Inspiring Stories About Life
2019 – Time for a NEW YOU!
Are you trying to make goals for the new year? If so, there's something you need to do first!
Strong Kids – Echo Shaffer on finding her focus
Echo Shaffer has a smile that lights up a room. And a voice that lights up a stage. The fifteen year-old, whose middle name is Wren, has kept a song in her heart since before she was born. Her mom, Brenda, sang to Echo and then watched the tables turn as her toddler,...
Strong Women – Lori Rosensteel is strong as steel
Lori Rosensteel is strong in a way that defies the odds. This mom and Connellsville Area School District elementary teacher takes on Tough Mudder obstacle races. She owns House of Steel, a new full-service fitness and wellness center where she is also a personal...
Strong Kids – Melanie Gillott on finding her gift of confidence
Melanie Gillott has found herself in an unlikely place. The 16 year-old used to be shy and introverted. She sought solace from the world in her room writing novels and creating colorful characters. It was her comfort zone. That is until she got pulled out of it and...
Strong Kids – Noah Geary is kicking cancer with an attitude of gratitude
In August, Noah Geary expected to be on the football field kicking and getting ready for his senior year in high school. He was kicking cancer instead. The Game Changer The Geibel Catholic Jr/Sr High School tri-athlete had just joined the Southmoreland High School...
Who is your elevator?
Who is your elevator? That person who lifts you up and makes you believe in yourself and something bigger. I’m blessed to have more than a few “elevators”. Family. Friends. Community members. And colleagues. They might not realize it, but their encouragement and...
A Golden Reunion – Lou and Toni’s story
You might say that Toni Schiavoni and Lou Durbin have a stonemason and a Golden Reunion to thank for finding each other after more than 50 years. In fact, that’s exactly what they say. In 2012, Tomas Lipps, a world renowned stonemason was called from Sante Fe, New...
60 Years of Mom
When she became a widow at the age of 35, she was left with five children. The youngest was two. When she went back to work as a Registered Nurse, she worked full-time. And gave us twelve years of Catholic education. When it was Sunday, we went to...
Why volunteers at Connellsville Area Community Ministries are happy to be giving back
When people and causes come together, good things can happen. At Connellsville Area Community Ministries where 100 volunteers give life-sustaining help and hope to people who have fallen on hard times, you might say goodness is overflowing. Last year alone, through...
Strong Women – Deborah Thackrah is serving up a soup kitchen for the soul
Since she was a little girl, Deb Thackrah knew she wanted to help people in need. Five years ago while running on a trail in Greensburg, PA, she found an unexpected pathway to do it. ”I was with my running partner, Chris, and noticed people were sleeping there. We...
Strong Women – Kelly’s Kidney is Suzi’s Act of Love
It’s National Friendship Month and Kelly Gallo couldn’t ask for a better friend than Susi Love. They were best friends in 1995 when the song, “I’ll be there for you” by The Rembrandts was a number one hit. The song about friendship is striking a chord this week as...
16 motivational quotes to create your best year yet
You are a work in progress. That's good to remember as you enter 2016. Like gratitude and the smile that goes with it, your "to do" list every day should include building a better you from the inside out. The "People Who Inspire” and "Strong Women" featured here this...
Finding the forgotten: A Christmas Eve Caper
Tonight, 16 year-old Ben Williams won’t be thinking about the Neurofibromatosis that causes benign and sometimes painful tumors to grow in his nervous system. He’ll forget about the four hour MRI’s he receives twice a year requiring anesthesia. And he won’t give a...
People Who Inspire – The Book
Everyone has a story – our neighbors, friends, and the strangers we pass by. If we just take a moment to have a conversation, we can be inspired. That's the idea behind the “People Who Inspire” series at MaryMotivates.com. I’m pleased to announce that a collection of...
Strong Women – U.S. Air Force veteran Joyce Robley found her wings to fly
When Joyce Robley graduated from high school, she wanted to go places. She just couldn’t get off the ground – until the words of poet, Maya Angelou lifted her up and sent her on her way. “I had unrealistic expectations and dreams when I was young. I thought I would go...
Strong Women – Dawnetta DeCara on surviving Hurricane Joaquin and 30 years of marriage
When Dawnetta and Sam DeCara set sail for a seven day cruise to the Bahamas to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary, the skies were clear. They anticipated the journey ahead to be smooth. But three days into their trip, things took a decidedly different turn. A...
