Celebrating International Women's Day~ Championing Inspirational Women!

Championing Inspirational Women!

-I consider myself to be a Pro-life Conservative Feminist.  I know to some people those might seem like contradictory terms, but to me they aren't.

Pro-life
 -I celebrate all life, I don't believe in killing girl babies or boy babies.  How are you a feminist if you think it's acceptable to not even give girls and women a chance to be born?

Conservative
-I believe in capitalism, which empowers everyone, especially women.  Trump's economy has empowered women and minorities with economic success.

Feminist
-I look at women's history and we weren't able to vote until August 18, 1920.  Women didn't have educational and employment opportunities until fairly recently.  
-I was told by many in the Christian and conservative world that the women's movement was too radical, etc... In some ways it was, as I've stated above, I'm not pro-abortion.  
-Yet, I believe that women are equal to men, and deserve the same opportunities.  I'm outraged at how women have been treated by men when it comes to sexual harassment and assault.

Today, I'd like to celebrate a few of the women who have inspired me:

Malala Yousafzai 

-The young girl who stood up to the Taliban and won.  They shot her in the head but she miraculously survived.  She went on to become the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Prize.  She has written several books, and has won too many awards to list.  A documentary about her life came out in 2015. She continues to be an activist for children and women.

Margaret Thatcher

-Politically, for conservative women, Thatcher is the ultimate hero.  I wrote a profile on her on this blog.  A couple fun facts about her:

-By her teens, she said politics was in her bloodstream
-She became a member of Parliament on October 20, 1959, exactly a week after her 34th birthday
-The Soviet Union meant the nickname, "Iron Lady" as an insult, but Thatcher took it proudly
-She was the first woman to become Prime Minister of Great Britain at the age of 53
-She was the first woman ever to head the government of a major country in Europe or America
-She chose her 22 member cabinet in 2 days
-She got 4-5 hours of sleep a night
-She won re-election in 1983 by a landslide, 144 seats, the largest margin since 1945

Condoleezza Rice

-She is extremely intelligent.  She was the first woman to be National Security Adviser and the first female African-American Secretary of State.
-I've gotten to hear her speak in person twice and she is fascinating.  She has written 3 books so far.  She would've made an outstanding first woman president if she had wanted to pursue that course.

Eleanor Roosevelt

-I've spent a lot of time studying the presidents and their wives.  I still have more studying to do, but as of now, Eleanor is my favorite.  I wrote a profile on her and on the documentary, The Roosevelts.
-She achieved an incredible amount of success after overcoming an incredible amount of hardship.  She was a champion for those who sometimes couldn't fight for themselves.  My favorite book of hers talks about facing your fears. 
-This quote by Diana Dixon Healy does a fairly good job of summing up her life:

There was once a young woman, born in 1884, who grew up in the old aristocratic society of New York City and its more exclusive environs.  She conformed to her caste's attitudes toward minorities, women, marriage, and her place in the world.  Yet by the time Eleanor Roosevelt died in 1962, she was known as the First Lady of the world and the champion of African Americans, Jews, women, the young, the poor--virtually all who ever needed a champion.

Maya Angelou

-As I have pursued my dream career these past 2 years, the women who have inspired me beyond belief are this woman and the woman coming up next.
-Just like Eleanor Roosevelt, Maya overcome a lot of hardship in her life.  One big difference is that Maya was born poor but worked hard to eventually become wealthy and successful.  While she was doing all of that, she inspired millions with her words.  She has written many books.  I've read quite a few and am working on the rest.
-I respect, admire and love this woman.

Dolly Parton

-I've known who Dolly Parton was my whole life, but I only used to view her as a country singer with big boobs.  I had no idea who the REAL Dolly Parton actually was.
-It turns out she had big dreams as a little girl and never gave up on them.  She, like Maya Angelou was born into poverty, but that didn't stop her from pursuing her dreams and never giving up.
-She had to fight tooth and nail to become successful, but she did.  She is not only a singer, actor, and performer but a brilliant entrepreneur.
-I read her memoir, Dolly and was inspired.

