“When I was 7, I came up with the idea of 'charm socks.' My mom would t...” — Sara Blakely Quote

When I was 7, I came up with the idea of 'charm socks.' My mom would take me to buy bags of plastic charms, we would sew them on frilly white socks, and I sold them at school.

I think my story says that, when women are given the chance and the opportunity, that we can achieve a lot. We deliver.

Everything about my journey to get Spanx off the ground entailed me having to be a salesperson - from going to the hosiery mills to get a prototype made to calling Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. I had to position myself to get five minutes in the door with buyers.

When I cut the feet out of my pantyhose that one time, I saw it as my sign. I had been visualizing being self employed prior to this happening. It was my mental preparation meeting the opportunity in that moment.

I always hang things on my bags because I don't like them looking like everyone else's.

I don't get much sleep, so I have really bad bags under my eyes.

I love beautiful clothes, shoes, and bags like everyone else. However, I do not put a lot of emphasis on who I wear and how much my clothes cost. If it's a label, it's a label. If it's not, it's not.

I loved making 'Rising Sun'. I got into the psychology of why she liked to get strangled and tied up in plastic bags. It has to do with low self-worth.

I was always the sniffly kid with bags under my eyes.