|
LESSON: VISION OF BEAUTY
Lesson Summary:
Sarah Breedlove Madam Walker was a
successful, African-American entrepreneur. Born in 1867, she rose
from bleak poverty in the south to develop a large company that provided
beauty products for women especially black women. Her success came
not only from providing valuable products, but also from focusing on
giving her sales agents the opportunity to become successful and fulfill
their own dreams. Madam Walker had a dream and made it a reality
in her own life and the lives of others. She was especially revered
in Indianapolis, where she spent much of her life.
Concept: Entrepreneur
Definition: An entrepreneur is someone who takes
the risk to develop a new product or start a new business.
Comprehension Questions
What training and skills did Sarahs family
provide to help her become a successful businesswoman and
entrepreneur?
Since Sarah was from a very poor family that had
little opportunity, and because she was orphaned early in her life, she
had no formal training or schooling that her family could provide.
However, her family provided her with the example of hard work and
evidently gave her a faith in God, which sustained her later in
life.
What event inspired her to start her own
business and be a success?
One night at the Worlds Fair in St.
Louis, she heard an inspiring speech by Margaret Washington, the wife of
Booker T. Washington, that encouraged black women to prosper and
succeed. Mrs. Washingtons articulate speaking and positive manner
had a great effect on Sarah.
Why did Sarah decide to develop hair
products to sell?
Sarah had a problem with her own hair falling
out. She prayed to God for help. In a dream she got the idea
to develop her own hair products from natural oils and
ingredients.
How did Sarah learn how to develop hair
products?
She took the initiative to search out and study natural
ingredients that she could use in her hair products. She also set up
a makeshift laboratory in her attic and worked very hard at night to
develop hair products. She exhibited the traits of persistence, hard
work, and a determination to succeed!
For an entrepreneur or business to succeed,
what must be true about the products they sell?
Ultimately, the
products must be wanted by consumers, who must be willing to pay a price
that covers all the costs of production.
Why were Madam Walkers products and
business so successful?
Most importantly, her products were very
effective in improving womens hair. Madam Walker also was very good
at marketing her products. She advertised very effectively in
newspapers, which increased the demand for her products. She also
used her sales agents in a very skillful way. Her agents were
initially her customers, but she allowed them to join the business and
succeed by selling the products themselves. Her agents developed
self-sufficiency, which gave a vision of hope and success.
Why did Madam Walker move her business to
Pittsburgh and eventually to Indianapolis?
There were productive
resources in these cities that helped her business to grow, like steel for
hair combs and excellent transportation resources (i.e. capital goods)
like roads, trains, warehouses, etc., which helped keep her shipping costs
low.
Was Madam Walker assured of success when she
started her business?
No no entrepreneur knows if he or she will
succeed. There is always the risk of failure. She didnt know
if customers would purchase her products at a high enough price to make a
profit.
How do we know that her business was a
success?
The business made very high profits. It was obvious
that consumers liked her products and were willing to pay good prices for
them.
Ultimately, why was Madam Walker a
success?
Her main object in life as a businesswoman was ultimately
not to make money, but to help others to succeed like herself. She
certainly produced good hair products, but her ability to inspire others
and help them improve their lives was the key factor in her
success.
Other Concepts: Profit, Productive
Resources | 
