Happy Holidays from TheIWLA!

Peace on Earth and peace in your heart, May this be how the new year you start. Health, happiness and prosperity to all,   May no good deed be seen as small. Woman to woman and day by day,       Happy Holidays to you from TheIWLA. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”, the lyrics go, and I hope that is how you are feeling – wonderful. Days can seem long and hard, yet the years seem to fly by; interesting, don’t you think? I am told that is a sign of growing old; ah, yes, another blessing. With thirteen years of the new millennium behind us, I hope we are getting a sense of where we are, where we need to go and what we can and should be doing to get there. 2013, as all years, was filled with, as Madame DeFarge (Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens) would say, “…(they were) the best of times; (they were) the worst of times. For you and yours, I hope there was more of the “best” and less of the “worst” and that you came out a bit ahead. For me, 2013 was another year of challenge and growth.  New opportunities were, once again, over every horizon waiting to be seen, appreciated, embraced and nurtured; I am grateful for every one of them. So, too, am I grateful for you.  I am grateful for the generous and positive feedback “Beth’s Blog” readers send me.  I am grateful for the inspiration so many of you have given me.  I am grateful to be associated with The International Women’s Leadership Association (TheIWLA) and the thousands and thousands of women from around the world with whom I have had the great pleasure of speaking and working with; thank you. I am grateful to have another year to look forward to and to come to know more of you more personally. I am grateful for the memories this time of year fills my heart with; for the people who are no longer here yet are with me always and in all ways. And, I am grateful for the clean-slate a new year gives me and I am grateful for another chance to do a better job; and I promise to try. I send my most sincere wishes to you and yours… May you dare to dream big ; and may your dreams come true. May you have loved ones around you; at least one or two. May you lay your head down, tired, but not weary at night, And may the next day greet you with the sun’s warm light. May you find joy and reward  in the tasks that you do May you always and forever to yourself be true. May you discover options and opportunity around each bend And may those big dreams you dream never come to an end. May the stars wink back when you glance above, And may you always be in health, happiness,  peace and love. Love, Beth x  Beth’s Blog will be back on  Monday, January 6, 2014.

18 + 33 = CEO

Is it just ME, or do you, too sometimes gasp when you calculate the years you have been married, how long you have been in a job, how old your children are….?

Time flies; this we know.  It’s what we do in “the dash” between our birth and death years that most often defines who we are.

In the case of Mary T. Barra, that time has been not a “mad dash”, but a thoughtful climb to the top of General Motors (GM), once the world’s largest and most powerful auto company.  

As a recent high school grad at the age of 18, Mary joined her Dad, a die maker at GM who served for 39 years, fulfilling her dream to join “the family business”.

She attended the GM Technical School to study engineering and it seems she has never looked back.  As of January 1, 2014, she will don yet another hat – she has worn them all – and focus on moving GM forward after the $49.5 billion US government bailout in 2009, as Mary becomes the  CEO of General Motors.

“This is truly the  next chapter in GM’s recovery and turnaround history.”   “…I am proud to be part of it…”, said Mary.

Well, Mary, I dare say, we are all proud of you!

Retiring CEO, Mr. Akerson (reportedly retiring to care for his ailing wife – good man!) made it very clear Mary was selected for her talent, not her gender.

That makes the announcement even sweeter.  GM is not simply making a grand gesture in appointing a woman to this position; rather because of Mary’s merit, multi-dimensional experience with the auto giant and for her vision for its future has Mary been named CEO.

Mary will be 1 of among 21 women who are CEOs of Fortune 500 companies;  the first in the auto industry.

I eagerly look forward to what a woman in the driver’s seat in the male-dominated auto industry will mean over time. I anticipate more practicality, better pricing, more family-friendly features and more financial stability.  Sounds like running a huge household, doesn’t it?  WOW - THERE’S A NOTION!

