Blowing My Way to the Top

Book excerpt: "An inspiring guide for how to go from dreamer to do-er, from someone who’s been there, done that and wrote the book on it.” —Chrissy Teigen, New York Times bestselling author of Cravings and Cravings: Hungry for More “If you want to start a successful business, and do it in style, get this book and learn from its wise and empowering lessons.” —Mindy Kaling, New York Times bestselling author of Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and Why Not Me? From entrepreneur and celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin comes a smart and spirited guide to finding your voice and creating the life and career you deserve—along with a behind-the-scenes look into Jen’s own wild and wonderful road to success. Hailed by the New York Times as “the most influential hair stylist in the world,” Jen Atkin is a celebrated businesswoman, influencer, and stylist and friend to A-list celebrities like the Kardashian-Jenners and Chrissy Teigen. But Jen’s success didn’t arrive overnight. Her glamorous, jet-setting lifestyle came from years of hard work, humility, and hustle. In Blowing My Way to the Top, Jen shatters the illusion of effortless, instant success that permeates social media to reveal the sweat, dedication, and drive it really takes to make it. In this inspiring, insightful, and laugh-out-loud funny book, Jen chronicles her remarkable journey and shares what she’s learned along the way. From growing up in a conservative Mormon community where girls were discouraged from pursuing their ambitions, to striking out on her own and finding success on the celebrity style circuit, to building the cult-status brand OUAI—Jen reveals with refreshing candor the lessons, mistakes, and memorable moments that have paved her road to success. Jen also offers insight into the values that have allowed her to thrive in the modern, digital landscape, including the importance of creating authentic content, investing in community, and building social conscious into the ethos of a business. And as a trailblazer in a male-dominated industry, Jen speaks frankly about the challenges she’s faced and provides crucial advice for other women, from the importance of running your business like a feminist to building camaraderie amid the competition to learning to navigate the work and life issues that impact women most. At the end of the day, Jen has one simple message: If I can do it, you can too. Blowing My Way to the Top is destined to become the must-read career guide for a new generation, empowering readers everywhere with the permission to dream big—and the tools to make those dreams a reality.