My best friend Laura died in an accident on International Women’s Day, 23 yrs ago. I post this every March 8 in honor of her, and all the women around the world who uplift, support and encourage the highest good in all of us. Laura was my roommate in Atlanta and when she died I started spanx in her empty bedroom. The spanx HQ was actually her bedroom in our apartment for the first three years until I could afford to move the HQ out of our apartment. Laura was a total free spirit. She took trapeze in college, was always playing the guitar and was an adored school teacher. She would always say, “Blakely, you’re going to change the world one day.” And I would say, “Laura, I sell fax machines.” And she would fall back on the bed, smile and say, “I know, but it’s your destiny.” Somehow she knew something greater was in store for me. So it felt like no accident that she died on International Women’s Day. It was like she was sending me a final wink about my destiny. Fast forward 10 years... M...