Quote of the Day - How does a Garden Grow
"Just as you would not neglect the seeds that you planted with the hope that you will bear vegetables, fruits and flowers, so you must attend to and nourish the garden of your becoming..." Jean Houston
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June 17, 2008
June 13, 2008
Quote of the Day - A Garden Analogy
"Just as you would not neglect the seeds that you planted with the hope that you will bear vegetables, fruits and flowers, so you must attend to and nourish the garden of your becoming..." Jean Houston
Dr. Jean Houston, scholar, philosopher and researcher in human capacities, is one of the foremost visionary thinkers and doers of our time, one of the principal founders of the Human Potential Movement. A powerful and dynamic speaker, she holds conferences and seminars with social leaders, educational institutions and business organizations worldwide.
May 27, 2008
Quote of the Day Girl Mogul
We should see dreaming as one of our responsibilities, rather than as an alternative to one." Mary Engelbreit, artist, business executive.
So girls take the time to dream. Don't let real life get in the way of your dream. And I don't mean the dreams you have when you're finally, at the end of a long day, asleep. I mean the dreams you have when you take 5, 10 or even 20 minutes to yourself and let your mind wander. Let yourself think about you and what you like, want , love. Dream your life into being - but first you need to take the time to sit still and let your mind explore possibilities. Don't be afraid if what you dream about resembles nothing like what you have now...
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April 18, 2008
Quote of the day - Courage
"I would urge you to be as impudent as you dare. BE BOLD, BE BOLD, BE BOLD." Susan Sontag, writer.
It's Friday and a beautiful day out there girls, so take this message to heart. Spring is awakening out there and it's the perfect opportunity to re-awaken yourself. Taking bold steps helps us move forward - one bold step can move us ahead that a series of little steps. Remember - look before you leap, but not for too long - make sure there are no alligators in the way!
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April 17, 2008
Quote of the Day - Believing
"It looks impossible until you do it, and then you find it is possible." - Evelyn Underhill, mystic
If you have ever dreamed of doing something or making something, or being something, chances are someone else has done it before you. And guess what, if they can do it, in most cases you can do (yes there are limits...physical, abilities), but in general if someone else has accomplished something you aspire to, then the good news is - it is possible. Try to figure out what that person did - was it education, special training, or practice and try to do that. Or better yet - choose the first rung of the ladder and aim for that - so if someone climbed a mountain and you want to do that, start with the hill. Once you conquer the hill - you'll see that it is possible. Turning smaller goals into realities sets the basis for more "impossible" goals to become realities - you build a foundation store for success.
So go for it.
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April 15, 2008
Quote of the Day - Risk
"Risk!...Do the hardest thing on earth for you." - Katherine Mansfield
We're featuring quotes from the best-selling The Girls Book...Series by Catherine Dee. Inspired to write books that would encourage and develop girls self-esteem, Catherine created a series of books featuring advice, wisdom and quotes for girls, focusing on areas like success, wisdom, self-esteem and friendship. GirlMogul has partnered with Catherine to offer GirlPower Gift Kits featuring autographed copies of her books and other great stuff like journals, albums, pencils, and toys to inspire girls. These make great elementary and middle school graduation gifts, or are simply a way to give a girl a gift that inspires her to reflect, dream big and grow strong in mind and body.
Browse all four (Wisdom, Success, Self-Esteem and Friendship) Here at GirlMogul
April 14, 2008
Quote of the day - Money
"We can tell our values by looking at our checkbook." Gloria Steinem
Perhaps not so much inspirational as practical, but something that's very important as women. I was a personal financial seminar yesterday given by a Galia Gichon- check out her website, Sown to Earth Finance for great tips and her new kit - My Money Matters. who pointed out many facts I already know - women have a complicated relationship with money, women earn .79 cents to a man's$1.00. Women spend an average of 11 years out of the workforce caring for family. Women live 10 years longer then men. All of this adds up to poor women - poor now and poor in retirement. And then there are the issues women have with money - talk about a complicated relationship - we feel guilty for having money. Many times we're very good at making - but also very good at spending it. So good at spending it that we bankrupt ourselves - not literally perhaps, but in the sense of lost opportunity. Want to change jobs to something that may pay less but is more fulfilling - you can't if you're overspending. Want to spend more time with the kids - well it might be possible if you hadn't shopped until you dropped. Want a comfortable retirement? How many bath towels do you own (Don't worry - I am not pointing fingers - you should see my closets).
