397 Sara Blakely: SPANX CEO on Writing Your Billion Dollar Story
Oct 24, 2016
auto_awesome
SPANX CEO, Sara Blakely, shares her journey from door-to-door sales to billion-dollar success. She discusses creating innovative undergarments, securing key accounts, balancing work and motherhood, and embracing feminine instincts in business. Blakely highlights the importance of overcoming challenges, aiming high in life, and crafting an inspirational life story.
Embrace failure as a pathway to growth and innovation.
Balance personal and professional roles with self-compassion.
Success stems from perseverance, taking risks, and embracing challenges.
Deep dives
Sarah Blakely's Journey to Success
Sarah Blakely, the founder of Spanx, shares her inspiring journey of starting her business from humble beginnings. After working as a door-to-door salesman selling fax machines, she decided to create a product to address a common issue she faced. By cutting the feet out of pantyhose, she created the prototype for Spanx, a revolutionary undergarment that provided a smooth look under clothing. Despite facing rejections and challenges, she persisted, landed a deal with Neiman Marcus, and later gained massive success with Oprah famously endorsing her product.
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Failure
Blakely's father instilled in her the value of failure by encouraging her to try new things and see failure as part of the learning process. Blakely emphasized the importance of not being afraid to fail and highlighted how failure can lead to growth and innovation. Despite not having experience in the industry, Blakely's determined mindset and willingness to take risks allowed her to navigate challenges and build a successful business.
Balancing Motherhood and Business
Blakely shared insights on balancing her roles as a mother of four and a successful entrepreneur. She emphasized the importance of being kind to oneself and practicing self-forgiveness. By shifting from self-criticism to self-compassion, Blakely found a way to stay present and manage the demands of her personal and professional life. She acknowledged that motherhood presents its own challenges but stressed the significance of being gentle and understanding towards oneself in the process.
The Belly Art Project: Turning Pregnant Bellies into Canvases
The podcast discusses the journey of creating 'The Belly Art Project', a book that celebrates the unique forms of pregnant bellies through artistic representation. The idea was inspired by the host painting her own pregnant belly and later expanding the project globally to feature over a hundred women, including Warren Buffett, who joined the initiative. The book's proceeds are directed towards maternal health initiatives, emphasizing the importance of safe childbirth worldwide.
Lessons in Entrepreneurship and Life from Sarah Blakely
Sarah Blakely shares her entrepreneurial journey, highlighting her experience on a reality show with Richard Branson and her approach to business with a feminine energy. She discusses the challenges of balancing motherhood with running a billion-dollar enterprise, emphasizing the importance of hustle and aiming high. Reflecting on personal losses, she underlines the impact of mortality in driving her forward and her definition of greatness as pursuing life fully despite fear.
"What you don't know can be your greatest asset if you let it." - Sara Blakely
If you enjoyed this episode, check out show notes, video, and more at http://lewishowes.com/397