Sam Brooks – The Man Behind the Music
Take smooth jazz sounds, add pop and mash it up with songs that are classic and contemporary. What do you get? The just-released debut EP of Sam Brooks. This self-titled album is his first and represents a new chapter on his musical journey. Mixing classic jazz with...
Strong Women – Gina Lynn isn’t missing what’s around the bend
Gina Lynn doesn’t know what’s around the next bend. And that’s exactly why she has to get there. “If you stop too soon, you may miss something amazing.” That’s what she said as she trekked through the ancient cities of Germany. It’s also her mantra for living. Heading...
Strong Women – Margaret Zylka House is raising her kids to be strong
Margaret Zylka House is teaching her kids to grow up strong. Not just physically, but mindful too while shaping their view of the world and the women in it. “How I define beauty and I view myself sends powerful messages to them. Helping them see the strength and...
Strong Women – Gina Jones embraces servant leadership to empower others
Gina Jones leads by knowing where she stands. It’s not a pedestal. It’s more of a trench. And it’s called servant leadership. Different than a leader who may seek self-empowerment, a servant leader seeks to empower others. This is how the speaker, writer, coach, and...
Strong Women – Lauren Shroyer Gross is transforming from the inside out
Lauren Shroyer Gross has an inner strength. And she uses it for one purpose – to bring out the best in herself and others. The stage gave her a platform to grow up strong. Before she was in pre-school, Lauren was in dance school at Kids n’ Company, a studio owned at...
Strong Women: Daynelle Sanner tackling challenges with grit and grace
It takes a brave person to face a giant obstacle with fear and yet refuse to give in. Meet Daynelle Sanner, a Hotel Manager and Fitness Instructor, who powers through challenges with grit and grace. The Reebok Spartan Sprint Race she competed in this summer tested her...
People Who Inspire – Larry Orlando on making a lasting impression
Larry Orlando has a knack for leaving an indelible impression. In fact, it’s fair to say the calligrapher and retired math teacher has mastered the art. “Mr. O is the reason I am a teacher,” said Sean Kenney, a Geibel Catholic Jr/Sr High School 1987 alumnus. He pushed...
People Who Inspire – Fr. Bob Lubic on living an unconventional life
Fr. Bob Lubic lives an unconventional life. The “punk” priest with the pierced ears, tee shirt, and tussled hair doesn’t look the part. And that suits him just fine. “Being myself is good for evangelization. I look like them so if I’m talking with people, they’re...
Dalton’s Heart: A mother’s gift of life
Dalton Igoe plays quad drums in his high school marching band. But thanks to the gift of an organ donor, he’s also marching to another beat – the sound of his new heart. The 18 year old Altoona Area High School senior was born with six congenital heart diseases and...
People Who Inspire – Michael Edwards and Daniel Cocks on the Rebirth of a City
Michael Edwards’ roots may be from Springfield, VA, but they are firmly planted in the small Pennsylvania town of Connellsville. It’s where he and Daniel Cocks laid the foundation for a renaissance to take place. They arrived to this economically challenged city in...
5 ways to bring balance to your life
With all of the things we have stacked in our day, living a balanced life may seem impossible. But it can be done. I asked master stone balance artist, Tim Anderson, what it takes to create the perfect picture of balance. It turns out the five things Tim does to...
People Who Inspire – Tim McClellan on becoming a designer, builder and story teller
Tim McClellan became a celebrity when he won the hearts of viewers on HGTV, a network that reaches 94 million households. His furniture design made him the winner of “Ellen’s Design Challenge”. It was the biggest moment of his life…until it was taken away. Before we...
People Who Inspire – Hollywood Anderson on going from Homeless to Hollywood
When American Idol contestant Hollywood Anderson came to New York three years ago, he was in search of the one thing he couldn’t find in his hometown of Orlando – fame. Far from the tourist attractions that draw millions of people to the city each year, Hollywood was...
People Who Inspire – Joe Walko on a journey with grief
Joe Walko understands the pain of losing a loved one. His wife, Debbie, passed away nearly three years ago. Since then, he's been on a journey filled with pain, confusion - and surprising hope. An avid outdoorsman, Joe is on an uncharted path through the...
People Who Inspire: Jon Jackson on a mission to Keep Yinz Warm
Five years ago, Jon Jackson was a 12 year old passenger in his mother’s car when he looked out the window and saw something he had never seen before. It was a homeless man, lying in a fetal position under a bridge. The image left an indelible impression. “I had heard...
