“Paying $2500 for a ticket to meet Oprah is ridiculous, actually it’s insane. But I did it. It seems strange when you think of all the different things you can do for this money, maybe buy a used car, fly two people to LA from Brisbane, or donate to charity.
But this is Oprah, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. With TV experience since 1976 and 30 million followers on twitter, people care about what she says. I care about what she says.
As a female entrepreneur with a successful transport business, I was hoping that it would give me the chance to see up close what makes ‘O’ tick and to learn from her wisdom and experience.
An opportunity to meet with her one-on-one was something that I could not miss out on. Oprah has got me through the good times and the bad, even helping me give advice to my friends going through their break-ups.
Not many people knew that I was going to the event, as I feared that friends would think I was crazy.
Needless to say I was a bit iffy about the whole thing, but came away feeling like it was money well spent!
All the ‘VIP’s’ [activewear guru Lorna Jane included] were ushered into a room together to have our photos taken with her and ask Oprah a question. We all cheered and clapped – some of the diehard fans even cried – when she arrived.
She was actually very personable; very down-to-earth and humble.
I asked her what were her goals and dreams when she was younger that helped shape who she is today.
She told me her only goal was to have six trees in her yard – for her that was the measure of success.
Her mother worked hard as a cleaner and as a young girl Oprah would go with her to the houses that always had lovely trees in the yard.
Now today, she looks out into a yard with six trees and a mountain more behind that.
I loved the way she was really unapologetic about her success; Oprah knew what she was good at and focused on that. I think too many females in business are quite apologetic.
She’s all about being the best that you can be, no matter what. If you’re a mum, be the best mum, if you’re a florist, you’re not just florist, you deliver beauty – her message is to take it to the next level in everything you do.
She said she did that with her TV show, focusing on her strengths, and that’s when it really took off.”
By Tara-Jay Rimmer, director of south-east Queensland delivery company, The Van That Can.