Sarah Blakely

And a year later, I sat him down and I said, OK, guys, are you ready? It's footless pantyhose. And I mean, they were like, so sweetie, if it's such a good idea, why hasn't anybody else created it?

And then someone else in my family was like, well, honey, you know, and even if this is a good idea, the big guys are just going to knock you off in the first six months and you will have spent your savings on this. And if I had heard those things in the moment that I had it, I probably would still be selling fax machines or something like it. So I really believe that.

And then someone else in my family was like, well, honey, you know, and even if this is a good idea, the big guys are just going to knock you off in the first six months and you will have spent your savings on this. And if I had heard those things in the moment that I had it, I probably would still be selling fax machines or something like it. So I really believe that.

And then someone else in my family was like, well, honey, you know, and even if this is a good idea, the big guys are just going to knock you off in the first six months and you will have spent your savings on this. And if I had heard those things in the moment that I had it, I probably would still be selling fax machines or something like it. So I really believe that.

I believe that you've got to really protect it. Now, it didn't mean I didn't tell people that would help me pursue it. I was telling lawyers, having them help me try to write the patent. I was cold calling manufacturers and talking to them. I just didn't seek out people simply for validation.

I believe that you've got to really protect it. Now, it didn't mean I didn't tell people that would help me pursue it. I was telling lawyers, having them help me try to write the patent. I was cold calling manufacturers and talking to them. I just didn't seek out people simply for validation.

I believe that you've got to really protect it. Now, it didn't mean I didn't tell people that would help me pursue it. I was telling lawyers, having them help me try to write the patent. I was cold calling manufacturers and talking to them. I just didn't seek out people simply for validation.

until I knew I'd put enough of my own sweat equity into this idea that no matter what the validation came back as, I wouldn't waver.

until I knew I'd put enough of my own sweat equity into this idea that no matter what the validation came back as, I wouldn't waver.

until I knew I'd put enough of my own sweat equity into this idea that no matter what the validation came back as, I wouldn't waver.

Yeah, I mean, you've got to create your own hype. Small wins. For sure.

Yeah, I mean, you've got to create your own hype. Small wins. For sure.

Yeah, I mean, you've got to create your own hype. Small wins. For sure.

It's reminding me, I mean, for the first four years of Spanx, I wore a black T-shirt with SPANX ironed onto it that I went to one of those T-shirt shops and took a white letter and ironed on Spanx and cream pants. But I was the advertisement. So I wore that everywhere I went.

It's reminding me, I mean, for the first four years of Spanx, I wore a black T-shirt with SPANX ironed onto it that I went to one of those T-shirt shops and took a white letter and ironed on Spanx and cream pants. But I was the advertisement. So I wore that everywhere I went.

It's reminding me, I mean, for the first four years of Spanx, I wore a black T-shirt with SPANX ironed onto it that I went to one of those T-shirt shops and took a white letter and ironed on Spanx and cream pants. But I was the advertisement. So I wore that everywhere I went.

And then when I got a chance to sell it in Neiman Marcus, I would bring my friends to the store to act like excited customers. And they would stand around my display table and go,

And then when I got a chance to sell it in Neiman Marcus, I would bring my friends to the store to act like excited customers. And they would stand around my display table and go,

And then when I got a chance to sell it in Neiman Marcus, I would bring my friends to the store to act like excited customers. And they would stand around my display table and go,

every time we'd like cue it we'd like customer coming and this like really fancy lady you know perfectly dressed would be walking up and my friends would all go tell me more what is this i can't believe i'm just finding out about this and it would always cause the customer to go what you know what's happening and and then i'd be like yes i get an opportunity to explain it to her