My Sources of MOTIVATION

I am motivated by success. To me, success is composed of three parts each containing an emotion coupled with an action:

1. the excitement of setting goals

2. the reassurance of making progress towards those goals

3. the satisfaction of reaching those goals.

Success is doing the things that I say I will do, and being the person that I want to be. Who I will one day be, I am now becoming. I am motivated by my success, because my success proves that I am one step closer to becoming the person that I will one day be.

Set Goals

“Chasing Dreams”

The first component of success is setting goals. In order to set the appropriate goals, I have to be self aware- knowing what I want in life, in my career, in my community. I am an idealist, a dreamer, and a believer. I set goals that are important to me. My greatest goal in the present and near future is leading a company of trainers and consultants to make an impact in the world by connecting people through effective interpersonal communication. Because my goals come from my heart, I do whatever it takes; I work for it, fight for it, and live for it. Because I am passionate about my goals, I make my goals a reality. The cycle of success continues when my accomplishment fuels my next goal. I am always chasing after my dreams, always moving forward.

Take Action

The next step of success is taking action and making progress. I learned that in order to reach a destination that I have never been before, I must travel on a road that I have also never taken before. I am currently pursuing my MBA because I will learn tools and gain resources that I don’t already have in reaching my goals. There is a certain element of uncertainty when I set out towards any new goal, but I am motivated by knowing I am heading in the right direction. This is why I choose to face challenges and take on obstacles because they serve as proof that I am heading towards success and experiencing growth.

Have Integrity

Lastly, the act of doing what I say I will do and being who I say I want to be provide the greatest feeling of accomplishment and fulfilment. My past accomplishments during my undergraduate career and my professional experience give me confidence to set new sights and chase after bigger dreams. Every promise I make and keep to myself gives me confidence and courage. I am motivated by success because my successes, big or small, pave my path to becoming the person that I will one day be.

My Vision Board

My Interests

With a background in sales and experience working in fashion, I am especially interested in the apparel industry. As a consumer, I always carefully select brands and products that appeal to my values and needs. Lululemon is one of the handful of companies whose products I consume and brand that I advocate. One of my goals this year is to become an MBA Summer Intern at Lululemon. In preparation for achieving this massive goal, I have conducted preliminary research on the Global Apparels industry to gain market insight and better understand where I can add value in this vast industry.

Key Findings

The global apparel industry outlook is bright, with anticipated revenues of $760.3 billion in 2018. Although apparel is largely a discretionary purchase, strong growth has persisted since the recession especially in emerging markets while the North American market holds steady. As disposable income per capita grows along with global population, shoppers will continue to seek higher-value clothing in greater quantity.

Among the emerging markets, the Asia Pacific is the world’s largest regional apparel market, projected to grow by $175 billion between 2012- 2017. China specifically contributed to 50% of Asia Pacific’s total apparel sales value in 2012. In addition to steady demands for international luxury brands in countries like China and Hong Kong, Asia is also leading the pack in internet retailing. By 2017, 50% of the world’s internet user will reside in Asia. I am ecstatic that Lululemon is expanding into Asia and this is where my cultural insights and understanding of market segments in China can add value to Lululemon’s marketing and strategy teams.

Within the industry, product segments are generally clearly defined. Women’s and girls’ apparel make up almost two thirds of the revenues generated, while men’s apparel accounts for the remaining third. While women shop more primarily due to changing seasonal trends, men’s spending on clothing is highly discretionary. Even though discretionary, men’s consumption of sports apparel must be just as great as women’s, and this is where market research is necessary to understand men’s purchasing behavior and how they can be converted to join the Lululemon revolution.

Notable Trends

The marketplace is highly competitive with low concentration. The industry’s four largest players each have less than 2% of market share. Thus the keys to success in the industry include establishing strong brands and capturing customers within niche markets.

Consumers are highly influenced by brand image and advertising. One particular marketing strategy on the rise is the opening of “flagship” stores in high traffic central locations within large markets. Companies build unique and interactive physical retails stores as a key destination to attract local and visiting customers.

What’s Next

The industry is mature and steady in North America, but still blooming in emerging markets. There are huge opportunities for growth and I plan to take part in it and make a difference. This leads to Step 2 of “How to get hired as an MBA Intern at Lululemon”.

To be continued…

Euromonitor International. (2013, May). Global Apparel (Part 1): Shifting Distribution Landscape and Market Performance. Retrieved from Passport GMID database.

Panteva, N. (2013, March). Global Apparel Manufacturing. (Industry Report No. C1311-GL). Retrieved from IBISWorld database.