Career Advice from Mickey Drexler in Four Bullet Points

Mickey Drexler knows how to give his customer what they want. At J.Crew that might mean a skinny tie or wide lapel. But at the CFDA awards, where last night he was bequeathed the Founder’s Award in honor of Eleanor Lambert as presented by the The New Yorker’s David Remnick, he understood that in a sea of acceptance speeches that would precede and follow him, what would invariably stick was a quick set of business tips applicable to the vast range of budding entrepreneurs, well-established CEOs and hungry assistants present at the ceremony last night. Here’s what he shared:

1. Work hard at whatever you do — even if it’s folding towels (which, incidentally, before the stints that would ultimately crown him king of retail, he did quite well). I’d guess that this boils down to prove that good work ethic is, point blank, good work ethic. What you’re doing is just the smoke and mirrors that possibly makes getting up every morning a little easier or more difficult depending on where you stand.

2. Success doesn’t have that much to do with grades. If you’re hiring: don’t become too eagerly focused on the applicant’s education and their GPA. As Drexler put it, there is an emotional IQ test, a fire-pit-in-belly ring through which talent should be placed. Unless, of course, said talent is going to be your surgeon. You probably do not want to know that the physician cutting you open failed geometry. Right?

3. Question the authorities and titles. Which doesn’t mean defy them but it does mean looking at the existing systems in place, appraising them, trying to understand how they could be better and what you can do to make them better. Just because an authority is saying, or doing something, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the right or best thing. Believe in your own instinct and be loud about it.

4. Don’t let others be the judge of who you are. Boom.

And with that, I challenge you and your instinct to eclipse J.Crew.

Go on. Or just tell us: what’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

Image via Fast Company. Click here for 10 takeaways from J.Crew’s Fall 15 presentation. Want more advice? Here are the 5 things every woman should own according to Inès de la Fressange, and here are the 5 things every woman should own according to Lèandra de la Medine.