Q. What type of events do you speak for?
A. Annual and Regional Conferences and Events Leadership/Executive Retreats, National Association Meetings, Annual Sales Meetings, Women’s and Diversity Events.
Q. Do you work with clients internationally?
A. Yes, I coach clients nationally and internationally by phone or webinar. Because of my speaking and travel schedule I do limit the number of business clients I accept into my program.
Q. How did you get started as a speaker?
A. When I wrote It Started with Pop-Tarts I knew I had to share what I learned through my alternative healing journey. And after 28 years in information technology consulting and professional sales, I was bored and ready for something new. My goal was to share my story to help teens and college students recover from eating disorders more quickly than I did (over 30 years). I grew up performing musically and was a software trainer so I was always comfortable on stage. After five years dedicated to teens, college students and eating disorders, I realized that wasn’t why I was put on this earth. I shifted my focus and incorporated my business skills as a consultant and salesperson. Now my focus is serving leaders and salespeople.
Q. What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a speaker?
A. Identify your passion. What message do you have to share that will motivate and inspire others? Who do you want to talk to? Do you have life experience or a professional background that will allow you to be credible in the field? Go do some test runs. Speak at a Rotary Club, Kiwanis, or local women’s groups. Ask for feedback from the audience. Hire a coach. I happen to know a great one!
Q. Do you coach other speakers?
A. Yes. You can spend years and lots of money trying to figure it out on your own, or get connected with someone who can help you break through quickly. I’ve been blessed to help many people along their journey to becoming professional speakers. Email today and schedule an introductory coaching session and we’ll explore how I can help you jump start your career as a speaker.
Q. Who are your favorite comedians?
A. Laughter truly is the best medicine. My favorites include Carol Burnett, Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Dan Akroyd, Lucille Ball, Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Eddie Murphy, and Dave Chapelle.
Q. What music do you listen to?
A. My musical tastes are varied. From hard rock, alternative rock, new age, world, blues, funk, R&B. My favorites go way back…Joe Walsh, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Eagles, Heart, Bonnie Raitt, Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Marvin Gaye, The Police, Sting, Lenny Kravitz, Foo Fighters, Sheryl Crow, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Saliva, Alice in Chains, Queens of the Stone Age…the list goes on.
Q. What do you do for fun?
A. I’m a huge sports fan and I love speed. Taking my nieces and nephews to Mile High Nationals (NHRA). I am an avid golfer and love being outside with my dogs. Hawaii is my favorite place on earth. I like to vacation at the beach. But my spiritual connection and rejuvenation comes from being in the Colorado Mountains.
Q. Do you play any musical instruments?
A. Yes, Mom (music teacher) insisted I learn piano. I was singing at a young age with my sisters. Yet, violin was my instruments of choice. I begged for two years to play and started lessons at age 8. I played in the Columbus Cadet Orchestra in Junior High and by college was second chair (that’s really good if you’re not musical). I loved it and was a great violinist, but when it was time to focus on career it fell by the wayside.
I played saxophone from grade school through college and sang in school choirs and groups. I toured internationally with the Continental Singers in 1978. We traveled all over the U.S. and to Helsinki, Finland, Oslo, Norway, Copenhagen, Denmark (my ancestral homeland) and to Leningrad (now St Petersburg), Russia. In my forties I started writing lyrics. I wrote and and recorded 13 songs as “Shewolf,” alas it was short-lived although I loved it.
Q. What’s with the wolves?
A. I love animals. Especially wolves and arctic dogs. I’m drawn to their independence, spirit and loyalty. Love their eyes, beautiful tails and howling. Hence Shewolf Press (my publishing company). Animals have so much to teach us about life and have incredible hearts and energy. I’ve had a Samoyed (my first) and Malamutes…as close as I can get to wolves.
Q. How do you deal with obstacles, drama and adversity?
A. I live by a quote I learned from my mentor Bill Harris “Let everything be okay.” No matter what happens whether it’s what you expected or not, you’re on your path and life is playing out the way it’s supposed to. That phrase has completely changed my life. When one door closes, look for the new one that’s open. Banging, pounding and pushing is a waste of time. Remember, Anything is Possible!
Q. Who inspires you?
A. Jack Canfield, Wayne Dyer, Genevieve Behrend, Joseph Murphy, Lynn Grabhorn, Dan Caro (drummer), Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla. Talented athletes with die-hard mental focus (Rafa Nadal, Michael Jordan, Andre Agassi, Tiger Woods). People living their dreams and fulfilling their purpose, people who never, ever give up.
