Madam CJ Walker was born in 1867 and is the first African-American female millionaire. She led a life of entrepreneurship and philanthropy that has influenced generations.
She was born Sarah Breedlove in Delta, Louisiana, and she grew up picking cotton with her family. When she married Moses McWilliams in 1890, he became her business partner. He helped take care of their children while Madam CJ went out into the world to sell products made from hair care formulas that she created for black women who wanted beautiful curls but couldn’t afford them.
She travelled all over America by train selling her product, sometimes sleeping on benches or living hand-to-mouth when the money ran low.
In this blog post, we look at some famous quotes from Madam CJ Walker and implement them in different aspects of our lives.
1. “There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it, for if I have accomplished anything in life, it is because I have been willing to work hard.”
I think this quote tells you that nothing will be handed to you on a plate and that you must put your mind and heart into what you want to achieve. When you work hard and put your mind into whatever you do, success will find its way to you because that’s how the universe works.
2. “Live every day as if it were your last; one day, you’re sure to be right.”
When we let go of fear and take each moment as it comes, we can live our days with the mindset that every moment is precious.
3. “The most important thing for success is self-confidence.”
When you believe in yourself and your abilities, others will easily follow suit because they too can see that whatever you do, you put all of your energy into it, meaning that there is no doubt that whatever you are trying to achieve will be done.
4. “It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help.”
This quote invites us to let go of our ego and be confident in ourselves enough that we don’t need validation from others because the only person who should validate us is yourself.
5. “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
Imagine if we all used our creativity to the maximum of its potential; imagine what would happen when all areas in society allowed their people’s creative juices to flow freely and not stifle them with limiting beliefs. This quote reminds us how powerful we all are and that we should allow ourselves to tap into that power and see how much more we can achieve.
6. “Opportunity sometimes comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat.”
If you haven’t achieved what you wanted, don’t give up because another door will open for you when it is time for it to open. Be patient and believe in yourself no matter the circumstances because defeat is only temporary.
7. “I have not succeeded in fully realizing any of my dreams, but I firmly believe that it is better to have tried and failed than to have never tried at all.”
It’s okay if things don’t always go your way, and in the end, it will make you stronger for when you meet your next obstacle. Your failures in life not only help you learn to pick yourself up, but they also teach you how to be wise with any success that comes along your way.
8. “It is better for our youth to prepare themselves against a rainy day than get soaked by it.”
We need to teach our youth about how important it is to save money and also get them to understand that we must work together for a better society. If we all choose to be selfless and care for one another, we can prevent ourselves from being ruled by this corrupt system.
9. “The power of concentration: To focus the mind in a successful endeavour.”
Our thoughts are powerful, so use them wisely. For example, if you want to increase your concentration, you must focus on what you want with every fibre of being. See yourself achieving your goal and feel how it would be when it has manifested into a reality.
10. “I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy.”
Any worthwhile achievement takes time and work. So we need to be gentle with ourselves if we find that we are not progressing fast enough because it doesn’t mean something wrong with us. It just means that our journey has only just begun.
11. “Achievement brings its anticlimax; the aim is to stay there, not to return to where you were.”
After achieving a goal, it’s good to be happy and take some time off as a reward for doing something we should be doing anyway: taking care of ourselves. However, once we’ve allowed ourselves the break we need, we will find that our new goal will motivate us to get started once more.
12. “We can all use adversity to advantage; it is within everyone’s power.”
Whatever difficult situation you are going through, it has the potential to be used for good because this too shall pass, and God gives no more than we can handle. If our faith wavers, think of one day at a time and give thanks for the things we may take for granted, such as our family, our health and the roof over our heads.
13. “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
There will always be setbacks in life, but they temporarily stop you. For example, if you get knocked down, remember that it is okay to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, check that your footing is good, and then you are free to move onto the next rung of the ladder.
14. “A man should not be judged by where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge.”
It’s easy to point out someone’s flaws when they are down; it’s only when you are faced with your troubles that you can see whether or not someone is a friend.
15. “I have no use for people who throw their weight around as celebrities, or for those who fawn over you just because you are famous.”
We should never lose sight of who we are and never let fame change us, but be grateful for all it has taught us. When someone is trying to act like they’re better than you just because they have money or power, remember that the only person that can put them down in this world is themselves when they reach their deathbed.