EJ Johnson Quotes

I meet with people in the industry on an ongoing basis.

In my industry who you know is very important.

Success in show business depends on your ability to make and keep friends.

Publishing is a business of relationships. The relationships you make at one house can carry over to another.

I make it a priority to keep in touch with people with whom I've worked in the past. And I'm fortunate, because I've worked with some terrific folks.

It's amazing how you meet people through other people. I knew a racecar driver, Stefan Johansson, who was very hot. He introduced me to Jean Todt. He introduced me to a French doctor. He introduced me to a French architect who redid the Louvre with I.M. Pei. He introduced me to Daniel Boulud.

Over the years, I have developed a pretty good Rolodex.

It's very difficult in France to get access to castings when you don't have any relationships.

I'm definitely lucky to have been included in some of the perks of my brother's connections in the fashion world. It's helpful considering I'm still like a five-year-old when it comes to shopping.

If you can sell yourself as someone who knows how Washington works, someone who has these relationships, that's a very marketable commodity. If you're seen as someone who knows how this town works, someone who is a usual suspect in this town, you can dine out for years - that's why no one leaves.

I've been really lucky because I've managed to become wonderful friends with a handful of very talented British designers. Christopher Kane has become one of my very good friends - also Erdem. Jonathan Saunders is another brilliant talent who's very kind. We all hang out.

It's who you know and who can help you.

I have made really some significant deals because I play golf.

I went to Brown to be a French professor, and I didn't know what I was doing except that I loved French. When I got to Paris and I could speak French, I know how much it helped me to establish relationships with Karl Lagerfeld, with the late Yves St. Laurent. French, it just helps you if you're in fashion. The French people started style.

Well, basically I have a lot of friends because I've been in the business a long time and worked with a lot of people.

I was a Valley girl; I hung out, and through a photographer friend. I met Peter Douglas, who was one of Kirk Douglas's kids. He introduced me to Sam Spiegel.

The business that people do in LA on the social level is amazing. You go to a restaurant, bump into this guy or that guy. The next day you get a call, and they want you in their movie.

I don't have many Hollywood friends anyway; I thought with my ability I didn't need to make those kind of relationships, but maybe I should have done. Might have made my life easier!

Our profession is very much like going to a cocktail party, you check out the guest list.

It's one thing to be talented, but the other thing is connections - with agents, with people; that's what makes a difference, and from the beginning, I've had wonderful representation.

Anytime you get to join a group of people you admire and respect, you want to keep those doors open.

I always look at auditions as not even getting the job as much as I'm just trying to connect with this casting director so they remember me for next time.

The stylish kids on the street, they're the ones that set the trends. The designers see what they're doing and go and design their line and sell it back to the same kids, and it's like, why not go directly to the source?

I've met so many who have opened doors for me and remained in my life both personally and professionally. After a while, networking doesn't feel like 'networking.' It's both serendipitous and unpredictable, and something that just naturally becomes part of your work life and your personal life.

I just am really bad at making new friends - especially in the music industry, because they're not really real friends; they're just music industry friends.