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Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. – Henry David Thoreau

I recently read the book Oprah Winfrey Speaks : Insights from the World’s Most Famous Influential Voice.

It was very inspiring.

Here are some of the things the “Queen of Media” had to say:

“Just tell the truth. It’ll save you every time.”

“Don’t complain about what you don’t have. Use what you’ve got. To do less than your best is a sin.”

“Every single one of us has the power for greatness, because greatness is determined by service-to yourself and to others.”

“I am a woman in progress. I’m just trying like everyone else. I try to take every conflict, every experience and learn from it. All I know is that I can’t be anybody else. And it’s taken me a long time to realize that.”

“If you’re angry, be angry and deal with it. Don’t go eat a bag of Ruffles.”

“God blesses you better when you pray on your knees.”

Oprah Winfrey is worth an astounding $2 billion dollars. I figured if anyone could talk about what it takes to be successful it’s her.

OPRAH ON COMMENCING SUCCESS

Oprah gets requests to speak at college commencements. Sometimes she accepts. Hear her talk about life and success to recent college grads in this 2018 commencement video.

And now, let’s talk Oprah’s 10 commandments for success.

OPRAH ON PLEASING OTHERS

Oprah Winfrey’s Ten Commandments for Success

1. Don’t live your life to please others.

You better believe it. When I was younger, I was so concerned with what other people thought of me. I was teased so bad that I just got numb to it all.

I started focusing on my education. Read every book I could get my hands on. Looked for colleges I could go to that were affordable. Made sure my personal style and grooming became impeccable. The teasing stopped. I never looked back. Read my post on being fearless. 

That was in high school.

When I stopped trying to people please my life got better.

I also noticed whenever someone would call me selfish after I just finished helping them out or because I chose not to help them out at onetime or another. Just ignore the them. Push ahead and move forward.

I let those people go and cut them out of my life. Or cut them back. I need people that will lift me up.

No one can stop you. If you are meant to have it, no one can stop you from getting it.

Thank u, next!

OPRAH ON DEPENDING ON SELF

2. Don’t depend on forces outside of yourself to get ahead.

That’s right. Everything I every really got in life was due to hard work, determination, and persistence.

It didn’t matter if someone helped me out or gave me anything. I still had to work to keep or maintain it.

OPRAH ON HARMONY AND COMPASSION

3. Seek harmony and compassion in your business and personal life.

I too have noticed when I have my personal life in order, then I can also get my professional life in order.

The two are connected.

A cluttered home or office usually leads to a cluttered mind.

Simplify your life and always keep moving forward.

Like that animated movie, Meet the Robinsons taught its young audience, you can’t stop moving forward.

OPRAH ON SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE

4. Get rid of the backstabbers—surround yourself only with people who will lift you higher.

In the book, Oprah Winfrey speaks, Maya Angelou went to court when Oprah was involved in a lawsuit in Texas. When asked what made her come down to Texas she stated, “I am here to lift Oprah up. For no other reason than that.”

Get rid of naysayers, negative Nancy’s, and Debbie Downers. They will only bring you down.

You do not have to be friends with everyone. Everyone does not have to like you. But we can respect each other.

OPRAH ON BEING NICE

5. Be nice.

A little kindness can go a long way.

I learned that Oprah said as a little girl her family was poor. They had so little money that one time they could not even celebrate Christmas.

Then on this one fateful night, a group of nuns visited her family and offered Christmas dinner. Oprah was so grateful and thankful that someone cared she decided she would make sure in her life she always helped others.

Due to this story, I decided I would also do the same. Making a difference in the life of others is its own reward. I love to write. So, I write. I don’t do it for the money. I do it because this is my passion.

OPRAH ON GETTING RID OF VICES

6. Rid yourself of your addictions—whether they are food, alcohol, drugs or behavior habits.

Yep. I had an addition to credit and shopping. It took years to understand that I was psychologically using shopping as a way to fill avoid.

 Once I was able to identify the problem, I am happy to report that shopping was never a problem  for me again. I shop with lists, on a budget, and do not impulse buy.

You are looking at a reformed shopaholic.

I also was able to change my eating habits because I focused my energy more on working than eating.

I only needed three square meals to do the work. Made sure not to have idle hands. And to get the work done, it required me to exercise so I would have more energy and strength to work even more doing my passion!

OPRAH ON SMART PEOPLE

7. Surround yourself with people who are as smart or smarter than you.

I once read a woman say she when she goes out on she asks dates men do they have a passport and a library card.

She wanted someone who had traveled and was as well-read as she herself was. Since, it’s easier to maintain a relationship with people we have things in common with. She figured just ask for what she wanted. 

I always recommend books for people to read about finances.That way, instead of always having to ask someone for help, pay a professional financial advisor, or feel inadequate in any way you would now be knowledgeable.

I like to fill the gaps in anyone’s financial education. That way, if you know what I know, we are equals.

This is also why many people tend to meet and marry people that run in their social circles. It’s easier.

OPRAH ON MONEY

8. If money is your motivation, forget it.

Don’t even get me started.

It’s funny because I noticed whenever I focused on money it never appeared. When I stopped focusing on it, like chicken little said, it fell from the sky.

Money attracts money. Money is attracted to money.

Therefore, it is best to figure out who you want to be and what you want to do. If you are good at whatever it is, the money seems to come.

“Do what you love and the money will follow.” — Marsha Sinetar.

Build up the capital first, then start a business.

“If you wish to get rich, save what you get. A fool can earn money; but it takes a wise man to save and dispose of it to his own advantage.” ― Brigham Young

I learned that like I control a car, I also control and command my money. I tell it what to do. It doesn’t control me. YOU control it!

When you are angry, frightened or beg for money it seems to pull away from you.

If you act like this, would you want to hang out with you?

OPRAH ON POWER

9. Never hand over your power to someone else.

Absolutely, not!

When I read Pat Benatar’s biography, the two things I remember most are this:

One – when she said that her family went on annual vacations on someone else’s dime. Their creditor. They borrowed from their home to do it.This caused the family to go from having a home that was purchased for $7,000 to balloon to a $45,000 balance! They traded their life energy and many more years of working for a few days of fun every year. The creditor after 20+ years of payments still had power over their lives. She said it was not worth it.

Two – after signing her record deal with Chrysallis, she said she became an indentured servant. The label or “suits” had control of everything they did. It ruined relationships within the band that took years to repair, if ever. When her contract ended she never gave her power away again!

These are lessons we all can profit from. Do not give up your power. NEVER. EVER. EVER. 

OPRAH ON PERSISTENCE

10. Be persistent in pursuing your dreams

Never give up if you really want something, keep plugging away at it and your dreams can come true. – Robin Leach

I agree. One of my biggest dreams in life was to get a good education. It took me years to get where I wanted to go, but it happened.

Now, I not only finished college, but on average I read about 50 books a year.

It took me 15 years to get to the level I aspired for myself.

I just never gave up.

And neither should you.