Measuring Our Actions Against What We Say We Believe...@vnona

Integrity, honesty, ethics... These principles are as timeless and universal as the Biblical Ten Commandments: Thou shall not steal; thou shall not lie; and thou shall not kill (murder). These principles do not change to accommodate our beliefs or adherence to them. They stand all by themselves. Here is a test you can use to determine whether your actions are "right": If you have to cover up your deeds, 9.999 times out of 10, what you have done is wrong. It is wrong whether the whole world knows it or just one person knows about it.

What we need today is courageous leaders who are willing to "do" and be accountable for their actions. We need them to do more than just say the right things. They must do the right thing, not just what is easy, convenient and concealable. We have enough leaders who lead and govern using situational ethics. The news is full of stories about communities and individuals who have been victims of their ill deeds and hypocrisy.

Where do you stand? What type of leader or team member are you? How does your actions measure up?

Stay Positive....@vnona

Even though you may encounter difficulties today, stay positive!

The Real Fight...@vnona

"Life can make you become someone who you don't even like.   

You have to fight against the negativity to be the person you really want to be."

--Nona O., Founder, womenatliberty.com

Thankfulness...Dolvett Quince

"I never take for granted, every opportunity that comes my way. I thank God everyday. I'm humbled by doing what I love. From the projects to working on projects. I'll never stop smiling!"


--Dolvett Quince, Best Selling Author and Trainer, "The Biggest Loser"

Your Voice Has Power...How Will You Use It?

"We take so many things for granted until we experience loss. We believe that we will be treated fairly until we are treated unfairly. We believe that surely people will be held accountable for their misdeeds until they are not prosecuted.

We believe that our one voice will not make a difference until our voice is the first thing we can use to make a difference."

--Nona O., Founder, womenatliberty.com

America, Make This Check Good: Unalienable Rights...Martin Luther King

"In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men [women] as well as white men [women], would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

--Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Respect...Margaret Mead

"I have a respect for manners as such, they are a way of dealing with people you don't agree with or like."

--Margaret Mead

Keep On Moving...Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The thing that we are challenged to do is to keep this movement moving. There is power in unity and there is power in numbers.

Keep this movement going. Keep this movement rolling. In spite of the difficulties, and we are going to have a few more difficulties, keep climbing. Keep moving. If you can't fly, run. If you can run, walk. If you can't walk, crawl. But by all means, keep moving."

--Martin Luther King, Jr., Excerpt from the speech, "Keep On Moving" at St. Luke's Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL, May of 1963

To hear the entire excerpt that was featured on NPR, click here.

Don't Take The First No -- Keep Going...Cher

"Women have to harness their power - its absolutely true. It's just learning not to take the first no. And if you can't go straight ahead, you go around the corner."

--Cher

Advice On Using Your Power...Sonya Parker

"Don't let power change you. Use your power to make changes."

--Sonya Parker 

#LeadershipTuesdays: The Trouble With Needing People To Like You

"Let’s be clear. There’s nothing wrong with being liked. But the desire to be liked is what can get us into trouble. The bitter truth is that no matter how hard you try, there will always be people out there who don’t like you. Learning to be okay with that is hard work, but you’ll like yourself so much more for it."

--Reshma Saujani, Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code and Author, "Women Who Don’t Wait in Line"

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. We all want to be liked, but when you as a mature adult "need" to be liked, you become a slave to other peoples opinions and expectations.

The quote above is from a Forbes Mentoring Moment article by Reshma Saujani entitled, "Why Women Need To Stop Worrying About Being Liked". The quotes beautifully captures the dangers of being beholden to other people's opinions of you. As leaders women must be confident in themselves and who they are. We should all try to be nice and kind to our co-workers and employees. But, there is nothing wrong with being confident and firm. That's does not give anyone an excuse to be rude. You can be direct, pleasant, and firm. It's a skill that you can learn and develop. Read the article and you will definitely gain insight from Reshma Saujani's experiences.

Last week's #LeadershipTuesdays blog was based on a quote from U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor about believing in yourself and your abilities. To read that quote and blog, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays and WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here.

Using Your Power...@vnona

Everyone has power although everyone's degree of power is not the same. Even babies, the weakest among us, have power. They use their voice to get our attention. Your voice has power, too.

The most effective way to use your power is to unite your voice with others to accomplish change for the common good. How will you use your power?

--Nona O., Founder, womenatliberty.com

The Formula That Has Brought Me Success...Joe Gibbs

"If I keep God first in my life, if I keep my family and friends as second, and then I keep my occupation third, that's when I've found success."

--Joe Gibbs, Super Bowl--winning Head Football Coach, Washington Redskins (1981-1992 and 2004-2007), NASCAR Team Owner

Love is...

Don't let anyone tell you anything different. Love is an action word. Love is not only telling someone you love them, it is showing them. Love that does not include respect is not love.

--Nona O.

Want To Be Happy?...Ian K Smith

"I think happiness is a combination of pleasure, engagement and meaningfulness."

--Dr. Ian K. Smith

Look Fear In The Face...Olivia Pope

"It's okay to be afraid. Sometimes fear keep us safe. Sometimes it holds us back."

Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, "Scandal" TV Show

Advice On Living A Full Life...Angelina Jolie

 "Make bold choices and make mistakes. It's all those things that add up to the person you become."


--Angelina Jolie, Actress, Filmmaker, and Humanitarian

#LeadershipTuesdays: You've Got To Believe In Your Abilities...Sonia Sotomayor

"In every position that I've been in, there have been naysayers who don't believe I'm qualified or who don't believe I can do the work. And I feel a special responsibility to prove them wrong."

--Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Supreme Court Justice

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. It's 2016! If you are reading this blog that means you made it! Congratulations! You have been blessed with a blank canvas to begin your 2016 masterpiece.

You may not have all of the paints or colors you want or you may not even know exactly what you want your masterpiece to look like right now, but know this: you have been blessed with opportunity. So, to help you take advantage of this opportunity, check out "Setting New Year Resolutions For Your Career" by Amy Lindgren. This article offers great advice on setting career goals for 2016. Amy is president of a career consulting firm and she has a lot of experience helping clients achieve their career goals. She suggests that you start your planning process with "where you want to be in January 2017" and then create your plan with that goal in mind. Read her article and you will be led through a brief process that will help you begin to identify the short term objectives and tasks you need to accomplish your overall goal.

Well, here's to a great 2016! For more information on Leadership Tuesdays or WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here. 

Get Your Mind Right!...@vnona

"It's very hard to live a life that is incongruent with your true feelings. That's why it is important to base your life on strong foundational principles. These principles will shape your beliefs. Your feelings and behavior will eventually come into alignment with what you believe."

--Nona O., Founder, womenatliberty.com

Be Intentional With Your Thoughts...Proverbs

Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.

Proverbs 4:23 Good News Translation

Find Your Hope In Unchanging Truisms

Hold on to the eternal and unchanging: love, truth, faith, joy, kindness and goodness.

Happy New Year!!

from womenatliberty.com, #LeadershipTuesdays and #WomenMakingHistory!