Oprah Winfrey, a name synonymous with success in the entertainment industry, has built an empire over the years, from her iconic talk show to her own television network. However, even a legend like Oprah has some regrets. In a candid interview that aired on August 20 on TODAY, the 70-year-old media mogul reflected on one significant regret in her illustrious career.
During the interview with Al Roker, Oprah opened up about the challenging period when she was wrapping up The Oprah Winfrey Show after 25 years on air, while simultaneously launching the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) in 2011. Looking back, she acknowledged that trying to juggle both monumental tasks was a mistake. “I would not have taken on the responsibility of trying to build a network while still ending the show,” she admitted. “That is my one regret. That is my, ‘I should’ve handled all of that differently.'”
The Struggle of Multitasking
Oprah’s regret centers around the decision to take on too much at once, a move that defied her own advice. “I should’ve completed one thing, taken a year to do nothing, and then decided what was the next thing for me to do,” she explained. Oprah emphasized that while she doesn’t regret ending her talk show—an iconic program that reshaped daytime television—she does regret trying to manage multiple large-scale projects at the same time.
The media titan acknowledged that the decision to continue pushing forward, despite her instincts, came from external pressures. “I thought to give myself a break, and other people were saying, ‘Oh no, you just have got to leverage this moment, and you got to keep moving up,'” she said. However, she has since learned that this advice led her to take on too much, too soon.
Trusting the Inner Voice
Oprah’s reflections highlight a valuable lesson she has learned over the years: the importance of listening to one’s inner voice, or as she calls it, the “emotional GPS system.” This instinctual guidance, she believes, is crucial in making the right decisions. “Everybody has that natural life force instinct inside yourself that lets you know what’s right or wrong,” Oprah shared. “And any time I’ve ever gone against that—any time—is when I’ve made a mistake.”
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She emphasized the importance of slowing down and getting in touch with oneself before making significant decisions. “Every time I’ve just gotten still and listened to what my gut said, what that still small voice that resides inside me, and you, and everybody else says, I have never made a mistake,” Oprah said.
Reflecting on the Changing Media Landscape
In the interview, Oprah also pondered what it would be like if she were to start a talk show today, in a vastly different media landscape from when she began. She acknowledged that the times have changed significantly since The Oprah Winfrey Show first aired, with social media and the 24-hour news cycle transforming the way content is consumed.
“It was a different time,” she noted. Reflecting on the breadth of topics her show covered, she expressed pride in the show’s impact. “We were just talking about what was going on in people’s lives in a real and meaningful way,” she said. Whether it was discussing serious issues like overcoming cancer and abuse or navigating the challenges of raising children, Oprah’s show provided a platform for viewers to see the best in themselves and explore possibilities for personal growth.
A Legacy of Wisdom
As Oprah Winfrey continues to influence the world with her wisdom, her reflections serve as a reminder of the importance of trusting oneself and the dangers of taking on too much. Even after achieving so much, Oprah’s ability to reflect on her experiences with humility and honesty only cements her status as an enduring role model.