It is less than usual for anyone to spend an entire career path with one company.  Kudos to General Motors for continuing to place Mary in varying capacities, resulting in what may seem like a slow (33 years) but rather a steady and qualified climb to the top.

I applaud Mary for her perseverance, which I imagine, was often accompanied by personal reflections about her “whys”, especially during the less than stellar days of GM.  An example of “whys” discovered to be “wise”.

I am also happy for the great city of Detroit, which has played an often over-looked role in what made the United States great.

Not a believer in co-incidence, a recent conversation with The Detroit Economic Association led to a meeting with Detroit Venture Partners, just ten days ago, during which we discussed opportunity women of The International Women’s leadership Association (TheIWLA) might contribute to the next chapter of the now bankrupt city.  Jobs?  I am flying back tomorrow for a follow-up meeting with a Senior Analyst with the third largest lender in the United States.  Housing?

Like Mary, all women wear many hats; some fit better than others, some look better than others.  What matters is that we continue to try new hats on when the old ones no longer feel right.  Eventually, we are likely to find the perfect fit.

Whatever that style may be for you, please know that there is a perfect one for you and that the only way you will not find it is if you stop looking and stop trying new ones on.  If you feel you have tried them all, here’s an idea….MAKE ONE OF YOUR CHOOSING.

So, IS it just me, or do you, too, find great inspiration in Mary Barra?

“There’s something about Mary”

Even the heavens shed tears!

Is it just ME, or are you, too, proud to say you shared a bit of time on earth with the likes of Nelson Mandela?

The passing of a man like  Mandela opens up history lessons all of us should learn, or be reminded of.  It is a book that will continue to be written long after Mandela is laid to rest.

I am struck by the outpouring of emotion; not the scope of it, but the style of it.  As the heavens rained down its own tears, tens of thousands danced and sang in the streets as they celebrated his life, not his death.  I am sure this is just the reaction Mr. Mandela would have wanted.

As the largest group of world leaders assembled in Johannesburg and crowds withstood the pouring rain, I was reminded of powerful words spoken by  actor Mel Gibson in the character of William Wallace as the Scottish warrior faced a cruel and painful death fighting for what he believed in;  freedom for Scotland…

“…all men die, but not every man lives…”

How rightly these words depict the man a nation and now a world will forever call Madiba, Mandela’s ancestral clan.

I wondered where the strength to endure 27 years of imprisonment in a hard-labor prison comes from.  More so, I wonder how anyone who could survive the duration could move forward with no bitterness, no resentment, no hate in his heart.

It is easy to declare such things.  Time is the testament, however, and in the case of Nelson Mandela, these sentiments went beyond mere words to such an extent I cannot even find the word.

It is said the best way to teach is by example.  I believe this to be true.

From beneath the roof of my own family home, to learning of the likes of Mother Theresa, Ghandi, Pope John Paul II, I have learned that the actions of others resound ever more loudly than their words ever could. 

They endure long after the vibration of an echo is stilled.  They live forever, as will all those, whose names we will never know, whose deeds we will never hear of, but whose legacies will live forever.

I feel blessed to be part of this time in history.  With  the challenges we face today comes opportunity as never before to create a lasting impression; a legacy.  If even one person is affected by your actions in this world, you will have earned your time and space in this life and surely that in the life to come.

“…every man dies, but not every man lives…”

LIVE!

We’ll be fine…

Is it just ME, or do you, too, come across young people, from time to time, who restore your sense of security for the future of the world?

Today is December 5, 2013.  It is the 18^th birthday of an exemplary young woman who just happens to be the daughter of one of the Advisors at The International Women’s Leadership Association (TheIWLA).   

Let me also mention today is the birthday of the Dad of our Social Media Manager and “Data Diva”,  Donna Furno; happy 78th birthday Mr. Freeman!

Kathy Trotta is never without a smile; neither, it seems is her daughter, lovingly referred to as Dani-Girl.

Dropping by the see her Mom yesterday, I had a chance to share some time with Dani-Girl, which inspired this Blog; “thank you”, to this amazing Mother-Daughter tag-team.

