Common Miracles...Shalom Arush

"Nature" is another name for the miracles that are so commonplace in our lives that we take for granted and have grown used to seeing them.

--Shalom Arush

Don't Give Up...Fannie Flagg

"Don't give up before the miracle happens."

--Fannie Flagg, I Still Dream About You

Do You Believe In Miracles?...Mike Ericksen

I truly believe we can either see the connections, celebrate them, and express gratitude for our blessings, or we can see life as a string of coincidences that have no meaning or connection.

For me, I’m going to believe in miracles, celebrate life, rejoice in the views of eternity and hope my choices will create a positive ripple effect in the lives of others. This is my choice.

--Mike Ericksen, Upon Destiny's Song

https://flic.kr/p/9EXzZr

The Miracle of A Genuine Opportunity...Rue Allyn

An opportunity is a miracle waiting to happen.

--Rue Allyn

“I know your deeds. See, I have placed
before you an open door that no one
can shut.” -Revelation 3:8

Image credit: 
http://www.loritwichell.com/the-year-of-open-doors/

#LeadershipTuesdays: Great Miracles Come In Great Moments of Opportunity

"Great Moments Are Born From Great Opportunity!"

--Coach Herb Brooks, 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team Coach

"Perhaps you have come to this place, to this moment, to these people, to this challenge, for just such a time as this.” (The Bible)*

Jefferson Building, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.

In 1980, Coach Herb Brooks coached a hockey team of rival college players to victory in the Winter Olympics over the favored and what many believed unbeatable Russian hockey team. The movie, "Miracle", tells the story of how Coach Brooks trained and led his team to play and win for the "U.S.A." letters they wore on their chest and not their own college team that hated their teammate's college. As long as they identified with their college team above the letters on their jersey, they could never play as a cohesive team and win for their nation. 

This is a very divisive moment in U.S. history. It's not the worst, but I believe that history will record these moments as one of the worse times in the post-Civil Rights era. I am stunned by how much hate and even micro-aggression toward our fellow Americans go unchallenged everyday. How some people feel above the law. How some even feel comfortable using social media, a communication tool that has broken down the barriers of telecommunications, as a tool to spread vitriol, hate speech and white supremacy. How can we win against foreign hackers and terrorists when we consider each other the enemy? We can't unite as a team against hate and evil forces if we harbor hate and ambivalence that alienate our own country men and women who look and may have different beliefs than us. We have so many challenges in need of good leaders. What will inspire us to work together for great solutions? Do we have leaders who will faithfully accept the challenge and opportunity of this moment?

As we approach Christmas, may we each reflect on the miracle of love that caused a divine baby to be born outside of the royal family and priesthood to an unassuming young unmarried mother who accepted her challenge and opportunity to be the mother of the baby we Christians now call Savior. May her example lead us to consider who we are and our purpose in this moment in time. Maybe we have been born to bring change for such a time as this. Maybe we have been called to this moment, to this challenge. May you be refreshed and replenished during this Holiday Season for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Merry Christmas,

--Nona Ogunsula, Founder, womenatliberty.com

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. To view part one of a two part profile of April Reign, an attorney, activist, social media strategist and the creator of the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, click here.

For more information on LeadershipTuesdays, go to: womenatliberty.com.

*The excerpted quotes and inspiration for this writing are from: Great Moments Are Born From Great Opportunity

A Sacred Miracle...John Green

"Love is always a miracle, everywhere, every time. But for us, it's a little different. I don't want to say it's more miraculous,...It is though. Love is the most common miracle."

--John Green

https://flic.kr/p/iaEZAw

I Am Marvelous!

I praise you

because of

the wonderful way

you created me.

Everything you do is marvelous!

Of this I have no doubt.

My Lift Is A Gift...S.J. Scott

"My life is a gift. I will use this gift with confidence, joy and exuberance."

--S.J. Scott

Do Your Thing...Tina Fey

"Don't waste your energy trying to change opinions ... do your thing, and don't care if they like it." 

--Tina Fey

I Am Divinely Purposed...Rebekah Borucki

"I am love. I am purpose. I was made with divine intention."

--Rebekah Borucki

I Am Prosperous!...Nona O.

"My soul, mind, body and all that is around and within me prospers. I am prosperous."

--Nona O.

*Based on: 3 John 1:2 (The Bible)

Image credit: This image is for sale at http://www.cafepress.com/+chakra_energy_aura_wall_art_large_poster,1606745751.

