Entrepreneur Oprah Winfrey is one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time. From humble beginnings, she refused to settle for less than her dream and skyrocketed to the top of stardom, business, and influence. Starting and having your own empire can be difficult and arduous, but well worth it in the end when armed with the right tools for success. And who better to learn how to be successful from than Oprah Winfrey? Here are just 9 things every entrepreneur can learn from Oprah, to build your own triumphant empire.
1. Have Fun and Be Passionate
There’s no point in doing anything at all if you’re not enjoying it. Your business ventures should spark a personal joy and passion within you that cannot be extinguished. Passion provides you with focus, motivation, and the determination to always push forward. Without passion and joy, a business has no vision and no future. As Oprah would say, “You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job, and not be paid for it.”
2. Invest in Self-Improvement
As an entrepreneur, you are the backbone of your company or business. And if you are not in tip-top, working order, your business will not be either. Even the most successful people in the world like Oprah Winfrey focus on self-improvement. Dedicate time to taking care of yourself, learning, and growing. Oprah continues to grow and improve herself to this day and has no plans to stop now. When you stop investing in yourself, you’ve stopped investing in your own success.
3. Use Your Strengths and Acknowledge Your Weaknesses
Every entrepreneur has strengths, but every entrepreneur also has weaknesses. Oprah determined long ago what it was about herself that made her special and she used each and every one of those attributes to reach the success you see today. It is important to take a cue from Oprah and remember that no one is great at everything. You must use your strengths to the best of your ability, but also be able to acknowledge the areas in which you need help, and seek it out. Acknowledging your weaknesses will not only make your business better, but your overall well-being will be too.
4. Surround Yourself with a Talented and Diverse Community
Even if you’re in business for yourself, you can’t do it alone. Oprah not only hasn’t forgotten about the people and experiences that have led her to her success, but she continually surrounds herself with a community of people that further her dream. It is important to follow in Oprah Winfrey’s footsteps and surround yourself with great, talented people that broaden your business, as well as your life. Remember to recognize and appreciate talent, creativity, and people who bring diversity to the table. Gather information, people, and influence from various networks and never limit yourself to one train of thought.
5. Be Honest and Make It Personal
It can be difficult for some to balance and mold together their personal and business lives. What is unique about your personal story, however, is what will help you reach success. Oprah Winfrey began building her empire by being unflinchingly honest, real, and forthcoming. She made her business personal and is never afraid to be her real self. With your own entrepreneurial ventures, it is important to show your entire self and make everything about your success personal. Not only does this help you stay true to yourself, but it also builds respect, trust, and love among your team and clients. In the words of Oprah herself, “I had no idea that being your authentic self could make me as rich as I’ve become. If I had, I’d have done it a lot earlier.”
6. Keep Taking Risks
One of the key markers of a good businessman/woman is the ability to see opportunity and grab it by the horns. Oprah is no stranger to this, quitting jobs to try something new, starting her own businesses, and made heartfelt decisions that others didn’t understand. But her ability to see an opportunity in every avenue is what has helped become a massive success. Sometimes it may not pay off, but you will never know if you don’t take the leap.
7. Success Takes Time
Oprah Winfrey is one of the most successful and influential people in the world, but it didn’t happen overnight. It is easy to be so caught up in your passion and drive that you crave success instantly. But it is important to remember that just as with Oprah’s story, the lack of instant success does not equate to failure. It took Oprah time to build herself, her team, and her dream to fruition. Your success will take time as well. Every change and step within the process is significant.
8. Build Trust in Your Team and Clientele
No matter what business you’re going into, you must have a certain level of understanding in regards to your audience, as well as those working on your team. Try to always focus on the people and avenues that you can positively affect the most. Understanding your audience/clients and the people you’re working with builds trust between you, them, and your business. Without trust, a business cannot build its success. Oprah has learned to cater her attributes, as well as her business, to the people and industries in which she can add value. She builds personal relationships that have helped catapult her to stardom.
9. Don’t View Setbacks as Failures
Sure, everybody falls down at one moment or another. This can be especially true when it comes to being an entrepreneur. And it can be hard to get back up when you feel you’ve stumbled and fallen. But Oprah Winfrey doesn’t believe in failure. With the proper humility and self-confidence, Oprah used each setback to fuel her to her next positive change. Setbacks don’t always equate into failure and it’s important to remember that “the world looks different from the ground.”
The great entrepreneur Oprah Winfrey has inspired millions all over the world to reach deep down within themselves and reach for the stars. Each and every one of us can learn a lot from this amazing, inspirational woman to become successes in our own lives.
