An icon shows us how it’s done.

Twelve life lessons from the iconic powerhouse Cindy Crawford Inc.

WE ARE ALL DISTRACTED with last-minute preparations for the shoot when Cindy Crawford walks quietly into the L.A. studio and makes her way to our frenzied huddle. “I’m sorry for being late,” she says, looking a little flustered. “I had problems finding parking.” Late? We are 10 minutes behind schedule at best, but that’s not because of her.

Several weeks later, Crawford once again shows her famous commitment to punctuality and politeness when we reconnect over the phone. “Thanks for pushing the call back 30 minutes,” she says immediately. “Both of my kids are being homeschooled this year so they’re around a lot, which means there’s no Mom off-time!” Crawford then explains that she pulled her two teenagers out in protest because she wasn’t satisfied with how the school handled the removal of PCBs from the building. “I can’t say that this is a bad thing and then send my kids there,” she says. “It’s one of those times when having a little bit of celebrity helps to bring attention to an issue.”

A “little bit of celebrity” is a charming understatement, given that she’s the most famous—and successful—member of the ’90s supermodel pack. Her career, as both a model and a businesswoman, fundamentally changed the way today’s top h