People Who Inspire: Dr. Tony DiGioia on Operation Walk Pittsburgh
When Dr. Tony DiGioia and his team of more than 60 volunteers travel to Honduras in June, they’ll take with them 8,000 pounds of medical supplies. But mostly what this group will bring is hope. They are part of Operation Walk Pittsburgh - a non-profit he founded to...
People Who Inspire: Tim Anderson on living life in perfect balance
When Tim Anderson picks up a stone in a creek, he’s like a symphony conductor picking up his baton. Something amazing is about to happen. As the water rushes around him – one by one, he chooses his instruments. They are rocks of every shape and size. Each one is...
People Who Inspire: Dominick Domasky on the flip side of failure
In 2005, Dominick Domasky was a 26 year old entrepreneur who was a half million dollars in debt. His restaurant went under, he was bankrupt and the law was after him for unpaid taxes – all while his wife was pregnant with their first child. It wasn’t the best year of...
17 “People Who Inspire” quotes to help you achieve your goals
It's been a bright year at MaryMotivates.com. In 2014, 15,000 visitors from 83 countries stopped by to find inspiration for life and motivation for success. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Together, we’ve met some extraordinary “People Who...
People Who Inspire: Chuck Hubbell on being Santa Claus
When Chuck Hubbell was in high school and recited “Twas the Night Before Christmas” in class with surprising perfection, he found his voice. When he was 35 years old and began uttering, “Ho, Ho, Ho!”, he discovered a real joy deep within him. And 13 years later, when...
People Who Inspire: Charlie Batch on Purpose
What Charlie Batch found on the football field as a kid, was purpose. It’s where he found father figures in the coaches that pushed him. It’s where his mother put her foot down. And it’s where he channeled the pain of losing his sister into something good. The retired...
People Who Inspire: Jeremy Feldbusch – a Wounded Warrior on a mission
Jeremy Feldbusch couldn’t see, but he could hear the voice of his parents. He couldn’t understand how it was possible since he was in Iraq guarding the Haditha Dam along the Euphrates River from insurgents as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. But this member of the...
People Who Inspire: Ethan Keedy on never giving up
Ethan Keedy gives back - even when he could have chosen to give up instead. The 21 year old college junior and pizza shop entrepreneur is on a mission to serve and to make his father proud. “When I was 15 years old, my dad worked the 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. shift at...
People Who Inspire: Maria Connell inspiring with Down Syndrome
When Maria Connell pens a poem, it has a purpose – to inspire. The 33 year old is a writer, speaker, and kindergarten teacher’s aide who knows how to overcome challenges. Born with Down Syndrome, she writes poems that become a special part of birthdays, holidays,...
People Who Inspire: Ted and Wendy on being mobile with Spina Bifida
Ted Pence and his girlfriend Wendy Garofalo were born with Spina Bifida - the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States. According to the Spina Bifida Association, this means that before birth, they had a "split gene" causing the spinal...
8 things a cancer patient wants you to know
I remember a conversation I had with my mother 25 years ago when she was going through treatments for ovarian cancer. She wanted to talk about planning her funeral. Although this is a topic anyone can discuss at any time, I brushed it off saying something like, ‘Oh...
5 life lessons learned from the making of “Pittsburgh from the Water”
One year ago, WQED-TV video-photojournalist Paul Ruggieri was asked by executive producer David Solomon if he would want to spend the next year creating a show that would capture four seasons of activities on western PA waterways. If Paul accepted the assignment, he’d...
Comparing our lives to others
My daughter and I went to an evening reception straight from working all day. We were dressed well – or so we thought. But as guests arrived in their best evening wear, we didn’t feel so well dressed anymore. We didn’t blend in and we felt it. And that’s when it hit...
People Who Inspire: Brad Geyer on “The Little Theater That Could”
In 2005, Brad Geyer, picked up the newspaper and read a story about a local theater company that was changing its name in an uphill struggle to survive. Bearing the weight of upkeep and low attendance, the board of directors of Scottdale Showtime Theatre chose to take...
People Who Inspire: Abbey Way on raising the bar for concussion awareness
When Abbey Way was in high school, she was a basketball star and pole vaulting champion who kept raising the bar higher for her success. That hasn’t changed for 93.7 The Fan (KDKA-FM) sports reporter and fitness guru. It’s just that now, she’s raising the bar for...
People Who Inspire: Gary Wandel on the adventure of life without limits
Gary Wandel is a retired high school Calculus teacher who experiences life without limits. It’s a perspective this world traveler carries with him on every adventure - whether he’s skydiving in Kittanning, PA or exploring the recesses of the Waitomo Caves in New...
