For many years, I was a rock star pageant interview coach…I know, I know, you’re probably surprised to know that at one time, I was one of the Southeast’s top pageant interview coaches for Miss America, Miss USA, Little Miss, the Rodeo Queens, the Cow Queens, and Watermelon Queens and the list goes on… at one time I had more winners on the stage than any coach in the Carolina’s and probably the Southeast. But what’s interesting – as I learned early on… it’s not me, but by coaching my clients to dig deep within themselves and learn to speak […]
Turn Yourself Around
I just finished reading a great book called “The Map Thief,” the story of Forbes Smiley, III, an esteemed rare maps dealer, who, as the book jacket says, “…spent years doubling as a map thief—until he was finally arrested slipping maps out of books in the Yale University library.” It was a great book, and I learned a lot about maps: how they were created and how, by simply changing a border, you could change a nation, but, beyond my own education about maps and their value, was the story of the failings of a guy who committed crimes against […]
I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends
I always liked the Beatles song I Get by With a Little Help From My Friends. Most of their songs, I’m ambivalent about, but something about the tune and truth of having strength in numbers makes me feel safe in the world today. Like many of you, I have groups of friends for different aspects of my life. I have church friends, work friends, former work friends, political friends (former political friends), my mom’s friends, my brother’s friends, and my sweet neighbors. I even have a small group of more mature friends whose company I love. In the midst of […]
It never hurts to keep looking for sunshine
“It never hurts to keep looking for sunshine.”—Eeyore. It has been a week. I can’t remember when, in the course of a holiday weekend, I have seen so much sadness and pain and frustration and disappointment. I’m not sure if it’s the moon in its phases or if life is just hard with all that is expected of us. Kids back in school, football teams winning and losing or, financial issues that seem to plague even the most stable of families, or kids gone bad and parents are at their wit’s end. Life is hard—I know you know that—and, although […]
Keep Going
Last week, I spoke about the idea of Swinging for the Fences—stepping up to the plate and taking a powerful swing with all your might and watching that ball sail over the fence so you can round the bases and be proud that you really gave something your all and were successful. I want to add to that thought this week with this directive. Friend, in this life, you need to keep going because there is a great chance that everything you need will come to you at the perfect time…if you continue on. And that is the key: continue […]
If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old
“If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.” ― Peter F. Drucker. I received a lot of comments from last week’s show about the limiting beliefs that so many people have that hold them down–mentally, emotionally, or physically–or they still have silly, old beliefs that keep them away from what they consider their true calling. And while money was part of the equation for many, the other part, which, frankly, surprised me, was the idea that so many people think that they are too old or are too set in their ways or too far down […]
You’ve Got the Power
When I was younger, I often heard the phrase, You’ve Got the Power. In actuality, I think it was a commercial I heard on the radio, but I remember that it was also told to me to encourage me to move forward in whatever I was doing because, in the end, you and I have the power to do amazing things in our lives and for others. Power – Bing Dictionary defines power as: Capacity to do something: the ability, strength Strength: physical force Control and influence over other people and their actions Power: we often think of others having […]
The most ridiculously limiting, prehistoric assumption
The most ridiculously limiting, prehistoric assumption that many of you have is that what you’ve always dreamed of doing will not make you enough money, so you settle for something less than your heart desires and less than you deserve, all because you assumed or were told that (fill in the blank) won’t make you any money. What sparked this idea was that in one of my stories, I came across a great quote by Tama Kieves, who said, “I don’t know what your block is, but I changed my entire life (and the lives of thousands of others) by […]
Choose Hope
Like everyone else, years ago, I was so sad to hear about Robin Williams’ death, and I wanted to bring someone on the show to talk about depression, fear, and other maladies that cause people to lose hope. I don’t want to focus on sadness–we have enough of that going on in the world. What I really want to say would be a rant about getting help, seeing your life for what it is, and making the hard decision to fight to live another day, but that would add little value to the conversation, so I’ll hold my tongue and […]
