход; результат превзошел все ожидания
to prove one’s worth; one of the most successful and wealthiest self-made women; shortly after the outbreak of World War I; let’s not beat around the bush; a skincare routine; that event was a real game changer; to succeed in life; to conquer new heights; personalized consultations; to give away gifts with every purchase
Creative task No. 2
“From success to failure is one step; from failure to success is a long road.” Discuss what this proverb means. State your opinion on the topic.
Walt Disney
Here is my favorite quotation by Alexander Graham Bell: “When one door closes, another one opens.” It teaches us to never give up and always keep pursuing our goals. I am absolutely sure there is no problem that cannot be solved. I always say that if one door closes and another one does not open, look for a window. What I am trying to say is that no matter how difficult things appear to be, it is always possible to find a solution. If great people had given up when faced with a challenge, they would have never achieved success in life. Those who are persistent always overcome obstacles and keep going despite setbacks. This is how the world works.
One of the best examples of persistence is the real story of Walt Disney, an American business tycoon, animator, and film producer. What associations do you have when you hear Walt Disney’s name? I guess the first thing you think of is Disneyland or Disney cartoons. Unfortunately, few people know the true story behind Walt Disney. If you think he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, you are grossly mistaken. His path to success was full of challenges and failures. Here is what this amazing person once said:
All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all the troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me. You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.
Are you ready to step into the world of Walt Disney?
Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901, to a poor family in Chicago, Illinois. Besides him, his parents had four other children. His father, Elias, worked as a farmer, contractor, and entrepreneur, and his mother, Flora, was a housewife and took care of the kids. When Walt was about 6 years old, his family moved to Marceline, Missouri, where his father bought a farm. As a child, Disney enjoyed being around animals and became interested in drawing. Little Walt had a vivid imagination, and his drawings were wholly admirable. He practiced drawing by copying works of a famous cartoonist Ryan Walker. One day, Walt drew a cow on the wall of his parents’ house. The picture was so impressive and unusual that their neighbor Dr. Sherwood approached him with a request to draw a sketch of his horse. That is how Walt earned his first money. I think that circumstance played a significant role in shaping Walt Disney’s future as an artist and animator. Curiously, despite his relatively short time in Marceline, Walt thought of that place as his hometown and talked about his time on the farm with passion and great warmth.
In 1911, the Disneys moved to Kansas City, Missouri, for better opportunities, and Walt completely fell in love with trains. Everything turned out the way that it was supposed to. If Walt’s family hadn’t moved to Kansas City, the world might not have seen Disneyland. The point is that Walt lived not far from Electric Park, one of the amusement and leisure parks in Kansas City. Believe it or not, it was a marvel of its time. It boasted a great deal of entertainment: band concerts, a roller-coaster, a carousel, fountains, and, of course, a steam train that moved around the park. At night, it was beautifully illuminated with electric lights. There is no doubt that the imaginative boy was delighted with this innovation and went there whenever possible.