logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2020
40m 16s

How to find your big idea w/Spanx's Sara...

Waitwhat
About this episode

To find your big idea? Look for it. And look for it. And be ready to act. Spanx founder Sara Blakely was actively seeking a business idea when she thought of Spanx. Then she moved fast, found help in the right places, and went all-in. The result: A billion-dollar company & women's wardrobes transformed. With cameos by National Geographic Explorer Andrés Ruzo, former director of the US Patent & Trademark Office Michelle Lee, and Endeavor CEO Linda Rottenberg.

LINKS:

Learn more about The Boiling River Project: http://www.boilingriver.org

Read "The Boiling River" by Andrés Ruzo: https://amzn.to/36iHHNF

Learn more about the U.S. patent system: https://www.uspto.gov/

Meet Andre, who dresses Oprah Winfrey: https://andrewalkerhair.com

Listen to Linda Rottenberg on Masters of Scale: https://mastersofscale.com/linda-rottenberg-the-next-silicon-valley-is/

Read a transcript of this episode: https://mastersofscale.com

Subscribe to the Masters of Scale weekly newsletter: https://mastersofscale.com/subscribe

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Today
Hollywood’s hottest AI partner, with Runway’s Cristóbal Valenzuela
AI tools are disrupting all types of creative content, and Runway AI is a pioneer making major waves in Hollywood. It’s partnering with the likes of Disney and Netflix to revolutionize production. Runway’s co-founder & CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela joins Rapid Response to dissect the ... Show More
33m 11s
Aug 21
How design drives successful companies, with Sarah Stein Greenberg
Whether you’re building a new product from scratch, growing your team, or trying to find product market fit, every part of scaling a business has one thing in common. It needs to be well designed. That’s why we’re headed back to school this week – and learning from Stanford d.sch ... Show More
34m 19s
Aug 19
Dating is down. So why is Hinge thriving? with CEO Justin McLeod
As young people report feeling lonelier and less connected than ever, the dating app Hinge is driving its users into real life, human experiences. CEO Justin McLeod returns to Rapid Response to share how the platform is combating digital fatigue amongst users, as well as navigati ... Show More
26m 7s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
Beyond Yoga: Michelle Wahler
When Michelle Wahler and Jodi Guber Brufsky set out to launch a yoga wear brand in 2005, they had no idea that it would eventually be acquired—for hundreds of millions of dollars—by one of the most iconic apparel brands in the world. But it took years for Beyond Yoga to get to th ... Show More
56m 58s
Aug 2024
From Fax Machines to Fortune: Sarah Blakely's Billion-Dollar Spanx Revolution | Sarah Blakely EP 705
Have you listened to the FULL EPISODE yet?"I wrote my own patent. I went to Barnes and Noble and bought a book called Patents and Trademarks and I wrote the patent myself." -Sarah BlakelySarah Blakely's journey from door-to-door fax machine saleswoman to billionaire entrepreneur ... Show More
8m 41s
Apr 2025
Advice Line with Jeff and Curran Dandurand of Jack Black Skin Care
Jack Black Skin Care co-founders Jeff and Curran Dandurand join Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, how the Dandurands are passing the entrepreneurial torch one carbonated beverage at a time.First we meet Inga from Maine, who’s naviga ... Show More
48m 6s
Dec 2024
Martha Stewart Live at iHeart: “Living is a Limitless Subject Matter.”
Martha Stewart has been a household name for over four decades and she still isn’t done building her empire. During her rise, the world’s first female self-made billionaire ignored conventional wisdom to become an Emmy Award-winning TV host, best-selling author, and creator of a ... Show More
23m 38s
Oct 2024
Muse #2 - From lab-grown diamonds to Royal endorsements: Jessica Warch on Kimai’s rise, Meghan Markle, and Dragons' Den
This week’s Muse is Jessica Warch, Forbes 30 under 30, and CEO and co-founder of Kimai, a lab-grown diamond company she bootstrapped with her childhood best friend and GIA certified gemologist Sidney Neuhas, with the aim of reinventing an old industry with sustainability and tran ... Show More
37m 28s
Feb 2025
Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day: Monica Nassif
Mrs. Meyer’s is a hugely successful line of soaps and cleansers named for a real Mrs. Meyer: a no-nonsense Iowa homemaker who raised nine kids, including the brand’s founder. When Monica Nassif started Mrs. Meyer’s, she’d already launched an upscale cleaning brand, but it was too ... Show More
1h 21m
Jun 26
From Stalled Search to $750k SDE: The Power of Speed
Register for the webinar:How to Offshore in a Blue Collar Business - July 1st - https://bit.ly/406jR5kA friend pressed Grania Michel to change her search as if she had to close in 4 months. She was under LOI 2 weeks later.Topics in Grania’s interview:Operating a business in Ecuad ... Show More
1h 21m
Mar 2025
Advice Line with Jenn Hyman of Rent The Runway
Rent the Runway co-founder and CEO Jenn Hyman joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs. Plus, Jenn’s take on how letting go of ego helps business leaders stay in the game. First, we meet Sara near Cape Cod, who’s wondering how much her ... Show More
45m 54s
Dec 2024
Advice Line with Jane Wurwand of Dermalogica
Jane Wurwand, co-founder of the global skincare brand Dermalogica, joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early stage founders. Plus, Jane shares her philosophy on the importance of customer education for building a trusted brand. First we meet Camil ... Show More
52m 17s
May 2021
013: Why You Need TWO Manufacturers: Axcess’ Jennifer Abernathy
What’s the fastest way to find your business idea? Simple: Identify, and solve a known problem. Just ask Jennifer Abernathy, whose light-bulb moment came during her daily post-hot-yoga struggle changing out of her sweaty activewear. There’s got to be a better way! With a little s ... Show More
34m 56s