My favorite days are the ones where I deal only with my own team

“My favorite days are the ones where I deal only with my own team, design, marketing, working on the next accessories collection.” Thus spoke Diane von Furstenberg, the empress of elegance and the architect of independence in modern fashion. Her words, though simple in their rhythm, carry the wisdom of a life devoted to creation, collaboration, and focus. Beneath their modest tone lies a deep truth: that fulfillment is not found in noise or spectacle, but in the quiet, steady labor of shaping something meaningful with one’s own hands and with those who share one’s vision.

In this reflection, von Furstenberg reveals the soul of a true creator. Though the world may see the glamour—the lights of the runway, the applause of the audience—she finds her greatest joy not in fame, but in work. The heart of her satisfaction lies in the workshop, not the spotlight; in the process, not the praise. The artist, she reminds us, is most alive when engaged in the act of building—when mind, spirit, and craft align in harmony. The designer’s joy comes from the intimacy of creation, from seeing an idea take form through the joined effort of trusted companions.

Her mention of “my own team” is no small phrase—it is a declaration of loyalty and trust. For no creator, however gifted, walks alone. The weaver of visions must surround herself with those who understand her language, who labor beside her with care and faith. In the ancient guilds of Florence, the master craftsmen worked not in solitude, but among apprentices and artisans who carried forward their legacy. Each stroke of the brush, each chisel upon marble, was part of a shared pursuit of excellence. So too does von Furstenberg honor her team—the hands that bring her ideas to life, the minds that help her translate imagination into form.

And what of her devotion to design and marketing, to the next collection? These are not the words of a woman resting on her laurels, but of one who remains ever in motion. The true creator never ceases to evolve. Just as the seasons renew the earth, so must the artist renew her craft. Von Furstenberg, even after decades of success, continues to look forward—to the next shape, the next color, the next expression of beauty. This restless pursuit is the mark of greatness: to create not out of obligation, but from an enduring flame within. Like the sculptor who sees the angel in the marble and chips away until it is free, she lives for the next revelation hidden beneath the surface of her imagination.

History offers many mirrors to this truth. Consider Leonardo da Vinci, who found his greatest joy not in the applause of dukes or kings, but in the quiet of his studio, where invention and wonder met. He filled his notebooks with sketches—flying machines, bridges, studies of faces—not for wealth or renown, but for the sheer delight of creation. To him, as to von Furstenberg, the act of working, exploring, and imagining was itself the reward. The world remembers the Mona Lisa, but Leonardo’s truest legacy lies in the thousands of unfinished ideas he pursued with devotion. For in every brushstroke and design, he was communing with the essence of life itself.

Von Furstenberg’s quote also speaks to the discipline of focus. In a world that clamors for constant attention, she finds strength in simplicity—in dedicating herself wholly to one sphere of work, one circle of people, one moment of creation. This is a lesson for all who seek mastery: scatter your attention, and your art will weaken; center it, and your vision will sharpen like a blade. Greatness is not born from doing many things at once, but from doing one thing with total presence. The joy she describes is the peace of a mind undivided, the serenity of purpose found in the midst of activity.

So, my listener, take this teaching to heart: love the work itself, not the rewards that follow it. Seek not the noise of recognition, but the quiet fire of creation. Build your team, surround yourself with those who uplift your vision, and together shape something lasting. When the world tempts you to chase fame, return instead to the workshop of your spirit—the space where imagination meets discipline, and ideas are forged into form.

Thus, remember the wisdom of Diane von Furstenberg: that the most precious days are not those filled with acclaim, but those spent in the company of your craft, your people, and your purpose. For in such moments, you do not merely work—you live. And through your labor, you become what every true creator longs to be: a vessel through which beauty, order, and meaning flow into the world.