So take a few moments to look over your checkbook or your credit card statement and see what you're really spending money on. Is it just the basics? Or is the basics plus the TJ Max habit? Which would make you feel better - an hour in the aisles of a store, or resting easy at night knowing you have money in the bank? There's a saying - Nothing tastes as good as thin feels. Well, try this one - Nothing feels as good as rich. And by rich, I don't mean Donald Trump rich - I mean knowing you can survive for a few months if you lost your job, that you are saving for retirement, that your credit card debt is not taking over your life - that possibilities are opportunities are available to you because you have the means to seize them!
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April 01, 2008
Quote of the Day - Grow your life bu growing your Goldfish bowl
Why a goldfish in a bowl? Because this morning I heard a piece from Dr. Robin Smith on Oprah and Friends on XM radio. It was about the goldfish in a bowl. If you want your goldfish to grow bigger, then you need to go out an buy a bigger bowl. And so to with your life - if you want your lie to grow bigger - that to have more of the good things (and not just money), like a healthy family, a successful career, happy relationships, then you need to grow your dreams and find a bigger goldfish bowl to swim in. This goes along with the maxim "It's better to soar with the eagles than scratch with the chickens." or "You are the company you keep." Want a better quality of life? Take a good look around you and determine if the company you keep is reflective of the life you want to live. Plainly put - beware of hanging around with unmotivated, uninspired and unencouraging people - because they will drag you down with them. Find motivated, happy, well balanced people to be with and watch the quality of your life take off.
March 31, 2008
Quote of the Day - Perseverance, Confidence and Belief in ourselves
"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 must be attained." - Marie Curie
An apparent lesson for our girls and women out there. We must believe we are gifted for something. We all have special talents and strengths - we need to encourage our daughters to find them and develop (focus on strengths as opposed to weaknesses). It doesn't have to be a unique talent or strength - you may be gifted with an eye for color, or arranging things. You may be gifted in solving mathematical problems. The fact is you can develop your strengths and talents and take confidence from that into your everyday life. You may take your strengths and talents and decide to make a living from them. Either way, spending time doing something you like, enjoy and are good at, builds confidence that exudes into every other area of your life.
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March 28, 2008
Quote of the Day - Self Esteem
"Self Esteem isn't everything; it's just that it's the only thing." Gloria Steinem
The perfect thing to remember. If you don't love yourself, no one else . And self esteem will keep you up when everything is going down. Self-esteem is a daily thing - just because you have it one day, doesn't mean it shows up the next day - it's something you have to work on - at least it is for most of us. Practice makes perfect and you can practice self-esteem - or at least fake it until you make it.
All this talk leads us to an exciting new product from GirlMogul - we're proud to offer best-selling author Catherine Dee's Girl Power Kits, featuring Catherine's wonderful books containing quotes and inspiration for girls 8-12. There's even a special kit to encourage self-esteem, featuring the book "The Girl's Guide to Life." Guess who's a fan - no less than Ms. Steinem herself. Click here to browse - these make great gifts.
March 24, 2008
Quote of the Day - Attitude
"Attitude will take you furhter than talent." Various
How true this. And how important to teach our daughters. We teach our girls that practice makes perfect, study hard, and make sure to cross all the t's and i's. Women are very talented at many things - it makes us great support people. But do we ever give any thought to how we do our work - with a smile, or a grim determination. Do we let dark thoughts intrude upon our work and plans and derail us? Sure we do - and that's why we should think almost as much about how we're doing something as we do to how well we're doing it.
A smile goes a long way -like for a boss who notices that the "difficult" project was completed - not without a fuss - but with a can do attitude. Just remember, DON'T forget to toot your own horn. A positive attitude means no complaining, not no self-promotion.
So good luck - and have a wonderful day.
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March 20, 2008
Quote of the Day - Dreams
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." – Eleanor Roosevelt
This is one of my favorites - both the lady and the quote. So believe in your own dreams - no matter how small or how large. You have to keep believing and keep moving forward. Take small steps - whether it's writing it down, talking to someone, sending an email, practicing, reading a book, or doing a litte bit of internet research. Imagine your dreams in vivid color (no room for black and white here).
