Sara Blakely: SPANX CEO on Writing Your Billion Dollar Story

Sara Blakely: SPANX CEO on Writing Your Billion Dollar Story

Author: Lewis Howes September 18, 2019 Duration: 1:01:53
I learn a lot from all the women around me (almost my whole team is women). But today’s guest is extra special. Not only is she the youngest self-made female billionaire in America (wow, right??), she is also the mother of four young kids, the wife of another podcast guest, Jesse Itzler, and the founder and CEO of the massively popular women’s apparel brand SPANX. Yes, Sara Blakely is a legend among entrepreneurs. When we got to sit down and talk for the podcast, I kept finding out new things to admire Sara for. She struggled a lot in school (me too!). She sold fax machines door to door FOR 7 YEARS before she had the idea for Spanx. She was rejected by every manufacturing company she took her idea to. But she didn’t let any of that stop her. Sara’s hustle and can-do attitude is just one thing I learned about her in this interview. We dive into dealing with grief, how to scale companies the right way, what it’s like to be mentored by Richard Branson, and much more. Welcome to an inspiring interview with powerhouse Sara Blakely in Episode 397. Some Questions I Ask:How did you meet your husband Jesse? (30:12)How do you stay so grounded and calm with everything you have going on? (32:00)What did you learn from being mentored by Richard Branson? (44:47)What is more challenging for you – running a billion dollar brand or being a mom? (49:46)In This Episode, You Will Learn:What happened in Sara’s life to prepare her for entrepreneurship before she had her big idea (7:12)The list of possible product names Sara considered before she decided on Spanx (11:46)The hardest part of getting her company off the ground (15:55)How Sara guerrilla-marketed her first order of Spanx in Neiman Marcus (20:01)Why being kind to yourself is so important (32:15)How Sara got Warren Buffet to paint his belly for her new book (36:32)What grief and loss can teach us (43:01)

Lewis Howes has spent years in conversation with some of the most impactful voices across health, fitness, education, and personal development. Many of those profound discussions, however, became difficult to find over time. Rather than let those lessons remain archived, he curated a special collection. The School of Greatness Hall of Fame is that curated archive, a gathering of handpicked conversations that stand the test of time. Here, you’ll hear timeless wisdom on building resilience, optimizing your physical and mental health, and cultivating a mindset for continuous self-improvement. Each episode is a masterclass drawn from the original interviews, offering practical strategies and profound insights that remain as relevant today as when they were first recorded. This podcast serves as a permanent library of transformation, where the core principles of greatness are explored in depth through stories and advice from remarkable individuals. It’s a chance to experience the foundational conversations that have shaped the ongoing journey, all compiled into one essential resource for anyone committed to living a fuller, more purposeful life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The School of Greatness Hall of Fame
Podcast Episodes
Travis Pastrana: Fearless Mindset to Pursue Your Passion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:01
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What comes to your mind when you hear the word “abundance?” Probably wealth. Security. Not having to worry about where your money is coming from. Being able to give freely. This is what most people think of when they thi…
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Duration: 1:10:33
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Jen Hansard & Jadah Sellner: How to Grow a Powerful Brand with Heart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:41
What are the chances that two moms who met in a kids play group would become business partners and build a powerful social media empire based off of . . . smoothies? Would you guess that they could go from an email list…
Kyle Cease: Use Humor to Overcome Fear [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:15
I recently met a successful comedian (25 years on the major comedy circuit and TV shows) who chose to transition his career . . . into transformational speaking events. Yes, I’m talking Tony Robbins style workshops where…
Grant Cardone: Why the Happiest People Are Rich [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:55
Grant and I have been friends for years. I’ve admired his hustle and results, followed his work, spoken at his events, and read his books. He was one of the earliest guests on my podcast when it launched over 4 years ago…
Mel Robbins: The 5 Second Rule to Change Your Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:07
But last week, I had the chance to meet one of the coolest women ever, and it turns out she's a fan.Mel Robbins is the most booked female speaker on the planet with a 7 figure speaking business.Oh yeah, she's also a best…