Today’s world is often overwhelmingly cynical when it comes to our youth.  A more demanding generation by all degrees of comparison, today’s young can easily be classified as indulged, spoiled, indifferent, even disrespectful.

Then, there is a beacon of light.  A smile, an excited and motivated teenager to begin her new job in addition to going to school.  A teen, who like her Mother speaks with a smile, obviously genuine, as she glances over her right shoulder to see her Mom and include her in the conversation as she spoke to me.  I like this child; and so would you!

Many are blessed to go through their teen years in typical carefree mode; not Dani-Girl.

Sadly, she lost her Dad as a Junior High School student.  I’ve experienced an untimely death like that when my oldest brother died at 44, leaving 3 children, the youngest one, 12.

Life is hard at that stage of life under the best of circumstances.  It takes strength to move forward – even when you don’t really want to – especially when you have no choice but to do so.

So, Dani-Girl moved on.  As a “Sweet Sixteen” year-old, her house was devastated in Super-Storm Sandy, which ripped the east coast of the United States above the mid-Atlantic.   Now, almost 14 months later, Kathy and her children are still having repairs made – but they are together – and they clearly have a Guardian Angel.

Fast forward to the Spring of 2013…it’s Prom Time.  Dani-Girl is selected by a Long Island newspaper as “Prom Girl” and will be featuring her in a series of articles over the next many weeks as she models options of what to wear to Prom so readers can vote. 

Sounds great, right?

Well, it ended up being wonderful but not without a few side steps brought on by jealous people who probably have nothing nice to say about anyone but don’t have the good sense to just say nothing!  Life’s lessons can be tough!   

The Prom is over, the dress has been hung away…a short distance from home, Dani-Girl’s car is hit by a senior gentleman, necessitating a trip to the hospital and a brain scan because of head and neck pain…

Kathy learns that her 17 year-old has cancer…life comes to another sudden halt as a course-of –action is determined.

At this point, you may be thinking I’m making this up.  I wish I were!

This Blog is not to share a sad story; not at all.  It is to share the spirit of a Mother, a daughter, a family and a random (?) car accident that has proven to be a saving grace.

It is a story of resilience.

It is a story of strength and courage that comes when we need it the most.

It is a story of hope.

It is a story that, at one time, or another, each of us will play a role in.

It is a story that has cost me many tears, yet in the end, it is about smiling.

It is a story of moving forward.

And, it is a story worth sharing…

So, IS it just me, or do you, too see that a Dani-Girl here and a Dani-Girl there is enough reason to celebrate and to have hope that tomorrow’s leaders are out there. 

Happy Birthday, Dani-Girl

Keep smiling.

(Nice job, Kath!!)

Rest Well…

I think it only proper to approach this entry a bit differently, for in my lifetime, there have been few who have lived to the depth of their beliefs, their hopes, their dreams, as did Nelson Mandella.

I could not honesty say when my first recollection of that name, that man, that cause was.  Somehow, however, I don’t remember not knowing that name, that man, that cause.

Mandella was born on July 18, 1918, the son of a Counselor to the paramount chief of the Thimbu people in South Africa.

In 1994, he became the first black president of South Africa, an election by all parties and by all people.

It is all that happened in between that is the story of Nelson Mandella.

After completing his education, he founded the African National Congress (ANC).  It was the 1940s; news did traveled neither as fast, nor far, nor furiously as it does today.

The ANC was formed to stand against white domination in South Africa and Nelson Mandella quickly became known as the leader of the anti-apartheid revolution.

His hope was to see a world where all peoples could live together and recognize equality and opportunities for all.  

This dream, this hope, this vision caused him to be sentenced to life in prison in 1964 on the small rocky island called Robben, surrounded by shark infested waters.  He endured life on that island for almost 20 years and served 27 years in total as a man accused of conspiracy, sabotage and treason. 

