Anna Wintour

When passed over for fashion editor at Harper's, despite doing the job's work, Anna didn't complain or negotiate.

She resigned immediately, taking her assistant with her.

She moved to New York without a job lined up, betting everything on her vision.

The system won't fix itself for you.

When merit meets politics, choose exodus over argument.

For Burn the Boats, Ad Viva, the porn-funded fashion magazine, Anna had a total creative freedom but zero prestige.

Rather than job hunting for something respectable, she used the disreputable platform to develop her aesthetic without interference.

She studied European fashion magazines while working at a magazine sold behind the counter.

Sometimes the worst address is the best classroom.

Embrace opportunities others are too proud to take.

Five, bias towards action.

Anna's meeting revolution at Vogue, walk in, stand, ask, leave.

You get two minutes, the second is a courtesy.

The clothing run-throughs that took hours under Mirabella, Anna did them in minutes.

Yes, no, yes, no, yes, no, goodbye.

No explanations, no committees, just decisions.

When people avoided her in the elevator, it wasn't because she banned them.

It was because she'd immediately start issuing orders they'd need to write down.

Decisiveness is a muscle.

The more you use it, the faster you move.