March/April 2017
Kathy Kentty Use Mock Job Interviews to Land Your Dream Job Donna Carletta Six Ways To Put Your Business On The Road To Success
Jamie Wright
No Odds? No Advantage? No Problem
Founder and Publisher Editor-in-Chief Monica Davis Editors/Writers Suzanne Harris Stephanie Mojica Company Writers & Contributors Donna Carletta Kathy Kentty Pat Markel The Masters Jo Condrill Dr. Michael Finkelstein Judy Hoberman Chris Hogan Annemarie Cross Other Contributors Greg Williams Art and Graphics Designer Jenette Antonio Sityar Exceptional People Magazine is published bi-monthly by Atela Productions, Inc. The opinions of the contributors are not necessarily those of Atela Productions, Inc. Exceptional People Magazine is a copyright of Atela Productions, Inc. The contents of this publication may not be printed, copied or distributed without the express written consent of the Publisher. Copyright © 2017 All rights reserved. For advertising information please contact. The advertising department at 703-273-2035. Contact us: Atela Productions, Inc., 2961-A Hunter Mill Rd., PMB 624, Oakton, VA 22124-1704 www.exceptionalmag.com
P R O D U C T I O N S , INC.
Letter from the Publisher Dear Friend: Welcome to the March-April 2017 issue of Exceptional People Magazine. I can’t believe it. Summertime is almost here. I hope you’ve made great progress thus far in fulfilling your dreams and goals this year. If you don’t feel like you’re moving forward or you’re not getting the results you expected, let me ask, “What’s holding you back?” Is it a lack of time or money, or maybe an unexpected situation? Is it a lack of enthusiasm or some other circumstance? Is it fear of stepping out of your comfort zone? What are you doing to press forward? Oftentimes, our faith is tested by the challenges we face, and challenges can be presented in many forms. Sometimes, when we are unsure about what lies ahead, we become afraid to move forward. We become paralyzed by the unknown and though we don’t like what we are currently experiencing, we become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Sophocles once said, “There is no success without hardship.” It is those who endure through the rough times that come through with a new sense of happiness, peace, courage and fulfillment. The guests in this issue are perfect examples of how you can turn challenges into life changing opportunities. Today, I encourage you to take a leap of faith. Don’t let any more time go by without taking at least one step everyday towards creating a better life and living your dreams. Be bold. Be courageous. Step out and live life to it’s fullest. For me, that means living life by example and serving others. I hope that you will become inspired by the stories presented in this issue. As always, I thank you for your loyalty. Stay tuned,
Monica Davis
Contents Extraordinary Profiles
05
Jamie Wright
13
Alan Santana
No Odds? No Advantage? No Problem
The Boxer Who Turned Heartbreak into Hope
Mastery Series
20
Chris Hogan
27
Annemarie Cross
What You Miss Out on When You Put Your Investing on Auto-Pilot
How to Catapult Your Visibility and Authority in 3 Simple Steps
Life is a treasure chest of opportunities. All you need to do is start looking and have the desire to succeed.
No Odds? No Advantage? No Problem, Says Jamie Wright
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES
H
ard work. It’s a phrase Jamie Wright never once used when we spoke with her recently. Yet everything she says and does proves that she’s one of the hardest workers in the Los Angeles legal field. The millennial minority’s strong work ethic is nothing new. Wright’s been laser-focused and committed to her dream ever since her Dad told her to follow it. He grew up in Mississippi during a time when African Americans were used to hearing what dreams they should and shouldn’t follow from people with ulterior motives. Wright wasn’t always a legal eagle, though, having originally planned to be a doctor. But when her organic chemistry class at UC Berkeley “weeded her out,” she remembered her Dad. He’d gotten into law school years earlier, but he couldn’t afford the tuition. It was her turn now. She grabbed hold and hasn’t let go since.
6
She switched her major to History, and went to work for the political campaign of Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates. Her dedication (and yes, hard work) earned her a place on the City of Berkeley’s Peace and Justice Commission - at the tender age of 19. Armed with her undergrad degree, Wright headed straight to UC’s Hastings College of Law. There she racked up awards,
March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
prestigious memberships, and academic scholarships while serving as President of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and working as a federal judicial extern in U.S. District Court. During this time, she also served as Competitions Co-Chair for the Western Regional Black Law Students Association and honed her commercial legal chops with internships at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. All this, and Wright hadn’t even officially joined the workforce yet. Once she was a newly-minted California lawyer, Wright went to work in international law, counseling Fortune 500 companies on product liability, labor and employment discrimination litigation. As a fellow in the Los Angeles African American Public Policy Institute, her fledgling interest in politics and public policy moved front and center. She graduated from Emerge California, a Democratic party program teaching women how to win elected office, and was chosen by Governor Jerry Brown to serve on the state’s Medical Board for two years in a row. Today, Wright represents plaintiffs and defendants as Senior Attorney in labor and employment law for a private L.A. law firm. She also serves as Secretary on the Board of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and continues to
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES
I want to convey that the world is much bigger than the four corners of the walls that you’ve boxed yourself in. Start taking down those walls, one at a time, so you can see the beauty of the world and how you can manifest your destiny in it.
7
win accolades where ever she goes. In 2014 she co-founded Millennial Government Affairs, combining her love of politics, justice, and law, through which she has overseen several victorious California political campaigns. From the looks of it, Jamie Wright is poised to be a major player on the national political scene in the near future. How that plays out for this dynamic force of nature has yet to be seen. We just hope she remembers us when she’s running the country. Monica: It's always a pleasure to talk to women who are blazing a trail and making a difference in people's lives. Jamie: Thank you. Every day it gets a little bit sweeter. Monica: What inspired you to make law your life's work? Jamie: It allows me to advance the interest of people who don't otherwise have a voice. I went to law school because I was concerned about the underrepresented; those who often have no one to fight for them. I wanted to prosecute civil rights offenses for the Department of Justice.
But I also went to law school because of something my father told me. He grew up in Clarksville, Mississippi, in the segregated South. He said that white people in the South would always tell his father, "Have your son go to medical school. He shouldn’t be a lawyer.” Basically, he said that they wanted him to provide them with a service, rather than be able to understand the law. He told me, "If you can interpret the law, you will always be ten steps ahead." It was very profound to hear that from my father. Monica: You work in a field that is dominated by men. Being an African American woman, what challenges have you encountered and how did you overcome them on your journey? Jamie: There are still challenges every day, Monica. The very first is the perception of a lack of competency. Some people assume that I am not as seasoned as they are, or that I don't know as much as they do. In court, I often hear opposing counsel say, "I have been doing this for 21 years and I'm competent," as if to say that I'm not. Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2017
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES So you really have to be prepared. You have to be ten steps ahead in everything. You have to know your craft cold. Second, you’ll be tested in many ways. If, as a black woman, you don’t already have a thick skin, you need to develop one. Just this week, for example, my opposing counsel accused me of professional misconduct simply because he didn’t like the way I was litigating. He actually wrote a motion and signed a declaration, under penalty of perjury, that I had done all these egregious things. I was floored. He attacked me both professionally and personally. Luckily, the judge denied his motion, telling him, "This is bogus and you’d better stop." He got a slap on the wrist. But people do go there. They will test you. This one was particularly nasty. More often, I hear, "What is a nice girl like you doing in the practice?" or "Wouldn't you rather be a movie star, or on TV?"
8
Monica: How do you take comments like that? Jamie: I take it in stride. Basically, they're telling me they like how I look. I just tell them, "Sir, I went to law school because I believe in the power of words. I believe in the power of the letter of the law, and in my ability to fight for my clients.” That's usually enough. Monica: Statistics have shown that a very small percentage of lawyers in the U.S. are African American. Why do you think that is? Jamie: There are economic barriers. I also think there are barriers to entry at law firms. If you look at the data, you will find that black associates tend to leave law firms in droves. There’s a lack of support and mentorship. There are great organizations out there, but I don't think they truly prepare you for the experience of the law practice. It can be a very harsh reality for African Americans. I think we function in a different way in terms of mind, body, and spirit. And the traditional law firm establishment doesn't necessarily lean toward that kind of dynamic. Monica: What advice can you give a young woman who is studying law in college? Jamie: Find a sister mentor who will guide you, hold your hand, and be candid with you. There's no reason for our young black women or men to keep inventing the wheel when there are
March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES enough of us out here who have already earned our stripes. I would also tell her to really focus on her critical thinking, and to clerk or extern for a judge during her first year. That’s where she will see that she's smarter than some lawyers. But the first step is to find a mentor who can say, "I’ve got you" through this process. Monica: How did you blast through all of those challenges? Jamie: With a lot of prayer and supplication to the Lord. I just had this burning internal drive whenever I thought about what my dad said. My dad is a veteran who has suffered from PTSD. He is brilliant. He went to law school but could not afford it. And challenges presented themselves. He said to me, "I can see that you have this same capability. I want you to do this." I always had in the back of my mind what he told me about Clarksville, Mississippi. I thought to myself, "No one is going to tell me, the daughter of Reverend James Wright, that I cannot do this."
Jamie: I have done plaintiff work, but I mainly do defense work. Basically I keep companies clear of violations. I guide them on how to adjust their employee handbook, and how to avoid being sued for wrongful termination after firing or laying someone off. I advise companies on how to accommodate employees with disabilities, to ensure they're engaging in the interactive process. If a company has been sued, I determine the corrective measures that they have taken or can take to show that they mitigated. And if they have engaged in something for which they’re liable, I provide defense to mitigate the damages. If it's a million dollar claim, how do we get it down to a $50,000 claim? How do we poke holes in the plaintiff's theories? Monica: So some people wouldn't appreciate you. Jamie: Yes, but there are many frivolous lawsuits. There are many people who are very money hungry. If they identify a company as one which settles cases rather than litigates, they target that company. So with that in mind, I'm not always the bad guy.
Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2017
9
Monica: As a labor and employment lawyer, how do you serve your clients?
