Oprah lands her talk show after getting fired from another job

Oprah was in my neck of the woods this weekend as she gave the commencement speech at Stanford on Father's Day. Oprah's BFF Gail was there too because her daughter Kirby was one of the graduates. Here's the video of the whole speech (29 min)

Oprah gets fired and that is good

Oprah shared a couple stories about her life, and I learned a few new things about O, I never knew like that when she landed her first nightly news anchor at the age of 22, the station manager wanted to change her name. The name they chose was indeed perky, but thank goodness Oprah kept her unique name.

Secondly, Oprah got her talk show "The Oprah Winfrey Show" because she got fired from that same nightly news anchor job for being "too emotional" (boy, have I heard those words so many times myself) and the station didn't want to pay out her contract so they gave her the talk show as a way to just kill time.

The beauty of that story relates very much to how what initially appears to be a failure can actually be a major turning point to put you on the right path of your greatness and happiness. Oprah had to get fired in order to be where she is today, but I am sure at the time she didn't see it that way.

The importance of your gut

Oprah goes on to talk about the importance of following your feelings, your emotions, and your gut. And that all the pains, failings, and mistakes we go through in life are about evolving as a person. She shares more stories from her own experience including the recent scandal at her girl's academy in Africa.

Oprah mentions two books in her speech. Yes, one of them was a New Earth by Eckhart Tolle (Personally, I think she needs to chill a bit on a New Earth), but the second one is a book I read when it first came out, "A Whole New Mind" by Daniel Pink, and that book gave me a brighter outlook on life.

Right-brainers: The up & coming super power

I have to tell you that if you grew up a Right-Brain person in a Left-brain world like myself, this book will bring you some great joy and excitement because the new powers to be will be right-brain thinkers, those that use insight, emotions, concepts, creativity, and inner knowing. Finally! It's our turn. The Right-brainers will get a chance to lead, and we're already seeing that change start to happen big time. A Whole New Mind is a must read for everyone who wants to know how to beef up the right-side of their brain.