Discovering who we are and where we want to go
“How did your audition go?” That was a question I overheard last week on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University as a group of students walked by. Moments later, as I approached the “Walking to the Sky” sculpture, it was another reminder that this life is a journey...
Volunteering: The benefits of connecting to a cause
What do you care about? What cause or issue moves you to want to affect change? We tend to feel connections to causes in which we have been directly impacted. Janet Bryner lost her husband to polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and is raising their four children who...
People Who Inspire: Jaynette Brown on how she got through 52 cancer treatments
One year ago, Jaynette Brown was enjoying 10 mile bike rides and daily walks with her yellow lab, Belle. Staying active and being outdoors was how she wanted to spend her time - not at a routine medical test when she was feeling fine. “I had four or five mammogram...
5 leadership lessons learned on a zipline
I did something this weekend that took me outside of my comfort zone. After suiting up with harnesses and learning the safety rules, I took my fear of heights and trekked up a hill to climb a rope ladder onto a platform 50 feet high that swayed a back and forth in the...
5 images of freedom and bravery captured on a visit to NYC
As Independence Day draws near, a recent visit that my family and I made to New York has made me feel even more grateful for the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness we have in America. These images of freedom and bravery were all around us. Statue of Liberty The...
People Who Inspire: Patti Kirscht on her dogs with special needs
“I have the perfect dog for you!” Those were the words on the other end of the phone. And that was the call that changed the life of Patti Kirscht and others she would yet to meet. The awaiting dog was a Great Dane being rescued by a woman Patti calls an “Angel of...
People Who Inspire: Eunice Arthur on being 101 and happy
Eunice Arthur loves life – all 101 years of it! She was just 11 years of age when she came to America on a ship from Bellshill, Scotland. The year was 1924. She was on board with 10 of her brothers and sisters and her mom, who became so sea sick that Eunice and her...
Motherly Advice: 10 things I want my children to know
They may be in their 20’s now, but the images of my children when they were small will be forever with me. Ryan, sitting in the tent we built over chairs with blankets and sheets and books inside waiting to be read together; Alyssa perched at the kitchen table with...
People who Inspire: Scott and Connie Nicholson on helping cancer patients make ends meet
When the doctor told Scott Nicholson, “It’s cancer”, he asked his wife Connie one question – What are we going to do? Yes, there were decisions to make about treatment and surgeries. But ultimately what they chose to do was to continue living fully and to make a...
People who Inspire: Joanne Orlando Lizza on impacting others from her wheelchair
For the past 28 years, Joanne Orlando Lizza has lived her life from a wheelchair, perhaps living more fully than she could without it. In her own words, she shares her story... “To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world.” I am not...
A Tribute to Lucille Ball’s Unstompable Spirit
Remember the I Love Lucy episode in which a famous Italian director casts Lucy in his movie called “Bitter Grapes”? She assumes the movie is about wine making and sets out into the countryside to immerse herself in the role. It doesn’t take long for Lucy to find a...
Rising to the challenge: What a high school student can teach us about success
Valerie is like a crocus making her way up through the debris of winter. The high school senior could have stayed in that place that kept her out of the light. It would have been easy. Putting forth no effort, she skipped school, got suspended and was failing most of...
People who Inspire: Ted and Phyllis Kovall on the fight to save Finley’s sight
Phyllis and Ted Kovall know what it takes to win a race. Ted is the president of the Yough Trail Council, a western Pennsylvania bike trail that spans 23 miles. Phyllis is a competitive runner who does 5K walking treks through her neighborhood five days a week. These...
Life lessons learned on my first job with the Pittsburgh Steelers
I remember my first day on the job like it was yesterday. It was a cold November morning in 1984 and the sun was shining. Recently graduated from college with a degree in Communications, I was about to embark on an unexpected journey serving in the Pittsburgh Steelers...
Sydney’s five pet choices for a happier life
Given the choice to lie on the hardwood floor or on the plush carpet, our dog Sydney will choose the carpet every time. And she’ll bring along her favorite toys, positioning them in a way that assures they’ll be there when she wakes up from her nap. Sydney is making a...
People who Inspire: Emily’s Update
Last week, my People who Inspire post was about Emily Ruggieri, the six year old Girl Scout with a goal so big it would take an entire country to get her there. Her Girl Scout Troop #26683 has chosen Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP) to be the recipient of...
