Most people hear "Estée Lauder" and think of cosmetics—lipstick, perfume, face cream. But the real story isn’t just about makeup—it’s about a woman being an unstoppable force. Estée Lauder didn’t just build a beauty brand; she rewrote the rules of an industry. She turned rejection into fuel, defied industry gatekeepers, and transformed a homemade face cream into a multi-billion-dollar global powerhouse. When department stores refused to stock her products, she created a demand they couldn’t ignore. When experts said women wouldn’t spend $115 on face cream, she proved them wrong. When competitors copied her formulas, she didn’t fight them—she outmaneuvered them. Her real genius wasn’t in chemistry, but in understanding human psychology, persistence, and the power of storytelling.
This is a story for anyone who's ever been told "no," felt underestimated, or wanted to build something that lasts. Learn how thinking differently can transform an industry.
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This episode is for informational purposes only and is based on Estée Lauder’s incredible 1985 autobiography Estée: A Success Story.
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#218 Outliers: Estée Lauder — A Success Story | The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish podcast - Listen or read transcript on Metacast
