“When we fearlessly fight for what we believe in and remain hopelessly optimistic about life, love and the future, we create an authentic connection with all in our path. Most importantly with ourself.”

Fearless and Hopeless

I  remember as a young boy my mother’s voice echoing throughout our tiny apartment singing, “For this is my quest, to follow that star, no matter how hopeless, no matter how far. To fight for the right, without question or pause, to be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause.” The song, “The Impossible Dream” from the Broadway play Man of La Mancha, articulated what Don Quixote called the knight’s quest. That life was not about winning or losing, but being true to one’s purpose. Those words, etched in my head and heart, helped guide me through many of the difficult choices in life, and inspired the quote to the left.

We are taught from the time we are born to conform. To conform to current and conventional views. We are discouraged from taking risks and encouraged to follow the proven path. In many ways we have been taught how to follow, rather than lead. We’ve been encouraged to look at the stars rather than reach for them. Yet inside each of us exists a unique and authentic light, a set of beliefs that, when followed, gives us a sense of purpose and ignites the human spirit within.

In a world guided by focus groups and facts, we at Restoration Hardware admire those inspired spirits who believe, like we do, that the ideas of the future don’t exist in the past – who are true to their quest, fearlessly and hopelessly pursuing their passions. People like Jon Sarriugarte (see “The Oilpunk of Oakland”), who embraces the blue-collar intersection of art, science, electricity and petrol, taking cast-off remnants and re-imagining them as products that could only exist today. Timothy Oulton and Diego Diaz (see “The Leather Men”), who are breathing old life into new leathers. And Matthew Lenoci (see “In Your Dreams” in Big Style/Small Spaces), who has defied the naysayers and is making some of the world’s most beautiful and comfortable bedding right here in America.

I would like to applaud our team of people and partners around the world who, guided by their common values and beliefs, live both Fearlessly and Hopelessly. Who are less concerned about winning or losing, but are passionate about, as Don Quixote said, being true to their purpose. And who will, as my mother once sang, follow that star, no matter how hopeless, no matter how far.

Carpe Diem,

Gary Friedman
Chairman Emeritus, Creator and Curator