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES Monica: Can you talk about Millennial Government Affairs, the organization you co-founded? Jamie: A friend of mine and I started Millennial Government Affairs in 2014. We're both millennials. We love politics, and we've both worked a lot in politics. So we said, “Why don't we start this business?" Basically, we help candidates who are running for office. We administer their social media. We create their talking points. We handle their crisis management. We’re also a resource bank for candidates who want to know what millennials want and where millennials are on the political spectrum. We provide the sort of preview that candidates need when they're running for office.
10
Monica: In your recent 5 Super Tips press release, you discuss how some people let statistics and societal expectations dictate how to live their lives. They limit themselves as well as their thinking. They become comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Monica: Often at networking events, when people meet someone, the first thing they want to know is how that person can help them instead of offering help. Jamie: Exactly. You should always see how you can help people. Approach them with a hand-open mentality. When you offer help, you usually get something placed in that hand. Monica: Another of your 5 Super Tips is to forget expectations. Jamie: Yes. Your expectation on how something is supposed to be done is not a legitimate reason to avoid blazing your own trail. There's no one right way. There are some paths that people have used, but it doesn't necessarily mean that it's right for you. You don’t have to stick to what other people do. Use your instincts to navigate your path. Monica: Another Super Tip is the Golden Rule.
What can people do right now to change that path and begin a new journey to success in whatever they desire to do?
Jamie: You've got to treat people the way you want to be treated. Whether you believe in karma, or energy, or whatever your view, when you are good to people, it really will return to you tenfold.
Jamie: The first step is to write out the three things that you really want to do. Then write how you can start going toward accomplishing those goals in 30 days, 90 days, 6 months, and one year increments, including small things that you can do.
That's important in life and in business. People remember you, and you start to get a reputation. You don't want somebody to say, "Oh, I know Monica. She's really difficult." You want them to say, "I know Monica and she is great! This is why I want to refer her for this."
When you write, it gets seared in your mind. Some people prefer to type. I handwrite because it's easier for me. And I use sticky notes.
Monica: What has the legal field taught you about yourself as a person?
It's challenging to not let society dictate your reality. But you have to ask yourself, "What moves my heart and soul? If I'm going to spend 80 hours doing this, what moves me?” Monica: The first of your 5 Super Tips is networking. What do you think people are doing wrong when they network? Jamie: Many people are not intentional in their networking. They say, "I'm going to network and meet new people." But you have to be very attentive and think, "In my career path, who are the people doing things I like or admire?" That's who you want to meet, and not because you want to ask them for something. Instead, you may just want to hear how they got to their "yes" in life. You can also find mentors in your networking. It's all about getting advice that you can apply to your life. You’ve got to be intentional.
March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
Jamie: It has taught me a lot about my boundaries. It has given me a high threshold for tolerating a lot of different personalities and moods. It's also helped me think about how I approach people with my words. Words can be very powerful. So I'm always very careful when I'm trying to convey my point to someone, especially if it's not a positive one. Monica: What do you see for yourself in the next three to five years? Jamie: I would love to serve other groups of people. I’ve always had an interest in politics; representing people and their interests before our government. I'd like to mesh more of my public affairs and politics work with the law. There's a really interesting niche there that allows you to do all three. Monica: What kind of mindset does it take to become an attorney?
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES
Be an active participant in life. Do not rest on your laurels and watch life pass you by, period. Be active. Be engaged. Jump the hurdle. If you can't jump a hurdle, figure out how to go underneath it. And make your individuality a priority.
11
Jamie: It depends who you ask. I'd say a determined mind. You have to be almost obstinate: “You can’t push me off this rock because I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to stay the course.” It’s challenging, and it requires that kind of stick-toit-ness.
Observe them. Find out how their profession reflects on their quality of life, and how it lets them move in their space. If you want to have a family, think about family planning and think about community oriented sorts of things. This mentoring and advice is essential.
Monica: What do you enjoy most about what you do?
Monica: Is there anything else that you’d like to tell our readers?
Jamie: So many things. I enjoy figuring out how to solve a problem, and how to convey that to another human being persuasively.
Jamie: I want to convey that the world is much bigger than the four corners of the walls that you’ve boxed yourself in. Start taking down those walls, one at a time, so you can see the beauty of the world and how you can manifest your destiny in it.
Monica: What advice can you give African Americans, both men and women, about becoming attorneys and wanting to serve their own community? Jamie: First, make sure this is really what you want to do because it can be expensive. Once you've gotten past that threshold, find as many people on different paths who will give you honest advice. A lot of people will give you advice, but it won't be honest.
Monica: There's so much going on around you, and outside of those four walls. And some of that is meant for you. Jamie: Exactly. Be an active participant in life. Do not rest on your laurels and watch life pass you by, period. Be active. Be engaged. Jump the hurdle. If you can't jump a hurdle, figure out how to go underneath it. And make your individuality a priority.
Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2017
Alan Santana: The Boxer Who Turned Heartbreak into Hope
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES
O
ne day in 1969, Alan Santana was mad. The eight year old boy been picked on one too many times by the bullies at his Los Angeles Harbor elementary school. He was fed up. When he told his dad about it that evening, his dad told him he needed to learn how to stand up for himself. They headed to the store and got Alan his very first boxing gear. It wasn’t long before Santana watched a Muhammad Ali fight. Beside his dad, who’d spar with him regularly after school, Ali became the boy’s idol. No wonder. Santana had more in common with the trash-talking heavyweight champ than he may have known: Ali himself only started boxing because bullies stole his bicycle.
14
Santana had a highly successful 20 year amateur boxing career during which time he emulated Ali’s fighting technique and style of dress. He won many state and local titles in over 140 fights, and was a proud member of the California/USA Boxing Team from 1980 to 1984. The similarities between the two boxers didn’t end there. Like Ali, Santana also developed a remarkable gift of gab, a skill that has proven advantageous for his ongoing work as a sportscaster and ringside commentator. But shortly after he started boxing professionally, Santana was involved in a car accident while driving a truck for his father’s contracting business. It was a low blow for the promising athlete. The injuries caused damage to his back and shoulder - and permanently ended his boxing career. Once again, Santana’s life echoed Ali’s. While Ali had been stripped of his title and barred from boxing for nearly five years at the peak of his career, Santana’s inability to fight during his own prime sent him into a depression that also lasted five years.
March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
During this time, Santana found it too painful to even watch boxing fights. But when an old friend called to ask if he’d be willing to work with the World Boxing Hall of Fame, Santana came out swinging. He was quickly promoted to the Executive Board, a position which led him to be appointed as North American Coordinator for the World Boxing Federation. Following in his father’s footsteps, a rejuvenated Santana started two of his own businesses, Bay Cities Paving and Concrete, and Alan Santana Inc. consulting. He is also a Fox Sports Commentator and sporting event host. But what keeps him busiest lately is No Teen Drivers, a driving safety program he started a few years ago after a friend’s teen daughter had a close call. With No Teen Drivers, Santana’s goal is to save teen lives by helping law enforcement better identify teen drivers. The program is being well-received by police and high schools in Georgia and California, and it’s already saved lives by educating kids and their parents. No Teen Drivers isn’t Santana’s only passion, though. He recently penned Unprotected, a practical, nuts and bolts book to help boxers, athletes, and aspiring entrepreneurs better understand the financial choices and pitfalls that come with financial success. And therein lies yet another similarity Santana has with Ali, whose own avid interest in protecting the interests of boxers resulted in the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, enacted in 2000 and still in force today. Santana’s been happily married since 1986, has four children, and lives in Orange County California. We hope you enjoy learning more about this true contender. Monica: What was growing up like for you? Alan: I grew up in a fantastic home. I was fortunate to have my mom and dad around all my life. My mom stayed at home for much of the time that my siblings and I were in school. We had a great childhood. Our family Christmases and holidays were fantastic.
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES My father was a contractor. He spent a lot of time with me. I remember him taking me to the park and teaching me how to play baseball. I was very active in sports.
career-ending accident for me. It messed up my back and my shoulder. They said, "You'll never fight again." I had been preparing for a pretty big fight at the time. It never happened.
My mother passed away, unfortunately, after a heart attack. She wasn’t even 56 years old. But my parents had a good marriage for 35 years. I try to instill the same morals and values into my kids that my parents instilled in me.
For about five years, I was very depressed. I wasn't able to watch a fight. I didn't want to see any fights, or have anything to do with the sport. It was heartbreaking that I didn't get to end my career the way I would have liked to have ended it. It took me quite a few years to get over it.
Monica: What influenced your interest in boxing at the early age of eight? Alan: As a little boy, I was one of the smallest kids in the class. I was picked on and bullied quite a bit in school. At eight years old, I just got fed up with it. I went home one day and asked my father to teach me how to defend myself. He took me to a sporting goods store. I still remember this vividly, as if it were yesterday. He purchased a heavy bag, a pair of boxing gloves, and a jump rope for me. That was my introduction to boxing. Monica: During your younger years, you were successful as an amateur fighter.
Alex became my trainer. He molded my boxing style into what I used later on in my professional career. I modeled myself after Mohammad Ali. He was my idol. I wanted to be just like Ali in the boxing ring. Monica: Your career as a professional boxer was shortlived due to an automobile accident. How did that accident change your perspective on life?
I started attending the meetings, and found it was a really neat organization. I moved from being a voting member to an executive on the board of directors. I received a call a week later and was asked, "Would you like to get involved with the World Boxing Federation?" So I sent my resume in. Lo and behold, they said, "Welcome aboard!" I became the North American supervisor for the World Boxing Federation. Monica: So you're still living the dream you started when you were eight years old. Alan: Yes, I am living my dream. Monica: What lessons can you pass on to other young men and women who are interested in the sport? Alan: I've been in the sport for 45 years now. As I was going to the gym every day, I remember guys who would make quite a bit of money - but they would wind up broke. I thought it was a shame that these guys were blowing through all this money and winding up with no money at the end of their careers. So I felt the need to do something about that.
