Lessons I learned from Oprah Winfrey | sylviavandelogt.com

I don't watch a lot of TV or spend too much time on social media as I'm just way too busy building my businesses and sharing my message.

But lately I've discovered Youtube and there are a lot of gold nuggets of old television and documentaries there. I like to listen to inspiring leaders and learn from women I admire.

One of those women is Oprah Winfrey

No matter what you think of her, she has created a life she adores and is very open about her mission to live life to her truest potential.

I believe in her mission to increase education for girls and in her mission to empower women to become strong individuals that have the power to change the world.

And I love how Oprah keeps challenging herself by starting new things and achieving her dream of starting her own network so she can have even more control over the message she shares.

Just recently I watched a video where she was interviewed by a student called Amanda from Stanford university.

This lady had done her homework and asked Oprah some powerful questions. And of of course, Oprah being Oprah replied in kind.

As I believe that being successful in business depends in large part on mindset and how well you understand yourself and listen to your intuition I wanted to share some powerful lessons that Oprah shares.

Some of the life principles she shares I apply each day to my own life and some I still need to get better at.

Lesson 1: You are here to live your highest true potential

You have to know what sparks the light in you so that you, in your own way, can illuminate the world - Oprah Winfrey

Oprah talks about the importance of instinct and how important it is to listen to it.

She mentions that all of her big big decisions were made because she felt attuned to what the next big thing should be.

The key is to listen to your gut.

Sometimes you just feel that you have to move on and that you're ready for the next big thing.

To be honest, this is one reason I have started 40+Entrepreneur. As much as I love 40+Style, I want to inspire on an even deeper level. Show even more of myself. And inspire you to achieve even greater things.

Looking your best is important but being able to tune into your own own power even further, and create for yourself the life you always wanted is even more meaningful.

Of course that area is much broader than just business, but I do believe that starting on an enterpreneurial journey is one of the best personal development tools out there!

Since you're reading this, I know that you too want to live to your highest potential. You too want to use your intellect and intuition to make the decisions that are right for you!

One of the keys to truly understanding your true potential and tapping into that is to know yourself.

Socrates already said it years ago:

To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom - Socaretes

And Oprah stresses this in her interview too:

There is no real doing in the world without being first. Being, your presence, your connection to yuorself and that what is greater than yourself, is far more important than what you do, but also is the thing that fuels what you do. - Oprah Winfrey

So perhaps tune into yourself or a moment and ask yourself if what you're doing feel right to you?

Are you on the right path? Are you happy with what you achieve sofar?

Or is it time to move forward?

Time for something new?

Perhaps it's levelling up your business or maybe even starting one?

I may be 52 soon but I still don't feel I have reached my highest potential. There is still so much I want to accomplish and I have made a start by starting 40+Entrepreneur and sharing these stories with you.

What is your next step to live to your highest true potential?

This quote struck a chord with me as well:

One of the reasons I've lived such a tanstastic life is because I pay attention to my life. And your life is your greatest teacher. Every single thing that is happening to you every day, your joys, your sadnesses, your challenges, everything is happening to bring you closer to what's inside you. Everything is trying to take you home to yourself. - Oprah Winfrey

This is essentially what I've been doing my entire life.

I'm forever learning.

And through all my trials and tribulations I'm getting stronger and closer to what I want to become.

Oprah got her success quite early. It look me much longer to find my stride and I feel I'm only getting better with age.

I think many of you are the same which is why I believe that IT"S NEVER TOO LATE TO REACH YOUR FULL POTENTIAL.

It's one of the reasons I wanted to setup this site and encourage more of you to take risks and perhaps start on this enterpreneurial journey.

As we get older, we get to know ourselves better. We get stronger and we get clearer about what we really want to do.

The 40+Entrepreneur community is here to help you get there!

"And when you are at home with yourself, when you're solidly there, connected to whatever you call creation even if you don't call it anything, connected to an energy force that has unlimited power for you, when you get connected to that, you are your best".

Oprah Winfrey

This is how Oprah sees her work.

"I'm here to connect people to ideas and stories so that they can see themselves and live better lives"

And this is my version for what I like to achieve with 40+Entrepreneur:

"I'm here to connect women with their power and skills so they can create a live of freedom, drive and passion and live better lives".

Lesson 2: Always start with setting an intention

It was also good to be reminded of this important lesson.

What propels the action is the intention... because the intention is going to determine the reaction, the result or the consequence. - Oprah Winfrey

This is vital when you're doing business. Always know what your intention is whenever you do a specific task. Only then will you achieve the outcomes that you seek.

This is an approach with every blog post or social media I now write. If there's no clear purpose, then the post doesn't get written.

Lesson 3: Align your personality with your purpose

If you align your personality with your purpose, then nobody can touch you and you wake up every day and you are fired up - Oprah Winfrey

This is another important point. I have written on this site before how important it is to do something that you love.

That you discover your passion and build your business from there.

It's not always easy to find exactly what you want to do. I know it took me quite a while to find it and if you're struggling to find what you want to do then my free workshop on discovering your passion and turning it into a business can definitely help.

But if you notice what's happening in your life, stay attuned to your intuition and be mindful of your feelings and reactions and understand your personality, you can set out to do the important work that you still want to do.

Lesson 4: Fill your own cup first

I also couldn't agree more with another point Oprah makes about looking after yourself.

You don't have anything to give that you don't have. So you have to keep your own self full. That's your job - Oprah Winfrey quote

The more you can look after yourself, the more you can take care of others.

I think it's really important that you create a life for  yourself that fulfills you. Of course that doesn't have to include enterpreneurship, but for me it has added so much to my life.

I've grown as a person, feel freer, am challenged on a daily basis (in a good way) and build a sound financial future.

My family knows that this part of me is important too. And your ambition can be completely in balance with the love for your family and the time you spend on them too.

Lesson 5: You educate through telling stories

As I watched the video I noticed that for every point Oprah wants to make, she tells a story.

She does this on purpose.

She has learned over the years that nothing will educate a point faster and better than a story. Stories are fun to listen to and when told well, can both entertain and educate.

This is something I have been trying to do more (and better!) in my business and that I encourage you to do as well.

Think of a few key stories in your life and make them part of your business story. Use them in interviews and  illustrate important points.

Lesson 6: All everybody wants, is to be heard and seen, to be validated and to live the highest, truest expression of themselves

I've talked to nearly 30,000 people on this show, and all 30,000 had one thing in common: they all wanted validation... I would tell you that every single person you will ever meet shares that common desire. - Oprah Winfrey

This is something to remember when you speak to people or want to provide them with a product or service.

If you can acknowledge the people you want to serve and make them feel validated, you will be able to connect.

Finally...

I hope some of these lessons have been meaningful to you.

My main takeaway is that's what I'm here to do: to live the highest, truest potential of myself.

And if you didn't know it yet, I'm on a mission to empower more women to live their highest potential and create a live of freedom and passion.

I want you to feel empowered to feel strong and achieve your dreams!

If you like to watch the interview as well, you can view it below.

And if you ever find yourself moving off track, then these lessons are here to remind you how important it is to keep striving for your highest truest expression of yourself!

What did you resonate with in this article? Do you feel you are living your highest, truest expression of yourself?

Sylvia

6 lessons I learned from Oprah that will help you in business and life | truepotentialacademy.com