Introduction
Madam CJ Walker was the first female self-made millionaire in America according to the Guinness World Records. She was an entrepreneur, philanthropist, social, and political activist. She was born free to Louisiana slaves, married at the age of seven, and widowed with a daughter at twenty. CJ Walker built a company of her own in an era when regular opportunities were not available to black women. By the time she died, she was the wealthiest black woman and a self-made millionaire in America. Her entrepreneurial story is an example of how dedication and consideration for us and others can lead to effective & gainful livelihoods.
Below are the five lessons we can learn from Madam CJ Walker to become an excellent example of confidence.
Five lessons we can learn from Madam CJ
Believe in yourself:
One of the biggest lessons CJ Walker taught us is to believe in ourselves by believing in herself. One of her famous quotes is states “I got my start by giving myself a start”. She was widowed at the age of 20 with a daughter and started her haircare product when she began losing her hair as women do. She faced gender discrimination, family problems, adamant competition, and self-doubt. Despite this, she believed in herself and used these obstacles as stepping stones to grow her business.
Start the business with a problem-solving approach:
CJ Walker was suffering from hair loss and wanted to find a solution. She tested out several remedies that worked best for her. When one of her haircare remedies showed positive results, Walker started selling the product that made her the first black millionaire woman in America. She was passionate about helping black women with their hair and then used this passion in her work.
Embrace yourself and create a story of your brand:
In today’s competitive world, people are more interested in the story behind the brand than the product itself. CJ Walker used her story to tell people how this haircare product has made her feel more confident, self-worthy, and bold. She went door to door selling products and teaching women how to groom and style their hair. Walker told people the story behind the product to inspire them to purchase for the first time. She changed her name from Sarah Breedlove to Madam C.J Walker and proved that we could reinvent ourselves by embracing ourselves in any way.
Surround yourself with the people who support you:
One of the lessons CJ Walker taught us that we should always surround ourselves with people who care about our business and support us. Our friends, family, investors, or employees who encourage you should be close to you. These people are the strength of a person and integral to building a successful business.
Success doesn’t happen overnight:
Walker said: “The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit.” She worked day and night to make her business successful and became the first female self-made millionaire. It shows us to be patient and work hard to achieve our dreams and be successful in the future. The overnight success often we see is a product of years of hard work, focus, patience, and perseverance.