#LeadershipTuesdays: I Lead By Example...@vnona

"I am an example of what I seek in the world. My actions are an example of my core values and beliefs. I lead by example."

-- Nona Ogunsula, Founder, womenatliberty.com and Women Making History

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. To view the recent profile of April Reign, an attorney, activist, social media strategist and the creator of the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, click here.

For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, go to: womenatliberty.com.

You Are Courageous. You Are Great!...Sheri Dew

https://flic.kr/p/dF2jCA

"Noble and great. Courageous and determined. Faithful and fearless. That is who you are and who you have always been. And understanding it can change your life, because this knowledge carries a confidence that cannot be duplicated any other way."

--Sheri L. Dew

After all the disappontments, all the mistakes, and bricks that were thrown at you, the fact that you are still here and you continue to get up everyday and do what you got to do is courageous and amazing. You could have given up. So many want you to. But you decided you would not take the easy way out. 

No matter what the negative voices say, tell yourself: 

• I am a great person and I'm getting better. 
• I am worthy of happiness and love.
• I will not let fear take hold of me and direct my life.
• I am confident.
• I deserve respect.
• I am beautiful.

Focus On The Outcome...T.F. Hodge

"To conquer frustration, one must remain intensely focused on the outcome, not the obstacles."

--T.F. Hodge, From Within I Rise: Spiritual Triumph Over Death and Conscious Encounters with "The Divine Presence"

Image credits:
Rolex watch pieces, https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/rolex-info/rolex-watch-pairings.html
Rolex watch, https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-blog/rolex-info/rolex-watch-pairings.html

Trust, Believe And Stay Focused...Musiq Soulchild

"Be true to yourself, stay focused and stay you, take advice from other folks, use what you can, but never mind what is not for you. For the most part, trust yourself and believe in what you are doing."

--Musiq Soulchild, Grammy nominated and multi-award winning Hip Hop Soul Artist and Songwriter

https://flic.kr/p/55rRzs

Focusing On Your Health...Ginny Rometty

"I make time to exercise. It's not being indulgent. I think it's got a lot to do with your ability to manage properly and stay focused. There's no doubt about that." 

--Ginni Rometty, Chair, President & CEO, IBM

Image: IBM.com

Stay Focused...Phillip Sweet

Stay true to yourself, yet always be open to learn. Work hard, and never give up on your dreams, even when nobody else believes they can come true but you. These are not cliches but real tools you need no matter what you do in life to stay focused on your path.

--Phillip Sweet

What I Focus On...Tracee Ellis Ross

"As I get older, the more I stay focused on the acceptance of myself and others, and choose compassion over judgment and curiosity over fear."

--Tracee Ellis Ross, Actress and Model

Tracee Ellis Ross

Image: @traceeellisross, http://www.instagram.com/p/BKHJB1KjICa/

Today Is A New Opportunity...Anurag Prakash Ray

"Each day is a new opportunity to live your life to the fullest. Don't let your today be stolen by the unchangeable past or the indefinite future."

--Anurag Prakash Ray

Today I Write My Story...Sonya Parker

Today is a blank page in your life story. What will you write in it?

--Sonya Parker

Today...William Arthur Ward

Today is a most unusual day, because we have never lived it before; we will never live it again; it is the only day we have.
--William Arthur Ward

Image credit: http://ognature.com/branches-bright-wonderful-amazing-sunrise-multi-ambar-plantations-colorful-grasslands-scenario-vibrant-violet-valley-green-gold-magical-red-sunny-leaf-tulips-nature-awesome-sun-hills-summer-view-cool/sunbeams-sunshine-garden-white-golden-plantations-seasons-leaves-sunrises-colours-coloured-scene-amber-scenery-bright-petals-summer-branches-awesome-work-hills-landscapes-sundown-yellow-agriculture-fi/

#LeadershipTuesdays: Today Matters...April Reign

"The things that I do today are important because I am exchanging a day of my life for them."

--April Reign, Creator of #OscarsSoWhite

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Today we feature April Reign, an attorney, public speaker, activist and Social Media Strategist, who came to prominence in January 2015 as the creator of the hashtag, #OscarsSoWhite.

After listening to the announcement of The Oscars' nominations in 2015 where not one person of color was represented in any of the 20 categories, April took to twitter to vent her frustrations. Her tweet went viral propelled by the force of "Black Twitter" and started to make headlines in online and traditional media outlets like Mashable and USAToday. It became a watershed moment in the fight for diversity in Hollywood because the next day, The Oscars (The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) had to formally respond to the issues her hashtag raised.

