Inflicting Damage on Someone's Character...Yoruba Proverb

If you damage the character of another person, you damage your own.  — Yoruba proverb

Character...Abraham Lincoln

“Reputation is the shadow. Character is the tree.”  --Abraham Lincoln (1809 -- 1865), 16th President of the United States

Leadership Tuesdays: On Hiring...Amy Gutmann

When asked the question in a New York Times's article* of, "How do you hire", she replied:


"I am notorious at Penn among my executive team for warning people not to place too much emphasis on interviews. References, and what somebody has done, are more important than what somebody tells you in an interview.  Well done is better than well said, and there’s no substitute for good referencing." --Amy Gutmann Ph.D,  President of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Marilyn K. Yee/The New York Times

Every Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. For more information on WOMEN AT LIBERTY's Leadership Tuesdays, see http://www.womenatliberty.com. 

*Source:  Welcoming the Wild Ideas of the Week By ADAM BRYANT, The New York Times, June 18, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/19/business/19corner.html?_r=3

Can You Trust What You See?...Nona

You trust the image, but can you trust the character? Sometimes what you see is not what you get. It is a carefully-crafted package. What really counts is a person's character. Make sure you are building a relationship based on the person's character and not just their image.  --Nona

You Look So Much Better When You Smile...@KirkFranklin

http://www.kirkfranklin.com

I smile, even though I hurt see I smile,
I know God is working so I smile,
Even though I’ve been here for a while,

I smile, smile.

It’s so hard to look up when you look down,
Sure would hate to see you give up now.
You look so much better when you smile, so smile.

"I SMILE" by Kirk Franklin from the "Hello Fear" Album, 2011 Release

Overcoming The Excuses...James (Lost over 300 lbs)

"Until you run out of excuses, man...your life is never going to change.  Until you run out of excuses for not becoming a better you, you're not going to."  --James, 26--Extreme Makeover: WeightLoss Edition, ABC  (He wanted to pay it forward, so we thought we'd help!) 

Click below to watch the entire episode and see James' transformation,
http://abc.go.com/watch/extreme-makeover-weight-loss-edition/SH55124938/VD55131769/james

Key To Failure...Bill Cosby

I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.  --Bill Cosby, Actor, Comedian, and Scholar 

http://www.billcosby.com/

The Greatest Glory...Nelson Mandela

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. --Nelson Mandela

http://www.nelsonmandela.org

Your Deepest Needs...@RickWarren

"One of your deepest needs in life is to feel secure. One of your deepest needs in life is to feel valuable.  The greatest gift of love is attention.  You spell love:  A-T-T-E-N-T-I-O-N."  --Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California and author of The Purpose Drive Life

http://pastors.com

Great Leaders Can...Colin L. Powell

Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand.  --Colin L. Powell, General (Ret.), United States Army

Commandment for Personal Integrity...The Bible

"You must not do wrong just because everyone else is doing it. If you are a witness in court, you must not ruin a fair trial. You must not tell lies just because everyone else is. 

--Exodus 23:2 New Century Version (NCV)

Happy Father's Day...Barack H. Obama

"... all of us can teach our children the difference between right and wrong, and show them through our own example the value in treating one another as we wish to be treated."  
--Barack H. Obama, President of the United States, Father's Day 2011

Fall Forward...Denzel Washington

If I'm going to fall, I don't want to fall back on anything except my faith.  I want to fall forward.  I figure at least this way I'll see what I'm going to hit.  Fall forward.  --Denzel Washington, Academy and Tony Award Winning Actor giving the Commencement Address at University of Pennsylvania, May 2011

To view the entire speech, go to Women History Makers-DC, MD & VA Facebook Page.

Owning Your Dreams and Power...Wilma L. Vaught

What I wanted to be when I grew up was--in charge.  ~Wilma L. Vaught, Retired Brigadier General-United States Airforce

Be Careful How You Use Your Words

A careless word may kindle strife. A cruel word may wreck a life. A timely word may level stress. But a loving word may heal and bless. 
--Unknown

Bring Results...Florence Nightingale

"One's feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into action ... which bring results." --Florence Nightingale

The Importance of Integrity...Louise Perrin

Never forget the importance of integrity—be authentic to who you are personally and professionally. 

