Whether working at the Independence Inn or starting her own with the Dragonfly, Lorelai on Gilmore Girls has always enjoyed being part of the hospitality industry. She might not have any talents in the kitchen or feel comfortable around domestic pursuits, but she's smart, ambitious, and determined to be a success.
Lorelai could be nice but also frustrating, but no matter what was happening in her personal life, she still followed her dream of having her own inn. Lorelai did some things that made her an inspiring business owner, but she also made some mistakes that others shouldn't copy.
Great: She Built On Her Experience And Went Off On Her Own
When fans first met Lorelai Gilmore, she was working at the Independence Inn and doing an amazing job.
Lorelai had been there for years and learned the ropes. By the time that she was ready to go off on her own, she had gotten a lot of experience and she knew how to book guests, run weddings and other events, and deal with repairs and anything else that needed to be taken care of. She was always a good manager and a "jack of all trades" as she was willing to get her hands dirty and put out fires.
Fell Flat: She Was Hesitant To Get Loans Or Ask Family For Money
Lorelai ended up getting $30,000 from Luke but it definitely seemed strange that she didn't ask her parents for money to help open the Dragonfly Inn. After all, Emily and Richard are some of the wealthiest characters on the show, and Lorelai knew that they could spare the cash.
If Lorelai was a better business owner, she would do everything within her power to go after her dreams, even it meant having an uncomfortable conversation about money with her parents. It could have even been part of the Friday Night dinner deal.
Great: She Knew She Needed A Supportive Business Partner
Best friends Sookie and Lorelai are hilarious and they also went into business together as they opened the Dragonfly Inn as a team.
Lorelai was smart enough to know that she needed a business partner who would support her and be there for her. This made the good times even sweeter and the hard times a little easier, as she had someone to lean on. Even though Lorelai was more business-minded and took care of the running of the inn whereas Sookie was the creative person in the kitchen, Lorelai still knew she couldn't do it by herself.
Fell Flat: She Resisted Any Opportunities For Growth
Lorelai's past is really sad and she doesn't have a close connection with her parents. But in the fifth season, Richard showed that he was proud of Lorelai by suggesting that the Durham Group purchase the inn. Lorelai would still be working for them in some capacity and she would travel.
It's odd and confusing that Lorelai wasn't interested in this, as she would have likely made more money and grown as a business person. The fact that she resisted any chances for growth (both money-wise and personally/professionally) is definitely a strike against her.
Great: She Valued Good Employees, Like Michel
Michel and Lorelai had some flaws, but Lorelai did really appreciate Michel as an employee.
She brought him to the Dragonfly Inn as she couldn't imagine starting something new and not having him along for the ride, and that was really awesome. The fact that Lorelai valued good employees and didn't want to lose them wins her points as a business owner, as having the right team is really important. It's also good for someone to be aware of any weak spots in their management style, and know that other people are better at certain things.
Fell Flat: She Was Sometimes Snarky And Not A People Person
Lorelai may have had a smart sense of humor, but that didn't always work well in the business world.
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While Lorelai wasn't outright rude to the guests staying at either the Independence or Dragonfly Inn, it's definitely true that she had a snarky personality. At times, she was tough with people doing repairs at the inn and she could be a little heavy-handed. Working in the hospitality industry does mean being more of a people person than Lorelai is, so this wasn't ideal.
Great: She Wanted The Right Building And Fought For It
After meeting Luke's old love Rachel, Lorelai came across the space that would become the Dragonfly Inn.
She knew that it was the right building to turn into her dream inn and she fought for it. It wasn't a simple path getting there, but with some passion and hard work and belief in herself, she knew that she could it. It wasn't a simple path but she stayed on it and made her dreams come true. This is further proof of Lorelai's business acumen, as it's not possible to start a business without some blood, sweat, and tears.
Fell Flat: She Didn't Always Have Confidence In Herself
When an issue came up and Lorelai and Sookie had to take a step back before buying the Dragonfly, Lorelai had a bit of a breakdown.
She didn't always have confidence in herself and instead of realizing that business can be tough, she took it on Sookie. The fact that she was lacking in self-esteem at times meant that she fell flat as a business owner. She should have been able to give herself some pep talks, given how secure she seemed in other situations.
Great: She Went To Business School To Learn More And Get Prepared
Lorelai's time at business school helped her learn the ropes, as she had been working at the Independence Inn since she was young, but she knew that she needed to get more of an education instead of only relying on practical experience (although that was definitely helpful).
Not everyone would be willing to attend classes on top of their regular job, as they would say that was too much time and effort, but Lorelai went the extra mile and did what she could to work toward her dream.
Fell Flat: She Let Her Chef (And Partner) Leave For A Year
It was strange to watch the Gilmore Girls revival A Year In The Life on Netflix and see that Sookie was away from the inn.
Should Lorelai have really let her best friend, business partner, and the inn's talented chef leave for a year? Sure, it was supposed to be six months, but she could have talked to Sookie about the situation. It would have been fine to say that she supported her dreams but she needed Sookie at the Dragonfly, cooking delicious food for the guests and being a part of what she and Lorelai had worked so hard for.