There are many ways you can celebrate a book launch. 

For media mogul Oprah Winfrey it was a star-filled gospel brunch for 200 at The Promised Land: her 65-acre estate in California. 

I was fortunate to be in attendance and have talked about the experience.

And there is a part I haven’t talked a lot about that I want to share with you. 

Let me set the scene: the first thing you notice upon entering Oprah’s estate is the trees.  

She previously shared that early in her career she visited a mentor’s house and noticed the trees in her yard. Oprah surmised that rich people own trees and, one day, she would own six herself. Her Montecito, CA estate has more than 3,600 trees.  She 600xed her dream. 

Golf carts escorted guests and journalists like me through a winding driveway through the lush grounds. You pass by a huge fountain where in the distance you can see the main home and a pond that has candles all around it. We parked near her guest home and  walked through a floral walkway to get to the garden for the roundtable meet and greet.

And then Oprah enters.

After our interview, Oprah stood to take pictures with each of us. And she noticed my stiletto sandals. 

I had not gotten the official invite and the memo not to wear heels.

“You want some flats?” she asked me and another woman also in heels. 

“Whatever you are offering, yes and thank you,” I replied. Who says “no” to Ms. Winfrey? 

“I’ll bring you rose gold,” she said, noting the shoes I was wearing. 

Her team escorted her away. Our group stopped by the guest home to use the restroom before heading to the main event. 

Inside the cozy home, I was wowed looking at the floor to ceiling bookcase and her desk, which housed a photo of her and Nelson Mandela and one with her and Maya Angelou.

We head to the amphitheater where more than 200 of the biggest names and Oprah’s closest friends have gathered.

A woman walks up holding flats for us, the journalists just happy to witness this special moment. 

That woman? Oprah HERSELF!

In the midst of all the details of this event, she went inside her own closet to grab shoes for us. 

I was stunned by her personal care and looked at the metallic Lanvin flats. 

They were a little too big on me, but who really expects to fit Oprah’s shoes? 

The food, music and views were incredible.

But what I remembered most of that epic day in a stunning estate, was the host who took the time to grab some shoes.

Service is the secret to lasting success.

(you can read more of the day here)