Top Ten Books of 2019

My Top Ten Books of 2019

It's been another exciting and eventful year, and it involved a lot of reading.  This year, I set my highest reading goal ever and exceeded it. 

I also find it ironic that after I picked my top 10 books, 5 of them were inspirational biographies and 5 were books on empowering me to pursue my goals/passions/dreams.

1) The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up--I discovered this book on a lot of lists that had other books on it that I loved, so I thought I'd give it a shot.  Marie Kondo is an amazing little lady who gives you the tools to de-clutter your house and your life for good.

Rachel Hollis in her Made for More documentary mentions 5 foundational things to set yourself up for success-  #1 is Physical Environment.  It  was then that I realized I needed to get my house in order to be free to pursue my other goals.

I spent several months following Kondo's KonMari method, using her companion book, Spark Joy.  I would have to agree that it is life changing.

2) The Morning Side-Kick Journal--I would have to say that these top 2 books have been the most impactful for my life this year.  I kept seeing these Habit Nest Journals being advertised on Instagram and I asked for this one for Christmas.  I started using it in January and it enabled me to be a lot more productive.

It is like having your own, personal life coach and trainer.  When I finished the journal, I was on the path to becoming a morning person.  It made such a difference to get up at the same time every day no matter what and to have a rock solid morning routine.

I ended up making my own personalized journals to keep the momentum going.  I also bought 2 work-out journals from Habit Nest as well and love them.

3) Girl, Stop Apologizing--I have become such a huge Rachel Hollis fan.  Her books and life encouragement/empowerment on Instagram have radically changed my life.  The message in this book resonated perfectly with my life right now.

4) Big Magic--I had never read any of Elizabeth Gilbert's books before this one.  As I pursue my creative passions this was a huge boost for me.  PopSugar had this perfect description of the book:

A must read for anyone hoping to live a creative life... I dare you not to be inspired to be brave, to be free, and to be curious.

5) So You Want to Start a Podcast--I have started my radio career and as I gain experience, I've also been pursuing starting my own podcast.  I found this book to be helpful and inspiring.

6) We are Our Mothers' Daughters--While I didn't always agree with Cokie Roberts politically, I LOVE her books and she had an incredible career.  She has written several history books about women that I love and I found this book at a thrift store and LOVED it.  When she passed away this year, it was a great loss.

It was during the reading of this book that I discovered how remarkable Aung San Suu Kyi is, and how she advocated for freedom for her country at a high personal sacrifice.  I also discovered how Laura Bush had strongly advocated for Aung San Suu Kyi's cause. After finishing this book, I wanted to learn even more about Aung San Suu Kyi which led to my next book.

7) The Burma Spring: Aung San Suu Kyi and the New Struggle for the Soul of a Nation--The description below gives you a small glimpse into the book:

Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's "woman of destiny" and one of the most admired voices for freedom in the world today, comes alive through this brilliant rendering of Burma's tumultuous history.  Award-winning journalist and former State Department speechwriter Rena Pederson brings to light fresh details about the charismatic Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi: the inspiration for Burma's (now Myanmar) first steps towards democracy. 

8) Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business--Jen Sincero had a bunch of small challenges in her book, You are a Badass Every Day, and one of them was to read a biography of someone who inspires you.  It was a no brainer for me and I bought Dolly Parton's memoir and read it.

I can't say enough good things about Dolly, the more I learn about her, the more I admire her.  

9)  James Madison--I have a lot of respect for the whole Cheney family, and I love Lynne Cheney's books.  This book is no exception.  I love presidential history so it was a perfect match.  Below is my  review:

The best book I've read on James Madison by far. Cheney does a great job of explaining the differences between the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans and how the parties transpired. It is a great look at Madison, Dolley Madison, Thomas Jefferson and the historical events that transpired during Madison's lifetime.

10) The Matriarch-- Susan Page does an does an excellent job of giving a comprehensive look at the life of Barbara Bush and her family.  Twenty years ago, I had read Bush's own memoir, but she doesn't necessarily give a detailed account of her entire life. So, this book filled in a lot of gaps.
I liked that while the book was supportive of Barbara Bush, it also addressed negative accusations and showed both sides.

