10 Lessons from Self-Made (the Movie): Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

The life and story of Madam C.J. Walker has been made into a four-part series on Netflix. We see the rise of Sarah Breedlove from a washerwoman to the leader of an empire.

Here are 10 lessons from Self-Made. 

Lesson 1:  Confidence is the flame that sparks a new life

Sarah Breedlove faced countless adversities typical for a Black woman of her time. Rather than remain in bondage so to speak, because she was born free, she gained the confidence she needed to take control over her life. Without confidence in her business idea and herself, she would not have become half the success she was. Her confidence allowed her to defeat and overcome all the challenges that came her way.

Lesson 2: The right support system can revitalize you but when it stops being right, walk away.

Initially, Madam Walker had a good support system consisting of family members. They helped with selling products, mixed different concoctions, and moved from the South to Indianapolis. As she grew, the system soon crumbled. Her top sale agents abandoned her, her husband cheated and her son-in-law sold information to her biggest competitor. Nevertheless, she did not let those events dull her ambition. It is important to know which elements of your support system are not interested in your growth, or are not working. When you find out make the bold move to eliminate them.

Lesson 3: Never run back to what broke you

Madam walker said these words when her husband tried to resume their relationship. It has wider applications than marriage. If a partnership or job is breaking you down, if you do not feel appreciated or respected do not entertain the idea of staying. Planting a seed in contaminated soil will not yield anything, it will only be a waste of an opportunity. Learn from the experience, take what you learnt and apply it into a different context. For Madam Walker, she did not let corrupted love distract her, she discerned who supported her and who did not.

Lesson 4: Success is a journey rather than a destination and requires consistent work

Madam Walker’s big break did not happen overnight. She sought help from Addie Munroe but was rejected. She freely gave her products to local women but no one came to her salon. She handed out fliers but still had no loyal customers. Her home burned down, and she was at risk of losing her factory if she did not find investors. Nothing was ever easy, that is life. By persevering, she took the lemons and made lemonade, by becoming the first Black female self-made millionaire in America.

Lesson 5: Do not settle for opportunities that are beneath you

In her attempt to get funding and investors, Madam Walker sought help from the most prominent Black man in the community. Once she realised, he was not willing to help, she refused to compromise her integrity. She walked away from this opportunity knowing it would not benefit her. She had the faith and confidence in herself to know something better would come.

Lesson 6:  Be proactive and take every opportunity as they come

Upon hearing that Booker T. Washington was going to be in town, Walker did everything she could, save going into the men’s toilet, to speak with him. After several rejections, she ambushed the stage and addressed him and the audience directly. With the help of her daughter, Walker continued to be proactive seeking deals with hotels and drugstores. In the end, she found favour with another significant activist, W.E.B Du Bois. 

Lesson 7: Do not think about anybody else or what they are doing.

It is really easy to compare yourself to other people. To compare your jobs, how much money you make, where you live etc. Madam Walker always paid the utmost attention to her dreams; she never concerned herself with what others were doing for too long. Instead, she remained focused on what she wanted to achieve, while everything that used to be a distraction faded away. 

Lesson 8: Take a leap of faith and believe in yourself 

Madam Walker took several leaps all of which paid off in spades. She moved to Indianapolis having no idea how things would turn out. Instead, she built an empire unshakeable even by the most determined adversary. She believed in herself when others did not believe in her, she knew she was more than capable and she never let anyone forget it.

Lesson 9: Do not let people silence you or put you in a box

People constantly tried to undermine Madam Walker. From Addie Munroe to Booker T. Washington to her own husband, C.J. Walker. A lot of Black and ethnic women often face disproportionate resistance in their professional lives. The elements of race and gender often make the glass ceiling seem thicker for women of colour, with changes being incremental at best. Madam Walker destroyed the glass ceiling, inspiring a multitude of women. Today, we have seen Black women elevating in their careers, many of whom are featured on our website. 

Lesson 10: Black female entrepreneurship can also uplift the race

Women have a greater role to play than the adopted narrative of domestication. Madam Walker embraced the ruthlessness of business usually ascribed to men. Her gumption was often misinterpreted, and she refused to be conceived as a stereotypical woman. We see this when she rejects the Walker girl. The Black women we have featured on our website serve as a great reminder of achievement in spite of resistance and prejudice.

There are many more lessons to pick up so head over to Netflix to watch this amazing movie. Let us know your lessons learnt below.