10 lessons from a woman who made a billion

Sara Blakely - founder of a startup Spanx. Prior to the establishment of their business, she worked seller faxes. In 2000, Sarah has invested accumulated $ 5,000 in the development of slimming clothes for women.

In this case, Sarah did not leave work until the sale of its goods is not exceeded one million dollars.

So, the 10 lessons from Sarah Blakely:

1. The failure should be large.

Each day, the pope asked Sarah: "Tell me what you did not work today?". If the failure was not the father was upset. Focusing on large failures allowed her to understand that failure - it's not the end result, and the lack of effort. This stagnation in our comfort zone is to stop trying to be better than yesterday.

2. Visualize.

Sarah - a big fan of visualization as its main objectives and concrete steps. She imagined herself on Oprah for 15 years before there now. She just knew that this would happen. In his mind, it is clearly seen sofa, Oprah Winfrey and her conversation with her. Then it remains only to insert the missing pieces to this puzzle.

3. Do not share brittle ideas too soon.

Sarah whole year kept the idea of ​​a new type of underwear for women before they develop the first prototype. Only after she was 100% ready to run, she met with friends and talked about their work. Sarah says that the idea is too fragile and defenseless. Wait is the moment when everything is ready. Wishing you only the good people will offer you plenty of reasons why it will not work. But by that time you will have the answers to everything.

4. Do not take "no" as the last answer.

Sarah was associated with a large number of producers and lawyers to patent his idea and create a good sample. Each time she was asked who she was and who is behind it. When she replied that she was just Sarah, everyone said "no." While one manufacturer did not say "ok". How Come? He spoke about the idea of ​​their daughters, and so she loved it.

5. Hire people who you like and who you trust.

Even if they have little knowledge of the fact that they may need. Sarah hired manager for the development of the product and PR-director of his friends, of those who supported it from the beginning. None of them knew the areas in which work began, but Sara was sure that they will cope with new roles, and they were able.

6. Optionally, in order to move.

Sarah was so passionately absorbed in product development every question that pops up on the way, hesitated as they become available, but not in the manner that would be best for a smooth start. She arranged a deal with a major retailer Neiman Marcus before organized method of mass production of one important detail of their clothes. She arranged a meeting with Oprah in her office when she had more office and some were not. Everything went well.

7. You will be able to understand what you want.

Do you have enough skills. Sarah did not know absolutely nothing about women's underwear, patents, manufacturing, marketing and online trading. But it did not stop her. She studied desired her questions, hired people to do what she does not know, and move forward with indefatigable energy. Do not drop the idea if you think you have something lacking.

8. Is it possible to build a billion-dollar business, starting with 5000 dollars.

Sarah was only $ 5,000 in savings in the day when she snapped at his heels stockings and put them under pants to look better. At that moment she realized that the world needs a product that will be both comfortable and improves the female form. During his five thousand she created a prototype, chosen by the manufacturer, called the patented product and find potential buyers. You do not need to be rich to start practicing his idea.

9. You do not need to worry about the first expansion.

Sarah worked tirelessly from his apartment, do not spend on office, marketing and any business expenses. She did not even have a site, until she visited on Oprah and he really needed it. All that was required to create a product, not part of its priorities.

10. Break the familiar device of things.

To break the ice well. When Sarah began to study the question of women's underwear and how it was done the last 50 years, she was very surprised. Starting with the absurd dimensions (for example, they were designed for one waist - regardless of the size of the thing itself), and ending with a standard test dummies (and not on human beings). Sarah decided that the industry needed feminine vision - that the goods were helpful, efficient and convenient as possible. She broke the ice and developed a completely new approach to the development of women's underwear.

The most important advice:

"Believe in your idea, rely on your instincts, do not be afraid of failure. Two years have passed from the onset of my ideas before the product sales shops. The word "no", I heard a thousand times. If you believe in your idea 100%, no one can stop you! A key factor in the success of Spanx - I was not afraid of failure "

The story of Sarah Blakely shows what can be achieved if we believe in the success and immensely put forces. Sooner or later, our passion and dedication to their inner convictions lead to success.