Let the QUEENS Be

If it's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness, maybe it's time to light the candles of the women who rule the world.

Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever wasted. Helen Keller, Educator and Humanitarian

Billie Jean King gives us a unique perspective about winning. It takes a champ to not only win but to be a winner.

You may not be perfect, but... "It's better to be a first-rate version of yourself than a second-rate version of someone else." Judy Garland

There's so much you receive when you give, so much to learn when you teach.

If you've ever fallen, you know the fear and immediate reaction it took to catch your fall and to get back up. The person who caught you, which is almost always yourself, emerged a new and stronger person.

At 5'2", Debbie Allen's aspiration to join a dance company seemed unrealistic to most. She was significantly shorter than most of her contemporaries. But Debbie didn't let a limitation stop her from fulfilling her dream and, in fact, used her creativity to become a dancer, choreographer, actor, director, and producer. Without creativity, Debbie Allen may have become another face in a dance company whose name we never knew. Instead, she's become a phenomenal success story.

When we first start out trying to ice skate or even roller skates, holding onto the handrail is a life saver until we get a feel for the blades or wheels beneath our feet. But if we're ever going to fully enjoy the experience, letting go of the handrails becomes a must. Whatever you're trying to accomplish, go all in. Let go of the handrails and fully embrace your success.

A pastor once shared in his sermon that we all have at least ten talents. That means we have quite a few to choose from to augment our income and help make the world shine. What are your ten talents?

Mary Kay Ash created a symphony of music during her lifetime. She amassed great wealth while turning hundreds of thousands of women into entrepreneurs all over the world. We may never play an entire symphony during our lifetime, but we can certainly play a song or two.

Aisha Kingu gives us insight into the importance of clarity. She sees clarity as a secret and as a weapon. When we make our vision clear, we make them happen.

It probably is no surprise to you, and I really didn't think I was Oprah, but when I didn't garner a larger listening audience, my confidence began to wane. But Oprah wasn't Oprah in the beginning. It took years of work to become the titan she is today. If you haven't reached your goals yet keep going. Success takes time.

We all feel a little cracked or broken at times. Life has a way of doing that. But the Japanese art of Kintsugi has a way of turning a broken object and turning it into a beautiful work of art. We can do the same for ourselves. We can either be broken, or we can heal those broken parts and become even better.

We all make mistakes, it's a precondition for being human. But this morning the mistakes I made seemed particularly foolish, moving an unstable table while a cup of hot tea and glass of fresh orange juice sat on top. As you might imagine, the outcome wasn't good. And still. You don't cry over spilt tea, you learn from the mistake.

Marquita Ell, a certified fitness coach takes us through the importance of mindful eating and exercise, the most important steps toward our success.

Think, feel, and imagine the life you want and your thoughts and imagination will lead you to creating exactly that.

Dori Stewart is a teacher turned entrepreneur who has built a multi-million dollar business teaching young children STEM in 165 locations in 35 countries. The founder of Engineering for Kids has now taken her formidable self-taught business skills to start a new venture the Franchising Spot, Inc/Females in Franchising Inc. where she is a consultant offering courses in business and franchising. Dori has been featured in FORBES, KIPLINGER PERSONAL FINANCE MAGAZINE, FRANCHISE BUSINESS NEWS, and the WALL STREET JOURNAL, has written several books to teach young children STEM, and has been recognized with multiple awards for her work.

Learning to master our emotions can mean the difference between success and failure; between building a relationship or tearing one down. Got a minute? Listen.

This interview of a non-profit executive, wife, mother, volunteer, and most importantly, a woman of God, reveals a remarkable woman who took control of her life as a young teen and went on to become an accomplished community leader. Shaila Ford shares a very intimate part of her story with our listening audience and explains how she has used the tragic circumstances of her life to lead and help shape women and girls in the St. Louis region to use their gifts where they're planted. Her story and of courage, determination, and success will encourage you and inspire you to take on new challenges and to face obstacles even while afraid.

Remember those butterflies you got in your stomach just thinking about something that excited you. Just imagine the energy that you could produce if you resurrected that excitement and passionately pursued what excites you.

"Our deepest fear is not that we're inadequate. Our Deepest Fear is that we're powerful beyond measure." This quote by Maryanne Williamson is one of the most widely quoted of modern times thanks to the late South African President Nelson Mandela. It's also one that should cause us to think and reflect on our own fears and to courageously embrace our own immense power.

