Oprah Winfrey Research Paper

Oprah Winfrey: Her Biography of Success How can an individual make a huge impact in society and influence the lives of many across the world in such positive ways? Oprah Winfrey, whom most people have never met, became one of the most influential people in the world. Everyone knows Oprah from her critically acclaimed famous syndicated television show called “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” She has been able to persuade and inspire people across the globe. She also became the first African-American woman billionaire in the United States of America. There are lots of successful individuals such as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs that many people believed that they earned their success through sheer luck. According to Malcolm Gladwell, author of the Outliers:

He also said that every successful individual does not make it alone without any help. As a popular talk show host, actress, producer, and writer, Oprah is one of the most successful women in the entertainment business. There are certain factors mentioned by Gladwell that led Oprah Winfrey to her success, although some people may disagree with his theory of the ten-thousand-hour rule.

In a rural town of Kosciusko, Mississippi on 29th of January 1954, Oprah Gail Winfrey was born to an unwed couple- Vernita Lee, a housemaid, and Vernon Winfrey, a former member of the Armed Forces. Her parents separated soon after her birth and Oprah were sent to live with her maternal grandmother, Hattie Mae Lee, where she spent most of her childhood. From such a young age, she showed a remarkable talent for public

Society became more reliant and addicted to media as our technology progresses over the years. According to Nielsen, a global information and a measurement firm, the average television consumption by American youth are five hours and four minutes per day (Koblin). Oprah Winfrey was born during the 1900's where media was considered as part of their daily lives. People in those years relied on news through radio, television, magazines, and newspapers. These aspects have helped Oprah to have various opportunities. Oprah founded Harpo Productions, got her own talk show (The Oprah Winfrey Show), and magazine (The Oprah magazine). Having born in the right time and the right place contribute a gateway to success. It certainly provided the tipping point of an African-American woman to attain a status she could have only dreamt of as a child. Also, Oprah was not born during the slavery in the United States. If Oprah were to be born before the black emancipation and if she were to be born now, she would have never attained her success. Thus, the timing proved that the day that you were born matters to your opportunity and