(Part VIII) Reinvent Your Game, Future-Proof Your Dreams: (Old-School Flava)
How Celebs & Pros Go from Played-out to Poppin’ Again!

 Chicago’s United Center was rocking. Oprah taped her final episodes. Thousands of friends and celebs gathered for the send-off. After 25 years, she’s decided to pack it up. But she’s not done. With the launch of her OWN channel, there’s another chapter yet to unfold. How did she stay #1 for so long?

In her words, it was because she kept reinventing herself. We sometimes saw it over the years with a change in style. She changed her hair from long to short. She lost weight and gained it back. At one time she wore clothes that looked outdated. Today she’s dressed by the best and hangs with the greatest.

Many remember her most watched episode. She showed what 67 pounds of fat look like. Oprah realized that reinventing herself also needed to occur in substance. So, she launched many “life makeover” campaigns. This added to her reputation of producing “change-your-life” TV.

She also found a way to reinvent herself in service. Oprah helped give book clubs broader appeal. She made many authors famous. She gave back to the community through her Angel Network. She expanded on her legacy by funding a school for girls in South Africa. These speak highly of her life’s work.

You might look back like she did to appreciate her grandeur. She started as a local TV personality. At some point Oprah was told she wouldn’t make it. Maybe it was at this time she made up her mind to go for it. There’s no denying, the “queen of media” has come a long way from Baltimore to the big leagues.

(Part VIII) Reinvent Your Game, Future-Proof Your Dreams: (New-School Flava)
How Celebs & Pros Go from Played-out to Poppin’ Again!

The United Center was rocking. The rich and famous were jockeying. As Oprah taped her final show. Daytime TV has been struck a blow. But Oprah’s not done yet. She’s already heard ‘on your mark, get set.’ With the launch of her TV network OWN. There’s no reason to bitch and moan.

How did she stay #1 this long? Will-i-am might answer in a song. She made it work by reinventing. Which is like a farmer who does replanting. Sometimes she did it in style. Looking better and better after a while. Going from outdated looking clothes. To being dressed by the fashion pros.

At one time she lost 67 pounds. Celebrating it all around. Using animal fat to prove. How to lose weight and find a new groove. Reinventing herself in substance. Just as important in style and romance. Promoting many “life makeover” campaigns. With “change-your-life” TV showing the sun and rain.

She gave book clubs broader appeal. Making authors famous for keeping it real. Reinventing herself in service. Helping many who were novice. Giving back to the community. Through her Angel Network property. Expanding on her life’s work and legacy. Funding a school to encourage academic supremacy.

You might look back to discover. Her larger-than-life grandeur. Starting out on local TV. Living her dreams to become the best she could be. Being told she wouldn’t make it. She decided that was bull*. Turning the show into a national bully-pulpit. So there’s no denying. The “queen of media” is not retiring.               

Tip: Reinventing yourself means going from good to better to best in between the times you take a rest.

Talkback: How has the Oprah Show impacted Daytime TV and the national conversation?