You may not know Sara Blakely's name, but she's probably been in your drawers at some point in your life. She's the inventor of Spanx, and she's just became the youngest self-made woman on Forbes "Billionaires" list. Yep, due to our own unhappiness with our bodies, Blakely has become a billionaire at the ripe old age of 41.
From smoothing our thighs, to sucking in our guts, and banishing panty lines from our backsides, Spanx garments have become weapons in our battle of the bulge when we're not successful at budging it ourselves. Most of us have a love-hate with them -- we hate that we need them, but love that they save us on occasion. Apparently that's worked out pretty well for Sara, as she's now worth 10 figures.
Even if you find Spanx akin to torture devices, her story of success is incredible. From that first pair of panty hose she cut, she's expanded her business into an empire of more than 200 products sold in 35 countries.
She saw a need and fought and figured out how to bring a product to meet that need to market. In an interview with Forbes she talks about the path her life has taken from being rejected by Disney World for the role of Goofy, to selling copiers via cold calling in her 20s, to the life she now lives among her six homes. She did it all on her own without the help of any inheritance or any income from a husband. She has since married, but the company she built all on her.
As she told CBS this morning:
I think my story says that, when women are given the chance and the opportunity, that we can achieve a lot. We deliver. We can make the world a better place, one butt at a time.
So while her products may not be ones that bra burners and feminists would necessarily celebrate, her success is definitely something we all can. Her advice to other women:
Trust your gut. Don't be intimidated by what you don't know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.
Do you wear Spanx? If so, what's your favorite product? Are you inspired by Sara Blakely's story?
Image via Forbes