Previously:
Top Ten Books of 2018

Gary Sinise is the Real Deal

The greatest part you've (Gary Sinise) ever played is yourself.~David Von Drehle

I am on Rainy Day Books mailing list to find out about events exactly like the one that my husband and I attended last night.

The Truman Library Institute and Rainy Day Books sponsored the event which was entitled, An Evening With Gary Sinise.  Sinise was interviewed by Washington Post columnist, David Von Drehle about Sinise's new book, Grateful American.

I walked away with a greater sense of Gary Sinise's life and a much deeper respect for him as a person.

I, like many others basically knew that he became a well-known actor after playing a disabled Vietnam Vet in Forrest Gump.  I knew he played on CSI, and that he did a lot of volunteer work for the troops.  He has done so much more...

He didn't just accidentally stumble into the role on Forrest Gump, he had talked at length to Vietnam Vets in his own family, and thought it was an important role.  Afterwards, he wanted to do more to help, and that was especially intensified after 9/11.

He decided on the Day of Prayer after 9/11 that he wanted to serve those who were raising their hands to serve our country.  He has done that in incredible ways.  He worked for the USO and many other military charities.  He started a program called Operation Iraqi Children (now called Operation International Children).  The warehouse is here in Kansas City and years ago my kids and I volunteered and put together some of the backpacks of school supplies when I was still homeschooling.

He has won countless awards for all of his service and has started his own charity, The Gary Sinise Foundation.  A brief description of his service and awards:

Gary Sinise is an Oscar-nominated actor and winner of an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and two Screen Actors Guild awards, and has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, all while advocating for America’s veterans for nearly forty years.  

For his service work, Gary has been presented with numerous humanitarian awards:

--Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society,

--The George Catlett Marshall Medal from the Association of the US Army

--The Spirit of Hope Award by the Department of Defense

--He was named an honorary Chief Petty Officer by the United States Navy

--He was pinned as an honorary Marine, and received the Sylvanus Thayer Award at West Point, given to a civilian "whose character, service, and achievements reflect the ideals prized by the U.S. Military Academy." 

--He's also the recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest civilian honor awarded by the President of the United States to citizens for "exemplary deeds performed in service of the nation.

At the end, there was time for audience questions.  A woman started crying while trying to convey her appreciation for what Sinise's foundation has done for her and her family.  Gary didn't hesitate to walk off stage and give her a hug.

The last thing that was said was the quote that I included at the top of this post.  Gary is an incredible actor, but as David said, the greatest part he's every played is himself.

I left inspired and encouraged to think of what I could do "to be of service to others".

The Morning SideKick Journal

Year of Personal Growth

2018 was a year of change and great personal growth for me.  I am excited to start 2019 off by building on all of that growth.

I was looking at various personal growth journals last year, and finally decided on Habit Nest's The Morning Sidekick Journal. 

Habit Nest has a variety of journals and their mission statement is:

To provide you with the information, motivation and accountability you need to enact the change you want to see in your life in bite-sized pieces you can swallow whole and implement immediately.

I have been using it for 8 days and it has been exactly what I needed.  It helps my ADD brain stay focused on what it important.  I've had an amazingly productive week.

It has affirmations and other encouragement throughout the journal to help keep you motivated.  If you are looking for that extra spark to make your year/life better, this is it.

Top Ten Books of 2018

My Top Ten Books of 2018

It has been an exciting and eventful year, and it all started with a book!

1) You are a Badass--This is the book that kicked it all off.  If you haven't read it yet, check out my review and get your copy.  Jen Sincero inspires you to live your best life while entertaining you at the same time.

2) You are a Badass at Making Money--Another phenomenal book by Jen Sincero. It is not an understatement to say that both of her badass books have dramatically changed my life.

Sincero reveals (in a way that finally clicked for me) that the way to changing your life is by changing your thoughts.

3) Girl, Wash Your Face-- "Rachel uses her infectious energy to empower women to take control of their lives and pursue their passions without fear. Motivational, inspirational, and always approachable."

The above quote describes Rachel Hollis so well. I LOVED, LOVED this book. I was telling my nurse one day about how I had been inspired by You are a Badass, and she told me I needed to read this book.

