Oprah Winfrey is a story of entrepreneurship and redemption. She has overcome extreme adversity in her life by being persistent, unique, and genuine. She is a savvy business woman, and a kind philanthropist. Oprah is a powerful woman who proves that hard work, persistence, and a unique attitude enable you to reach the top.
Her story is the embodiment of the American dream. But how did Oprah work her way from the bottom to the top? Here are the reasons why Ms. Winfrey was able to succeed so wildly.
She Is Determined
Oprah was not exactly the happiest child. She spent her childhood in poverty living off of welfare, faced abuse as a girl, and was so poor that she wore dresses made out of potato sacks. But Oprah not only sustained this hard life, she propelled past it. Today, Ms. Winfrey is a billionaire with deep political, spiritual, and cultural influence. She is a role model not only for black women, but for everyone.
She Never Gave Up
Oprah did not let her hardships get her down. She never gave up and always committed herself to her dream. As a child, Oprah pretended to interview the birds on the fence in her yard while her grandmother helped give her the confidence to pursue a career in media.
Oprah started as the youngest and only black anchor on a local news network in Nashville. She moved through the ranks, traveling to Baltimore, and ultimately to Chicago where she took over the WLS-TV morning show, AM Chicago. Though the show was rated low, Oprah worked hard to push AM Chicago into the top rated spot at the time.
Even when she had an awfully rated show, she was able to turn her misfortune into good fortune. Oprah gained recognition and was awarded with her own show for her efforts “The Oprah Winfrey Show” which earned a full hour spot and became the top daytime talk show in the United States. Oprah has never given up and only moved onto greater things.
She Ignored the Norm
A black, female, talk show host was not the norm when Oprah came into the daytime TV game. She didn’t have model looks. She didn’t have exceptional connections nor she fitted the mold, but that is why Oprah became so successful. At a time when white males dominated TV, Oprah brought her unique approach to television and that’s what pushed her to the top.
Oprah did whatever it took to get to where she is today. She earned her first million dollars when she was just 32 years old. Today she is a multi-billionaire cited as the wealthiest African American of the 20th century.
As a woman and as an African-American, Oprah is in a very exclusive group. She ignored the norms, and that made her one of the richest, most influential people in the world.
Oprah is Genuine
Oprah may have founded the culture of confessional talk-hosting. She presents people with reality, by revealing secrets. She has the unique ability to connect with her guests and audience members that she has been such a successful person in media. She helps people build confidence because she is no stranger to hardship.
As a TV host, Oprah was emotionally moving and relevant. As an interviewer, Oprah had the most watched interview of all time. Her show had an immense life, especially compared to other daytime shows. How did she achieve this success, you may ask? It was all about her genuine outlook and attitude. Oprah maintained herself in a world of media that tends to strip identity away from individuals.