Alan: I was working for my father at the time, driving one of our company trucks. I was about 29 years old. It was a
Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2017
15
Alan: Yes, I was very fortunate. When I was about 14, I had evolved into the sport, so my father took me down to Long Beach to Seaside Gym. I met my first trainer there. Alexander Panton was this gentleman's name. I'll never forget him because he had a great influence on my boxing career and on my life. All the other people at the gym were also very influential in my life.
But the way I got over it was by actually going back into the sport. I had a phone call one day asking if I would be interested in getting involved with the World Boxing Hall of Fame. And I was.
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES I sat down, started writing, and actually wrote a book, entitled Unprotected. I came up with that title because there were so many fighters, male and female, who I felt were unprotected. They didn't know how to read contracts. They didn't know about opening up bank accounts. They didn't know how to market themselves.
Everyone knows somebody who’s been involved in an automobile accident in which a teenager has gotten killed. My own cousin was killed when he was 16 years old. It was a Saturday night and he was out driving with a couple of his friends in the car. He lost control of the car and it went into a ravine with a stream in it. They all died.
I put all of that practical information down on paper, along with some of my experiences, and some other fighters’ and athletes’ experiences. I want to help educate these young athletes, and even people who just want to go into business. The book should be out within the next couple of months.
That's something that affects everybody. It affected our family. I just felt the need to try to educate parents and teenagers about the laws of teenage driving.
That was my way of giving back to a younger generation of athletes and kids who want to become athletes. Monica: You started an organization called No Teen Riders. Can you talk a little bit about its purpose, and about your mission?
16
Alan: I actually started that journey about eight years ago. I was out for dinner with friends one night. One friend’s daughter, who was 17, had just received her driving license. My friend’s phone rang. It was the police from Huntington Beach, saying, "We have your daughter pulled over, and we have all her friends outside of the car. We're going to call their parents and they have to come and pick up their kids. Once they do that, we'll release the car back to your daughter and she can go on her way. But we're going to write a warning for her." She had broken the law by having people under age 25 in the car. When I went home that night, I just felt the need to do something. I jotted down what became the logo for No Teen Riders, plus a license plate frame with the words, “No Teen Riders.” That's how it started.
Monica: So is it about educating both the child and the parents? Alan: It truly is. You'd be surprised how many parents are oblivious to the laws when it comes to teenage driving, even when their own kids are driving. My goal is to curtail the deaths of these teenagers. Every day in America – it can happen in California, New York, wherever – six to eight teenagers lose their lives in tragic automobile accidents. That adds up to about 2,500 teenagers a year. Then another 245,000 teenagers wind up in emergency rooms every year because of these accidents. I looked at how I could solve this problem. How could teenagers be identified when they were behind the wheel of a motor vehicle? For me it was very simple. I drew a logo which became the decal for the window and the bumper sticker. Then I came up with a license plate frame. I actually sat down with a friend of mine who was a law enforcement officer, and I said, "Hey, what do you think of this idea?" He said, "It's a great idea. Now, by having a provisional license on the back of this frame, with 'No Teen Riders' on the bottom, police have a visual aid." Here in California, the law states that, as a provisional driver, you can't drive anybody in the car unless they're over 25
March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES years of age. Now California police know that this teenager has a provisional license and shouldn't have anybody in the car with them. Monica: Is it now a requirement that they have that license plate frame? Alan: Right now it's a voluntary program, and we are pushing it out through high schools. We're talking to PTAs and principals across the United States. The PTAs purchase the frames, and then the parents purchase the frames through the PTA. One of the neat things about our program is that we give back 25 percent of all the sales to that particular high school. We're setting up two scholarship funds for graduating seniors at that same high school. So it's a neat program. For me, being able to give back is huge. We received a resolution from the State of Georgia for No Teen Riders. So September 15th is officially No Teen Riders Day in Atlanta, Georgia. Monica: What kind of reception are you getting as you visit these schools?
Our goal is to have this program in literally every high school across the country within the next two to three years. I want our logo to be just as recognizable as the McDonald's golden arches. Losing a teenager is one of the saddest things that a parent can go through, and it’s happening on a daily basis. I think that it's very important that people understand the scope and seriousness of this issue. It's an epidemic across the entire country, and it's one that people really don't talk about. I did things as a teenager that I look back on now and say, "Wow. That was kind of stupid." And I’m very fortunate that nothing ever happened.
I didn't allow our three children to drive until they were 18. I did that for a specific reason. Not only because I felt that when they got to be 18 they would be a little more responsible and mature. It was also because I had a business. I didn't want to have any problems if, God forbid, they were in an accident. I wanted to protect the business and our other assets from lawsuits. Monica: I applaud you for creating the No Teen Drivers organization and educating parents and teens. The more they know about this, the more prepared they will be as they become drivers. Thank you too, for sharing your insights, your purpose, and your vision. Alan: I'm very fortunate to be in the position I'm in, and to do what I do to help educate these kids and their parents. I'm also honored to do this interview with you, because people like you help me spread the word.
But now there are so many more distractions when kids are behind a wheel. They have cell phones. They are driving and texting. They have their radios. And then they get their friends in the car.
Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2017
17
Alan: I recently met with the head of security for a school district, and he was very receptive to the idea. When I talk to parents, or we talk to principals, they're also very receptive because they see the tragedy that's happening. They understand it. They're willing to come on board, get involved, and help us to promote the program.
Now they have three or four different distractions that we didn’t have years ago. I think the biggest distraction we had was our AM radios.
The Masters Welcome to our Mastery Series. We developed this series to connect entrepreneurs and business owners directly with renowned experts who share proven advice on business and personal development subject matters. Through interviews, each expert provides in-depth information for success. In additional to the written interviews in each issue, our subscribers will also be able to listen to the audio version of each interview. We will continue to add more experts on an ongoing basis. We wish you success in your endevours and look forward to providing you with exceptional content to help you reach above and beyond your goals.
What You Miss Out on When You Put Your Investing on Auto-Pilot Monica: Welcome Chris to our sixth Money Mastery session. It has truly been a pleasure having you as a part of our Exceptional People Mastery series. In the fifth segment you talked about how important it is to save money so that we can be prepared for the future when we retire. Today you're going to talk about how we can safely invest our money. Many people are often afraid to invest their money. Why do you think that is? Chris: I think a lot of times people can be fearful of what they don't understand. There's all kinds of things that are going on in the investing world. A lot of times not understanding it causes that fear or that cynicism to rise up inside of us.
Monica: For those who are extremely fearful of investing their money, what is it that they can do to gradually get started so that they can become more comfortable about investing. Chris: I think any time you start to learn and have an understanding of some things, fear subsides. So, knowledge will help people grow. I would encourage them to get connected with somebody that has the knowledge, but also has the heart of a teacher. What I mean by that is to sit down with an investing professional that wants to help you, that has the heart to guide you, not just to sell you some things. When we get good help from reputable people, it's amazing how our confidence level can be impacted as well as our financial futures.
THE MASTERS Monica: There are people who oftentimes may make the mistake of not diversifying. They put all of their money or most of their money into one particular stock. Can you talk a little bit about the importance of diversifying, and making sure that you spread your money over multiple stocks rather than just focus on one particular stock or company?
22
Chris: Diversification is a $10 word, but it has a priceless lesson. What it means is to spread your money around. You don't want to put all your eggs in one basket; it just creates too much risk. I caution people from investing in stocks. I would push them or guide them to understand more about mutual funds, because mutual funds actually do some diversification for you. I don't put all my money in one area, which will then give me the opportunity to not take on as much risk. Monica: Would you say that mutual funds, compared to stocks, is better for long term financial planning? Chris: Everyone's risk tolerance is going to be different. That's going to impact how you invest. But I would say having lost money with single stocks some 15 years ago, and I'm still not over it, is one of those lessons I learned the hard way. The money had grown tremendously and I was taking more and more risk, and not diversifying. So, to answer your question, mutual funds are going to give you an opportunity to be diversified. If you're diversified long term growth can happen better, because you're not taking just risk. I think of buying and investing in single stocks a little bit like going to Vegas. Everybody that goes out to Vegas plans to win, but I've done speaking engagements there, and I've been on the airplane riding home, and they look like they need a hug. That's because they've lost money. So, you want to be careful. The number one rule with investing is this; don't invest in anything you don't understand. I call it the kiss March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
principle; keep it simple stupid, meaning that you need to know how it works, you need to know what it does, and the expected returns on it before you put one dime into it. Monica: Some people like to invest in real estate also. What are some of the risks, and benefits associated with real estate? Chris: Investing is an incredible opportunity, and investing in real estate is as well. Having done some of that, and worked with people that had hundreds upon hundreds of properties I can tell you there are some pros and cons to it. The pros to it are if you do invest in real estate and you do it with cash, meaning that you don't have debt associated with it, it gives you an opportunity to be in a position where you're not desperate. It's not something you have to sell. You're waiting to get it sold at the price you need it to sell. The other side of it is that it can be very lucrative. People always need a place to live, and so if you are in the right area with the right kind of property management you can give yourself an opportunity to really begin to bring in extra capital. The cons are that it does oftentimes require a good chunk of money on the front end. So, you want to be intentional about it, and be very prepared. If you own the property as the landlord, the other side of it is if something needs to be repaired it's something either you get to do as the owner or you get a property management person involved. So, real estate is one of those things I encourage people to go into with your eyes wide open. You can never get enough information about the property you're buying, because as they say, it's all about location, location, location. Monica: When a comes to investing, a question I think a lot of people sometimes ask is what if I can't get access to my money right away, and also what if an emergency comes up and I need money. Are there liquid investments that people can invest in?
