Oprah Winfrey's Compassionate Message of Empowerment Translates to Big Bucks!

by Kamau Austin

Published on this site: February 12th, 2004

Oprah Winfrey, has to be one of the most admired Black entrepreneurs of all time (she is at least in my book). From humble beginnings she has grown to become the second Black woman to obtain billionaire status (The first being Sheila Crump Johnson, the former wife of BET founder Bob Johnson). While many focus on her status as a cultural icon, we want to focus on the business story of Oprah Winfrey, the highly successful business woman. Oprah Winfrey, even has a college business course taught about her meteoric rise, to superstar talk show host.

Oprah is admired and almost worshiped by tens of millions of upscale women of diverse races, colors, and creeds. Oprah seems to be very giving to charitable causes that she relates to (she gives at least 10% of her earnings to charity, I once read) and she certainly is an inspiration to many business people of color and all races.

"Oprah Jokes She Can't Read a Balance Sheet"

Oprah was born in Mississippi, in a home without running water and electricity. Her parents were not married when she was born. Early in her life Oprah was sexually abused by persons related to her. However, she survived this trauma, to become a leading television personality, film actor, and successful business women. Oprah Winfrey is an unassuming business person who doesn't care for the label business person. She jokes she can't read a balance sheet, and has little formal business training.

Oprah has turned down invitations to join the boards of several major corporations including Ralph Lauren, AT&T, and, Intel wondering "what would she be doing on those boards"? Not one to personally do business plans, she is rumored to be more inclined to make business decisions based on her gut feelings and inspiration.

"Oprah Has Certainly Created Quite A Mega-Brand of Herself"

Oprah Winfrey, with the Oprah Winfrey Show, reaches 119 markets,
22 million regular viewers. She has a movie production studio - Harpo, Oprah or O magazine, and a stake in the women's cable station Oxygen. The Oprah book club has become the literary king and queen maker. Oprah also owns a meaningful charity, and a resourceful web site Oprah.com. She has certainly created quite a mega-brand of herself.

From a spiritual side I would say that she has quite a call and blessing on her life. What is amazing, is that Oprah Winfrey has stayed on the high road, with her positive - enlightening - and empowering show, going against the grain of sleaze and reality TV - in the process. She is in the height of her career, power and wealth, but she is considering leaving her show, while she is on top, in the 2005-2006 season the 20 year anniversary of Oprah's television career.

"Oprah's Employees Love to Work with Her"

I feel the secret to much of Oprah's success is her ability to give a sensitive interview and uplift her audience. Others credit her success to her openness and honesty. She is of course a sought after speaker and is able to captivate listeners. Oprah creates content, which serves to inspire her audience, to reach their full potential, and be self actualized in life. She proclaims self empowerment to her audience, mainly women, however men, like myself, can also relate to her message. She states often that "You are responsible for your own life".
Furthermore, it is common knowledge that many of Oprah's employees love to work with her because of her openness and honesty.

"Oprah the Socially Conscious Entrepreneur"

Oprah is a socially conscious entrepreneur who gives to social causes especially related to women, children, education, health, and abuse. In 1991 she forcefully proposed the National Child Protection Act, which advocated for a national database for convicted child abusers. She is currently involved in a grant program and the Angel network. She also is involved in building a school for girls in South Africa, that she is looking to also expand to medical clinics and other educational institutions.

Women as far away as Kenya, are loyal Oprah Fans.

"Oprah is a Study in Business History"

Currently there is a college course being taught on Oprah's business success, as a prism to discuss other social issues like race, class, and gender. This course is purported to draw whites, that have never taken a African American History course before. Oprah has a indefinable quality, that helps her draw a large diverse and upscale fan base. Media and advertising companies are Oprah junkies, they just can't get enough. Oprah has launched the mega-careers of people like Dr. Phil McGraw, Dr. Steve Gray, and Iyanla Vanzant, Esq. Presently Oprah is raising awareness and funds for the Aids/HIV pandemic in sub-Saharan African. Her compassion translates into big bucks for her business but also to help others. Oprah is a study in business history, that no business person can afford to ignore, especially those of us doing business on the Internet, with its large and diverse user base. If we focus on caring about the empowerment and self actualization of our prospects we will also prosper.

Kamau Austin, helps small and minority business make more money, by creating, search friendly web sites. He is the owner of http://www.Ebizbydesign.com , http://www.Einfonews.com , and the creator of the Free Search Engine Promotion Tele-course
at: http://www.SearchEngineplan.com . He can be reached called free at 866-324-9669.