In the first of a two part talk by Ms. Reign, she shares with us the moment she sent that tweet and what happened next. She believes that "everyday" moviegoers can have an impact on the movies that are made in Hollywood and the images we see on the screen, and she gives advice on that. Lastly, this wife and mother of two chats about how she plans to spend her Holidays including what's on the menu for the family meal. She even gives details on one of her recipes.

To see the video, click below. For more information on LeadershipTuesdays, go to womenatliberty.com. 

Today I Decide...Nona

Today I decide to look up and see hope.

Today I decide to look within and see possibility.

Today I decide to look around and see beauty.

Today I decide.

You Are Enough...Edith Eger

"To be passive is to let others decide for you. To be aggressive is to decide for others. To be assertive is to decide for yourself. And to trust that there is enough, that you are enough."

--Edith Eva Eger, Author, "The Choice: Embrace the Possible"

Life Is A Gift...Florence Nightingale

Live your life while you have it. Life is a splendid gift. There is nothing small in it. Far the greatest things grow by God's law out of the smallest. But to live your life, you must discipline it.

--Florence Nightingale

What Are You Talking About Right Now?...@BrianTracy

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders.
For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, click  womenatliberty.com. 

Will You Defy The Odds?

Think about this,

• 83% of students graduate from high school
• 59% of first time, full-time college students graduate from college with a degree
• Less than 30% of people get their dream job
• 50% of marriages fail
• Currently 36% of families do not own their home
• 33% of individuals are not prepared for retirement
• Only 1 in 200 startup companies succeed
• Only 1 in 4 venture capital backed companies succeed
• 1 in 2 small businesses will survive past more than 4 years

Why Can't It Be You?...Panama Jackson

"Everybody ain’t gonna get to the top—this is fact. But why can’t that person who does make it be you? Never forget that. Seriously.*"

--Panama Jackson, VerySmartBrothas.com

*Excerpt taken from the article, "Hey Y’all, I Met Oprah. Here’s What Happened", where Panama talks about receiving a call and a subsequent invitation from media mogul Oprah Winfrey.

You Are Worth More...

"If you really put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price."

-- Author Unknown

In Algebra, we learned the theory of "Absolute Value" which states that the absolute value of any number, positive or negative, or any equation is never negative. So we apply this same theory to our life. My value is not negative, and I will not accept negativity or abuse. I am worth more. Say it out loud: "I am worth more." Prepare for more, ask for more and work for more.

#LeadershipTuesdays: My Greatest Mentor...Ursula Burns

"My mother raised us to think that if we worked hard, and if we put our end of the bargain in, it would work out OK for us."

--Ursula Burns, former CEO and Chairwoman

On Tuesdays, WOMENATLIBERTY presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. In 2009 Ursula Burns was named CEO of Xerox and in 2010 she became the Chairwoman of the company succeeding Anne Mulcahy. Ms. Mulcahy, a history maker in her own right, was the first female CEO of Xerox. She hand picked and mentored Ursula to become her successor. Burns characterized their relationship as a "true partnership".  A career that started with her working as an intern culiminated with Burns making history as the first African American woman to lead a Fortune 500 company. In May 2017, she retired from the company after more than 30 years of service.

Anne Mulcahy as well as many others including her husband, Lloyd Bean, have mentored her; but when she talks about her mother, you hear the emotion in her voice and you understand the deep respect this native New Yorker holds for the woman she calls her greatest mentor. Olga Burns was a hardworking single mother who believed that education would be Ursula and her two siblings' passport out of the housing projects into a bright future. She says her mother was right and she is eternally grateful for her mother's sacrifices.

Olga Burns

In today's #LeadershipTuesdays feature, Ms. Burns goes back to the place where she grew up and went to school to share with CNN Money's Cristina Alesci how her humble beginnings shaped her, helped her make decisions about her life and prepared her to become the well respected leader that she is today. To see the video, go to womenatliberty.com. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays or WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here. 

*You can also view the interview by clicking here.

You Are Gifted For Greatness...Marie Curie

"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained."

--Marie Curie

The Freedom To Think and Take Thoughtful Action...Thurgood Marshall

"Our whole constitutional heritage rebels at the thought of giving government the power to control men's [women's] minds."

--Thurgood Marshall, Lawyer, Advocate, and first Black Supreme Court Justice

See Marshall Movie directed by Reginald Hudlin and starring Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad, Sterling K. Brown with Kate Hudson, Dan Stevens, Jussie Smollett and Keesha Sharp.

