A Masterclass in Resilience for Every Entrepreneur

For this week’s edition of The LeadHers Circle, I am stepping outside our LinkedIn tribe to celebrate one of the most influential women in modern history. This is the first in this series.

The one and only Oprah Winfrey - a true female entrepreneur to the core who's been slaying the game for decades. Her journey is a roller coaster of successes and struggles, but one thing's sure: this woman defines resilience.

In the 70s, Oprah landed that news anchor gig at 19 but faced much criticism and doubt. Can you imagine being a young black woman trying to make it in the male-dominated world of news broadcasting back then? The haters were relentless, but Oprah didn't let them dim her shine.

The 1980s came around, and the meteoric rise of her talk show, O, suddenly put her in the public eye like never before. The media scrutiny was intense, with constant criticism about her weight, her looks, you name it. But did our girl let it get her down? Nope. She used that negativity as fuel to inspire and uplift her audience even more.

By the 1990s, Oprah was on a roll! She launched her production company, Harpo Productions, and co-produced iconic films like “The Color Purple,” “Beloved,” and “Selma.” The critics came out in full force against “The Color Purple.” They said she was spreading a negative portrayal of black life. They said she was too controversial, blah blah blah. But our queen didn't back down – she stayed true to her vision and kept pushing boundaries. She was building an empire, one project at a time. Every new venture brought new challenges to overcome, and Oprah's resilience was put to the test time and time again and won!

As we entered the 21st century, O took her game to new heights by launching her cable channel, OWN. Talk about a power move! However, the launch of OWN was plagued with struggles from the start. Low ratings, high costs, negative press – the media was ready to write Oprah's network off as a failure. But you know what? She didn't listen to the naysayers. She dug in, made the tough calls, and turned that ship around. The criticism came rolling in once again. People accused her of selling out, of being a hypocrite. But O knew this was about more than just dieting – empowering women to live their best, healthiest lives. She tuned out the haters and acted as a spokesperson and board member.

But recently, Oprah made some bold moves that showed her evolving perspective on this whole weight and health journey. After years of yo-yo dieting and struggles with her weight, the media mogul announced she was stepping down from her role at WW. Why? It turns out O has started to view obesity as more of a disease that requires medical intervention beyond just diet and exercise alone. She's been open about incorporating weight loss medications into her routine to support her efforts.

The critics came out in full force again, accusing her of promoting unhealthy habits and quick fixes. But Oprah shut that noise down real quick. She explained that for some people, obesity is a complex medical issue that may require a variety of treatment approaches – just like you would treat any other disease or condition.

Oprah is fearless in evolving her thinking and sharing her journey publicly, even if it means facing more skepticism and negativity. That's what resilience is all about!

The takeaway here is to stay flexible and open-minded as an entrepreneur. Your perspective will likely shift over time, and that's ok!

Feel free to pivot your approach or try new strategies when the old ones stop working for you. And don't let the haters slow you down when you're blazing new trails.

Throughout her incredible career, Oprah Winfrey has faced struggles and setbacks. But repeatedly, she's bounced back with resilience and determination that's nothing short of awe-inspiring. Her ability to overcome obstacles and bounce back from adversity is a testament to her strength and tenacity.

Now, let's talk about some business takeaways that we can all learn from the Queen of Talk herself:

Embrace the struggle: Success is never a straight line, and Oprah's journey is proof of that. Don't be afraid of setbacks and challenges - they're inevitable. The key is to embrace, learn from, and use them as fuel to propel you forward.

Pivot and persevere: Oprah's resilience is rooted in her ability to pivot and adapt when things aren't going as planned. When OWN struggled, she didn't throw in the towel - she reassessed, made changes, and persevered until she found success. As entrepreneurs, we need to be just as agile and persistent.

Invest in yourself: Oprah has never been afraid to take risks and invest in her growth and development. Whether launching a new venture or buying a stake in a company, she's always been willing to put her money where her mouth is. Believe in yourself, ladies, and don't be afraid to take calculated risks.

So there you have it!

O is a true icon [you know someone is an icon when you know them by just an initial!], and her journey is a masterclass in resilience, perseverance, and badassery.

Let's take a page from her book and conquer the world, one obstacle at a time!

Although this is an unofficial article about Oprah Winfrey , I thank her for inspiring women worldwide. Her resilience, determination, and ability to overcome adversity are truly admirable. Moreover, her entrepreneurial journey provides invaluable lessons that can help others achieve their goals. Thank you so much, Oprah!

And to all The LeadHers Circle readers, thank you for taking the time to read and engage with this piece celebrating such an iconic figure. Your likes, comments, and shares help further spread Oprah’s empowering message. I'm grateful for your attention and support as we continue highlighting the triumphs of unstoppable women entrepreneurs.

??Hi there, I’m ?? Diane Carter ! Thanks for checking out the article. Hit the bell on my profile to receive notifications for new articles and posts. Thank you for following me, liking, commenting, and sharing my content - it’s an honor. I’m looking forward to connecting with you!

#business #productivity #improvement #professionaldevelopment #creativity #innovation #learninganddevelopment?#entrepreneurship #entrepreneur, #success