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Oprah Winfrey: There Was No Difference Between Me and the Audience. Except Better Shoes.

By Oprah Winfrey · Leadership · 1 min read

The reason the show worked: Oprah understood there was no difference between her and the audience. At the core, they were seeking the same thing — the highest, truest expression of themselves.

Key Points

The connection to the people you serve is as important as the connection to your investors
There's no difference between you and your customer at the core — everyone seeks the same thing
Your platform is your show, whether it's a bakery or a network

There was no difference between me and the audience. At times I might have had better shoes. But at the core, we are the same.

Why the Show Worked

Oprah: People would come from all over the world just to be there — with their aunts, their mothers, their cousins. A few men in there going 'what the hell' or saying 'well, I went to Oprah with you — at least get me clear for three or four weeks.' I had such regard for that.

John Mackey from Whole Foods talks about the investment in the stakeholders — the people you are serving. That connection is equally as important as the people supporting you financially.

The connection to the people you serve is equally as important as the people supporting you financially.

Better Shoes, Same Core

Oprah: I always understood that there was no difference between me and the audience. At times I might have had better shoes. But at the core — the core of what really matters — we are the same.

You know how I know that? All of us are seeking the same thing. Everybody wants to fulfill the highest, truest expression of yourself as a human being.

At the core, we are the same. All of us are seeking the highest, truest expression of ourselves.

Your Bakery Is Your Show

Oprah: If you're working in a bakery and that's where you want to be — and that's what you've always wanted to do, to bake pies for people — then that's for you. There's no difference between you and me, except that's your platform. That's your show every day.

My understanding of that has allowed me to reach everyone.

If your bakery is where you want to be — that's your platform. That's your show every day.

Pieces of Light

Oprah: My job is not to be an interviewer. My job is not to be a talk show host or just to own a network. I am here to raise the level of consciousness — to connect people to ideas and stories so that they can see themselves and live better lives.

I'm trying to bring little pieces of light into people's lives.

My job is not to be a talk show host. I am here to connect people to ideas and stories so they can live better lives.