WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM OPRAH

The Queen of America laid down her scepter today. Oprah Winfrey aired her last day time talk show today. Although I don't agree with all of Oprah's stances on life issues, I have an immense amount of respect for her as a person and professional. There is a lot we can learn from Oprah:

YOU CAN OVERCOME- Oprah has shown that people can overcome great obstacles in this life. She didn't just show case the power of the human spirit and it's ability to overcome pain, she lived it. Oprah was a victim of sexual abuse as a child. For many people this is a debilitating event that retards forward movement in life. I'm not saying that Oprah doesn't still have effects from the impact of her abuse. I'm just saying that she didn't let it stop her.

YOU CAN REINVENT YOURSELF- I don't know if you remember what the Oprah show looked like when it first hit the air, but it was a lot different than what it looks like today. If memory serves me correctly, when her show first hit the airwaves it was more like Ricky Lake, Jenny Jones, or Jerry Springer and less like Martha Stewart. Her first presentation worked for a while. It was new to TV and folks were into it. However, that wasn't a recipe for longevity. She was able to successfully transform her show from that to a classy, insightful, and still entertaining venue. Quite an accomplishment.

HELPING PEOPLE CAN PAY OFF- Oprah has a reputation for helping people. It's really incredible when you think about it. Helping people wasn't something she did on the side like many famous people that have organizations for public relations and tax shelter purposes. No, helping people was what she did. It connects with folks when you help others. People know that everybody could use a helping hand. They have their own story and know the stories of their family and friends. Oprah's helping of others paid off in a big way.

TRANSPARENCY IS A GOOD THING-Oprah shared a lot of herself with the public. Certainly, she has her privacy. However, she talked about her struggles with weight, her history of abuse, and even her unknown sister. There's little need to hide. People are people and many of us have been through such things. It's about connecting and she did it with the best of them. Stop hiding who you are. Feel free. You'll come to find that most people can relate to your struggle.

HARD WORK DOES PAY OFF-Oprah has a reputation for being a very driven and hard working person. You don't become a first generation Billionaire without it. Many people today want to strike it lucky and hit it big. It's not likely. Instead, a steady dose of hard work and dedication could make all the difference. There are no guarantees, but I think time has proven that hard work is the way to go.

EVERYBODY NEEDS A STRONG TEAM-Oprah surrounded herself with talented and able people. Nothing great has ever been achieved by an individual. You need a team to do big things. Heck, you need a team to do small things. Surround yourself with good people. That's not to say that you look at everyone as a part of your business. It's just to say, make sure you have quality folks in your life.

Oprah brought a lot to the American landscape for a great many people. She continues on in a different venue now. I'm sure there will be more to learn as she continues to grow and transition. There is no doubt that she is a phenomenal person, an American Treasure, and a Universal Icon.