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
I've always leaned toward a feminine, funky style, even in business settings. I used to paint my nails blue in 1993, before it was mainstream.
Ideas, even million-dollar ones, are most vulnerable in their infancy; don't share them with too many people. However, don't hide your plan from people who can help you move it forward.
Courage is doing something despite the fear, and I've worked hard on being a courageous person.
The smartest thing I ever did was to hire my weakness.
Perseverance is the key to starting a successful business.
Having a mental snapshot of where you are, where you are going, and what you are moving toward is incredibly powerful.
Within the first year of launching my company, Spanx, I decided to go over to England and cold-call Harrods, Harvey Nichols, and Selfridges the same way I had cold-called Neiman Marcus, Saks, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale's here in the United States.
I did not like the way I looked in a pair of white pants.
Where I get my energy is: 'How can I make it better?
The thought of my mortality - I think about it a lot. I find it motivating. It can be any time that your number's up.
When I was 7, I came up with the idea of 'charm socks.' My mom would take me to buy bags of plastic charms, we would sew them on frilly white socks, and I sold them at school.
Money is fun to make, fun to spend and fun to give away.
Shapewear is the canvas and the clothes are the art.
I didn't want women to walk out of the dressing rooms feeling depressed and wanting a cocktail.