Respected and Acknowledged...Zoe Saldana

To be seen and respected for my work and acknowledged as a true American Latina...means a lot to me.

--Zoe Saldana, Actress and Dancer (Star Trek, Avatar)

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. To day in honor of Hispanic Heritage month, we are acknowledging Fortune Magazine's "50 Most Powerful Latinas of 2017". These women were selected by the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) and they include senior Executives from Fortune 500 companies and some very impressive entrepreneurs. Topping the list is PG&E CEO and President Geisha Williams who made history as the first Hispanic woman to lead a Fortune 500 company. Also on this prestigious and influential list are: Grace Puma, Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Officer at PepsiCo; Yasmine Winkler, Regional CEO of UnitedHealth, a healthcare company providing health care services and products, including Medicaid services, to more than 100 million customers; and recently retired Gloria Santona, a former Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of McDonald's.

Role models are so important in helping women to dream beyond their current circumstances and achieve what has never been done before. As a community, we acknowledge the hard work and accomplishments of these extraordinary women and thank them for being an inspiration to not just Hispanic women, but to all of us.

To find out who the women pictured above are, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays or WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here.

#LeadershipTuesdays: Pursue Your Dreams...Angela White

"I just want people to take away that, no matter what happens in life, you can always pursue your dreams. And do not let anyone or anything deter you away from that. I did not attend film school and, today, I am creating movies that impact people’s lives."

--Angela White, Film Producer, "A Question Of Faith" and Founder, Silver Lining Entertainment 

On Tuesdays, WOMENATLIBERTY presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Angela White is the producer of the newly released film, "A Question Of Faith", a Silver Lining Entertainment film distributed by PureFlix. She is the first African American woman to be at the helm of a faith-based major motion picture. She and her team, director Kevin Otto, writer Ty Manns, Lisa Diane Washington (Producer), and Dr. Cameron Lewis (Executive Producer) also have the distinct honor of having their film be the first faith-based movie to be screened at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The cast was hosted by U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert (R-Tx). 

Ms. White is not new to the entertainment industry. This New York Law School-trained lawyer and entrepreneur has produced several films through her media production company including "4Play" (starring Jaleel White, Jonathan Wesley and the late Tommy Ford), "The Night Before aka Bachelors" (Lionsgate Entertainment), and "Dense" (Showtime). 

Her latest movie, featuring a cast of familiar stars including Kim Fields (Facts Of Life, Living Single), Richard T. Jones (Tyler's Perry's Why Did I Get Married, The Wood), C. Thomas Howell (Gettysburg), Renee O'Connor (Xena: Warrior Princess), Greg Alan Williams (Greenleaf) and award-winning singer Jaci Velasquez, is definitely a great  movie with superb acting. Everyone, whether you have struggled with finding a balance between work and family (or even having a personal life outside of work), or questioned why God let's bad things happen to good people, will find a character or some theme in the film you can relate to. Check out the trailer below and go see this film!

http://www.eurweb.com/2017/09/angela-white-question-faith-interview-kam-williams/

Being About IT!

Aligning your life and actions with your desired values is hard work, but that's what adulting is all about. As a child, our foundation is nurtured. As an adult, we stand on that foundation. We fall down, then we right ourselves on our desired values and we get back up again.

Being about "IT", your "IT", whatever that is, is work...hard work.

Leading Yourself...Israelmore Ayivor

"Go out and lead the world; but never forget to begin by leading yourself first at home. You can’t lead the environment if you can’t lead yourself in it."
--Israelmore Ayivor

#LeadershipTuesdays: Embracing & Cultivating The Leader In You

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." 

John Quincy Adams

Whoopi Goldberg as Laurel Ayres in "The Associate" (1996 Comedy)

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. The featured article today is, "10 Signs You Are Really A Leader (and Might Not Know It)" by Lolly Daskal (Forbes.com). Embracing your leadership skills is easy for some and difficult for others. Some people don't want to be a leader. They just want to get the job done and keep it moving. Others don't want the hassle of managing others. It can be a lot of work. But there are times when embracing your leadership skills becomes a necessity to thriving and realizing your potential as Whoopi Goldberg did as the character Laurel Ayres in the movie "The Associate". When her current organization did not value her skills, she left the company and embarked on one of the greatest adventures in business of her life.

One of the things that makes a difference in an organization and has the greatest impact on its culture is its leadership. Good leaders are difference-makers. They add value to people and customers. They also set the tone for how the organization will interact with each other and relate to its customers. 