Somehow, I knew that I needed to read it and went home and ordered it from Amazon right away.

Rachel has motivated me, inspired me and empowered me to pursue my passions without fear, and I love her for it.

4) The Pursuit of Happyness-- I can't believe that it was only a year ago that I first saw the 2006 movie based on this book. The movie really inspired me to not give up on my dreams.

As with most things in life, the movie only showed a portion of how hard things were for Gardner and how long it took him to get back on his feet. To say this is an inspirational true story is an understatement. Once you get into the meat of the book it is hard to put down.

5) Never Broken--I heard Jewel speak at a radio convention in Orlando. She talked about her work helping people cope with anxiety. It really spoke to me and I researched more about her and discovered this book.

Jewel's life story is incredible and her hardships have helped create a woman who is full of insight and wisdom.

This book was therapeutic and helped me to gain insight into my own life as well. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

6) Dream More--I've only recently become aware of what a bad ass Dolly Parton is and I'm impressed. She came from very humble beginnings but believed in herself and God. She followed her dreams no matter how many people told her she couldn't, and has achieved success on multiple levels.

She is not only a successful singer and actress, but she has done amazing things for her hometown which branched out to being nationwide accomplishments. She is known to be the book lady by many because of her huge efforts to combat illiteracy.

This book is just a snapshot of her words of wisdom on how to live a meaningful life. It is inspirational and a must read for anyone who wants to live life with a purpose.

7) What Would Dolly Do?--This year has been one of self-discovery and finding the courage to finally follow my dreams. I've found some role models who have paved the way and Dolly Parton is at the top of the list. The more I learn about her, the more I am impressed and amazed.

She has not only followed her dreams and accomplished huge things, but she has given back and done unbelievable things through her charities. She has smashed through the glass ceiling in so many ways, we could all learn so much from her life.

The author of this book does a great job of enabling us to learn all the lessons from Dolly's life. This book was a great idea and well executed.

8) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings-- Maya Angelou is my other heroine of the year.  I didn't realize what an incredible woman she was until watching a documentary recently. When I started looking up her books I found that she had written numerous autobiographies of her life. This one was the first one, it was painful to learn of some of what she'd been through, but amazing to see her resilience.

She was an advocate for civil rights and women's rights, and an incredible role model for us all.  

9) Phenomenal Woman--A great set of empowering poems for women by Maya Angelou.  
10) 29 Gifts--This book was mentioned and recommended by Jen Sincero. I decided to check it out and was not disappointed. I found Walker's journey through the 29 gifts inspirational. As a result, I  started my own 29 gifts in 29 days journey myself. 

Vice President Mike Pence Rally at HyVee Arena in Kansas City

It's a choice between resistance and results.

Conventional wisdom says it's going to be tough to post victories in Kansas and Missouri this year. But I think we all know what President Donald Trump thinks of conventional wisdom. We made history in 2016 and we're going to make history in 2018.~VP Mike Pence

I have been a Mike Pence fan long before he became Donald Trump's running mate.  When I heard that he was coming to Kansas City, I was excited.

You cannot legislate righteousness, you cannot enforce kindness but you can choose to be righteous, and you can choose to be kind.~Rabbi at the KC Rally 

The rally started off with a moment of silence for the 11 victims of the attack on the Pittsburgh Synagogue.  A pastor and a Rabbi both prayed, I loved the above quote by the Rabbi.  A soldier sang the Star Spangled Banner, my husband and I were both impressed at what an amazing job he did. 

Some of the Speakers:

-Missouri Governor Mike Parson
-Lt. General William Boykin (Ret.)
-ACU chairman Matt Schlapp
-Travis Weber
-Kris Kobach
-Kevin Yoder
-House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy
-Steve Watkins
-Josh Hawley
-VP Mike Pence 

My favorite parts:

-Matt Schlapp bringing up Lindsey Graham's speech during the Kavanaugh hearing and Susan Collins' courageous vote.

-I was impressed with Kris Kobach's speech and personal charisma.  He has been so demonized by the KC Star and liberals that you forget what a Republican Rock Star he is.