People who Inspire: Emily Ruggieri on her goal to deliver smiles and 1,584 Girl Scout cookies
Emily Ruggieri is a six year old Girl Scout on a mission to deliver more than cookies to patients at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. She wants to bring kids hope and a smile too from every state in America. What started out as the annual Girl Scout cookie sale with...
Turning a New Year’s resolution into a goal
What's better than making a New Year's resolution? Making it a goal instead. "A resolution is a solution to a problem". That’s what Dr. Caroline Cederquist, medical director for bistroMD and the Cederquist Medical Wellness Center shared in a CNN report. Breaking the...
The greatest gift of all
"It’s not what you have, it’s who you have in your life.” This timely reminder came from Fr. Gerry, a visiting priest in-residence from the Philippines, during his homily at Mass this weekend. A couple of things happened recently that brought this message home....
People who Inspire: Dan Petrowski on living and serving abroad
In the 1960’s, Dan Petrowski was a young boy growing up in a small Pennsylvania town. From the pages of his grandmother’s National Geographic magazines, he could see a world filled with people and cultures far removed from the life he knew. More than anything, he...
How to reach your goals on the road less traveled
This week, I was driving over the mountain to a high school in Somerset County, PA to do a motivational, kick-off assembly for The Challenge Program, Inc. There were two ways I could go - the road less traveled or the road more traveled. I thought civilization would...
Behind the scenes with Director, Paul Ruggieri on the making of “Portraits for the Home Front: The Story of Elizabeth Black”
Inside a footlocker and tucked away for almost 70 years was a Veterans Day story waiting to be told. The trunk belonged to Elizabeth Black, a World War II Red Cross volunteer who took her bravery and artistic talent to the front lines to sketch the faces of World War...
Counting your blessings: Make it a healthy habit
Counting your blessings, it turns out, is a healthy thing to do. Doing so every day? We’ll, that would be 365 times better for you. In his book, “Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier”, Dr. Robert Emmons,a psychology professor at the University of...
How being happy can make you successful
If there’s one thing a yellow rubber duck can do, it’s make people smile. So when a 40 foot rubber duck floated into Pittsburgh recently for a three week visit, it’s not surprising that more than a million people flocked to see it. It’s a sure bet too that everyone...
Living life on purpose
There was something about this day that would cause me to pause and reflect. Maybe it was the young girl I had just met or maybe it was the majestic sky. They both had the same message. I was at a high school career and technology center presenting a motivational...
Paying 5 Forward
The other day, I experienced an act of kindness that got me thinking - How can I pay it back? I was pulling into a drive-thru restaurant when another car approached the same spot at the same time. We both stopped and he motioned for me to go ahead. As I waved to him...
5 things teaching a high school class taught me
When I was invited by my high school alma mater to guest teach two classes on public speaking, I was ready - or so I thought. I brought along my “10 Simple Steps to Becoming a Confident Public Speaker” and some activities to challenge students. I thought I could teach...
People who Inspire: Janet Bryner on a mission to stop kidney disease in its tracks
Janet Bryner is on a mission to find a cure for a disease that affects 600,000 people in the US. Most people don’t even know it exists. It’s Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) and she knows it all too well. PKD causes clusters of fluid-filled cysts to develop within the...
People who Inspire: Lew Lynn on making every minute of his 91 years count
Lewis “Lew” Lynn makes the most of every minute. Make that all 47,829,600+ minutes of his 91 years. Yesterday morning, he played 18 holes of golf and missed a hole in one by three feet. It’s okay, he’ll be back next Saturday to try again. His focus on the golf course...
People who Inspire: Gary Walker on his musical path to success
5 good reasons to smile at someone you don’t know
Smiling - It comes so easily to kids.They light up a room with their smile and connect so easily with other kids. In our fast paced “grown up” world, we’ve got phones and every electronic device commanding our attention. Far too often, we become polarized. But it...
People who Inspire: Gary Wandel on making life an adventure
Gary Wandel lives life on the edge. Make that the edge of a 220 foot water fall in Costa Rica. It’s a little something he repelled down right after descending a 150 foot waterfall. But it wasn’t the feet this retired math teacher was adding up as he was going down. It...
People who Inspire: Cait Cuneo on finding her voice
Cait Cuneo is a rising star. And on her journey to music fame, she’s bringing along a message for fans. “It’s the mistakes you make and the opportunities you take that allow you to grow as a person,” she said. This "can do" theme is echoed in a sophisticated and...