THE MASTERS Chris: That is a hesitancy for a lot of people; to not invest because they're fearful they will need it. But if your readers think back to the last segment where I talked about saving, that's the importance of that emergency fund. We don't really want to invest in a way where we're putting money in and taking it out. We want to invest that money in the right things that fit our risk tolerance, and allow it to grow. So, I think the liquidity factor of it; that's your emergency fund. Monica: For people who are going through difficult times as we talked about in the last segment, who may be struggling even just to save a few dollars every week, do you think it's important for them to focus more on saving rather than investing or should they try to invest as well?
If your readers need some help with this, I've put together a group of people that I trust called Smartvester Pros, and they're all around the country. They can visit my website at chrishogan360.com and click on the dream team button on my website, and they can get connected with someone that will have the heart of a teacher.
Chris: Taxes are always going to be a way of life, and I think it's one of those things where as you look at it you truly want to understand what it is you're investing in. There are some things that are two-fold that I really want to make sure I reveal for your readers. One is the 401(k), and we've all heard that expression, we've all seen it, and a lot people don't understand what it means. If we were to go to the IRS and let’s say they had a library of all their tax laws, and we went to Section 401 and grabbed Item K, all 401(k) means is that companies can provide a retirement savings plan to their employees. That's all it is – a big fancy acronym that means people can put money away for retirement. What I want your readers to be aware of is that when you put money into a 401(k) that money is actually going in pre-taxed. So, you haven't paid taxes on the money yet. So, with a 401(k) that means when we take the money out we'll have to pay taxes on that money. There's something else called the Roth 401(k) and whenever I hear the word or say the word Roth I get a smile. I get happy, because Roth means after tax dollars, which means now when I put my money into that Roth 401(k) all the growth that's happening – it's money that's tax free. So, Uncle Sam can't touch the money when I use a Roth 401(k) or a Roth IRA. It's really a matter, Monica of people having an understanding of their options, what tools are available, and what best suits their situation. I, again, would encourage them to get connected with an investment professional or they may already have one that they trust. But just set an appointment, if you're married take your spouse, and make a list of questions you've always wondered about. Grab your 401(k) statements as well and sit down with that professional and have them review them and make some tweaks. I have found that small tweaks can lead to big gains. It's all a matter of being open and willing to receive the information. Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2017
23
Chris: I would say before you invest, I want to encourage people to make sure that they have all debt paid off except the house. I want them to attack the credit cards, the car loans and get all those things out of their lives. Then after they get out of debt, I want them to build up their fully-funded emergency fund of three to six months of expenses before they start investing for retirement. That'll give you that cushion between you and life happening before you start to put money into investing and mutual funds. The best thing to do when you start to set up and get serious either about investing into your 401(k) or 403(b) is to make sure you get the right kind of help from an investing professional. Somebody that truly understands the ins and outs of the market, and they're not just trying to sell you a lot of things.
Monica: When it does come to investments, you definitely at some point or another will have to pay taxes. What are some ways to maximize your return?
THE MASTERS Monica: Excellent advice. For those who are already retired, should they still consider investing some of their money? What would you recommend for people who are already retired to help them bring in additional income?
24
Chris: I would say this whole topic of retirement; it impacts people that are millennials and working, and baby boomers, but also for people that are already retired. The main goal with investing is to make sure that we're able to outpace inflation. Inflation is the cost of things, and the cost goes up each year, and inflation rates typically hovers around three and a half to four percent. So even if they’re retired and they've got money that they've invested, that money needs to grow. You need to make sure that you're outpacing inflation each and every year. I would say, again, if you've put money in single stocks be very careful. Please get connected with an investment professional so you can start to walk through and see how risky – how truly risky that can be. Even if you're retired, you still need your money to grow. Monica: This is great advice. Even for the person who has never invested or saved before, they can begin to do so and get a better understanding of what it would mean for them to be able to invest their money and begin to see it grow.
March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
For a lot of people, I think once they see how their money starts to grow, then that fear begins to dissipate. Chris: It really does. I want to encourage your readers that may be behind or late getting started. It is never too late to get started. All of us can glance back and look at some things we wished we would have done differently. But the key is that we're here right now. This is the moment that we have as an opportunity. You just need to maximize that opportunity. Sit down, have a conversation, don't let fear keep you from your financial future. I know you have dreams, and it's so easy to get started. We just have to take the right steps. Monica: Thank you very much, Chris. This has been another amazing session on investment. You have provided some wonderful advice which people can jump right in and really start to utilize it. All they need is the right professional who can help them make smart money decisions as well as investments. Chris: Monica, thank you again. It's been a pleasure to be with you throughout this series. I want to wish you and your readers a great and successful year and I look forward to talking to you again soon.
Communicate Your Brand Build Influence, Impact & Income with Your Own Podcast Are you: • Struggling to stand out in a cluttered and noisy marketplace? • Feel like your droning in a sea of competition? • Finding it difficult to capture and maintain the interest of your ideal client? • Unsure how to create a unique and compelling message that generates quality leads? That’s why Annemarie Cross, aka “The Podcasting Queen” created the Ask The Expert Done-For-You Podcast solution which: • Deepens connection and engagement with your ideal client • Let’s people listen to your podcast when driving, exercising, or anytime of the day • Allows you to create your OWN media platform and share your message 24/7, 365 days/year • Creates an evergreen publicity and visibility channel for your business
Do you want to build your Influence, Impact & Income? Let’s talk: www.ThePodcastingQueen.com Annemarie Cross has been podcasting and interviewing national/ international guests since 2008. Through using podcasting and online technologies she has been able to build a global business and now supports her clients in creating their own global visibility and media platforms. She has been listed among Top Entrepreneur/Business Podcasts and has also been syndicated on Zimbabwe Local Radio. Annemarie Cross Business Mentor & Communication Strategist Microsoft Australia Brand Ambassador | VIP Influencer CEO & Founder: Ambitious Entrepreneur Podcast Network Host of Women In Leadership Podcast
Communicate Your Brand
How to Get Noticed, Hired AND Paid What You’re Worth in a Crowded Marketplace
Annemarie Cross The Podcasting Queen
28
THE MASTERS
How to Catapult Your Visibility and Authority in 3 Simple Steps Monica: Welcome back, Annemarie, to the Branding Mastery Series. It's been a pleasure having you as a part of the Exceptional People Magazine Mastery Series. In the previous segment you talked about five key pillars of an influential signature brand that an ideal client will notice and love. But today you're going to talk about how to catapult your visibility and authority in three simple steps. And I'm looking forward to an engaging discussion. But first, would you mind doing a quick overview of those five key pillars that we talked about in the last segment? Annemarie: Absolutely. When you're talking about creating your brand, it's really very important to be able to get clear on specific areas. When you're looking at developing a signature brand, this is a brand that really stands out, even if you're amongst a number of other people who are providing similar services or products as you. These specific areas is what I consider your core values. When you think about core values; that's often tied to your ‘Why’. March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
Something else that you need to know, as well, is who is your ideal client? Often no one hears your message because it's just not resonating with your ideal client. The third step is your signature system. And this is really something like a program that you've developed. It's the core of what you deliver. When you've worked with service providers, the way that they think about their services is very focused on what we call features. It's not benefitdriven. The signature system is when you really plant your flag in the sand, so to speak, and it helps you gain expert status. Pillar four is what I call your irresistible free offer. This is a first experience that often someone will have of you. It might be a checklist. It might be a podcast episode. It provides people an opportunity to experience you, gain an understanding that you do have knowledge in your particular area of expertise, and maybe even gets them into action towards achieving and overcoming challenges. That enables you with your irresistible free offer, to grow your list.
THE MASTERS Pillar five is all about your memorable personal marketing statement, which is really your introduction. If you're at a networking event and you get an opportunity to stand up and introduce yourself to a group of people, and they’re your ideal client, they're going to say, "Hey, we need to talk to you." So those are the five key pillars. Monica: Thank you for that wonderful overview of what we talked about in the last segment. So let's dive into today's discussion about how to catapult your visibility and authority in three simple steps. Annemarie: This is important for anybody that may have been using their expertise in an area where they're very skilled. Unless your ideal clients already know about you, you're going to be unknown. No one knows that you've got a solution to their challenges and their problems.
I saw that it was really generating a consistent, steady number of leads and it certainly worked with clients, too. So let's get into what those three steps are. And then we'll dive deeper into them. Some people might think, "Ah. That's so simple. I know that." Don't discredit what I'm about to share with you because of the simplicity. I would say there is absolute real power and results in simplicity. Often the reason why they may not have worked for us is because we don't do things consistently or don't do them well. Step number one is that you need to create content that you know is of interest and benefit to your ideal client. The second step is you then need to communicate and share that content with the community. The third step is what I call seed and lead. And what that really means is continuing to build relationships with people,
You really influence them in a very compelling way to get them to say, "You know what? I want to know more from this person." That means they're someone who is on your list, or it means they've just picked up the phone, or sent you an e-mail to have a further conversation with you. There's a number of different things. I call that the connectability strategy, where you really then deepen the relationship. So it's create, communicate, seed, and lead. It's something that we really need to do consistently, because I know sometimes we might create something, and then we share it on social media, or we go to a networking event, and we let people know, then we don't really do much else with it. Monica: What I find in talking to a lot of entrepreneurs is that they sometimes look at creating content as a chore. They don't have the time. They're busy running their businesses. So when it comes to creating and sharing content, what I hear from some of them is either they don't know exactly what to create, or they'll ask, "Well, how much should I create?" So they're not quite sure how to approach it. Annemarie: Here's something that I think is going to really support people. I absolutely understand we're busy. It's better off that we're enrolling clients and having opportunities to speak to leads, rather than creating all the content. But content's important. So what about thinking about creating some cool pieces of content which are evergreen? So in other words, if a potential client finds it today, or next month, or next year, it's always going to be quite relevant for them. For instance, I'm all about brand and communication, and now I’m specializing in podcasting. So if I was going to create a core piece of content that was evergreen, I might write an article about ten different ways that a podcast can help you Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2017
29
I know that many entrepreneurs, particularly in a service-based business, when they're marketing themselves, they find that it can really be an ongoing struggle, because they're continuously trying to get their name out there. So I've developed these three steps because it was something that I used consistently.
whether it’s online or offline, and encouraging them to take that next step and that next step is to influence them in a positive way. It's all with integrity and of utmost value.