-Kevin Yoder quote~I’ll tell you our work here is not just about helping Republican Americans or Democrat Americans or Independent Americans. These policies are about helping all Americans realize the American dream.

Read more here: https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article221020220.html#storylink=cpy

-Kevin McCarthy's speech was so inspirational.  I'm not sure I've ever heard him talk before.  I was impressed.  He told the story of the German immigrant who painted George Washington Crossing the Delaware.  He talked about being a risk taker and never giving up.

-Josh Hawley is a great guy, can't wait for him to be my U.S. Senator.

My favorite Mike Pence moments and quotes:

-He brought up the awesome news on the economy.  3.7% unemployment rate, lowest unemployment ever for Hispanics and African Americans.

-He mentioned all the progress that has been made in the past 2 years~2 years of results, action and promises kept.

-He said that he hasn't seen many that have Josh Hawley's character, intellect and vision, and that Hawley stands for Missouri's values.

-He talked about how the synagogue attack was not only criminal but evil.

-He pointed out that the Republican party (especially Hawley & Yoder) will always protect pre-existing conditions.  (It has really upset me how the Democrat party has tried to say that Republican candidates that aren't for Obamacare are against protecting those with pre-existing conditions.  It's a boldface lie and not true.)

Radio Show 2018

Radio Show 2018 in Orlando, Florida
In August, I posted about my awesome experience at the MBA Radio Talent Institute.  While there, Dan Vallie encouraged us to apply to the 2018 Radio Show Convention in Orlando.  Several of us (Kadrae Smith, Kramer Sansone, Bukola and I) applied and got accepted.

My Favorite Parts...
Luncheon with Major Garrett and Jill Schlesinger
When I found out that Major Garrett was going to be one of the speakers, I was excited.  I got to meet him and he was very real and genuine.  I talked to him about Tony Snow and he confirmed that Tony was the real deal.

Garrett talked about his new book, Mr. Trump's Wild Ride.  I look forward to reading it.

Mentor Match-ups
These were small group sessions where we got to meet mentors in the radio industry.  My 2 favorites were Bob Proffitt (President & CEO of Alpha Media) and Laurie Kahn (Founder & Owner of Media Staffing Network).  

Podcasting Panel with Mario Lopez (aka Slater) and Jewel.
Jewel mentioned her work with helping people overcome anxiety.  While writing this post I looked up her site, and I am so excited.  As someone who has had a long journey overcoming anxiety, it is neat to see the outreach she is doing.

She also has a book that came out in 2015, Never Broken:Songs Are Only Half the Story.  I am excited to check it out.

My 3 Goals to Accomplish Post Radio Show
I decided I wanted to come away with 3 objectives, now that I have a fire lit under me.

1) Start my Podcast~I have been wanting to do this since I left MBA in August.  I transitioned from being a server to doing Lyft/Uber and there was a learning curve but I think I'm good now.  It's past time to dive in and start doing a podcast.

2) Create a Business Card~Yes, it's going to be pink.

3) Create a Kick-ass Air Check and Resume 

Links:
-Radio Show 2018
-Radio Talent Institute
-Never Broken with Jewel~Make Happiness a Habit
-Media Staffing Network

29 Gifts~A Review

I've come to believe over the last twenty days that giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin.  One cannot exist without the other.  I am also seeing that each exchange-whether I am on the giving or the receiving end-is a divine experience, what my mother would call a God moment.~Cami Walker

Career Inspiration
-As I mentioned previously, I've been reading books on career inspiration.  You are a Badass has been the most influential, and I've been reading lots of books that Sincero recommended in it.  One of those was, 29 Gifts.

Her Story
-Cami Walker was diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis) only a month after her honeymoon at the age of 35.  She went through a lot of physical and emotional struggles while coming to terms with the disease. One day a friend suggested a seemingly strange prescription for her.  She recommended that Cami give away 29 gifts in 29 days.

How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life
-At first, she thought the idea was ridiculous, but decided to give it a try.  The experience was life changing and it inspired her to start a movement.  She challenged other people to join her in the gift giving.  The gifts are also seen as 29 acts of kindness.  They can be anything from giving change to a homeless person, writing an encouraging card, reaching out to a friend in need, or paying for the person behind you in line at McDonald's.

