Helen Gurley Brown was a legend. The former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan who died Monday is known for revolutionizing what it meant to be a career woman and what it meant to “have it all.” She was an anchor in allowing sex to be a frank, open and honest topic of conversation for women. And she was filled with wisdom on how to succeed in the working word and in your relationships. For the Life2PointOh editors who previously worked at Hearst, we fondly remember seeing HGB from time to time–and she’d be rocking fishnets, red lips and a leopard coat. Fierce style doesn’t fade with age and neither do these gems of career advice she always willingly passed along to the younger generations.
“Nearly every glamorous, wealthy, successful career woman you might envy now started out as some kind of schlepp.” You can’t get to the top without starting at the bottom. This is just another reminder that we must pay our dues. And while it may take longer to move ahead than you would like, we promise that you will find a mentor who will help in more ways than you can ever imagine.
“My success was not based so much on any great intelligence but on great common sense.” Simple, always listen to your instincts and they’ll guide you to greatness.
“Marriage is insurance for the worst years of your life. During your best years you don’t need a husband.” HGB was a pioneer in making it cool to be a single girl. However, at the end of the day, we can all agree that we are looking forward to finding our soul mate and starting the adventure that is married life with the one you love.
“Beauty can’t amuse you, but brainwork — reading, writing, thinking — can.” Never stop learning. ‘Nuff said.
“A man likes to sleep with a brainy girl. She’s a challenge. If he makes good with her, he figures he must be good himself.” Never settle. You deserve the best.
“Never fail to know that if you are doing all the talking, you are boring somebody.” Ask questions whenever you can. You learn more when you listen.
“Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere.” Rules were meant to be broken. Life is more fun that way.
“If only one of you is in the mood, do it. Even if sex isn’t great every time, it’s a unique form of communication and togetherness that can help you stay together with a good degree of contentment.” Compromise is key to any relationship’s success.
“I hope I have convinced you… the only thing that separates successful people from the ones who aren’t is the willingness to work very, very hard.” As dire as it may seem at times and as often as you ask yourself, ‘What am I doing this for?” you have to remind yourself that your hard work will pay off.
“Feeling insecure is good for you. It forces you to do something better, drives you to use all your talents.” What fun would life be if we were good at everything? Life is more exciting when you find your passion.
“What you have to do is work with the raw material you have, namely you, and never let up.” Be the best you that you can be. Because there will never be anyone else like you.
What will you remember most about Helen Gurley Brown?
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