Oprah Winfrey’s Wisdom & Overcoming a Painful childhood

Who is she?

Oprah Winfrey is a media executive and philanthropist. She’s best known for her popular 1986-2011 talk show, but from there she launched her own television network, media company, lifestyle brand, and has even become an award-nominated actress.

She is the world’s first African American woman billionaire.

Life magazine has called her the most influential woman of her generation.

Oprah Winfrey’s Story

Oprah was born in a rural town in Mississippi. She was sexually abused starting at age 9, and became pregnant at age 14. She lost the baby shortly after birth. After, she moved to Nashville to live with her father and eventually attended Tennessee State University. She dropped out just one credit shy of her degree, but graduated years later in 1986.

Winfrey began working in media and moved to Baltimore, then Chicago. She was hired to do the low-rated half-hour morning talk show, but it soon became incredibly popular. From there, she did the Oprah Winfrey Show, an hour special that was the number one daily talk show in America for decades.

Time Magazine wrote in 1988:

“What she lacks in journalistic toughness, she makes up for in plainspoken curiosity, robust humor and, above all empathy.”

More recently, you can find her in Oprah’s Book Club, special celebrity interviews, and exclusive content on Apple+ (along with her media company work).

5 Incredible Quotes from Oprah Winfrey

“When you undervalue what you do, the world will undervalue who you are.” 

Own your brilliance. Give yourself more credit for the value you bring to the table.

“Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don’t fight them. Just find a new way to stand.”

Use this wise perspective to think about an obstacle in your path. Are there any challenges you are resisting right now?

“One of the hardest things in life to learn is which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.”

Such a fuzzy line sometimes!

“You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.”

Ask for it. Over and over. Oprah would never have become who she is if she had made herself small to please others.

“The reason I’ve been able to be so financially successful is my focus has never, ever for one minute been money.”

In a money-hungry world, it is remarkable to hear a billionaire say this. Her focus has always been people and impact.

Her Best Advice to Her Younger Self

Oprah wrote an incredible letter to her younger self. In it she says…

From where I sit now, viewing your journey, there are few regrets. Only months before…you understood that success was a process and that moving with the flow of life and not against it would be your greatest achievement.”

You can read the entire letter here >>

Did you like this wealthy woman highlights? If you did, leave a comment so I know to keep it going! Thanks!

Related: 7 Frugal Habits of the Ultra-Wealthy