your views on how you think that Oprah Winfrey has made a contribution to the society
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You’re no doubt aware of the incredible level of success that Oprah Winfrey has achieved. Beyond wealth and accolades, Oprah Winfrey’s success story has shattered ceilings and inspired millions of people around the world.
And yet, many have no idea the depths of poverty she rose from.
In the You Got This – Overcoming Solopreneur Fears series, we’re going to explore how many of the most famous entrepreneurs and solopreneurs got their start in life and built successful online businesses. We’ll learn what fears and obstacles they overcame to achieve success, and look for lessons that we can take from their experiences!
Overcoming Adversity: The Oprah Winfrey Success Story
Oprah Winfrey was born in in 1954 in rural Mississippi, and could hardly have entered the world in poorer conditions.
She spent her formative years going back and forth between her mother, her grandmother, her father, and back, always struggling with her circumstances.
Being a poor, black girl in America in the 1960s was hardly a recipe for mind-blowing success.
Yet, succeed she did.
From an early age, Oprah showed tremendous strength of personality. Her grandmother often recalled how naturally Oprah took to the stage and performed – whether she was actually on a stage or not.
It was this rich personality that led her to join and excel at television broadcasting.
What Motivated Oprah to Become Successful?
In 1971, while she was still in high school, Oprah’s style and emotional delivery won her the attention of and a position with a radio station in Nashville. After transitioning to TV in Nashville and later Baltimore, she eventually moved to Chicago in 1983 to host the low-rated morning show, AM Chicago.
With top-ratings, Oprah Winfrey overtook Donahue as the top-rated talk show in Chicago. After a few years, the show was renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show and went on to air for 25 years.
Oprah’s unique style resulted in an entirely new form of communication on television – that of a more intimate confessional, despite being on national tv. Her total empathy with guests – often to the point of tears – created an environment where they felt more willing to share personal stories.
She popularized and revolutionized what’s referred to as “tabloid talk shows.” Newsday‘s Les Payne wrote, “Oprah Winfrey is sharper than Donahue, wittier, more genuine, and far better attuned to her audience, if not the world.”