THE MASTERS build your visibility and authority, and here are some key steps to do that. Imagine if they stumbled across that article, and they found it helpful, and they thought, "Yeah, I think this lady kind of knows her stuff." They check out my website. Maybe then I've created a checklist or some dos and don'ts that they need to consider if they really wanted to consider a podcast. They would then have to give their contact details and then I send them all of that.
30
That's the create and communicate part because I'm sharing that on social media or I'm mentioning that when I'm at a presentation, and the seed and lead is encouraging them to access that checklist or that ongoing training. But I don't have to create that document again. I think what's happening now is so many organizations are saying, "You need to create content." What's happening is all of these pieces of content are out there, but if I can say it's really not of quality, then it's really not providing value. I'm talking about creating and providing content that is going to have someone read it, or listen to it, or watch it, and say, "Wow. This person is someone that I really need to be monitoring and to follow because they know their stuff." So think about creating some core pieces of content. I can't remember who it was that mentioned this or where I heard it. They said, "What about answering the top ten frequently asked questions that my ideal client has?" So in other words, if you find that the people who come to you really do have pressing questions, or they're struggling, or they're having a challenge with a certain area that align with your expertise and the solution you offer, why not create some articles with some core pieces of content which addresses that? The communication part of things is ongoing sharing and that can mean focusing on the social media strategy. Business March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
owners don't need to do that themselves. They can hire a VA or a specialist who can support them in sharing that across the various social media channels. Monica: What percentage of the content that you create should not have a sales pitch? Annemarie: There's a couple of ways to do that. Here's where we err on the side of, “I don't want to let people know because I don't want to feel that I'm being salesy or pushy.” But unless people know that you can support them, they're not going to know. Otherwise it's just some great piece of content that they think, "Oh, that's great. I wonder who I need to find to help me to do that?" So there's some different things that you can seed within the article. Maybe some case studies. And this is a subtle way to demonstrate that you have the ability to support people if they want to say yes to themselves and invest in you. So you might incorporate a case study of a “before and after” that might be nicely incorporated into some of those articles because people see themselves in other people's case studies and they think, "Ah, that's a problem that I had. If they can do it, maybe there's an opportunity that I can overcome that, as well." But at the bottom of the article you can also include that it’s something that you can offer support on. Give them some different options. So it's very subtle. It's just a very polite conversation. If someone's on your website because they have a need, wouldn't it be polite to give them some options on how they may be able to reach out to you to either find out more or what you can do if you want more articles, you might link to a few more articles, maybe if they need to deepen their awareness around that, then tell them how you can support them. Monica: What I've also found and heard is that when you're sharing your content on social media, maybe every 10 to 20 posts is when you should include some type of sales pitch.
THE MASTERS Annemarie: This content that you're creating is going to be of utmost benefit. So in other words, value. It's not really a sales pitch. But what you're saying is absolutely right. There may be an opportunity where you've got a workshop or you have an e-book or something like that. Of course you want to integrate that within your social media strategy so people are aware. But you've got to provide value with all the other areas and things that you share, too. So, in this visibility and authority building strategy which we're talking about, we're talking about creating content that really is going to position you as that authority in your field.
continuing to be built got to a stage where it stopped because there wasn't this great content online. Everything was behind closed doors, so to speak, but a lot of other people who were then some of his clients, actually were providing the great content right up front, and their businesses have soared. So don't be afraid to give the best of your content. Because guess what? It's nowhere near the value that you offer, that's in the experience and the insights, and when you're working with a client as a coach. It could be a way that you question someone or have something re-framed back to them that has them shift through significantly from their struggles to achieving results.
This is not just content for content sake. I must admit I've gone to some articles on LinkedIn. I've read them and then a couple of paragraphs later they’re asking you come to their workshop. To me, that wasn't an article. That's not of value. You were just preempting me to come to your workshop. So that's not we're talking about. If you want someone to stumble across one of your articles or pieces of content, you want them to sit back and go, "Wow. That was really interesting. How can I find out more?"
You cannot get that from one article.
Monica: I think some people have the fear that if they provide too much content or they put too much into any one article or series of articles that the person that's reading it may not want to buy their service or product afterwards.
Secondly, I think you also want to make sure that whatever you're offering, there is consistency to it. Sometimes people have a number of different offerings. So just be mindful as you're continuing to share information that you're not watering down your brand. If you've got a number of different services in your business that you do offer, make sure they are all tied together.
Don't be afraid to give away really good content, share your knowledge. Because people who are willing to invest in themselves are going to see and recognize that you really are a specialist in your field. Monica: I've had other experts tell me the same thing that you shouldn't be afraid to give away your content. The more you give away, the more they'll want you to serve them. Annemarie: You know what's interesting? I used to follow a mentor who would say, "Only give a little bit of your content at the first instance. If they then want to have more of you, more experience with you or more of your expertise, that's when they have to pay for higher level services." It's interesting because I'm no longer with that mentor. This was quite a number of years ago. I can see that particular mentor really struggled because the momentum that was
Annemarie: The seed and lead is looking at various ways that you are consistently going to either grow your list or have people access various offerings that you have. There's a couple of things that you want to consider. One of them we already spoke about. Don't be afraid to share with people how they can get in contact with you.
If you're consistently finding that clients are coming to you for a number of different key areas that you specialize in, make sure that it's under one umbrella. For me it's, get noticed, hired, and paid what you're worth. And there's different facets to that but they know from the content that I share it's all about getting noticed, getting hired, and getting paid what you're worth. With the seed and lead, everything is about communicating your brand. It's creating an experience. Make sure that your auto-responders, e-mails, and the landing pages are similar in consistency to communicating your signature brand. Monica: This is excellent information that you have provided; such great insights. I really appreciate you sharing these wonderful insights with our readers. Annemarie: You are more than welcome. Monica: Is there anything else that you would like to mention or talk about when it comes to catapulting your visibility and authority? Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2017
31
Annemarie: There's a couple of things within that. Number one, if that's someone's mindset, then they're devaluing their expertise. There is no way that someone could reach a level of awareness, knowledge, understanding from reading one article that the author, who is obviously the expert and authority in the field has developed over the years.
Monica: Can you talk a little bit more about seed and lead?
THE MASTERS Annemarie: Well, I think if someone is struggling, really it's all about strategy. Before you go out and you create things and you start to launch and share information, take a step back and ensure your strategy is one that has a simple outline of exactly what your goals are? Ask yourself, “What are my expectations? What is it that I want to achieve?” And then work backwards to make sure it’s everything that you create because it's your time -- even if it's a piece of core content or other little supporting articles, or podcasts that continue to build value. Monica: I'm glad you mentioned that because oftentimes in my experience speaking and working with other entrepreneurs, they want to rush to publish content, but there's really no congruency there.
32
Annemarie: When you're communicating and you're looking at what I call your brand communications wheel, not all of your ideal clients are going to be on Instagram, or Facebook, or LinkedIn, or on YouTube. How often, Monica,
March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
do we hear people say, "I need to be on everything. I need to share X, and share Y"? No, you don't. If you know your clients are on LinkedIn." Why would you bother posting on Facebook or Instagram? Really start to focus, then, on building up your profile on LinkedIn and sharing. Once you've got that role down and you've got great e-mails, and you're connecting with people, then you can look at expanding a little. If your strategy is spraying and praying and you're hoping that something will stick, that's not a strategy. Hope is not a strategy, and neither is the spray and pray strategy. Although praying will work. Monica: Thank you again for these wonderful insights and the advice that you've offered on catapulting your visibility and authority online. Annemarie: You are more than welcome. Thank you for the opportunity.
March/April 2017
Greg Williams Consider Exclusivity to Win Negotiations Pat Markel Making Co-Worker Relationships Work
Theresa Piasta Finding Her Passion Through Her Pain
When your goal seems distant, use the compass of faith to guide you and keep you on course.
Contents Extraordinary Profiles
38 43
Theresa Piasta Finding Her Passion Through Her Pain
Susan Raphael The Many Varied Layers of Artist Susan Raphael
Empower Yourself
47 49
Making Co-Worker Relationship Work
51 53
To Win Negotiations, Consider Exclusivity
6 Ways to Put your Business on the Road to Success Use Mock Job Interviews to Land your Dream Job
Lighter Side of Life
56 58 59
Counting Your Minutes Recipes Profile Resources
Finding Her Passion Through Her Pain
Theresa Piasta
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILE
T
heresa Piasta loves her Waffles. Waffles, the fluffy little white dog, that is.
But this is not your average girlmeets-puppy, girl-falls-in-lovewith-puppy story. In fact, Theresa Piasta’s story is about as serious and scary as they come. Sure, she had what you’d call an excellent - even privileged childhood. The fourth of seven children, she grew up in the idyllic hills of California’s Sonoma wine country. The athletic blonde ranked third in her class academically, was an avid soccer player, and was so popular that she was elected student body president in her senior year. That year was 2001. The same year two jet airliners crashed into two tall towers in downtown New York City one sunny September morning.
