1 Quote, 1 Truth, 1 Action
“Luck is where preparation meets opportunity .” — Seneca
From Selling Fax Machines to Oprah
Sarah sold fax machines while she mapped and envisioned an entrepreneurial journey of selling a much-needed product to millions of people. As she did her sales in dress attire, she had this repeated problem of nylon pantyhose being uncomfortable and cloying. On the lookout for opportunities, Sarah found a solution that involved using scissors to cut the feet off the pantyhose and use the hosiery material to better sculpt the female silhouette. The innovation turned out to be the answer to a widespread problem and Sarah’s business began in her home.
After many failed attempts to pitch to manufacturers, she eventually got a commitment. Then she convinced Neiman Marcus to stock her product. But the big break came after she sent a sample of her hosiery to Oprah Winfrey, who selected the product for her “favorite things” feature. From here, Spanx success took off to stratospheric levels. Today, Spanx is a household name and although Sarah Blakely sold the company for a fortune, her story should inspire others to be prepared.
Luck or Preparation
It may seem that people like Sarah Blakely are lucky, and maybe they are. But the world’s “luckiest” are the world’s most prepared. Without preparation, there are only missed opportunities, because opportunities are worthless if we are not ready for them.
- Sarah sought a widespread problem to solve, and unexpectedly found one.
- She sought a manufacturer, and after many failed pitches, found one.
- She sought an entry into the mainstream customer base, and after incremental success, one major door opened.
Opportunities are worthless if we are not prepared.
You may not be able to control the opportunity, but you can control your level of preparation. None of us know when the big opportunities come, so we must be prepared and consistent.
- Write your vision
- Make your calls
- Draft your book
- Recruit your team
- Don’t stop
Get Prepared!
RRII
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