South Africa President de Klerk, the last white president of South Africa, lifted the ban against the ANC on February 2, 1990; nine days later, Nelson Mandella walked out of prison -  a free man.

In thinking of Nelson Mandella, so  many words come to mind,  He was faithful, passionate, committed, courageous………. What I have decided to embrace about this world-leader was that he was a perfect blend of tenacity and temperance and that he never let one over take the other.  I believe that is how he survived, how he lived, how he led.

There is much to be learned from this man.  Though I am a white woman from the West, it is reasonable to think there is little with which I could identify – that anyone could identify! I do not feel that way.  I believe he has taught us all something.

I feel that Nelson Mandella brought much to the world and that he paid the price for doing it.  Though I believe (and really need to) he had much happiness in his life, I wonder how he endured the loneliness of those 27 years; what kept him believing – and hoping?

The victor at the end of any battle finds it easy to say it was worth it.  He who is not victorious is left to wonder how, where and why he went wrong.

While such thoughts would do nothing but to declare Mandella human, I believe he must have always thought the battle was worth waging; regardless of the outcome.

In his own words, he said,

“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.  It is an ideal I hope to live for and to achieve.  But if need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

To Mr. Mandella, I would say,

“I hope the world remembers you as the man who truly lived to do exactly what you did and in the moment of your moving-on from your earthly dwelling-place, transitioned to a place that not even you could have imagined.  There, may you experience freedom beyond our human nature to comprehend and there, may your stay make 27 years feel as but a moment in time.”

*

A routine is a good thing…

Is it just ME, or do you, too, sometimes feel you have become  - well  - somewhat predictable?

OK, I admit it…I am somewhat predictable.  It may sound boring in some ways, yet I have come to see the good side of what has become a sort of routine, a virtual self-help checklist.

Predictability means reliability; reliability you and others  count on.  Having a to-do list you carry around in your head keeps you grounded, on-time, and available to others when needed. 

Good time management is a virtue, as I see it.  It helps avoid the helter-skelter that breeds in the absence of said virtue and actually creates the feeling of having more time.  That’s a gift you give, more than to anyone else, to yourself!  It is a gift you are worthy of receiving.

In every busy woman’s life, both personal and profess- ional, is the need for well planned, well spent time that makes possible, what can so easily overwhelm us: the greatest chance of getting things done well, on-time, with a joyful spirit and the greatest sense of self accomplish- ment.

On the flip side, less than good time management skills may easily result in the opposite:  being of schedule, performing at less than our highest potential and with a sense of “I could have done a better job”.

Part of the challenge of establishing good time management skills is not taking on too much; something women so generously do – all with the best of intentions – resulting in self-inflicted wounds – often the hardest to heal.

Having a routine of your own makes it easier to schedule in the extras we cannot always plan for.  They suddenly feel easier to fit in – and with less stress.  WOW, what a notion!

Today is December 1, 2013; the final month of a year that, for me, has flown.  In one month, we start a brand new year; a time of resolution and planned transformation that too often falls below the radar shortly thereafter.

May I suggest taking a thoughtful, objective view of your own routine, or lack thereof, and determine how you might better align yourself to your purpose and your passion, to your role and your responsibilities and how best to invest yourself in the 1,440 precious minutes you are given every day?

As in any exercise, you may find yourself a stronger, better-toned individual, more able to deal with all that today’s world throws in your life’s path.  

Now, here’s where it gets tricky…in creating  a routine and strengthening your time management skills, you actually open a wider range of possibility to do more for others – and – very importantly yourself.  You must schedule “me time” in your life and make finding personal time, space and satisfaction part of your routine.

If you begin to embrace this possibility during this – the “most wonderful time of the year” (a/k/a, the busiest time of the year), imagine what you can give yourself and the world all year-round!

So, IS it just me, or do you, too, see the upside of your own predictability; it’s not a trait of the boring but part of the character of those who may have and give the most.

                Predict your own future!