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Published Oct 24, 2016

Sara Blakely on Writing Your Billion Dollar Story with Lewis Howes

Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, reveals her inspiring journey from selling fax machines to building a billion-dollar brand, emphasizing creativity, resilience, and the transformative power of failure. Through insightful anecdotes and valuable lessons from mentors like Richard Branson, Blakely showcases the importance of self-compassion and maintaining authenticity on the road to success.
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  • Failure Redefined

    Sara Blakely's unique perspective on failure, shaped by her father's encouragement, has been pivotal in her journey to success. Her father would ask her and her brother about their failures at the dinner table, celebrating their attempts rather than the outcomes. This approach redefined failure for Sara, making it about not trying rather than the result.

    My dad used to encourage me to fail. So at the dinner table growing up, he would ask my brother and me what we failed at that week.

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    This mindset helped her navigate the challenges of building Spanx, including the fear of heights she overcame during a reality show with Richard Branson 1 2.

       

    Mentorship Insights

    Mentorship played a crucial role in Sara's entrepreneurial journey, particularly her experiences with Richard Branson. She admired his bias for action and his ability to empower those around him, noting how he lived life with a sense of adventure and fearlessness. Richard's approach to life and business, where he would engage in the same challenges as his mentees, left a lasting impression on her.

    Richard is really first of all, he has such a bias for action. It was fun to watch him.

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    Sara's time with Branson taught her the importance of aiming high and taking risks, lessons that have been instrumental in her success 3 4.

       

    Philosophical Approach

    Sara's life philosophies emphasize kindness, resilience, and embracing life's experiences. She believes in being kind to oneself, especially as a working mother, and acknowledges the challenges of balancing work and family life. Her approach to life is guided by the belief that experiencing as much as possible enriches one's ability to contribute to others.

    The more you experience in life, the more you'll have to offer others. So, experience everything.

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    These philosophies have helped her navigate personal and professional challenges, reinforcing her commitment to living fully and authentically 5 6.

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