--Louise Perrin,Senior Vice President, Heartland Zone, State Farm Insurance

A highly accomplished and seasoned senior executive with over 30 years of success, Louise Perrin retired as Senior Vice President of State Farm Insurance Companies after holding numerous positions in executive leadership, sales, marketing, product and agency distribution, executive development and succession planning, and community development.

She sits on boards of several organizations including the National Black MBA Association; National Louis University; and Board of Overseers, Rutgers University Foundation.

Every Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. For more information on WOMEN AT LIBERTY's Leadership Tuesdays, see http://www.womenatliberty.com. 

Fear Not...Anna Quindlen

"Fear not, carry your courage in an easily accessible place the way you do your cell phone or your wallet." 

--Anna Quindlen, Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist and Author

Face Your Fears...Michelle McKinney Hammond

Until your desire overrides your fear, you will be stuck.  So face your fears.  Determine that what you want is more important than your anxiety and go for it.  --Michelle McKinney Hammond from the book, "How To Make Life Work:  The Guide to Getting It Together and Keeeping It Together", 2008 

Be The Change...@Womenworking

Today, be the change you want to see. Step out of your comfort zone and make a difference.  --@Womenworking Womenworking.com

We Are Gifted For Something...Marie Curie

"We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained." --Marie Curie

The First Woman God Ever Made...Sojourner Truth

“If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these together ought to be able to turn it back and get it right side up again.”  --Sojourner Truth

Make Someone Happy...Jimmy Durante

Make someone happy,

Make just one someone happy,
And you will be happy, too.

--Jimmy Durante, "Make Someone Happy" (lyrics)

Stand Up and Be Counted...Donna F. Edwards

"...I think that each one of us in every single one of our communities can stand up and be counted for the right thing."  --Donna F. Edwards, U.S. Congresswoman, Maryland-4th District, 2011 Woman History Maker-DC, MD, & VA -- Honorable Mention 

Source:  Congresswoman Donna Edwards' speech, National Conference for Media Reform, April 9, 2011

Make A Difference...Barbara Mikulski

Each one of us can make a difference. Together we make change. --Barbara A. Mikulski, United States Senator--Maryland, 2011 Woman History Maker-DC, MD, & VA -- Honorable Mention

Live The Life God Has Ordained For You...Vashti McKenzie

"But God does promise to lead us into a place where love conquers all fears. 'I [God] know the plan I have for you.  Plans not to harm, but to prosper you.' This is a good time to start trusting the Lord.  Now go forward and live the life that God has already ordained for you to live."  

--Bishop Vashti McKenzie, African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2011 Woman History Maker-DC, MD, & VA -- Honorable Mention

From the devotional, "Something Better". To hear the devotional or for more information on Bishop McKenzie, please visit:

Find The Joy...Katie Couric

"Find the joy. And when you feel it, let it wash over you. And take a moment to really appreciate it, to appreciate that moment." --Katie Couric, Award Winning Journalist and first woman to solo anchor the evening news program of the major U.S. Television Networks, 2011 Woman History Maker -- Honorable Mention

Source: BUNIVERSE,https://www.bu.edu/buniverse/view/?v=155pR9dm

What Is A Woman...Eleanor Holmes Norton

The question has been asked, “What is a woman?” A woman is a person who makes choices. A woman is a dreamer. A woman is a planner. A woman is a maker, and a molder. A woman is a person who makes choices. A woman builds bridges. A woman makes children and makes cars. A woman writes poetry and songs. A woman is a person who makes choices. You cannot even simply become a mother anymore. You must choose motherhood. Will you choose change? Can you become its vanguard?  --Eleanor Holmes Norton, U.S. Congresswoman--The District of Columbia, 2011 Women History Maker-DC, MD, & VA -- Honorable Mention 

Source:  Jone Johnson Lewis. "Eleanor Holmes Norton Quotes." About Women's History. 
             URL: http://womenshistory.about.com/od/quotes/a/norton.htm . Date accessed: 6/3/11

You Are Worthy...Oprah

You are worthy because you were born. And you are worthy because you are here. --Oprah Winfrey

Fatal Comparisons...Marie Osmond

"We compare our worst with everybody's best." --Marie Osmond (On the Oprah Show, speaking about battling her weight and how women compare themselves to images they see in the media.)