Oprah Winfrey: If You're Not Growing, You're not Living

5000 fans crowded the world Congress Center Saturday for the sold out O You!, a motivational conference produced by Oprah Winfrey's O Magazine.

Attendees spent$125 dollars per ticket for a series of motivational seminars from popular Oprah contributors like Suze Orman, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Gail King, Nate Berkus Bob Greene and Donna Brazile.

Winfrey Herself was last to take the stage. She appeared in person amid speculation her portion of the conference would be by satellite.
She told the audience her new television network, OWN isa work inprogress. "People say OWN is struggling. There is a learning curve but we are not struggling," she said."If you're not growing, you're not living. Growth is life," she said.

"Everything that doesn't take you out makesyou stronger," Winfrey told the packed conference hall."Ask God how he can use you," she urged. Many in the audience were in tears as she told them to be true to themselves. "Know who you are.That knowingness disrupts everyone else's stuff," she said.

Earlier, Suze Orman told a crowded audience hard times are here to stay for quite some time and urged her audience to create their own success despite the economic slump and high unemployment rate. "Stop waiting for somebody else to give you what you need. Do something to create it on your own. Get a job of any kind where you give it to yourself, as a dog walker, babysitter, helping the elderly," she said.

"You may make a generous salary now but if you value yourself, if you are the powerful woman you are all born to be, you would be making far more than you are making right now and you'd be able to take care of yourself and others as well," she told the audience in response to a question from a woman who confessed she gives away too much of her money for the needy instead of saving for her retirement.

Fans got to see the celebrity speakers up close and personal on the red carpet.

Political Strategist Donna Brazile urged the audience to spend more ti! me on th ings they are passionate about. "Find your passion and the things you enjoy doing whether it's gardening, cooking, learning a new skill. Spend more time doing what you like.

Dr. Oz said because of the economic downturn many Americans believe they can't afford to see a doctor. He urged them to seek out doctors who will agree on a payment plan but also said many people don't need a doctor, just a healthier lifestyle. "The things that really drive illness in American are things we control. I'm talking specifically about our weight. Extra weight leads to high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes," he said.

Winfrey's OWN Network has been strugglingwith rating lower than the Discovery Health Network it replaced. Winfrey's Harpo Productions co-owns the network with Discovery Communications. In July sheWinfrey CEO Christina Norman and vowed to become more personally involved in the fledgeling network.