Apr
17
2008
I’m taking a Master’s class about Executive Leadership and my assignment last week was to put together a presentation about an executive leader in the entertainment business. Lots of names came to mind, but I chose Paula Deen because she represents what I call an “overnight entrepreneur.” And, she’s a mom.
Paula Deen is an original mompreneuer. She’s enjoying success today because of a lot of hard work in order to take care of her sons. Here’s why Paula is an inspiration to women and moms.
- Devastation Leads to Action
After 20 years of marriage, Paula Deen was faced with a devastating divorce, and the need to find a way to make a living to support her two young sons and teenage brother. All she’d know to this point in her life is how to cook and care for people, but she needed skills — and fast. Money was tight; she only had $200 and no business skills. This didn’t stop Paula from digging down deep to survive with the only thing she knew; cooking. (source: Paula’s Story.)
- Overcoming Obstacles
She had no money, no formal education, and a disease that kept her indoors. (source: Paula’s Story.) A New York Times article quotes Paula on her agoraphobia:
Some days I could get to the supermarket, but I could never go too far inside,” Ms. Deen said. “I learned to cook with the ingredients they kept close to the door.”
- Believing In Herself
Paula believed in herself and self-published her first cookbook. Since that time she has had multiple cookbooks published along with a new memoir and is the Editor-in-Chief of a magazine.
- Taking the Good With the Bad
- Take Control of Your Life
- Do What You Love
Paula sums it up great on her Web site:
But, you know what, none of this would have happened if I hadn’t of taken the good with the bad, embraced both the heartache and joy, and taken control of my life when I thought it could not have gotten worse.”
Related:
Mar
13
2008
“Good Morning America’s” workplace contributor Tory Johnson is also CEO of Women for Hire, a network for women. Over the last couple of years I’ve seen Women for Hire expand, its Web site improve and now it even offers a free magazine.
Tory is chock full of advice for all types of working women: moms, older women, work from home moms, moms who’ve been out of the biz for a while … you name it. Tory has advice for every situation. She’s been there too …
From her Web site:
Women For Hire founded in a small corner of CEO Tory Johnson’s New York City apartment, where she’d spend her days (and nights) researching and cold-calling employers—with toddler twins in tow—to convince them to participate in her career expo.”
I got my first issue of the magazine this week and it’s pretty good. I learned that WFH has a facebook group that I can join and it’s full of stories about women who’ve figured things out when it comes to their jobs.
Check out the Web site, womenforhire.com and see for yourself.
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Feb
14
2008
Can you believe it’s here already? You either love February 14 or hate it. I really don’t think there’s much of an in between.
However you feel about Valentine’s Day, I’m sure we’d agree that it comes with pressure. When you’re single, it’s the pressure to have a date on or around the 14th. When you’re a couple it’s the pressure of a gift, the card (funny or serious?), and what to do today (dinner out or dinner in?). It’s enough to drive you crazy.
If you want to guarantee a great Valentine’s Day, however, you have to do something for yourself. The one thing I don’t like about Valentine’s day (besides the pressure) is the fact that we are waiting for someone to do something for us. Don’t wait, do something you love today. Something for you. Get a pedicure on your lunch break. Buy yourself one long stem red rose and display it in a place of honor. Buy a new piece of art for your bedroom or sacred space, something that will remind you to always be who you are on the inside. Order that magazine subscription that you’ve been eyeing, and enjoy the benefits for an entire year.
Above all, remember Valentine’s Day is about love. Loving yourself. Loving your spouse or partner. Loving your children. Loving others. It’s a day to be reminded of who we care about, which should always start with ourselves.
FREE BOOK — TODAY ONLY
If you do only one thing today, do this: download Suze Orman’s newest book about women and finances, “Women & Money.” It’s a FREE, yes FREE, download from Oprah.com. The deal is only good until 5:00 p.m. today so do it now. Orman’s publisher agreed to give it away online for free as part of Orpah’s recent show about how a mother of 5 is left with zero money and a truckload of debt after her husband commits suicide. Suze develops a plan for the woman to get her life on track. Do yourself a favor today and get this book so you don’t fall into a situation like this woman is in.
Related:
Jan
31
2008
Oprah announced yesterday that she is offering a free 10-week online class starting in March, based on her new book club selection, “A New Earth.” When I went to the site last night, I got this message:
Due to high traffic demands, this Oprah.com feature is temporarily unavailable.”
Yep, offer something for free and everyone comes in droves. Oprah offers something for free and everyone and her mother comes in droves.
It’s exciting that so many people are interested in discussing a book and learning more, so much so that it crashed the server.
I love learning and jump at the chance for any type of training so I am sure I will join in on this weekly class. She’s said to be teaching it along with the author, Eckhart Tolle. Each week will be based on a chapter in the book. And, there are discussion boars and interactive features for users to upload his/her thoughts — I’m assuming good or bad.
Online education is a new realm for some and I’m glad that Oprah is embracing a new technology in a way that will surely include more people than she ever imagined. I have reservations about if I will like the book, but I’m good about taking new age topics and altering them to my own belief system so I’ll give it a shot. It’s the book’s subtitle that has my interest: “Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose.”
And, since it’s Oprah, the time is right: 9:00 p.m. once a week. Many women are home at that hour and most of the kids are tucked in bed by 9:00 (let’s hope so anyway) so there’s no excuse to join in if you are interested.
Related:
Jan
17
2008
Oprah has the secret alright, “The Secret” that is. It was recently announced that she is going to have her own TV network. She’s working with Discovery Communications to launch her own TV network: OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. From Oprah.com:
Fifteen years ago, I wrote in my journal that one day I would create a television network, as I always felt my show was just the beginning of what the future could hold,” said Oprah Winfrey, who will serve as chairman of OWN. “For me, the launch of The Oprah Winfrey Network is the evolution of the work I’ve been doing on television all these years and a natural extension of my show.”
She wrote it down. I hear this so often. “The Secret” boasts about believing in yourself, telling yourself that you can do something, making a board with photos on it to help visualize your dreams. That’s what Oprah did. Fifteen years later it’s coming true.
Women across the world can learn from this specific example. Today, write down what it is you want to do. Something big. What is your dream? Write it down so it will come true.
