After bombing the LSAT twice, a young college grad started selling fax machines door-to-door to pay her bills.
15 years later, she became the youngest self-made female billionaire ($1.1B)
One meeting with the right person helped turn her life around, and here's how it went 🧶👇
15 years later, she became the youngest self-made female billionaire ($1.1B)
One meeting with the right person helped turn her life around, and here's how it went 🧶👇
1) Born in Clearwater, FL, Sara Blakely was raised quite differently than most.
Her father taught her that failure was not only expected, but should be embraced.
At the dinner table he'd ask: “What'd you fail at this week?” If she didn’t have an answer, he’d be disappointed.
Her father taught her that failure was not only expected, but should be embraced.
At the dinner table he'd ask: “What'd you fail at this week?” If she didn’t have an answer, he’d be disappointed.
2) So when law school didn’t work out, Sara took it in stride and devoted herself to becoming the best fax machine salesman in the greater Atlanta area. And she did.
But after 7 long years, she couldn’t help but think, is this all she was going to do with her life?
But after 7 long years, she couldn’t help but think, is this all she was going to do with her life?
3) One weekend while getting ready for a party, Blakely frowned as she looked into a full-length mirror.
She had spent her savings on a pair of fitted white pants but didn’t like the way she looked.
Then, she had an idea.
She had spent her savings on a pair of fitted white pants but didn’t like the way she looked.
Then, she had an idea.
4) She found an old pair of pantyhose and started cutting some jagged foot-holes into the bottom.
Now, with these newly fashioned leggings on underneath her white pants, she looked in the mirror. Not only did she look great, she *felt* amazing.
“All women needed these”
Now, with these newly fashioned leggings on underneath her white pants, she looked in the mirror. Not only did she look great, she *felt* amazing.
“All women needed these”
5) She first thought to file a patent, and looked for a female patent lawyer who’d really understand her invention.
Turns out, there wasn’t a single female patent attorney in the whole state of Georgia.
Disappointed, she went to see some law firms.
Turns out, there wasn’t a single female patent attorney in the whole state of Georgia.
Disappointed, she went to see some law firms.
6) Sitting across older men in suits, Sara could see their confusion as she pitched her idea.
“Sorry, but its a no.”
At one meeting in particular, the lawyer eyes kept darting around the room while Sara was talking.
"Your idea was so bad that I thought I was on Candid Camera"
“Sorry, but its a no.”
At one meeting in particular, the lawyer eyes kept darting around the room while Sara was talking.
"Your idea was so bad that I thought I was on Candid Camera"
7) Undeterred, Sara decided to patent the idea on her own.
Next, she needed to find someone to help her manufacture these leggings.
She ventured to North Carolina, home to most of the qualified mills in the US, and started doing what she knew best: going door-to-door.
Next, she needed to find someone to help her manufacture these leggings.
She ventured to North Carolina, home to most of the qualified mills in the US, and started doing what she knew best: going door-to-door.
8) A pattern emerged. The receptionist would start:
"And you are... "
"Sara Blakely.”
"And you're with... "
"Sara Blakely.”
"And you're financially backed by... "
"Sara Blakely.”
"Oh, it's so nice to meet you Sara Blakely, but we're not interested, have a nice day".
"And you are... "
"Sara Blakely.”
"And you're with... "
"Sara Blakely.”
"And you're financially backed by... "
"Sara Blakely.”
"Oh, it's so nice to meet you Sara Blakely, but we're not interested, have a nice day".
9) Eventually she got a meeting with a mill owner. Sara dove into the details of her product, and he surprisingly didn't cut her off.
But as she finished, she could tell he’d come to the same conclusion as everyone else.
Another man who didn’t understand.
But as she finished, she could tell he’d come to the same conclusion as everyone else.
Another man who didn’t understand.
10) Two weeks later, a call came. It was the mill owner she’d met with.
“Sara, I have decided to help make your crazy idea”
Astounded and curious, Sara immediately wanted to know what had changed his mind.
“I have two daughters”
“Sara, I have decided to help make your crazy idea”
Astounded and curious, Sara immediately wanted to know what had changed his mind.
“I have two daughters”
11) He had gone home and told his daughters about Sara. “Dad, this idea is actually brilliant, and makes sense. You should help this girl do it.”
Sara’s message had *finally* fallen on the right ears, a woman’s.
Sara’s message had *finally* fallen on the right ears, a woman’s.
12) Sara realized she needed a name to market these new leggings.
Inspired by names like Kokak and Coca-Cola, with hard ‘k’ sounds, the word ‘spanks’ floated into her head.
Having read that made-up words perform better, she changed the ‘ks’ to an ‘x’, and Spanx was born.
Inspired by names like Kokak and Coca-Cola, with hard ‘k’ sounds, the word ‘spanks’ floated into her head.
Having read that made-up words perform better, she changed the ‘ks’ to an ‘x’, and Spanx was born.
13) Sales skyrocketed.
Investors started cold-calling Sara, trying to convince her to take their money. This time she was the one saying ‘no’ (politely).
Without ever raising outside capital, Sara worked tirelessly and grew Spanx to hundred of millions in revenue.
Investors started cold-calling Sara, trying to convince her to take their money. This time she was the one saying ‘no’ (politely).
Without ever raising outside capital, Sara worked tirelessly and grew Spanx to hundred of millions in revenue.
14) In 2012, Sara got a call from Forbes and was officially named the youngest self-made female billionaire.
Sara made it past her failures, and now she’s made it her mission to make the path easier for other women all over the world.
Nothing’s going to stop her.
Sara made it past her failures, and now she’s made it her mission to make the path easier for other women all over the world.
Nothing’s going to stop her.
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