Happy new year everybody!
Last year was certainly a big one, and we’re ready to make this year even bigger!
We’d like to kick off the year with some sound business advice & inspiration from the one and only, Oprah Winfrey, a true media icon & social juggernaut.
Oprah Winfrey is one of the most powerful people on Earth, one of the wealthiest and one of the most influential. The word “success” and the name “Oprah” go hand-in-hand without a second thought.
But of course, she wasn’t born that way. Like many of us, Oprah started from humble beginnings. In fact, her life before her rise to fame and fortune was riddled with hardship. She was molested by family members, “dirt poor” in her own words and at age 14, miscarried a child.
It’s safe to say that a woman who’s overcome adversity to rise to staggering levels of success has learned some important things about business, life and achievement.
Here are five things we can learn about business and success from the woman herself…
Don’t wait for “your purpose” to start taking action
“Your curiosity will lead you to whatever you are here for.” – Oprah
Some people go through life asking, “What is my purpose?” Unfortunately, purpose isn’t something you find behind the couch cushions. It’s something you make, and it’s not always as grandiose as ending world poverty or exploring space—sometimes, your purpose might be to bring happiness to people through teaching yoga or nutrition.
And that’s okay! If you have talent and passion, pursue where those things lead you. If a path speaks to you, start walking—the passion will come when you stop asking yourself whether or not you’re doing the right thing and simply enjoy the thing you’re doing.
Setbacks are important
If anyone knows anything about setbacks (and overcoming them), it’s Oprah Winfrey.
While many people live with regret or agitation towards the setbacks they’ve experienced (or are experiencing) in their life, Oprah’s not the only successful person who thinks that lessons learned from life’s setbacks are essential for growth.
It’s what you learn when things go wrong that gives you the knowledge to make sure things go right next time.
Express gratitude
“Your singular best spiritual practice is finding your sacred space of gratitude.” – Oprah
Oprah has remarked several times on how keeping a “gratitude journal” has changed her life for the better.
Put positive energy into the world, and the world will give positive energy back. The easiest way to do that (and to feel better every day) is to be mindful of the things in your life that are going right and be thankful for them.
It’s pretty hard to find opportunity and have the energy to go after it when you’re too busy flooding your body with anxiety about the things that aren’t going as planned. Always stay positive, and see what that shift in attitude can do for yourself!
Learn to say “no”
“When you say yes to others when you really want to say no, you become resentful of those people.” – Oprah
Every time you say “no” to something bad, it creates space for you to say “yes” to something good.
Think of it like light and dark in a room. They can’t exist at the same time. One has to make way for the other.
Saying “no” can be tough, especially if you’re a nice person. Sometimes you feel a little guilty for having to let people down, but if you’re constantly trying to please everyone else you won’t leave enough space to please the person that matters the most: You!
When you’re on a plane, they tell you to secure your own oxygen mask before you assist the person next to you. Similarly, you have to secure your own happiness before you can assist others with theirs.
Always focus on the big picture
Sometimes we become too focused on a single client, a single opportunity or a single offer. That’s called attachment, and it’s a game that can lead to all kinds of mental anguish when things don’t go as planned.
Let’s say you’re a graphic designer, and you’re focused on what you think will eventually become a big project. Your work in other areas diminishes a little bit, but you think this prospect’s going to become a client soon and bring the big bucks—so you let it go.
Every time they call and things sound good, you feel happy and have a productive day. Whenever they call and it doesn’t look like they’re going to choose you, your self-esteem takes a plunge and you’re plagued with negativity. Your emotions are at the mercy of this particular outcome.
Not only would your entire business do better if you focused on the big picture and avoided attachment, but this dream client would actually be more likely to take you! Again, nobody wants to work with negative or needy people.
Thanks for reading, and here’s to a successful 2016!