The worst feeling you can have is familiarity.

You know, being in a place in your life where you’re comfortable and complacent. A place where you no longer feel the need to branch out and grow because you enjoy the familiarity of the life you already have.

Well, this is how Vera Wang felt for 16 years.

Born in New York City in 1949 to Chinese immigrants, Wang attended Sarah Lawrence College where she studied art history. During her junior year, she took an opportunity to study abroad at the Sorbonne in Paris, immersing herself in the world of fashion.

After graduating in 1971, Wang landed a job at Vogue as a fashion editor. Despite the competitiveness, she quickly became one of the youngest senior fashion editors at the magazine.

She went on to spend the next 16 years at Vogue, working with top designers, models and photographers. Editing and creating designs for millions of readers annually. At first, it felt like the perfect career.

But as she got older, she realized editing wasn’t for her. She found out that all she really wanted to do was create something of her own. Not editing someone else’s creation.

Despite her passion, she continued staying at Vogue because it’s all she ever knew. She had a comfortable career, a good salary, people she was friends with, but it never felt right.

And so in 1987, Wang finally decided to leave Vogue and join Ralph Lauren as a design director. But despite working directly on clothes, she still felt like it wasn’t enough. She wanted to create something of her own.

So two years later she took the leap of faith and launched her first bridal boutique in New York City. She wanted to redefine bridal fashion with sleek designs that broke away from the traditional puffy, princess-like gowns.

Within a few years, her designs caught the attention of celebrities and high-profile clients, and eventually became the go-to designer for wedding gowns for celebrities across the US.

From there, she only grew her business and went into perfumes, home decor, and even engagement rings.

Now, Wang is worth $630 million.

Wang is the perfect example of taking that shot in the dark and breaking free of a career she was comfortable of, and going into something she knew she’d love for the rest of her life.

We all have something we’re content with. Whether it’s your job or schooling, don’t be afraid to break out of those chains and explore other opportunities. You’ll never know how green the grass is on the other side unless you hop over the fence.

T. Harver Eker sums it up perfectly:

Until next time,
Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper

What I’m Currently Reading - I’ve just finished reading George Washingtons biography and am now still going through Epictetus’ book titled Discourses.

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