I have learned over the years, through the process of duplication, that one sure road to personal and professional success is the path that follows the footsteps of successful people. Below is a list of Oprah's attributes that may help you in your personal and professional life.

1."She gives." There is a saying that it is better to give than it is to receive. Oprah has time and time again shown the world how to put this practice to use by producing shows like The Big Give, Oprah's Favorite Things, The Angel Network and even building and providing a home for disadvantaged South African girls. However, you don't have to have a platform like hers to share in the joys of giving. Donating things like clothing, food, time, even blood can prove to be one the greatest things you can do to make the greatest impact in someone else's life. The truth is most people who do good things for other people find themselves feeling incredibly great because of the good they have done. The inevitable reward on behalf of the giver is the spiritual growth that comes from the mutual exchange of emotions. We bring happiness and comfort into someone else's life, we send a message that says "I'm thinking about you" "I care for you" "You matter to me" "I identify with your needs" "I want to see you happy" and the energy that is reflected back on us can be incredibly fulfilling and rewarding.

2. "She teaches." Oprah has a way of connecting with individuals and audiences alike and she devotes her time not only to entertaining but also enlightening. As a clear communicator she takes on relevant issues and exposes viewers to information we may otherwise not be aware of, giving us an opportunity to learn from the experiences of others. When we share what we know with others we afford them the opportunity to learn from our experiences and possibly grow from them as well. When we use our lives and our experiences to make a difference in the lives of others we can turn our pain into change and our knowledge into gold.

3. "She attracts great people." We attract people with attitudes and values similar to our own and Oprah has an amazing staff. She also appears to have amazing friendships with dynamic people who love and respect her. It's not that difficult to attract people with like-minds and goals but it is challenging to attract people who possess qualities we lack. It may take some time and a lot of self-reflecting but with focus and dedication we can all learn from the practice of becoming the type of person we want to attract and choosing our company according to our destiny.

4. "She's credible." In short, Oprah is an expert at what she does and people trust her. She delivers information that is researched and supported by a well-informed staff and people value her opinion because it is usually unbiased and backed by several sources. There are no perfect people and no one gets everything right all the time, but when you have a track record as good as hers it's easy to acquire a huge following. Those of us who want to be perceived as credible can benefit from her habit of gathering accurate information that is backed by reliable sources and distributed when needed, always with the best of intentions.

5. "She lives life on her on terms." It's no secret that Oprah has never been married nor does she have any children, a decision she made early in her career. There was also a time when people told her she was too fat, too unattractive and too many of the various stereotypes many women often find themselves being associated with that prevent them from achieving her type of success. However, she refused to let the opinions of others prevent her from pursuing her dreams and making them come true. Many women find it difficult to live life on their own terms when what they want for themselves falls outside the realm of what's typical for the average woman, but we can all learn from her actions by ignoring the negative opinions of others and being true to who we are and what we want out of life. Be it marriage or not, children or not, careers that take us down roads less traveled or provide us with the comforts of home, regardless of shape, color or size we can each accomplish wonders simply by being who and what we want to be. When we choose to live our lives and make the important decisions that will determine the outcomes of our lives keeping these facts in mind we can and are unstoppable and the possibilities are endless.

It is human nature to learn from others and it is a wise habit to learn from the good practices of others. I hope this list serves as a viable reference for all who choose to benefit from taking 5 steps in Oprah's shoes.

Copyright © 2008, Imani Watson, All rights reserved.

Imani Watson is a Creative Writer and International Expansion Leader who practices the Wealth Mastermind System for Financial Success. Through websites, conferences and one on one mentoring Imani specializes in helping others achieve personal and financial growth in their lives by using a fun and proven system that allows them to create financial success by duplicating the success of others.