Lessons of a Lipstick Queen: Finding and Developing the Great Idea that Can Change Your Life

by Poppy King

From the perfect lip stick to mergers and acquisitions, Lessons of a Lipstick Queen follows Popy King's extraordinary journey through the world of business and teaches you how to be more entrepreneurial in your own life. If an eighteen-year-old girl's search for the ideal matte lipstick can turn into a multimillion-dollar company, anything is possible. When Poppy King finished high school, all she had to show for herself were some lackluster grades and a hundred and one ways to get out of phys ed. Within three years, however, she was president of her own hugely successful lipstick brand, Poppy Industries.

How did she do it?

In Lessons of a Lipstick Queen, Poppy reveals how she managed to launch her business, extracting valuable lessons from the experience as she goes along. Through Poppy's example, you can learn how to become a real entrepreneur -- from recognizing a good idea and finding financing, to marketing yourself and your brand, to approaching the media and avoiding common pitfalls. Whether you are looking to go into business for the first time, or simply want to build on your current career, Poppy King is the voice of experience that you should be listening to.

In a world where everyone is eager to get ahead, it's essential to think like an entrepreneur. Much more than just a guide to success, Lessons of a Lipstick Queen is a candid adventure story designed to take you on a journey of self-discovery.

Filled with exercises, concrete tips, and Poppy's personal and professional anecdotes, this motivational book will help readers get in touch with their inner entrepreneur.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Biography

368 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 2008

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, my goodness, Poppy sure is proud of herself! To think she started her very own business and made lots of money and she was only 18! And did she mention that she did it all on her own, and made lots of money, and was fresh out of high school? Why, yes, yes, she did - overandoverandover again. Oh, and did she mention that she just looooooves lipstick, especially her very own brand of Poppy lipstick that is just the best, and to think she did it all on her own at the tender age of 18! Woohoo! Yay Poppy!
Okay, frankly, I spent half of this book asking myself "who the hell is Poppy, and why on earth did I even start reading this thing?" She did share some interesting business start-up ideas, and she was relentlessly upbeat and positive, which is the only thing that elevated this book beyond one star. Well, that and the fact that it's all about this really fabulous entrepeneur who started this amazing business when she was just a teenager . . .

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thoroughly disappointed in this book for lack of unique advice and more importantly, tales of Poppy King's idea to lipstick line in retail stores that I hadn't already assumed or read in beauty magazines.

I found myself skipping to read just the "my story" portions because the advice was so unoriginal, and then even the personal tales wore on me. Do not waste your time.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lesson she meant to teach: Find your passion! Follow your dreams!

Lesson I learned: Poppy King is a super lucky dingbat who needs to shut up and get an MBA.

[Ula · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should have been written for teens. It's really simple advice that anyone beyond a certain age doesn't need.

The author repeated over and over again how she was a teen when she started her business and made millions. She mentions it often between her business advice (25% of the book) and "My story" section (75% of the book).

I couldn't decide between two or three stars but once I got 80% done with the book I could take any more "poppy" talk. I would dislike the woman and say it was almost narcissistic sounding if she wasn't such a positive person.

Sorry Poppy, really wanted to poppy this poppy. Poppy poppy, poppy poo.

[Cameron Toney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to wear Lipstick Queen lipsticks (whatever happened to those?), and I'd heard bits about the brain behind that brand, Poppy King. So, in a makeup related mood, I picked up this from the library.
It's not exactly a memoir, though the bits that were memoir were my favorite. It's also a guide to, well, not exactly starting your own business, but I guess how to nurture ideas that might become something bigger.
As I was not going to take it as advice for starting a company I found it interesting enough, but the sections where she writes about her own experiences were the best.

[Michelle Gosnold · Rating 2 out of 5]

My friend had told me that she felt the book was disappointing and not to bother but I read it anyway. I think it was interesting and made some good points and I’m glad she was successful and achieved a lot so young. I awarded two starts because it was a bit dull and would have enjoyed a more deeper insight into what happened with regards to her Business Partner and chapter 11. She mentions it many times but doesn’t explain what happened.

[Leanna Siupinys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can’t even remember where on earth I found this book on an Australian teen entrepreneur yet here we are 😂 this was okay. Nothing groundbreaking and lots of boasting/ bragging about the repetitive 18 year old business owner reminder every five pages. But, I did really enjoy the personal stories she told in this book. I wish there was more business advice in this book, but it just seems like most of her business just came about from passion and pure luck, therefor she wasn’t the best at offering concrete tips or advice. But I did really enjoy the positive tone of voice throughout the book and it was a fun read.

[Megs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book a lot, but there are so many others that I love too. It really inspired me to start ideating more, not be afraid to take risks and know that it is perfectly fine to make mistakes and how to best handle them. Really makes me want to go buy some more lipstick.

[Janet Camilleri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this warts and all book of business lessons, from the mind and heart of Poppy King. Would love to read an update!

[Amanda Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, though I never managed to finish it. I liked it's rah-rah, you-go-girl encouragement, but I found it lacking in spelling out the more concrete steps one must take in launching a business. That said, Poppy is a cool girl who will undoubtedly give you jolt of inspiration just by sharing her tale. Because really, if an 18-year-old underachiever can launch a lipstick empire, why the hell can't you do something on an equally grand scale? Use this book to amp up your ambition then go and buy a more factual, though surely more boring, text on becoming an entrepreneur.

[Rebeca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly good and teeming with practical advice. But you get the sense Poppy King really wants to write an autobiography, just doesn't want to share the bad bits. Poppy just casually drops that she had $30,000 in seed money to start her company. All the rah rah all you need is passion basically stops right there. The best advice she gave was that to find her sources all she did was open the phone book and never compromised with quality or design. Great lessons, but not all of us are natural marketers.

[Linnae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advice for taking your idea and building a company from it. Touches lightly on all aspects of running a business, from picking a business partner to marketing your product. By the way, how do you find someone to manufacture your invention? You librarians should know this: look it up in the phone book.

[Sarah Eutsler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed some of the anecdotes Poppy provided about her personal experiences, though I wish there was a little more meat to the advice part. I feel like I almost would have preferred more of an autobiography than the mix of the two. Overall, it was an okay read, but something more for inspiration than business education.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok, not groundbreaking. I mainly want to learn more about the author as she makes my favourite lipstick! So it was interesting to hear her backstory. There were some good business tips but it's not exactly riveting. Could be inspiring to someone looking to start their own company though as it shows how you can start with a basic idea and build up.

[Yvonne Biggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has changed my life, helped me get a promotion in the cosmetics industry and strive to work harder! I do not like self help books- this is my exception to the rule! Easy to read and I enjoyed every page! I've read it so many times the front page is curling! I've met Poppy King..what a inspiration!

[Charmaine Coombes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book it was good to mix in the business advice with her journey as a "Lipstick Queen" I would have liked to read a bit more about her stories along the way these were far too short and the most enjoyable part of the book!

[Addie Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

poppy king is kind of my idol.

whenever I finally succeed in making cupcakes for a living, it will be partially due to her making me smarter.

[Traci · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was under the impression that the lessons in this book would be applicable to any aspect of your life. They're not. A bit disappointing.

[Shirley Forman Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story (and advice) by an Australian woman who launched a successful line of lipsticks when she was only seventeen. This book would be especially good for entreprenurial teens.

[Nora Novak]

how to start your own business

[Noelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. There was some alright advice, but in the end I didn't finish the book, it didn't hold my interest enough.

[Alison · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love lipstick and I love business books, but this one was TERRIBLE.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A timely read for me right now!