People who Inspire: Jim Protin on the most important job in America
James E. Protin, Jr. may be a business strategist, but he’s really a teacher at heart. Just ask the 200 kids he’s coached in high school basketball, the elementary classes he recently spoke to, or his colleagues at the engineering firm where he works in Pittsburgh....
People who Inspire: John Robinson on a journey of hope
John Robinson was a registered nurse working in a skilled nursing facility in Massachusetts when something happened that would change his life and the direction of his career. “There was a patient who had no idea he was dying. His family did, but they were in denial...
The best fatherly advice from 10 people I met on a road trip
It may have been 50 years since Father Knows Best ran on network television, but the fatherly advice that actor, Robert Young gave endures today. It can come from grandfathers, uncles, mentors - even strangers. On a road trip to Detroit, Michigan, I met 10 people and...
3 good reasons to step outside of your comfort zone
If you want to see the Grand Canyon, you've got choices. You can take a mule, a plane, or hike in the back country. No matter how you choose to get there, you’ve got to step outside of your comfort zone. Reaching your goals is a lot like that too. So why should you...
5 things a five year old can teach us about success
If you want to succeed, it's good to know how to play by the rules. It's also good sometimes to color outside of the lines. Five year old kids have got these mastered. So to find out more about what it takes to succeed, I sat down with an expert – my five year old...
Memorial Day: What it means to one US Navy veteran
"O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” - These words have special meaning for Ron Shroyer, a retired and decorated US Navy Command Master Chief. A former lead singer with the US Navy Band, Ron has sung "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Naval ceremonies at...
The best motherly advice from 10 mall shoppers
This Mother’s Day, I was in search of people willing to share the best motherly advice they received. I knew the best place to talk to people who had moms on their mind this weekend was at the mall. So I went shopping. From the J.C. Penney’s handbag department, to the...
5 things my mom taught me
The best way to remember my mother, Mary Ann Ruggieri, on this 20th anniversary of her passing is to reflect on what she taught me. It wasn’t so much what she said. It was her example that made such an indelible impression on me. Be kind. She was not only a kind and...
The Heroes of Boston
Emerging from the chaos and smoke at the Boston Marathon were profound images of people rushing to the aid of victims. In a split second - runners, bystanders, race volunteers and first responders became rescuers – and heroes. What is it that people possess that...
Water Cooler Lessons: Mentoring Matters
Learning the ropes as a college freshman, Ryan discovered one sure thing - having a mentor could make all the difference. “I had just started school when my finance professor sat me down and showed me the resumes of seniors. He told me that by the time I was a senior,...
5 lessons from a Golden Retriever on achieving your goals
You've got a goal. Now, how are you going to achieve it? For inspiration, just look around. I didn't have to look further than my feet where Sydney, our Golden Retriever, is usually sitting. Here are five things she's taught me so far about navigating the road to...
To be like Underdog, all you need is this…
It may have been a cartoon, but the message of Underdog packed a powerful punch. In real life, we’ve got Underdogs all around us. Some are famous. Most are not. But they all have one thing in common – Like Shoeshine Boy, motivated by a greater good, they rose to the...
Getting out of your jar
You can’t see the label from inside the jar. Think of your own customer service experience with this saying in mind. You walk up to the counter to place an order and what do you see? Do the employees on the other side of the counter look neat and professional? Are...
A Note of Motivation
Since the start of the new-year, I’ve been doing something that’s well, new. Each morning, I write a note of motivation – six words or less – to keep me focused on achieving one specific goal throughout the day. I’m pretty sure the seed for this idea was planted one...
An attitude of gratitude
Attitude. It’s the one thing that never leaves us. Like a child’s favorite blanket, we carry it with us wherever we go. It's ageless too. Eunice was just about to turn 100 years old when she was named "Queen of the Nursing Home" for her special talent. She could...
You Can Do It!
I learned a lesson one day in high school that I’ll never forget. It was the last class of the day – Problems of Democracy (POD) with Mr. Rossi. He pointed to a paper on the wall and told me, “You should sign up for this. It’s the Jaycees annual speech scholarship...
Facing Forward
A new year is the perfect time to look ahead. Like the freshly fallen snow, it’s a clean slate. Sooner or later though, you’re going to have to put down some tracks. Where will they lead? Even the best GPS in the world can’t map this trip. Only you can. Start by...
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Finding Purpose in Your Work
What do you want out of life? Does what you do fill you with purpose? If not, it's time to find meaning in what you do. Consider this - If you're cleaning tables and sweeping the floor at a fast food restaurant, you're doing more than picking up dirt. Beyond creating...