Success Breeds Success

Success breeds success; and by understanding what strategies today’s major business leaders use you too can be successful.  Among the most well known business leaders of today is Oprah Winfrey.  From starting various businesses, non-profits, hosting radio & TV shows and now her own TV network Oprah has a history of success.  Contrary to the near mythological legacy she has created, Oprah has humble origins.  How did a young girl from Mississippi become a modern day powerhouse of multi-media?  While it might take another book on her, to explain Oprah’s success; there are five key points that Oprah demonstrates in her leadership which can provide helpful pointers in beginning your own business.

1.       Mindset.
When Oprah began her career in radio & Television it was a very white male dominated industry.  Naturally Oprah was at a disadvantage.  To overcome these extra imposed obstacles she had to take the mindset of wanting success.  This mindset drove her to work extremely hard and prove her talent early in her career.  Even to this day with her success Oprah is known for throwing her entire self at a project till its completion.

2.      Played to her strength
Oprah gained notoriety through her ability to empathize with individuals in her professional work.  As a child she was a talented speaker, in college she was on the debate team and studied acting.  However in her early career being a news reporter being empathetical wasn’t needed in hard news coverage.  Yet even early in her career none could doubt Oprah’s ability to sway a crowd.  In 1977 Oprah co-hosted her first radio talk show in Baltimore People Are Talking.

3.      Connection
As mentioned earlier, Oprah has humble origins.  Despite the millions she has made Oprah has never lost her ability to connect with the American public.  She has the ability to decipher the wants and needs of ordinary individuals.  Then uses this to communicate why her brand is what the public wants.  Whether hosting her television show or selling a business venture Oprah has successful communicated her message with consumers.  Oprah exhibits the phrase ‘it isn’t what you say, its how you say it’.  

4.      Took on the tough issues
The lead lady of television is no stranger to sticky issues.  On her television show Oprah she not only handled common issues ranging from creditor debt to weight lost.  Oprah also dealt with non-mainstream issues like homosexuality, incest, cults and polygamy.  It was not just that Oprah was willing to take on these risqué issue. It was that she handled them with respect, love and the upmost class.

5.      Narrative 
Especially in this world of social media it appears that individuals can not, not communicate.  Everything spoken, communicated non-verbally, tweets and posted on Facebook can be interpreted.  Oprah is a genius at public relationship because she knows how to present herself in every situation.  Aside from this Oprah only works with the best and the most talented.  So that the image that she presents will not be tarnished.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sam Mercaldo - A native of the Windy City, Sam uses the stormy weather and the political storms of his native city as a source of inspiration.  In Chicago he lives by the code of Scribere Est Agere meaning To Write Is To Act.

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