FORBES asked dozens of the richest self-made women in the country to talk about failure, breaking rules and what keeps them going. We’ve broken out the most intriguing responses.
Sometimes called a "mother of the Internet," Lynda Weinman sold her online learning platform, Lynda.com, to
Getting to that point wasn't so easy. At age 23, she borrowed $20,000 from her grandfather to start a retail store called Vertigo, a new wave and punk outfitter on Sunset Strip. Within four years, she lost it all and closed the store. It wasn't until age 40 that she started Lynda.com with her husband Bruce. At the time she had already written one of the first graphic design textbooks, and Bruce thought she should start teaching design classes in person. They rented a high school computer lab for a week. It eventually turned into an online learning platform with more than 6,300 online classes and 267,000 video tutorials. Today more than half of the top 50 largest publicly traded companies, like CVS and
She spoke to Forbes about everything from her favorite three-word motto to her favorite fictional heroine to her best productivity advice.
FORBES: When did you start your first business? What year and at what age?
Lynda Weinman: "I started my first business at age 23 in 1978. It was a retail store called "Vertigo" on the Sunset Strip, and on Melrose Avenue, with a focus on new wave and punk clothing, accessories, magazines and music."
How did you fund your first business?
"My grandfather loaned me 20k. I lost every penny, after a 4 year stint. I thought it was the biggest failure of my life, and that I would never live it down."
What’s your favorite rule to break?
"Metrics and quantitative statistics must be balanced with intuition, heart and qualitative insights."
What was your most notable turning point or milestone?
"When we started the online version of our education company."
When did you know you had a hit on your hands?
"When the most common phone call or email was, "when will you be adding more?" in areas that we had not yet published."
What is your brag – one thing you’re great at?
"I am a clear communicator, and understand the importance of giving context."
What’s been your biggest failure?
"Loosing my grandfather's money and closing my store at age 27."
Is failure a requirement for success?
"Definitely. You learn from failure, or you are destined to repeat."
What’s your "keep me going" quote?
"Education is a tarnished brand, but learning is pristine."
What’s your next step going to be?
"I have just accepted the role of President of The Santa Barbara International Film Festival."
What is your big audacious goal? How are you going to "break the future"?
"To see a more inclusive and accepting world."
What haven't you done yet professionally or personally?
"I haven't had my own radio show."
If you had to pick a three-word motto, what would it be?
"Follow your heart."
Who’s your favorite fictional heroine?
"Lisa Simpson"
Who's your real life inspiration?
"Gloria Steinem"
What’s your bedtime, and when does your alarm go off?
"10-11 p.m., and wake between 6-7 a.m."
What phone app do you use the most?
"Insight Meditation Timer"
What’s your must-have tech gadget?
"My Peloton bike."
What’s your favorite drink?
"Water"
How do you stay fit and active?
"yoga, cycling, Pilates, swimming, walking"
What’s your #1 productivity tip?
"Meditate."
What would you tell 20-year-old you?
"You are going to get through all the hardships and pain, but they are necessary to make you stronger and wiser."