The Connection
-As I mentioned in my review of You are a Badass, there is a link between faith, positivity, gratitude and also giving.  It changes your perspective on life.

My 1st 29 Gifts Journey
-I've started my own journey of giving 29 gifts in 29 days, I'm on day 7.  I pray at the beginning of the day and ask God to show me who it is that He wants me to give/reach out to that day.  I find myself with a different mindset and a much more gracious way of looking at life and people.  I challenge you to give it a try.

My Morning with Barry Birr

--As I mentioned in a previous post, I attended the MBA Radio Talent Institute recently.  I want to do talk radio, so it only makes sense to meet the experts in the field.

--Barry Birr has been doing talk radio for 30+ years in St. Joseph at 680 AM KFEQ.  He was gracious enough to let me sit in with him this morning while he did his show.

You are the sunshine of St. Joe~A caller speaking about Barry Birr

The 1st hour of the show
Birr highlighted 2 articles and took phone calls.
I found both articles intriguing and ideal for sparking an intelligent discussion.

1st~Confidence is High--Editorial Board at The Wall Street Journal
Below is an excerpt:

One of the more remarkable media campaigns of recent times is the current attempt to persuade Americans that the economy is worse than it seems. Every day our competitors are filled with columns, editorials and news analyses asserting that tax reform has failed, wages aren’t rising, investment is falling, and growth is an illusion. We’re reminded of the old Chico Marx line, “Who ya gonna believe, me or your own eyes?” Apparently Americans are believing their own eyes.

2nd~Republicans Need to Make the Case For Capitalism, Because Dems and Young People Reject It by Tyler O'Neil

An excerpt:

In the last 150 years, life has changed miraculously for the better. For the vast majority of human history, ordinary people did not have refrigerators, microwaves, and dishwashers, never mind televisions, computers, and smartphones. Yet the very free market capitalism that drove this expansion in human flourishing is under attack today, and most Democrats and young people prefer socialism to capitalism.

Callers

Birr showed his expertise in the great way he dealt with callers.  Some were on topic while others delved into other matters such as the news of Colyer conceding.

The 2nd hour of the show

He had two guests in the studio, one was St. Joseph Police Chief Chris Connally.  They discussed the opiod crisis.  I actually learned a lot from the interview and plan on reading a book that was mentioned, Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic.

--It was a great look into how a local, community minded talk show is done.

MBA (Missouri Broadcaster's Association) Radio Talent Institute

Never say, why them and not me?  It's America, you can do whatever you want.--Zach Sang

You can't teach passion--Scott Meier

Do something you love, and you'll never work a day in your life.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I was selected to be a student at the MBA Radio Talent Institute.  It has been an exciting 9 days.  I have learned a tremendous amount.  It has also been a huge confirmation that this is what I'm meant to do.

You need to find your own unique place to make a difference.--John Beck

Radio Career
On our first day, the speakers talked a lot about how radio is an exciting and fun field to work in.  It's about going after your passion.

Radio has more competition than ever before yet, it still reaches 93% of adults surpassing all other forms of media, even TV.

(Photo: Spencer Graves from 106.5 The Arch in St. Louis)

Once you have the basics down, the rest is what makes you uniquely you.--Brady Goodman

Amazing Speakers
Dan Vallie, the founder and the president of the National Radio Talent System hand picked broadcasting professionals from all the different roles in radio.

The Institute is a valuable resource because you learn a tremendous amount from experts in the field.  It is also a great chance to network, which is extremely important in the broadcasting environment.

RAB (Radio Advertising Bureau) Training
We had lots of homework this week.  We did 17 lessons and took a 100 question exam at the end.

Field Trip
On the 3rd day we got to go the Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph and hear Mitch Holthus speak.  Then we went to Kauffman Stadium and sat in the Diamond Club area while hearing Keith Kowalski speak.  Both men are incredible and I was able to see why they have excelled in their careers.

Inspiration and Motivation
I have been informed, inspired and motivated this week to go back home and take the next steps to pursuing my career in radio.  I'm excited to see what the future holds.