$47 Million Per Year

In 2022, Paige Mycoskie took a $47 million dividend from her business.

She started Aviator Nation back in 2007. But unlike the Direct-to-Consumer darlings of the 2010s (Casper, Warby Parker, Outdoor Voices, etc) she never took any outside capital.

So, she grew more slowly, but she maintained full control.

She was never forced to rely on paid ads to acquire customers. She didn’t have to expand into new product categories or geographies before she was ready. She avoided offshoring production in order to optimize her margins.

Some of this bucks conventional wisdom about business building. But in her company’s unconventional approach, Paige has accomplished something defensible… differentiation.

From the earliest days, Paige’s vision for her clothing line was clear.

Aviator Nation apparel is made with old-school graphic design techniques that gives it a vintage feel & look. She still plays an active role in design to this day.

Numerous successful founders have been obsessed with control. Not because of their thirst for profits, but because of their need to protect the vision for their company.

Disney, Ford, and Jobs all held tight control. Add Mycoskie to the list.

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