You owe it to yourself to embrace and cultivate your leadership skills. Learn how to add value to people. If your current organization doesn't value you, another company will. As "Laurel Ayres" learned your skills will be valuable to you and help you be successful if not as an employee, maybe as an entrepreneur or vendor/contractor. 

To view today's article, see "10 Signs You Are Really A Leader (and Might Not Know It)".  For more information on Leadership Tuesdays or womenatliberty.com, click here. 

Speak, Pray, Believe...@vnona

Speak it, pray it until your mind, body and the universe line up with and manifest what you are speaking. 

(“The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle." Matthew 17:20)

Beauty, Distinctive and Uncommon...Yvonne Pierre

"The enemy uses those things [you are] insecure about. Free yourself and take your power back by being secure in who you are - flaws and all."

--Yvonne Pierre, The Day My Soul Cried: A Memoir
___________________

Beauty starts in the soul, deep in the soul. Cultivate its seeds there and it will blossom from its dark place into distintive and uncommon magnificence. 

Believe...Isa Zapata

"The more you believe in yourself, the more the world believes in you!"

--Isa Zapata

So, find a mirror or turn on the camera in your phone, look into it and repeat these words: "I believe in you."

Trust But Verify...

"One should never trust a woman who tells one her real age. A woman who would tell one that would tell one anything."

--Oscar Wilde

Leading By Example...Himanshu Bhatia

"As a leader, it's a major responsibility on your shoulders to practice the behavior you want others to follow." 

-- Himanshu Bhatia, Founder and CEO, Rose International

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTYpresents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Today's article highlights one company's, namely Apple, latest effort to improve diversity at the tech giant where there has been slow progress in increasing the representation of minorities and women. See "Apple's New Diversity Officer Will Report Directly to CEO".

For more information on Leadership Tuesdays or WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here. 

Happy Memorial Day!

For some it's just another day off or a day to enjoy a cookout or day at the beach. But for those who have loved ones who have given the ultimate sacrifice, this day can bring sadness.

Let's honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country by living a life that uphold the ideals for which they died: freedom, justice, equality, and peace.

Happy Mother's Day 2017

Lord, thank you for the women who you allowed to nurture us, be an incredible example of love and sacrifice, and teach us wrong from right. Bless them today and everyday to know that their labor is not in vain. Amen.

Happy Mother's Day from Women Making History & womenatliberty.com.

I Believe...

"I believe that there is Greatness within me.

I believe that I am an Overcomer!

I believe that my source only increases my ability to become the Dynamic person I want to become.

I believe therefore I am."

#LeadershipTuesdays: Drawing Boundaries for Millennials

"I’ve learned that you get more out of people when they are happy in their jobs and excited about what they do. So I try to line up people and their vision with our vision."

--Deryl McKissack, CEO, McKissack & McKissack 

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. Today's article comes from The New York Times' @nytcorneroffice column written by Adam Bryant and features Deryl McKissack, CEO of McKissack & McKissack.

Deryl McKissack is an engineer and a fifth generation builder. She has led McKissack & McKissack, a prominent architectural, engineering and construction firm based in Washington, DC whose portfolio of work includes the Smithsonian's new Museum of African-American History and Culture on the National Mall and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC, for over 25 years.

In the article she gives insight into how she learned to be successful in the male-dominated construction industry. She also has advice for millennials and anyone who aspires to impress your organization's leaders and be successful.

To check out today's featured article,
click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays and WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here.

What Are Your Words And Actions Modeling For Others?

     If you hate, you give hate the space to breed.
     If you discriminate against others because of who they are, your actions demonstrate that discrimination is okay if you have good reasons.
     If you exploit others, you model that it's okay to exploit people under certain conditions, etc.

#LeadershipTuesdays: You Are Worthy.

Every other Tuesday, womenatliberty.com provides Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders.

Defeating Self-Doubt: That little voice in our head... Wouldn't it be amazing if we could program it to speak affirmations to us especially when we need them the most. Instead sometimes its our harshest critic. We have to use our conscience mind to silence that negative voice with positivity and optimism.

Today's #Leadership Tuesdays' feature is a @Forbes article by @MelodyWilding that gives great tips on how to defeat self-doubt. Check out "Three Ways Highly Successful People Handle Self Doubt", https://www.forbes.com/sites/melodywilding/2017/04/05/3-ways-highly-successful-people-handle-self-doubt/#9319c90789f0

For more information on Leadership Tuesdays and WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here.