Post #3 Effecting Change Through a Life of Purpose
Moral Purpose. Oprah Winfrey is committed to making the world a better place for all. According to Condoleezza Rice, Oprah “has purpose—an abiding commitment to the principles of goodness and generosity that transcend any one individual” (Time, 2006). Her moral values have helped create a leadership style characterized by generosity, compassion, and grace. She inspires and successfully engages others to join in her vision for a better future.
Understanding Change. Oprah Winfrey ‘s media empire continues to improve as it grows. Initially a talk-show host who concentrated on human interest stories, she now focuses on inspiring viewers to benefit from personal change. Winfrey stated in an interview in BusinessWeek (2004), “I believe that to whom much is given, much is expected. So, I will continue to use my voice and my life as a catalyst for change, inspiring and encouraging people to help make a difference in the lives of other.” She has utilized countless experts to encourage viewers to make beneficial changes in their lives; many of her shows now focus on how individuals can make changes in the world at large, i.e., how one person can effect change.
Developing Relationships. Oprah Winfrey has befriended some of the greatest minds in the world: Nelson Mandela, Maya Angelou, Eckhart Tolle, Elie Wiesel, and Barack Obama (to name a few). She interviewed these people, introduced their ideas and values to the world, and has inspired society to incorporate many positive methods of change and improvement which these individuals believe will make the world a better place. She continually introduces (via television and magazine) new and inspirational individuals and does so in a way that makes the general public feel it has been invited in for a cozy, fireside chat.
Knowledge Building and Sharing. Oprah’s media empire is a priceless tool for knowledge building and sharing; her emotional shows and articles transcend merely telling people about ideas. She inspires others to become emotionally involved and attached to the process of change and leading a life of purpose. Her ability to turn ideas into reality is evident through the work of Oprah’s Angel Network and The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy.
Coherence Making. Oprah is extremely gifted at showing others how one small change can impact so many lives. Her philanthropic work, her focus on positive and continual change in society, and her efforts to help others become the best they can be are very public efforts to effect positive change in the world at large. Her quintessential leadership skill is effecting change through living a life of purpose. She has become a shining example of what one person can do when they have both vision and passion.
References
Conlin, M. (2004, November). A talk with Oprah Winfrey. BusinessWeek (Philanthropic Issue). Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_48/b3910414.htm
Rice, C. (2006, April). Oprah Winfrey. Time. Retrieved from
Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1187226,00.html#ixzz0gPehzO0y
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Post #2 Journey To Success
Oprah Winfrey has many of the characteristics of a Promoter. She communicates well, is enthusiastic, comes across as warm and friendly, and is an extremely persuasive individual.
The successful talk-show host, philanthropist, and producer is very open about the ‘turning point’ in her life. She spent her early childhood with her single mother and grandmother. She endured poverty, abuse, and neglect; she was sexually molested and raped by men her family trusted. She began to “act out” and her mother and grandmother could no longer control her behavior. She was sent to live with her father in Nashville and, according to Oprah, he “saved her life”. He provided the guidance, structure, and rules she needed to feel safe and secure. His strict demeanor and requirement to read, study vocabulary, and do well in school encouraged her and set her on a path to success.
Two critical incidences in Oprah’s past strongly influenced her future. Her years of childhood abuse lead her to campaign for a national database of convicted child abusers. In 1991 she testified before a Senate Judiciary Committee to enact the National Child Protection Act. Her efforts lead to the "Oprah Bill". Signed into law in 1993, this bill established a national database of convicted child abusers.
Oprah’s love for education inspired her to “get the country reading." She instituted a monthly book club and encouraged fans to read along and join in the discussion of each book. Her efforts to get the country reading turned her into an extremely powerful book promoter. “She sent more people to bookstores than morning news programs, other daytime shows, evening magazines, radio shows, print reviews, and feature articles combined.” (Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2010)
Public failures in her personal and professional lives have taken their toll. Her very public battle with weight loss and failure to make Beloved (her favorite book) into a successful movie have tempered her tremendous success. She continually struggles with weight and also with ways to challenge and enliven her talk-show audience. Despite these challenges, she continues to work at having the best life physically, mentally, and emotionally and does it with grace and style. Perseverance is one of her best characteristics; if something doesn’t work for her the first time (as evidenced by her weight-loss battle) she tries other avenues to success. Bottom line…she never, ever gives up. Her life is an inspiration to me and encourages me to also never, ever give up.
Reference
Encyclopedia of World Biography. Retrieved on February 17, 2010, 9:01 p.m., http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437500801.html
Oprah Winfrey has many of the characteristics of a Promoter. She communicates well, is enthusiastic, comes across as warm and friendly, and is an extremely persuasive individual.
