As part of my graduate program, I read a case study about a company called Warby Parker. I didn’t recognize the name until I read more about them. They began as college students who were fed up with the way eyeglass frames were sold. The high costs, the hassle of attempting to get to a showroom to try them on lead to a great deal of frustration.
In 2010, they took a giant leap and started an online business selling eyeglass frames. The concept of online retail for frames was foreign at that time. How do you do something like that when the choice for such a product can be such a personal decision? They instituted a “Home Try-On Campaign” to meet this demand. Warby Parker sent five pairs of frames for the customer to try-on. The customer would send back the ones they didn’t want.
It was a brilliant move for them to make at such an influential time. No one was even thinking about a business strategy like that. The risk was immense, and it was innovation at its finest. How does that relate to us on a more personal level?
My world imploded when my husband died in 2016. I have been healing, trying to stay as clear-minded as possible for my children, and searching for an answer to the “What comes next” question. The answer is different for everyone. For me, I have rediscovered how much I enjoy reading, writing, and editing fiction. It took years to get to the point where I could truly move forward, but I made it.
I’m not alone in the endeavor. Just as those of you who have encountered personal tragedies of your own. The thing about tragedy is you discover your ability to redirect your situation to a lifestyle more conducive to your needs. That’s a fancy way of saying you adapt to your situation. Hopefully, the growth you will eventually encounter will lead you in a more positive direction.
I chose to follow my love of the written word and enroll in graduate school. It was a huge step and a ginormous risk for me. Was I choosing the right degree, the right school, the right program? Your steps may be just as huge. Like Warby Parker, it is important to take risks. The reinvention of a business model can pay off with enough time and willingness to move forward with your idea. The reinvention of yourself can do the same.
How am I reinventing myself? My life was such that I stopped reading and writing fiction completely for many years. It was a distraction from my attempts to provide for my family and I was miserable without those outlets. I gave myself permission to read again and read more than 100 books in a year and a half. Oh, the glories of binge reading. Through my graduate program, I am given permission to sit and write. I’m still working on the anxiety of so many years of telling myself I’m misusing my time when I write.
Did the founders of Warby Parker feel they were misusing their time with their venture? Maybe at some point, but they pushed through. They created their own designs to keep the costs down. They were sensitive to their customers’ time. Instead of overwhelming the customer with a showroom full of frames during times customers really do need to handle other pursuits, customers receive a manageable five pairs of glasses to try on at their convenience.
So, what can we learn from Warby Parker? It’s okay to take well thought out risks. It’s okay to choose a different path than everyone else. It’s okay to spend time doing what you love. Feel empowered to do what you can for yourself in all your ventures. It can lead to a massive payout – a happier you.