Sara Blakely
Sara Blakely
Sara Blakelyis an American businessperson and founder of Spanx, an American intimate apparel company with pants and leggings, founded in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2012, Blakely was named in Time magazine's "Time 100" annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. As of 2014, she is listed as the 93rd most powerful woman in the world by Forbes...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionEntrepreneur
Date of Birth27 February 1971
CityClearwater, FL
CountryUnited States of America
The smartest thing I ever did was to hire my weakness.
I think very early on in life we all learn what we're good at and what we're not good at, and we stay where it's safe.
I think my story says that, when women are given the chance and the opportunity, that we can achieve a lot. We deliver.
There is a hidden blessing in the most traumatic things we go through in our lives. My brain always goes to, 'Where is the hidden blessing? What is my gift?'
Embrace what you don`t know
With every obstacle that has happened to me in my life, my brain immediately says, ‘Where is the hidden blessing?’ In starting a business and growing a business, every day is learning how to manage obstacles.
I started thinking about joy. Everything in our society is so purposeful. Let's bring joy back to the experience.
I didn't want women to walk out of the dressing rooms feeling depressed and wanting a cocktail.
Failure to me became not trying versus not succeeding
When something I can't control happens, I ask myself : where is the hidden gift, where is the positive in this?
My first account was Neiman Marcus. I cold-called them just like I had cold-called businesses when I was selling fax machines for seven years.
If we can put a man on the moon, we can make pantyhose comfortable.
The word 'Spanx' was funny. It made people laugh. No one ever forgot it.
I shopped for body shapers for the first time in my life and I was horrified. They were thick - it was like wearing workout clothes and they all had a leg band on one side that showed through the pants.