We all hit bumps and potholes in this road called life. We are challenged by choices, roadblocks, and the decisions of others. But we are also blessed with the capacity to rely on others for support, the occasional road map, and yes, prayers. Regina Randle has spent more than a decade providing that very support, road map, and prayers to those who rely on her wisdom and spirituality. We are blessed by what she shares in this podcast.

This description of leadership differs from what you may have heard in the past. The description shared here is both unique and beautiful.

Thinking of our dreams as being beautiful, that in itself is inspiring. That those dreams are the currency by which we gain our future, is motivation.

We can all find success in any arena we choose. It's as simple as taking the time and effort to be exceptional.

Kat Fulton is a speaker and board-certified music therapist whose passion is achieving therapeutic goals through making music and is revolutionizing the music therapy industry in the process. She has helped thousands of healthcare professionals revolutionize their work setting by using music to improve patient progress. Kat has been featured in Psychology Today, and numerous music websites and magazines. Her delightful and warm personality with or without music is therapy in itself.

Growing in business, education, or any other arena means growing the amount of knowledge and expertise you have.

Who's in your circle of influence. What do they say about your future?

Somehow, it often seems that someone who has made it did it overnight. Their name had been obscured for years, but in most cases, they were busy building their overnight success brick by brick.

Is your time and energy stretched to the limits? It's probably time you learn the word No.

Are your dreams ao big they scare you? If not, you're not dreaming big enough.

Don't let lack of knowledge stop you, it could be exactly what leads to your success.

Nicole Adewale is one of the most energetic and accomplished businesswomen in St. Louis. In this episode, Nicole shares how she gets the most out of a 24 hours day to be a wife, mother, engineer, business owner, board member, volunteer, and community leader. Her journey and transparency will inspire you to renew your dreams, reach higher heights, and focus on self-care to achieve your dreams and goals.

What is success? Only you can define that for you.

What is success? Only you can define it for you?

Does your presence in the lives of others make them better? Does that imprint last?

Never let criticism hinder you. It's probably a recognition that your success isn't far behind.

Opportunities aren't always presented at your doorstep wrapped in a yellow bow, but when you decide you're ready to flourish, you'll suddenly notice that opportunities are everywhere.

We can't grow and stay in the same place and more often than not, moving into a new space means feeling uncomfortable. Think of new opportunities as a new pair of shoes, they're beautiful on the shoe rack but when we put them on, they don't feel anything like that old tattered pair we've worn for years. But if we want to step out looking our best, initially it's going to be uncomfortable. The ones we never break in, the ones we eventually give away, may have looked good on the shelf and even on our feet, but when the pain of discomfort never goes away, maybe it's time to find another "new" pair of shoes.

Learning is an endless process. The ability to continue learning is one of our best assets.

Let the Queens Be

How much more could we achieve if we didn't fear our power? We're powerful beyond measure.

Carri Griffin has gone from babysitting for families as a pre-teen to opening a home daycare to building a very successful Montessori Preschool, to writing a book on starting a home daycare and consulting with other women to launch their daycares as well. It's my pleasure to host my first podcast interview with my daughter. I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it.

We can't control the behavior of others but we can control what we allow in our lives. We teach people how to treat us and in that, most are very good students.

We all have dreams. Some from years ago, others that continue to unfold. What are your dreams? Do you believe in the beauty of them?

We never know who's watching us or the impact we have in their lives. Someone is always watching and the example we set may very well set into motion a miracle.

Queens don't fail. They use failure as stepping stones.

This minute of inspiration asks the question, what's love got to do with your success. Those who become not only successful but enjoy the journey and the end goal, know that love is the only way.

This episode is about healing, healing emotional pain that stands in the way of us being our most vibrant selves. When our emotional wounds heal, the physical wounds will follow and we're free to live life to its fullest.

This is the very first episode of my podcast, Let the Queens Be. I'm here to share with you, to help you rediscover yourself and your dreams. I'm to hear to listen to your thoughts, inner feelings and to walk you through a journey of acceptance, of being seen and heard, of knowing you are worthy of receiving and living life in abundance. This podcast exists to show you that obstacles are actually stepping stone, that walls aren't impenetrable, and that you have everything you need within you to achieve your loftiest goals. Welcome to the Queendom. You belong here.

This is a daily dose of inspiration. They're words from the American dancer and author, Gabrielle Roth on living life in ecstasy. She tells us that ecstacy is an idea, a goal. It's a way of living that is the result of our expectation.