Theresa’s dream was to defend her country - after college, that is. She was accepted into Boston’s prestigious Wellesley College, and she won an ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corp) scholarship at the even more prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, just across the river. Four years later, armed with an Economics degree, a Military Science degree, and a brand new Army Second Lieutenant’s uniform, Piasta headed into active duty. In 2008 she was deployed to Iraq, where she earned a Bronze Star Medal leading a Field Artillery Brigade to defend thousands of soldiers at the Iranian border. When she returned from Iraq, Piasta moved to Manhattan and worked as a banking associate, not far from where the twin towers had fallen. While Wall Street was still reeling from the 2008 financial crash, Piasta’s military training had prepared her to overcome obstacles, lead, and succeed. By 2014, she was a Vice President at JP Morgan. But ever since returning from Iraq, Piasta had been keeping a painful secret - even from herself: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). For years, she endured excruciating physical and mental pain while working, smiling, dressing
Piasta knew something had to give. She quit her job and moved to California with her husband. She travelled. She surfed. She did a lot of yoga. Ever the high achiever, Piasta joined Stanford University’s Ignite Entrepreneurial Program. And after nearly ten years of pain, she finally accepted - and admitted - that she suffered from PTSD. Around the same time, she got a puppy named Waffles. Waffles loved Piasta unconditionally and forced her owner to live in the moment. The joy that resulted from this relationship turned out to be the cure for Piasta’s PTSD. It also turned out to be the inspiration for her new business. Puppy Mama, Inc., is a social media platform that promotes dog-friendly businesses by providing a safe place for women veterans or not - to share their own dog-assisted recovery stories. With Puppy Mama, Piasta’s on a calmer, happier path than ever before. She’s broken free of the shame of PTSD. She is clearly energized every time her new positive online community helps another woman. Most of all, she gets to spend her days with Waffles. We caught up with Theresa Piasta recently, and hope you enjoy our conversation. Monica: First, I want to thank you for your service to our country. Theresa: Your appreciation means a lot. Service is a big part of my background. I'm very proud of it, and of every man and woman who has served and sacrificed for this country. Monica: Many people serve in the military because another family member served previously. What motivated you to enter the Army? Theresa: At the time I joined, my father was a Colonel. He was an Active Reserve Judge Advocate General, which is a lawyer in the Army. He went away on the weekends. He was activated around the time I went to college. My older brother was also in the service. He had been inspired to become a Judge Advocate General, like my father. Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2017
39
When 9/11 happened, high schooler Theresa Piasta knew she wanted to join the Army. It was only natural; her grandfather, father, and two brothers were all military men. Along with her mother, they’d always encouraged Theresa to reach for the stars and conquer her dreams.
for success... and succeeding. Multiple doctors, treatments, and prescriptions did nothing to help. Her body became weak, she lost friends, and was having regular breakdowns.
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILE
40
9/11 happened during my senior year in high school, and I was inspired by them both. My dad knew that I wanted to do something to help serve, and he encouraged me. I was student body president in my high school, a great student, and a soccer player. I look back to my upbringing, and how my father and older brother were such an integral part of my mentorship. I wouldn't be who I am today without their guidance. I was exposed to the military through them, and for good or bad that's the path I took. I chose to go to Wellesley College, but it didn't have its own military program. So I applied for a ROTC Scholarship at MIT, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and I got it. I loved my fellow comrades in the program. They were fantastic. There were challenges, but it was so worthwhile working with those people in Boston. They were so passionate and patriotic toward the cause. The day before I graduated, I was commissioned as an officer – as a second lieutenant. That started my next chapter in the military. I am so grateful to be an American-raised woman. There are a lot of benefits to being born on American soil. We have a long way to go for perfect equality across the board. But I saw in Iraq what my life could have been like if I had not been raised in Sonoma County, with my father and brother encouraging me to become an Army officer like them. Serving in the military really helped my professional development, as my dad said it would. Through it, I have become a strong leader. You're put in situations in which you're expected to lead with very limited resources and a March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
good deal of ambiguity. No matter what industry you're in, if you're going to lead an organization and get people to listen to you, they need to feel confident and comfortable with your ability to make decisions under pressure. Monica: You served 14 months in Iraq. Like many men and women, your health and well-being were impacted. You were diagnosed with PTSD. Theresa: When I left the service, I started to experience a lot of pain in my stomach. I was working at JP Morgan. I can't describe the pain, in and between meetings. I kept making one doctor's appointment after the other. Then the pain in my stomach moved to my brain. It was relentless, and I couldn't get rid of it for two years. I still struggle with it today. The doctors didn't know how to help me. It was a constant trial and error to find a way to end the stabbing knives sensation in my brain. Eventually, I realized that my body’s defenses were shutting down after years of fighting pain. Last winter, for example, I got the flu shot, but I had the flu four times. The third time, I went to the doctor. He said that the flu has different viral strains, and that the first thing that stops working is your nervous system. The second is your immune system. Your body starts shutting down. I could feel that my body was tired of fighting off the pain. I thought, “Well, the best ways I can try to calm down are: First, leave my job. Second, focus on the moment. Third, work on breathing.”
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILE It all helped. Yoga and surfing have also helped. But as much as anything, my puppy, Waffles, was so helpful in this process. I am becoming a huge advocate for finding a way to get more service dogs to veterans and to others in need. Monica: Upon returning home from Iraq, how long did it take you to accept that you had PTSD? Did you have a support system to help you get where you are now? Theresa: I had it for such a long time, but I was ashamed to admit it. Many military women fight three battles: They fight the battle itself, they fight the battle to protect their body, and they fight the battle for respect in uniform. My husband was very helpful. I went through anger, and I lost friendships because of that. It was a pretty painful time. Looking back, it saddens me that veterans and others are going through this. I never wanted to let anybody know that I failed at anything that an officer is required to do. I wanted to excel at everything. I didn't want to let anybody know that anything got to me. In fact, the first time I ever shared it publicly was just a couple of weekends ago, at the Lone Survivor Foundation's Gala in Chicago.
Theresa: Banking was a challenging industry, but as a veteran in officer corps I had gained the confidence needed.
In the Army, you change jobs every year or two. So you learn to be a good leader, you learn how to be adaptable, and you become good at doing many different things. I may not be an expert in everything, but Army training is about getting the job done. It can’t always be perfect. In Iraq, I learned to get it done to a point where I was satisfied as a leader. I might be wearing a legal hat today, or I'm wearing a hat to learn how to do technical UX/UI design. Or I am wearing an operations hat, or an event planning hat. I might not have 100% of the time I need, or 100% of the resources I need to do a perfect job. But in the Army you learn to work with what you have. In Iraq, if you spent all your time perfecting one thing you'd never get anything else done. That’s why veterans make great leaders not just in business, but in politics. Veterans have so much to offer society. They understand how to work through ambiguity; they get training through doing. Monica: Everyone has multiple talents and skills, but some people don't stretch themselves enough to use their other skills and talents to broaden their horizons. Theresa: You said that very eloquently. Most people don’t know this, but when I was growing up, I wanted to be a Disney cartoonist. Up until sixth grade my school would put on a play twice a year. I played the role of Aladdin, I played Simba, and I wanted to be a cartoonist with Disney, too.
Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2017
41
Monica: You went from serving in the military to working on Wall Street to entrepreneurship. What did you learn from one experience that helped in the next?
I might not understand something right away, but I had the confidence to know that it was going to happen.
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILE Disney was a huge part of my life, but because of soccer I had to give up those creative paths. Now I'm finally getting back into my creativity, and I am having a blast with it. It's important to leverage every skill that you have. I'm becoming a stronger professional because of it. This year I've learned app product management and development, Photoshop, Illustrator, video production and editing, and Sketch. I didn't learn those skills in banking or in the Army, and I’m broadening my horizons because I am willing to try. Monica: You started a company called Puppy Mama, Inc. Where did that idea come from? What is your mission and vision for the company?
42
Theresa: Puppy Mama started with my own health recovery journey. For my PTSD, I had tried so many treatments and medications, and I’d experienced the side effects from those medications. When I wanted to try canine therapy, one of my doctors said, “Theresa, your nervous system can't handle a newborn puppy.” While I was working at JP Morgan, another neurologist told me that my career in front of the computer screen was not in my future. My puppy, Waffles, really helped me with PTSD. When I’m with Waffles, I'm with a being who absolutely loves me and is there for me. She just wants to put a smile on my face, even in the hardest moments. She doesn’t say anything negative. That's what helped me recover from PTSD.
Theresa: We just launched the first version of the app in which women can share and connect. The app provides a platform for puppy mamas to connect and share with one another, set up puppy play dates, and rate businesses, hotels, restaurants, transportation, and workspaces according to their dog-friendliness. I took the idea to a level at which all these women can share, no matter what they felt their dog helped them with. It was so impactful to their lives. Dogs are great for everybody when they're well-behaved and can socialize in human settings. Monica: Is there a specific message that you can share with women to encourage them to live from the heart? Theresa: What a beautiful question. I have been through multiple careers. I really enjoyed my banking life in New York. But what I love about the Bay Area is that people are following their passion. I'm working more hours, but it doesn’t feel like work at all. Anytime I'm awake - and sometimes even when I'm sleeping - it’s about Puppy Mama. I'm at a hotel and I'm updating the business. I'm on an airplane chatting about my business. I’m always looking for what I can do that's exciting. I'm just constantly looking for ways to make people happier, and it is so fulfilling. Monica: That's the sign of a true entrepreneur.
With Puppy Mama, Inc., our goal is to create a more dogfriendly world and to advocate for the healing power of canine therapy. The Puppy Mama community is a safe place for women to share stories of how their puppies have helped them cope with stress, trauma, and depression.
Theresa: It comes from passion. I might be at a restaurant thinking, “How can I help make this business more dog friendly? How can I share this with my community? What can I do to excite women about this business? What's the next step?” It feels so natural because I love it.
I wanted to bring a focus to mindfulness to people through social media. Lack of community causes negativity on social media. People tend to think that they're hidden by their computer when they say nasty things. So, I thought, here's an opportunity to create a positive community; everybody loves dogs.
I really hope that the women I've met since I left banking are also tapping into their own creativity. I hope that they're experiencing this too, and maybe taking some time off.
