Anyone Can Be Destined for Greatness

The Great Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is a household name all over the world.

Oprah has gone from having one of the worst beginnings in life that someone can possibly have, but then being able to persevere through all of the barriers and become one of the most successful people in the world.

She was not born into wealth, and  she was not given any money aside from all that she had earned. Oprah worked for all of her success, and it is through her journey and story that people learn where to begin when striving for success, and understand how to make your future everything that you wish it to be.

Born into Poverty

Oprah Winfrey was born on January 26^th, 1954 into poverty in rural Mississippi.

Her mother was only a teenager when she gave birth to her, and was unable to give Oprah the full support she needed as a child.

Oprah Winfrey was so poor as a child that she often wore dresses made of potato sacs, for which the local children made fun of her. 

At age 6, Oprah moved to an inner-city neighborhood in Milwaukee Wisconsin with her mother who was not very supportive.

As a child, Oprah Winfrey experienced considerable hardships, claiming that she was raped at age 9. She molested by her cousin, her uncle, and a family friend.

At age 13, she ran away from home after suffering from years of abuse. 

Poverty was constantly rubbed in Oprah’s face as she rode the bus to school with fellow African-Americans, some of whom were servants of her classmate’s families

Her sexual abuse led her to promiscuity which led her to become pregnant at the age of 14. She gave birth to a son, who died in infancy because of being born prematurely.

Her mother then sent her to her father at the age of 14.

It was because of living with her father that she eventually got the discipline she needed to turn her outstanding intelligence into its right track.

The Climb into Riches

When in Tennessee with her father, Oprah Winfrey landed a job in radio while still in high school and began co-anchoring the local evening news at the age of 19.

It was Oprah’s emotional ad-libs that eventually got her transferred to the daytime talk show arena.

After boosting a third-rated local Chicago talk show to first place, she launched her own production  company and became internationally syndicated.

By the mid 1990’s, Oprah Winfrey had reinvented her show with a focus on literature, self-improvement, and spirituality.

Though criticized for unleashing confession culture, promoting controversial self-help ideas, and an emotion-centered approach, she is often praised for overcoming adversity to become a benefactor to others.

According to Forbes, in September 2010, Oprah was worth over $2.7 billion and has overtaken former EBay CEO Meg Whitman as the richest self-made woman in America.

 Oprah’s Inspiration

It is a well-known fact that everyone needs a little inspiration and motivation here and there to help them achieve their goals.

For Oprah, her motivation came from her Grandmother. She acted as a life coach to Oprah by offering her advice that she would forever hold on to.

Oprah Winfrey has said that her grandmother had encouraged her to speak in public and gave her a positive sense of self.

“I’ve come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint – and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love the best way to succeed is to disc over what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.”  

-  Oprah Winfrey 

Oprah always knew that she was destined for greatness, but it was because of the inspiration and motivation of her grandmother that she became who she is today.

Because of the childhood that Oprah had, she strived to make a better life for herself. 

“Failure is the way God chooses to remind you that you are on the wrong track”. 

-  Oprah Winfrey

If you do not fail in life, you do not learn.

You must understand that you can do it! You can do ANYTHING!

You just need the right drive, the right attitude, and the right support to make sure that you follow you dreams.