The successful talk-show host, philanthropist, and producer is very open about the ‘turning point’ in her life. She spent her early childhood with her single mother and grandmother. She endured poverty, abuse, and neglect; she was sexually molested and raped by men her family trusted. She began to “act out” and her mother and grandmother could no longer control her behavior. She was sent to live with her father in Nashville and, according to Oprah, he “saved her life”. He provided the guidance, structure, and rules she needed to feel safe and secure. His strict demeanor and requirement to read, study vocabulary, and do well in school encouraged her and set her on a path to success.
Two critical incidences in Oprah’s past strongly influenced her future. Her years of childhood abuse lead her to campaign for a national database of convicted child abusers. In 1991 she testified before a Senate Judiciary Committee to enact the National Child Protection Act. Her efforts lead to the "Oprah Bill". Signed into law in 1993, this bill established a national database of convicted child abusers.
Oprah’s love for education inspired her to “get the country reading." She instituted a monthly book club and encouraged fans to read along and join in the discussion of each book. Her efforts to get the country reading turned her into an extremely powerful book promoter. “She sent more people to bookstores than morning news programs, other daytime shows, evening magazines, radio shows, print reviews, and feature articles combined.” (Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2010)
Public failures in her personal and professional lives have taken their toll. Her very public battle with weight loss and failure to make Beloved (her favorite book) into a successful movie have tempered her tremendous success. She continually struggles with weight and also with ways to challenge and enliven her talk-show audience. Despite these challenges, she continues to work at having the best life physically, mentally, and emotionally and does it with grace and style. Perseverance is one of her best characteristics; if something doesn’t work for her the first time (as evidenced by her weight-loss battle) she tries other avenues to success. Bottom line…she never, ever gives up. Her life is an inspiration to me and encourages me to also never, ever give up.
Reference
Encyclopedia of World Biography. Retrieved on February 17, 2010, 9:01 p.m., http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3437500801.html
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Post #1 Living Your Best Life
Oprah Winfrey, TV talk-show host, producer, philanthropist, and publisher, is one of the world's most influential individuals. Her highly publicized childhood includes poverty, incest, and rape. Desire and drive helped her become the first black female news anchor in Nashville, and her humor, empathy, and personal appeal have captured the hearts of millions of daily talk show
fans.
I chose Oprah Winfrey as representative of a leader because she is seeking not only the best in life for herself but also for others. She uses her media forums (television, The Oprah Magazine) to reach out and make the world a better place through education and philanthropy. She lives her life in an exemplary fashion and uses her wealth to advance the causes of many
disadvantaged people, including children, women, and animals. Career success appears to have enhanced her generosity and the shows which have "spun off" from her talk show are
also geared towards enhancing the lives of others, i.e., Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz.
Oprah Winfrey strikes me as an individual trying to live her best life possible. Wealth and publicity have enabled her to share her successes and failures with others and I believe she has done so tastefully. I watch her show and I feel (as corny as it sounds) that there is someone out there who cares about me and wants me to be happy. She exemplifies what a person can do when they live a life of purpose....a life of service to others. Her best characteristic as a leader is that she truly cares about others. She inspires people to be better than they thought they could ever be. I find her to be a truly inspirational figure.
References
Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:30, February 16, 2010, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey, TV talk-show host, producer, philanthropist, and publisher, is one of the world's most influential individuals. Her highly publicized childhood includes poverty, incest, and rape. Desire and drive helped her become the first black female news anchor in Nashville, and her humor, empathy, and personal appeal have captured the hearts of millions of daily talk show
fans.
I chose Oprah Winfrey as representative of a leader because she is seeking not only the best in life for herself but also for others. She uses her media forums (television, The Oprah Magazine) to reach out and make the world a better place through education and philanthropy. She lives her life in an exemplary fashion and uses her wealth to advance the causes of many
disadvantaged people, including children, women, and animals. Career success appears to have enhanced her generosity and the shows which have "spun off" from her talk show are
also geared towards enhancing the lives of others, i.e., Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz.
Oprah Winfrey strikes me as an individual trying to live her best life possible. Wealth and publicity have enabled her to share her successes and failures with others and I believe she has done so tastefully. I watch her show and I feel (as corny as it sounds) that there is someone out there who cares about me and wants me to be happy. She exemplifies what a person can do when they live a life of purpose....a life of service to others. Her best characteristic as a leader is that she truly cares about others. She inspires people to be better than they thought they could ever be. I find her to be a truly inspirational figure.
References
Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:30, February 16, 2010, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey
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