How to Stay Up When…

Even for the most optimistic, maintaining a positive attitude isn’t always easy. 

I’ve read several great books lately—The Difference by Jean Chatzky, As a Man Thinketh by James Allen and The Noticer by Andy Andrews, to name a few. Though they’re written by distinctly different people, and in Allen’s case in another century, a common belief runs through them: We are all responsible for our attitude. Read more

Who Says You Can’t?

Author writes about go-getting women

Susan Casey’s list of “friends” is extensive. Some were born in the 1800s, while others haven’t graduated from high school yet. And many, she never met. But an avid researcher and lover of “detective work,” as she calls it, Casey combed through libraries across the country, hungry to meet women inventors. She now knows so much about them that she calls most—dead or alive—friends. “I feel like I know them,” she says.

Her far-reaching memory harkens back to a “brilliant” woman who came to the United States in the 1920s and built the first solar-heated house. She jumps to the story of the hardworking secretary Bette Graham, who secretly invented Liquid Paper in the 1950s to cover up her typewriting mistakes. Casey’s research was published in Women Invent!, a book about female pioneers of their time.

“These women were pursuing their interests in a very intelligent way—and following through,” Casey says. “They say, I’ll figure out a way to do it. I’m gonna make this happen. It’s inspiring.”

Casey talks about her favorite women inventors, unable to pick just one. She tells the story of Rose Totino, of the famous brand of frozen pizzas, like she’s a long-lost friend: “Rose settled in Minneapolis, and nobody there knew a thing about pizza,” she explains. “Rose would take pizza to the PTA when they were asked to do a potluck. And people thought, Wow, this is great! And it caught on!”

Casey’s book was published in 1997—just before the advent of the Internet and online search engines. She spent nearly 18 months in a Los Angeles library, “zipping” through microfiche and making notes for her book. “It was really fun. For a lot of these women, I had to search in books and call historical societies to find anything about them,” she says. “Now, I Google their name and five biographies pop up.”

Still, the lengthy research process is what Casey found fascinating. “Spending several years talking and researching about optimistic people is inspiring,” she says. “There’s a model of every kind of person in this book: chemists, balloonists, secretaries. When I speak, I teach girls and boys that anyone can use their ideas and create something terrific.”

Hometown Heroes

At a time when money seems to be in short supply, Jenny Jones is giving $1 million away — for the second time.

The former talk show host says success isn’t about money, but about individuals doing what they’re meant to do. “To me, success means being fulfilled, but that doesn’t mean financially,” Jones says. “You can be struggling financially but still feel fulfilled because you are doing something good — something that matters.” Read more

How are Your New Year’s Resolutions Holding Up?

It’s the beginning of February: How are you doing on your resolutions?

Are you still exercising, avoiding cigarettes, eating dinner with your family, saving money, packing a lunch instead of eating out, making those extra sales calls, volunteering regularly and (fill in the blank)?

You’re not alone if your commitment to your goals has faltered; it’s easy to slip back into old habits. One of the keys to staying on track is to write down your goals and put them where you’re reminded of them daily. If your weight-loss goal is posted on the fridge, you’ll see it when you’re in the mood for a late-night snack, and you’ll be forced to make a conscious decision about whether you really want that second (or third) brownie.

Another key to keeping your resolutions is creating new thought patterns. One of the best ways to do this is to read idea-inspiring books. Whether it’s the biography of a person whose success you admire or a book on how to achieve your goals, feeding your mind with positive, thought-provoking messages can change your life.

Here’s a recommended reading list for February:

48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller. Check it out at www.48days.com.

Make It a Vocation to Volunteer

Volunteering is a positive way women can use their strengths for the good of others. California first lady Maria Shriver is one of many female leaders who have established volunteer programs in the country. Read more