Life and Business Lessons from the Self-Made Billionaire founder of Spanx

Sara Blakely, the inspirational founder of Spanx - the billion dollar shape wear line shared unconventional life and business lessons during a keynote I had the opportunity to attend in New York. 

After graduating, the only 9-to-5 job Sara could find after graduation was selling fax machines door-to-door. While on the job, she would visualise herself sat on Oprah’s couch promoting her products. Fast forward a few years after launching the product, she received a call from the show’s producers. Oprah had chosen Spanx as one of her favorite products in 2000, which led to the product becoming the global brand it is today.

Below are some of the key points Sara shared during her keynote:

On Self Belief 

Being underestimated gives you a competitive advantage. Initially it was hard, because no-one believed in my product. This is why you must continually work on your mindset and limiting beliefs. If you don’t feel worthy of achieving success or money, you’re going to self sabotage.

What you don’t know can be your biggest enemy if you let it, but it ensures I go about things differently. The only way you can affect change is if you do things differently. I fumbled my way through the whole process using gut and intuition.

On Overcoming Challenges

When I was 16, a series of tragedies impacted my life. My best friend was killed in front of me, which was devastating. Then my parents split up a few months later. When my dad moved out, he handed me a cassette tape called,  ‘How to Be a No Limit Person,’ by Dr. Wayne Dyer. Through listening to those tapes, I did so much pre-work on myself to prepare to live an entrepreneurial life. I got all that from those tapes. My friends would laugh at me, but fast forward 15 years later I ended up on the front cover of Forbes magazine. A few of my friends telephoned saying: “Damn, I should have listened to those tapes!”

On Building a Team

Hire your weakness as soon as you can afford to.  I learned very quickly what I was good at and what I needed support in.  My greatest talents are in inventing and doing marketing – so that’s where I like to play.

On Self Doubt 

I still have crippling self doubt today. I try not to let that hinder me. When feeling stuck, I still listen to Wayne Dyer tapes to help center myself. I have key people in my life who help to build me up. I’ve had self doubt the whole entire journey. It’s very normal.

My real mentors are my mum and grandmother. As well as the women that came before me that didn’t have the same opportunities as me. I get inspiration from them and stay connected to that.

Marielle Legair is a PR and Personal Brand Strategist, international speaker and author. As the CEO and founder of Women Who Influence, she helps professionals and entrepreneurs increase their visibility at work or in their business. Global brands such as Microsoft, Red Bull, Yale University and New York University hire her to deliver transformative personal brand workshops.

PS: Sign up to her last personal brand and business masterclass of 2019 on Tuesday 12 November here: ‘5 Personal Branding Mistakes That Are Crushing Your Sales (and How to Fix Them).'