No matter where I bring Waffles, the first interactions with other humans are positive. That's where the idea started. I was heading to Costa Rica with her a year ago to work on my health recovery. Her interactions with people were so friendly and loving that I wanted to share my story to encourage other veterans to share theirs. Instead, women kept coming up to me saying, “I'm not a veteran, but my dog saved my life from a terrible divorce,” or some other bad experience. Monica: You're doing something that's helping many women in different ways. March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
Pinterest and Instagram are creating opportunities for any woman to create a blog, get followers, and share their passion. And these women are doing really well. I think the tools are there for women who want to be entrepreneurs in the next ten years. They just have to find a way to get the right mentors and inspiration to go after it. Then they have to stick with it. Monica: How can people get in touch with you? Theresa: People can send me a note at puppymama.com. I'm all about helping women become CEOs. We need more women leaders in the world. No matter what industries I've worked in, I would not have had the same pain if there had been more women around.
The Many Varied Layers of Artist Susan Raphael
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILE Up until six years ago, it never occurred to Susan Raphael to be an artist. For thirty years, the successful public relations executive loved going to gallery openings and exhibits. She often found herself gazing at art store windows “like a kid in a candy store.” But struggling as a painter simply didn’t seem like a feasible occupation. Besides, she couldn’t even draw.
44
Instead, this well-dressed Manhattanite’s creativity found its outlet in public service announcements, press releases, and media negotiations. As National Director of Broadcasting and Advertising for the American Cancer Society, Raphael produced the “Cancer Society Radio News Service” and won an Emmy for “Sophisticated Lady,” a nowlegendary antismoking television PSA. After an early retirement, she combined her radio experience with her love of travel, producing and co-hosting “Let’s Travel,” her own weekly radio podcast. This venture allowed her to spend time interviewing and researching creative artists from around the world. And as she recorded her travels through Europe, Asia, and Africa, it also deepened her love of photography. It wasn’t until a friend urged her to sign up for a local art collage class that Raphael’s passion for art was truly ignited. Now, with the financial means to support her creativity without the constraints of a 9 to 5 career, she was free to pursue painting, photography, sculpture. And all of the above. In layers.
You can rewind the Nikkormat camera, and then you can take a photo on top of a photo, which you can't do with a digital camera.” The layering doesn’t stop there. Working in her Chinatown, NYC, studio, she often juxtaposes varying textures and materials like sand, string, bird feathers, glass beads, and common household items. “On my website, the red paintings are very thick. I put on layers underneath, thick with a palate knife. Then I roll on paint when that's dried. And before that dries, I take squirt cans of water so that again, I'm revealing what's underneath. What’s also revealed is that Raphael herself is a manylayered human being. For one, she considers herself an instinctual artist rather than intellectual, someone who is “learning to paint like a child.” She says that her art’s purpose is not to explore social or political ideas, but rather to express feelings and emotions. Staying away from social and political messages is clearly an effort for Raphael, however. Way back when, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Boston University, so it’s in her blood. “I’m not a message artist,” she says, but she worries about the environment enough to donate a portion of her art proceeds to a sustainable ecology program on New York City’s Lower East Side. She also worries that electronics are diminishing face-to-face social communications, as well as the tactile arts. “Maybe people are creating artwork on the computer, and maybe that’s going to fulfill them,” she says. “But to me, stretching the canvas, cleaning the brushes... the feeling of the materials is so important.”
Layers, in fact, are the constant in Raphael’s art. “There are always two or three layers of a background,” she says, “and then there are a couple of layers on top of that.”
“When I put the brush or the palette knife on the canvas, it's an extension of me,” she says. “The accidents and imperfections during the process all expand my personality; I discover parts of me that I didn't know were there.”
“The kind of photography that I do is called ‘layered photographs’,” she continues. “They're not Photoshopped.
Below that layer is Raphael’s desire for her art to surprise the viewer. “My hope is to have people discover aspects
March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
EXTRAORDINARY PROFILE of my paintings that I did not intentionally put there,” she says. She wants to help evoke viewers’ own sensibilities and experiences, and to help people make their own selfdiscoveries through her work. “When you look at a painting, you're going to see something that I'm not going to see, or that somebody else is not going to see,” says Raphael. “That excites me because it becomes a collaborative experience.” And that collaboration reveals yet another layer - a layer that clearly makes Raphael tick. “I love to get people’s reactions,” she says. “I feel that the meaning of life, really, is to be present for people, to be engaged. David Brooks calls it ‘the stream of life’: to be with people, to listen, to engage, to communicate with people.”
Passion for her art, she says, is what centers her. “Passion gives meaning to your life. It makes you feel alive, more fulfilled, and more likely to engage with other people. I would hope that everybody could find something like that at some point in their life.” For the younger generation, Raphael has this advice: “Follow your bliss. If you or your child has creative urges, find a way to follow them. And no matter how difficult life gets, find something in your life to be grateful for - and focus on that.” “I read recently about the Zulu people in Africa,” she says. “When they meet each other, they don't shake hands. The person approaching says, ‘I am here.’ And the other person says, ‘I see you.’ I think that sort of sums it up. I want to be there for people. I hope I am.”
Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2017
45
Follow your bliss. If you or your child has creative urges, find a way to follow them. And no matter how difficult life gets, find something in your life to be grateful for - and focus on that.
EMPOWER YOURSELF TO
SUCCEED and THRIVE Professional and Personal Development
Making Co-Worker Relationships Work By Pat Markel
EMPOWERMENT
U
48
nless you're living in a cave, you'll probably work with other people at some point in your life. Workplace interactions can be interesting and enjoyable. Or they can be disappointing and frustrating. Your experience of them is entirely up to you.
1
trive to love your work. Make a conscious S decision every morning to love what you do. Whether you're a customer service representative, IT technician or a small business owner, learn to love your work. Your associates will notice you have a true passion for what you do, and they'll develop great respect for you.
2
ow to be optimistic when discussing work V situations with your colleagues. You've probably worked with a negative co-worker in the past and seen the impact of such attitudes. Rather than allow yourself to be pulled down into negativity, keep your positivity high. If you're consistently optimistic, your colleagues will follow suit.
3 4
et a motivating example for your co-workers. S Show interest in work projects. Ask questions. Demonstrate a strong work ethic.
5
tep up to meet work challenges. Show S confidence that your colleagues will do the same. It never hurts to have a "we're all in this together" attitude at work.
6
egotiate work differences cheerfully and N honestly. Speak from your genuine feelings and use tact in your communication. Those you work with will see your honesty, recognize your integrity, and strive to interact with you the same way.
7
eep it "short and sweet." If you're succinct and K clear in your questions and responses, your co-workers will appreciate your efficiency.
e proactive in addressing any difficult issues B with your associates. Work in conjunction with them to solve any troublesome situations early in their development.
Having work relationships that actually work is within your reach. Apply the above strategies to establish and maintain positive relationships with your fellow workers. Developing
March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
Practicing particular behaviors and applying certain techniques in the workplace will help you manage work relationships successfully. Read on to discover the tenets of colleague relationships that work.
8
L isten intently when someone is talking to you. Training yourself to be a good listener is integral to effective relationships, whether at home or work. Avoid interrupting others at all costs. Recognizing your co-workers' feelings is an important step to strengthening your relationships.
9
lthough you may be extremely motivated, A allow other co-workers to shine, too. Give credit where credit is due. Compliment your colleagues openly within earshot of others. Remind yourself that praising them doesn't threaten your work persona in any way. In fact, positivity about others only enhances how people see you.
10
void joining in with co-workers who show A negativity. There's no benefit to anyone if you engage in negative comments or give credibility to such discussions. Spend your precious time elsewhere!
11
Learn to let go of past hurts and struggles with your associates. No real accomplishments can be achieved through holding onto old baggage. Letting go will bring you great relief. Plus, your relationships with those individuals will be on the road to recovery when you decide to let go.
12
e supportive of others. Demonstrate true B interest and involvement in what they're doing. Keep in mind that everyone thirsts for recognition. Being supportive shows you care about your co-workers and enhances your relationships.
effective co-worker relationships leads you down the path to true personal and professional growth.
6
ways
To Put Your Business On The Road To Success By Donna Carletta
EMPOWERMENT
1 2 3 4 5 6
These words of wisdom are from Verne Harnish in his new book: Scaling Up. It Can Help You Avoid Common Growth-Stifling Mistakes. Harnish is the CEO of Gazelles, an executive education firm.
Most entrepreneurs treat marketing as glorified sales support. Don't be myopic about marketing. Plan it well.
Crank up the flow of qualified job applicants. Harnish recalls a trash collecting company that used this ad to attract people who were physically fit enough to collect trash: "Would you like to be paid for your workout?
50
Value your accountants. They will keep tax collectors at bay, issue and pay invoices, and much more. But hire one who can gather the data you need to see where you're making money by product, customer, location and salesperson.
Teach your people well. They need to be able to predict where the market is heading and be able to communicate on the company's goals, values and priorities, according to his interview with Fortune. Give them time to attend classes, conferences and seminars so they can learn and so you won't have to pay for their mistakes.
Fight process paralysis. Functions like recruitment, billing and customer service are likely to have hallway closets. Clean them out rather than just throwing more money at them. Streamline the workflow.
Invest in systems. Harnish says growing companies need to upgrade their infrastructure at three critical points. At 10 employees, get a better phone system. At 50, invest in sophisticated accounting software. At 350 employees, develop a single database that links all key information, so a simple change of address by a customer doesn't trigger a cascade of mistakes.
Procrastinating on this will stall your growth. Your rivals have already made these changes.
March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
To Win Negotiations, Consider Exclusivity By Greg Williams
EMPOWERMENT When negotiating, what strategies do you employ? In the appropriate situation, do you vie for exclusivity in your negotiations? Negotiating in an exclusive manner isolates you from others that might be competitors. Thus, negotiating in an exclusive mode is a powerful negotiation tactic. This Negotiation Tip highlights a tactic that you can use to exclude others from a negotiation and from negotiating against you. The Environment For Exclusivity To Work In order for the exclusive negotiation tactic to work, the other negotiator has to be in a position where he needs what you have and is 100% sure you can deliver upon that need, quickly. There has to be a time constraint factor attached to your offer that leaves the other negotiator with few options to consult with others about your offer (i.e. you don’t want another source to be able to make a counteroffer).
