Ep. 9 - "Gamechangers" with Sara Blakely

The Midlife Truth Project

This is episode (9) of our special nine-part series entitled Gamechangers. Our hosts Julie Flakstad & Dr. Taz Bhatia, welcome Sara Blakely - the founder of Spanx, who revolutionized women's apparel by inventing footless pantyhose and transforming a $5,000 startup into a billion-dollar global brand, the founder of the recently launched, Sneex, serial entrepreneur and philanthropist. In this conversation, Sara shares her midlife journey as a time of transformation, embracing it as a "chrysalis" rather than a "crisis" (Chip Conley, anyone?). She highlights the importance of mindset, intuition, and carving out moments for self-connection, all of which guided her in major decisions like selling Spanx to explore new ventures. Through her philanthropic work and dedication to women’s empowerment, Blakely models intentionality, resilience, and the importance of staying connected to one's "why" throughout life’s transitions.

Here are some key themes + takeaways …

• Midlife as a "Chrysalis": Rather than viewing midlife as a crisis, Blakely sees it as a transformative period of growth and inner reflection, where ego-driven motivations give way to purpose-driven ones, allowing her to redefine her goals and personal mission. She directly referenced our first guest, Chip Conley’s and the Modern Elder Academy; coincidentally bookending this 9 part series
• Visualization: Sara Blakely shares her approach to visualization, focusing on creating mental space for her mind to wander and allowing ideas to surface naturally. She explains that visualization is more effective when she’s in a relaxed, open state, often occurring during solo drives, where she lets her mind drift without an agenda.
• Connecting with Intuition: Sara describes the importance of being clear and specific when seeking signs, often making direct requests to the universe for clarity on specific decisions, like whether she should sell Spanx or pursue new ventures, like Sneex. Sara encourages others to engage with their intuition by simply asking for guidance and being receptive to signs, emphasizing that intentional questions allow her to trust in the answers she receives.
• Overcoming Fear: Sara Blakely embraces fear by dissecting it, recognizing that most of her fears stem from worries about failure and how others perceive her. Rather than letting these concerns hold her back, she intentionally challenges herself by stepping into situations that could be embarrassing, using them as a tool to build resilience and embrace imperfection.
• Physical and Emotional Health Challenges: Sara Blakely shares her challenging experience with perimenopause. Starting around age 50, she began facing unexpected and extreme hormonal fluctuations, which affected her energy levels, caused weight gain, and led to severe emotional lows. Blakely initially didn’t recognize these symptoms as part of perimenopause, as she hadn’t yet entered menopause fully, leading her to overlook hormone treatment options. Once she started using progesterone, it helped stabilize her sleep and emotional state, significantly improving her quality of life.
• Philanthropy and Purpose-Driven Work: Sara Blakely’s philanthropic journey is deeply personal and rooted in her desire to empower and uplift women. As soon as she began achieving financial success, Blakely set aside funds specifically to support women’s causes. She established the Sara Blakely Foundation, which has funded educational initiatives and entrepreneurial training for women globally. Blakely’s approach to philanthropy is marked by a playful, engaging style; for example, she lent her wedding dress to women during COVID, creating a "wedding dress sisterhood."

About Our Guest, Sara Blakely

Sara Blakely is a self-made entrepreneur and the visionary founder of Spanx, a brand that revolutionized women’s shapewear by turning her personal frustration with traditional hosiery into an innovative solution. Starting with just $5,000 in savings and no formal business background, Blakely launched Spanx from her apartment, handling everything from marketing to product development herself. Her big break came when she convinced Neiman Marcus to carry Spanx after a personal in-store demonstration and, shortly after, Oprah named Spanx one of her “Favorite Things,” skyrocketing the brand’s success.

Beyond her business, Blakely is known for her down-to-earth, playful personality—she’s famously loyal to her scrunchie and has a fear of flying. As a mother of four, she balances family life with a commitment to empowering women globally. In 2006, she founded the Sara Blakely Foundation, supporting women in education and entrepreneurship, and became the first female billionaire to join the Giving Pledge, promising to donate at least half her wealth to charity. Today, she continues to inspire as an investor on Shark Tank, a frequent speaker, and a champion for women achieving their dreams, all while aiming to create the world’s most comfortable high-heel shoe, Sneex.

Connect with Our Hosts and Conversation Partner!

Sara Blakely

• Spanx
• Sneex
• Sara Blakely Foundation
• Speaking.
• Modern Elder Academy
• Instagram: @sarablakely

Julie Flakstad

• https://julieflakstad.com/
• Instagram @julieflakstad
• Facebook @thejulieflakstad

Dr. Taz Bhatia

• YouTube: @DrTazMD
• Instagram: @drtazmd
• Website: doctortaz.com
• Order The Hormone Shift book HERE
• Practice - Centre Spring MD: https://centrespringmd.com/

Tune in next Wednesday, 11/13, when we drop our next episode in this special (9) part series, called “Connect The Dots” with celebrated entrepreneur and founder of Spanx and more recently Sneex, Sara Blakely. In this episode, our hosts, Julie Flakstad and Dr. Taz Bhatia, get valuable perspective and practical advice on the sometimes overwhelming question of ‘what’s next?’. Available on Audio and on YouTube!

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This series is presented by Womaness

Created by women for women, Womaness (https://womaness.com/) offers clinically and doctor tested supplements, sexual wellness, and skincare products t...