Defining moments - Stephanie Kennar

The defining moment....What is it?

People have various expressions for it. It could be an invisible tap on the shoulder, an "Ah Ha", a realization that something feels so right. A defining moment can shape all sorts of decisions. It can create the path for our health, our careers, our partners, and our friendships.

A defining moment can be subtle, like the moment you realize the slow, steady indifference about a relationship. It can be like a bolt of lightening, a massive physical wake up call that tells you your body is in trouble and you have to slow down. A defining moment can be an exhilarating "WOW" that says you are heading in the right direction.

Many of you may have had defining moments that have shaped your current circumstances. Some we choose as a positive sign and they drive us, others are sprung upon us.

I have had many.

Possibly the one that has shaped my career and given me the courage to go for it was in a quote that was on a desk calendar in 1987:

"The future belongs to the people who have the courage to believe in their dreams"

Let me take you there. I had been working with a Hair Care/cosmetics company for about 2 years, mostly as a sales representative. I had left school at 15 due to family circumstances, went straight to work, completed an apprenticeship and landed the job. I was probably not destined to do much more without formal education. There were no females in my extended family who had careers and could act as role models. Our European family valued women in the home and not at work. When working for this company as a twenty four year old, I took annual leave to go to Los Angeles to visit the head office and learn more about the company and how it was founded.

The owner of this company, a woman, named Paula Kent Meehan, had started operating in 1960 with $3,000 - almost by accident. She had been an actress with a small spot on an American T.V. serial and with sensitive skin and fine hair, decided to start mixing shampoo and creams (with the help of a chemist friend) in her bathtub. Initially these products were for her own use, gradually word got around and her friends and cast members put in orders, and so the company was born.

This high school dropout who had also become a mother in her mid teens was beginning to create her own destiny. Paula was quoted as saying:

"After painfully coming to the conclusion Hollywood wasn't going to make me the next Joan Crawford, I wanted to control my own destiny."

And she did;

- In year 1, the company turned over $90,000, by 1966, it was 1.5 million

- During the next 20 years, the company went from strength to strength funded by going public and expanding into many countries and diversifying into many different products.

- By 1988 with the company producing $120 million dollars, Paula bought back all of the shares in the company to take the company private again.

- In 1993, Paula paid back all of the bank debt personally as sales hit $165 million and an outstanding operating profit of $25 million.

In 2000, this company called Redken, had in excess of 300 products and was distributed in 52 countries around the world. The 80 world wide patents that have been awarded have the research published in journals used by physicians, dentists and even NASA.

By now it was the second largest hair care company in the U.S. Paula has since sold Redken to international company L'Oreal.

In the U.S. and Europe she is highly regarded as a powerful business woman. She receives numerous awards and accolades including being named one of the "leading women entrepreneurs of the world," and "eight most powerful women business owners." Her personal wealth apart from residential and commercial property includes a Gulfstream IV private jet and a 140f luxury yacht. She is now a tireless worker for numerous children's, animal and women's charities.

That day in January 1987 when I had a tour of head office and was shown Paula's office and glanced at her desk calendar, changed the way I saw myself and gave me to the courage to follow my dreams. If she could achieve success against many of the obstacles; remember, there were not many females as Senior Managers in 1960, let alone Company heads, I would give it my best shot.

What followed was another 13 years with Redken and L'Oreal both in Australia and the U.S. in National Education and Marketing Manager roles.

The point of defining moments is this: taps on the shoulder are everywhere. Signs you are, or are not on track. You have an opportunity to give every day to someone who may benefit from your experience or story. Or you may benefit from receiving an insight.

The key is Action.

Participate. Stay connected. Give. Share information. Exchange ideas. Keep in motion. Take a chance.

Stephanie Kennar is the WIMBN Manager