I would like to dedicate this post to kindness.
When I was in New York City a few weeks back, I had the opportunity to learn more about a friend of mine that is quite dear to me. We discussed how he had a few pivotal moments in his life that had changed everything for him. He met two people that gave him immense opportunity and then those people ended up ultimately sculpting his career path. I got to thinking how I've always entirely believed that I am where I am at, because of the place I was in, the people I met and the experiences that happened to me along the way.
When I opened my first business at the age of 14, its success led me to meeting two of my best friends due to the man that gave me my scholarship and took me under his wing. The first person I met was Andrew, and he led me to New York City, pushed me to embrace my experiences and taught me a very important lesson about timing. The second person I met was due to an introduction made by one of my best friends that I had met through Andrew. Lawrence ended up paying for my school at NYU Stern and hiring me to work at his firm. I knew nothing about Venture Capital, but I wanted to be in tech and was fascinated about "Web 2.0". Then over the course of the past few years, I put myself in various situations that allowed for me to meet other incredible business professionals and talented friends across a number of different industries and I was able to join several of these entrepreneurial communities, that I am now humbly apart of.
When I moved back from Paris, I was searching for what I wanted to do next. Friends had introduced me to their companies and went out of their way to get my CV into the right hands, while others had reached out for consulting projects, but nothing felt quite right. Then one week after I got home from Paris, I finally properly connected with Sanjiv- the third person that has effected my life in such a significant way.
Sanjiv and I would have never met and I wouldn't be where I am today if my friend Stefan didn't introduce us and think we aligned with our positive psychology and happiness interests. I would have never met Lawrence, or have worked in Venture Capital at a leading technology firm if my friend Bethany didn't take his class at NYU Stern and say that I absolutely have to take his class too. I would have never met Bethany or Kevin, if I didn't put myself in a situation to meet Andrew, by having the courage to open a business at the age of fourteen. Timing is such a cool and funny thing.
Life is about timing. It's about relationships. It's about karma. And I have been so fortunate- for the love, for the support, and for the friendship that I have. I have met people that I probably would have never crossed paths with if I didn't put myself in that situation or have friends that believed in me. I have been so lucky for all the fortune, so for the past year, I have really tried to do everything I could to pay it forward. You do something nice for someone and it will return to you, ten-fold.
Over the past year, nine of my close friends have all sent me their CVs. I helped them with editing, prepped them for their interviews and then strategically thought through their negotiations with them. The best part is- I know that everyone of my friends would do the same for me in a heartbeat.
After I left dinner the other evening and I was on my way home, I received a phone call from a close friend who rang to tell me that she got the job. I was her reference, since she previously worked for one of my companies, and I couldn't be more excited for her new journey. We even decided that we would share a champagne toast over Skype. My other friend had then texted me to say thank you for helping out his little sister and that he was happy I could be a mentor, of sorts for her. Then I get a phone call from my other friend saying a thousand thank you's for helping her with something that is of deep importance for her career.
Kindness is so cool. Pay it forward.
Coco wears a Nina Ricci Stripe Cashmere Sweater, L'Agence Pencil Skirt, Christian Louboutin Simple 100's. Fun Fact! Did you know that Nina Ricci is owned by Puig? I recently discovered this group based out of Barcelona (weird that I've ever heard of them before since they have been around since 1914!). They originally started as a group that owned the license for fragrances such as: Prada, Valentino and Commes des Garcons, but the past twenty years or so, they have also been buying up luxury fashion brands such as: Nina Ricci, Carolina Herrera and Jean Paul Gaultier.
Photography: Bethany Halbreich