52
The Set Up The attempt to effect this tactic can occur prior to and/or during a negotiation. To position yourself correctly, observe the other negotiator’s negotiation efforts to conclude a deal. In general, the more information you have about the party with whom you’re negotiating, the better your position. In this case, the more information you have, the more your position improves, significantly! Timing And Presenting Of The Exclusive Offer In order for this tactic to be effective, its delivery (offer) must be timed to coincide with an almost desperation mindset of the other negotiator. Your offer should be prefaced with a statement such as, “if I agree to accept your offer, will
March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
you accept mine without any counteroffers or offers from others?” If the reply is yes, you’ve accomplished the proper positioning for this tactic to work. Then, depending on the offer made by the other negotiator, you can accept or decline it. In either case, you’ve eliminated other negotiators from participating in the process. Potential Problems In order for the exclusivity tactic to work, you must set your offer up so it prevents others from negotiating against you. Such efforts may require patients, proper timing, and a sense of desperation in the mindset of the other negotiator. If any of these factors are out of alignment, your chances of successfully implementing this tactic will be greatly diminished. One way to insure you win more negotiations is to exclude those that would negotiate against you. If you want to win more negotiations, utilize the exclusivity tactic in your negotiation efforts. You’ll be rewarded with more winning negotiation outcomes … and everything will be right with the world. Remember, you’re always negotiating. The Negotiation Tips Are • Never be overly greedy when negotiating. Even when you’re able to exclude others from negotiating against you, make sure the other negotiator is very satisfied with the deal. • Exclusivity is a powerful negotiation tool. Seek its use when possible to improve your negotiation outcomes. • By observing the body language of the other negotiator and interpreting it accurately, you can gain insight into his mindset. By utilizing that factor, you can perfect the timing of your exclusive offer.
Use Mock Job Interviews to Land Your Dream Job By Kathy Kentty
53
EMPOWERMENT It's natural to feel nervous about job interviews but you can use mock interviews to gain confidence and make a better impression on a potential employer.
Preparing for a Mock Interview 1.
Do your research. Act like you're preparing for the real thing, starting with comprehensive research. Identify the industry and the type of position you want. It may be helpful to use an actual job description from a specific company to keep you focused.
2.
Rehearse answers to common questions. Put together a list of questions that are likely to get asked in an interview. Practice a brief opening statement describing your qualifications. Later, you can customize this for each situation. Go over your job history to extract several success stories that demonstrate your abilities.
3.
54 6.
Select a neutral setting. Try to hold your interview
in the same type of setting you want to work in. If you're looking for an office job, visit your friend's office before work or book a meeting room at a local restaurant. 7.
2.
Dress the part. Wear your interview suit. It will help to put you into the right mindset and give your friend a chance to confirm that you're dressing appropriately.
March-April 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
Repeat as often as possible. Schedule as many drills
as you need to get comfortable and competent with the interview process. Ask your friend to vary their questions and approach each time. Keep track of your progress. 3.
Work on your greeting and closing. Everything you
do contributes to the impression you make on your potential employer. Learn to shake hands smoothly while you're carrying a briefcase. Prepare concise closing statements that sound natural while expressing your gratitude and enthusiasm. 4.
Finish up with a debriefing. Review every session
with the person helping you. Gather all the advice you can. Write down what you need to work on, as well as the areas where you succeed in making improvements. 5.
Watch yourself in a mirror. It's best to train with
another person, but using a mirror is the next best thing if no one else is available. You'll be able to see whether you look poised or anxious. Watch your hand gestures and observe your facial expressions. Even if you do have someone to help you, practicing with a mirror is a valuable supplement to your mock interviews.
Discuss your goals. Have a preliminary talk with the
person who's helping you. Share what you want to achieve with them. Let them know that you appreciate candid feedback on your entire performance, from body language to verbal responses. An outside observer can help you identify any distracting mannerisms you may have.
Record your session. A video or audio recording
provides helpful documentation. You'll be able to see how much you really fidget or how often you insert the word "like" into your sentences.
Choose your mock interviewer carefully. A friend who
works in human resources may be an ideal choice. People with a managerial position in your chosen field can also be helpful. Look for someone who can devote adequate time and take the task seriously. 5.
1.
Develop your own questions. Brainstorm relevant
questions you can ask to demonstrate your interest and knowledge about the job opening. Find out how industry trends are affecting your potential employer. Clarify aspects of the organizational culture that may not be described in its written materials. 4.
Conducting a Mock Interview
6.
Consider professional services. If you want to go a
step further, explore professional services. Most universities offer a wide range of support through their career service centers. Employment agencies are another resource to explore.
The more you practice, the better you'll perform at your actual interview. Mock interviews can make you stand out as a better candidate in this competitive job market.
LIGHTER SIDE OF
Life
Counting Your Minutes By Dorothy Rosby
LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE If we’re average, and how many of us can say that we are— we’ll live 40,996,800 minutes, give or take a minute or two. If you’re above average in math or have a really good calculator, you know that equals 525,600 hours, or 28,470 days, or 4056 weeks, or 78 years on average. But who’s counting? However you measure it, it sounds like a nice, long time until you realize we’ll spend around 26 years of it sleeping. That’s right, one third of our lives gone, poof, and we haven’t even gotten out of bed yet. Then we finally get up and eat for an average of 3 ½ years. And when we’re done with that, we’ll spend 1 full year looking for lost objects, 8 months going through junk mail, and 42 entire days listening to recorded messages asking us to please hold for the next available operator because our business is so darned important to them.
I did spend at least an hour on the Internet researching what I’m sure you’ll agree is the fascinating subject of how we squander our 40,996,800 minutes. And, as is often the case, I have some complaints, chief among them, that
My other complaint is that none of the researchers asked me how I spend my time! If they had, I would have told them that I’ve already used my allotted one year looking for lost objects, and quite possibly a couple of months of your year as well. And I know I’ll spend way more than 42 days of my life on hold, since that’s how I spent the entire month of January. (I’d upgraded my computer without an accompanying upgrade in skills, so I required a lot of support.) On the other hand, I should come in under the 8 month average for going through junk mail, since most of mine is still stacked on my kitchen counter. And there’s no way I’ll rack up 6 months over my lifetime waiting at stop lights either, since I spent 18 years living in a town that didn’t even have any. And we’ve already established I’m missing the mark on housework and Internet use. That raises an interesting question: What the heck have I been doing with my time? And I suppose that’s the point. If we have only 40,996,800 minutes to use, we better use them wisely. I don’t mean to criticize, but if you’ve read this far, you’ve just wasted a couple of yours.
Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2017
57
I read these statistics on the internet, so they must be true. And speaking of the Internet, people who are born today— not that I was—will spend 28,470 hours, or just over 3 years of their lives on it. I was born long before the Internet was widely used, leaving me to wonder how I made it this far, but also reassuring me that I have little chance of spending 3 years of my life online. What a shame! The only way I’ll make it to three years at this point is if I start eating and dozing while I sit at the computer. Oh wait. I already do that.
some of the researchers reported their findings in minutes, others in hours or days. That forced me to spend far too many of my minutes doing the math, and you to spend some of yours checking my work. I know you’re doing it! Don’t waste your time that way. If you need something to do, come clean my house. I know for sure I’m not spending 18 hours a week on housework, like the average American woman apparently does.
58
LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE
Simple Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine America is a melting pot of nationalities. Each has its own cuisine that is passed down to the next generation. But few of us will turn down a meal of Italian pasta. Today, both restaurants and home chefs are adding to their pasta offerings; a favorite is linguine, which are thin flat strands of pasta that mean “little tongues” in Italian. Shrimp scampi is a staple in American-Italian restaurants, but is shrimp a scampi? Actually, scampi are crustaceans that look like miniature lobsters, but Italian immigrants couldn’t find them in the U.S. They substituted shrimp and used both names to lessen confusion. Now, scampi can mean the method that shrimp are prepared. The following recipe is easy, delicious and addictive. It's quick, inexpensive, and elegant enough for any occasion. To make it even easier, the recipe uses fresh linguine and already-made cream sauce from the refrigerated section of your grocery store (sometimes called alfredo sauce), jazzed up with lemon.
January-February 2017 | Exceptional People Magazine
Ingredients: 1 package (9 ounces) Buitoni Refrigerated Linguine 1 pound cooked jumbo-sized shrimp 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon butter 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 container (10 ounces) Buitoni Refrigerated Light Alfredo Sauce 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel Chopped fresh parsley (optional) Grated fresh parmesan cheese Directions: 1. Heat oil and butter in a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté one minute. 2. Add the shrimp, lemon juice, grated peel, and a little black pepper. Stir to coat shrimp and heat through. 3. Add the fresh alfredo sauce and reduce heat to medium-low. Prepare linguine according to package directions; don’t overcook. 4. Either add the drained linguini to the skillet and toss well, or place individual servings on plates and spoon the shrimp scampi sauce over the top. Sprinkle with parsley and coarsely grated cheese. Linguine is best served hot.
Profile Resources Jamie Wright www.jamiewrightesq.com https://www.fsmb.org/Media/Default/PDF/2015_16_Committees.pdf Alan Santana www.noteenriders.org https://youtube/blACAjjpNQE Susan Raphael https://www.linkedin.com/in/susi1 https://www.yourartgallery.com/photo/NDI4NWRmYmJkNWQ0NzA=/Afternoon-Tea.html Theresa Piasta www.puppymama.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresapiasta https://www.facebook.com/theresa.piasta
Design, Graphics and Photo Credits Theresa Piasta Photos by: Amber Mae Photography https://www.facebook.com/ambermaebailey.photography/ Magazine Design and Graphics, and Cover Design by Jenette Antonio Sityar
ThereÔs a hidden treasure within you thatÔs waiting to be discovered. Reveal it and share it with the world.