Ignore bullies, says Dragons' Den pitcher
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Barb Stegemann, successful pitcher on Dragons' Den and founder of The 7 Virtues Beauty fragrance collection, told business representatives to ignore bullies and follow the smart people.
Barb Stegemann, founder of The 7 Virtues Beauty Inc., gave a powerful speech at the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce AGM last week. She talked about the importance of believing in oneself. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo |
Stegemann, from Atlantic Canada, went from running a boutique PR firm in British Columbia to best-selling author following her appearance on the hit TV show.
She played a clip of her pitch on Dragons' Den before speaking to the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce last Wednesday. In it, Kevin O'Leary is the only dragon skeptical of her perfume business, which sources ingredients from Afghanistan in honour of her wounded military friend.
"Twenty per cent of people are not going to like you anyway," said Stegemann, referencing O'Leary. "Give it no energy."
She quoted Marcus Aurelius about the perceived properties of an emerald.
"What someone says about you, good or bad, in no way changes your properties."
Since her success on Dragons' Den, Stegemann has earned many business awards and been given opportunities she would never have had if she "listened to the bullies."
"I protect my joy fiercely," she said. "No one can take it from me, not even Kevin O'Leary."
She referenced Plato's philosopher king cave analogy, saying that media and anything that discourages people are the shadows one assumes are the truth, and only the philosopher king has the courage to step out of the cave and see the real truth. Stegemann's message was of believing in oneself. She said beauty is power and dignity, expression over form. Chamber members lined up to buy her book and speak with the entrepreneur following her speech.
