Sara Blakely Quotes

A collection of quotes by Sara Blakely.

Sara Blakely is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist known for founding Spanx, a widely popular shapewear company. She was born on February 27, 1971, in Clearwater, Florida. Blakely initially aspired to become a lawyer and attended Florida State University, where she earned a degree in legal communication. However, after a short stint as a stand-up comedian, she shifted her focus to the business world.

In 2000, with $5,000 in savings and a revolutionary idea, Blakely started Spanx in her apartment. Recognizing the demand for comfortable and slimming undergarments, she invented a new type of hosiery that eliminated visible panty lines and enhanced the female figure. Through her innovative design and determination, Blakely turned her idea into a billion-dollar business, creating a wide range of products beyond just pantyhose.

Blakely faced numerous rejections from potential investors but persisted in building her brand. Today, Spanx is a global company with a diverse product line and has garnered a loyal customer base. Blakely's success story and entrepreneurial spirit have made her one of the most influential women in business.

Outside of her business ventures, Blakely is actively involved in philanthropy. She created the Sara Blakely Foundation, which supports and empowers women through education, entrepreneurship, and commitment to their dreams. Her dedication to sharing her success and inspiring others has made her a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide.

I shopped for body shapers for the first time in my life and

I shopped for body shapers for the first time in my life and I was horrified. They were thick - it was like wearing workout clothes and they all had a leg band on one side that showed through the pants.

Life Time Thetimes

I made a conscious decision not to tell anyone in my life. N

I made a conscious decision not to tell anyone in my life. Now I tell people - don't tell anyone your idea until you have invested enough of yourself in it that you are not going to turn back. When a person has an idea at that conception moment it is the most vulnerable - one negative comment could knock you off course.

Life People

Trust your gut.

Trust your gut.

Trust

When I'm bored or tired of being blonde, I'll throw on a wig

When I'm bored or tired of being blonde, I'll throw on a wig. It's a lot less of a permanent way to change your look, and I have about 10 - all different colors, shapes, bobs, long hair, short, feathered.

Change

I'm just like so many women - I was frustrated, I had these

I'm just like so many women - I was frustrated, I had these white pants that I had spent a lot of money on, and you get home and you think, 'What am I really supposed to wear under this?' So it was a frustrated consumer moment.

Home

When I was 7, I came up with the idea of 'charm socks.' My m

When I was 7, I came up with the idea of 'charm socks.' My mom would take me to buy bags of plastic charms, we would sew them on frilly white socks, and I sold them at school.

Mom

I failed the LSAT. Basically, if I had not failed, I'd have

I failed the LSAT. Basically, if I had not failed, I'd have been a lawyer and there would be no Spanx. I think failure is nothing more than life's way of nudging you that you are off course. My attitude to failure is not attached to outcome, but in not trying. It is liberating.

Attitude

I'd get kicked out of buildings all day long, people would r

I'd get kicked out of buildings all day long, people would rip up my business card in my face. It's a humbling business to be in. But I knew I could sell and I knew I wanted to sell something I had created. I cut the feet out of those pantyhose and I knew I was on to something. This was it.

Business

Everything in our society is so purposeful.

Everything in our society is so purposeful.

Society

My revenue was $4 million my first year in business, off of

My revenue was $4 million my first year in business, off of one $20 item.

Business

I took a Fear of Flying class, and I always missed the class

I took a Fear of Flying class, and I always missed the class, because I was always flying.

Fear

Don't solicit feedback on your product, idea or your busines

Don't solicit feedback on your product, idea or your business just for validation purposes. You want to tell the people who can help move your idea forward, but if you're just looking to your friend, co-worker, husband or wife for validation, be careful. It can stop a lot of multimillion-dollar ideas in their tracks in the beginning.

Business

I think failure is nothing more than life's way of nudging y

I think failure is nothing more than life's way of nudging you that you are off course. My attitude to failure is not attached to outcome, but in not trying. It is liberating. Most people attach failure to something not working out or how people perceive you. This way, it is about answering to yourself.

Attitude

My dad encouraged us to fail. Growing up, he would ask us wh

My dad encouraged us to fail. Growing up, he would ask us what we failed at that week. If we didn't have something, he would be disappointed. It changed my mindset at an early age that failure is not the outcome, failure is not trying. Don't be afraid to fail.

Age

I've always leaned toward a feminine, funky style, even in b

I've always leaned toward a feminine, funky style, even in business settings. I used to paint my nails blue in 1993, before it was mainstream.

Business

The word 'Spanx' was funny. It made people laugh. No one eve

The word 'Spanx' was funny. It made people laugh. No one ever forgot it.

Funny

I grew up in a house where my father encouraged my brother a

I grew up in a house where my father encouraged my brother and me to fail. I specifically remember coming home and saying, 'Dad, Dad, I tried out for this or that and I was horrible,' and he would high-five me and say, 'Way to go.'

Dad

I started thinking about joy. Everything in our society is s

I started thinking about joy. Everything in our society is so purposeful. Let's bring joy back to the experience.

Experience

We don't have the luxury of time. We spend more because of h

We don't have the luxury of time. We spend more because of how we live, but it's important to be with our family and friends.

Family

Don't be intimidated by what you don't know. That can be you

Don't be intimidated by what you don't know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.

Strength