Good Luck!
Remember to check out GirlMogul for more encouragement - New site coming soon!
February 20, 2008
The Faintest Ink - Quote of the day
The faintest ink is more powerful than the strongest memory - Chinese Proverb
I like this proverb because it reminds me to write everything down. I make to-do lists. Everyday i have a personal to-do list and a work to-do list. My personal to do list can contain one time things - buy baby present for Jenn, to more mundane things - clean kitchen. I know if I don't write it down, it won't get done - part of it is the satisfaction in crossing something off the list, even if it is something that has to get done like the kitchen, the other part is that putting it in writing creates a sense of urgency.
This particularly effective for work items, where I tend to prioritize things. As a working mom and running a business I have to be very efficient in getting my work done so that there is enough time with the kids. A list, though it may seem overwhelming to have 20 things on it, actually helps me to see what is important, what is fast and what will take a long time, allowing me to structure my day - perhaps I will be able to knock off five items in 10 minutes through an email question or a quick phone call. Or I will realize that I need a block of time to create a presentation and that my afternoon will be the best time for it.
So girls, remember write down your to-do list - what doesn't get done today gets moved over tomorrow. Prioritize your list. This will help you make time for the most important list of all -- your dream list.
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February 14, 2008
Quote of the Day - A New Day
"With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts." Eleanor Roosevelt
That's her - a First Lady, tireless humanitarian, author and all around larger than life lady. So as we begin a Thursday, instead of just winding down and settling in for the weekend, perk up, revive and get ready to take this day on - each new day is a challenge and a gift and a new opportunity - new people, new friends, new connections and new achievements. I have my goal list in front of me for the day and I am ready to go.
One of those goals was a blog post - I was originally going to give you another post on a famous early Girl Geek - don't worry, it's coming, but she turned out to be so fascinating that I need a little more time to do her justice.
The first profile was of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, who worked in the 20th century, beginning in the 1940s. I promised you a profile of someone even "older" - any one guess who it's going to be?
Post a comment if you have a guess and stay tuned!
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February 11, 2008
Quote of the Day - Asking questions
"If you don't ask the question because it's "dumb", somebody else (probably a man) will ask it, and people will say, "Oh good question." No question is dumb ,a s one of my professors used to say." - Sharon Craft Cooper, aerospace engineerSo girls (and mothers tell your daughters) don't be afraid to ask questions. That's how you learn. And yes, by asking a question you are putting yourself out there and opening yourself up to potential embarrassment and comment. And very likely if a boy had asked the same question, no one would have said a thing. But if you don't ask you won't know and you have to know to get things done. So ask the questions and you just might be surprised at the answers.
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February 05, 2008
Quote of the day - Wealth
"Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having fewer wants."
I paraphrased this one a bit, since the original is talking about a monastic life and a vow of poverty. However given the current economic situation out there, it might be good for all of us to cut back. And to teach our daughters the difference between needs and wants. A snow boot may be a need, Uggs are a want. It's hard for us to differentiate between the two when everyone at school seems to be wearing Uggs.
And perhaps all those girls saved their pennies and paid for them with their own money.Or their parents bought them for them, with cash (and didn't put something else on the credit card). But one should be willing to bet that all those Uggs (or Coach bags) or whatever, are stilling be paid for.
True wealth consists of being able to live within our mean, having money for a rainy day, and knowing that while you could buy the Uggs, you don't and decide the money looks a lot better on your Savings account than it does on you. ;So remember girls, nothing looks as good as the confidence that comes from knowing your financially secure.
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January 30, 2008
Science Chick of the Day - And A Quote to Boot
“Don't turn down an opportunity because you are afraid. That's not a good reason to turn down something. So many people, especially women, think they're not qualified when it comes to new opportunities. You think there is someone who can do a job better, but usually there's not. Those guys who are acting like they are better qualified? They aren't any better qualified. They just think they are. Be willing to take a chance!” – Heidi Hammel - Astonomer
Here’s a great article/interview with Heidi Hammel an astronomer who studies Uranus, is helping to build a giant telescope and manages a team of other scientists. (And for all you working moms out there – she telecommutes and raises 3 children.)
