This Woman Changed My Mind On Having A Role Model
“Don’t sit and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.”
A lot of people have positively influenced my life. But if I had to choose one person whose story truly moved me, it has to be Madam CJ Walker.
What makes her remarkable? Madam CJ Walker was the first self-made female millionaire in the United States.
She lived during the Jim Crow era. That was certainly not an ideal time to be a black woman. A woman toiling in the cotton fields wasn’t supposed to be successful.
Yet Madam CJ Walker rose against all odds to create a successful beauty empire and set a precedent that anyone can be an entrepreneur. No matter what you look like. No matter your race. No matter your gender.
What actually matters? Your attitude. Your ability to persist despite failure and setbacks. Your ability to help others.
Madam CJ Walker overcame victimhood to create a personal brand that was both profitable and socially impactful. She leveraged her self-made wealth and connections to become an activist philanthropist working to uplift her race out of poverty.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned from the brilliant life of Madam CJ Walker is that there is nothing wrong with wanting to become rich. But once you’ve reached that pinnacle, give a lifeline to other people too. The world needs more talent, more voices, and more representation. Not less.