Heidi says that first studied stars as a child when she was driving with her parents – car sickness forced her to look up and focus on the constellations. From there it was college at MIT, where in her own words,
“I struggled so hard. Nobody seemed to be working as hard as I did and they were getting much better grades. I was not a very happy person there. I learned how to work hard and how to cope with failure. I learned you couldn't let things get you down. If you persevere, the rewards will come later on.”
A great life lesson, to encourage our daughters to struggle through the math and science classes, even if at first, things don’t come easily. Math and science are critical skills and are a great foundation for anything.
Dr. Hammel goes on to talk about taking risks – heading out to Hawaii for graduate school, being asked to lead a team, and then relying on that team. Read the whole article for more about being a women in a man’s field, the stars, science and balancing work and family and the best advice she can give young women today.
Here’s a great article/interview with Heidi Hammel an astronomer who studies Uranus, is helping to build a giant telescope and manages a team of other scientists. (And for all you working moms out there – she telecommutes and raises 3 children.)
Heidi says that first studied stars as a child when she was driving with her parents – car sickness forced her to look up and focus on the constellations. From there it was college at MIT, where in her own words,
“I struggled so hard. Nobody seemed to be working as hard as I did and they were getting much better grades. I was not a very happy person there. I learned how to work hard and how to cope with failure. I learned you couldn't let things get you down. If you persevere, the rewards will come later on.”
A great life lesson, to encourage our daughters to struggle through the math and science classes, even if at first, things don’t come easily. Math and science are critical skills and are a great foundation for anything.
Dr. Hammel goes on to talk about taking risks – heading out to Hawaii for graduate school, being asked to lead a team, and then relying on that team. Read the whole article for more about being a women in a man’s field, the stars, science and balancing work and family and the best advice she can give young women today.
January 25, 2008
Quote of the Day - Career
"For true independence you have to make a job, not just take a job" - Joline Godfrey - writer, business executive
Great reminder for girls of all ages. To be truly independent, try defining your job into something that plays to your strengths and allows you to make it your own. If you're just doing your job, most likely you are not developing yourself or it into a critical part of the organization and you run the risk of becoming replaceable.
It's important to tell our daughters that they can't just expect a job to last a lifetime -most of us can't expect that either. We know things changes, economies, industries, even the very nature of our job description. If we allow ourselves to be limited by just what is in our job, we run the risk of being run over by those changes. So by making a job and starting to define it to be better targeted to our interests and abilities allows us to show our strengths and develop unique attributes, and perhaps develop a unique job that only we can fill - thus helping to ensure that someone will always need us. So go on, girl, start creating your unique, fulfilling dream job today. Don't be defined by the simpe job title "Accountant", instead try thinking more along the lines of "I am an accountant who specializes in helping small women owned business get on their feet and grow them." It might be the starting point to better defining a profitable niche to focus on and making a name for yourself, independently, rather that just being another "accountant".
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January 17, 2008
Success and Failure
It’s how you deal with failure, not how you deal with success, that determine who in the end, really makes it. - Jane Pratt - Magazine Editor
Just remember, we'll all fail at some point, maybe a lot. Sometimes it's simply the fact that we win more than we lose that keeps ahead of the game. We learn from both winning and losing, but we tend to remember more from our mistakes!!
So share this with a girl you love, and keep trying!
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January 14, 2008
A quote about Education and Learning
"A good education is another name for happiness."
Rose "I picked this one because I love to learn. I know it’s sometime kind of geeky to love school, but I do. But sometime, I love to find out things that you can’t learn in school. Sometimes it’s just a random fact that comes across at you – it could be on TV, in a book, in a newspaper, or it could come from someone else (then it’s probably a good idea to check out and see if it’s true.)
I also like the fact that just by watching you can learn – like watching seeds you planted turn into a plant, or how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. Of course sometimes you learn by doing, like the time, my grandfather taught me to row a boat – it’s not as easy as it looks, let me tell you. But now I know, and I won’t forget.
So sometime learning is in school, but a lot of times it comes from all over the place – we just need to be open to it and watch for it. And remember the lesson. "
October 17, 2007
Quote of the Day
“If your efforts are sometimes greeted with indifference, don’t lose heart. The sun puts on a wonderful show at daybreak, yet most of the people in the audience are sleeping”
- Ada Teixeira