Winning Strategies

Way to Go Ladies

 

Way to go ladies! Fabulous article on how your hard work paid off, "Winning Women in the Good Ol Boy State".

 

http://www.fitsnews.com/2012/01/24/winning-women-in-the-good-ol-boy-state/

Thanks for providing encouragement for us all!

Bethany Hamilton, Amazing Story- Amazing Girl

I watched Soul Surfer the other day and was amazed and delighted at the story. Often we 'celebrate' the lives of celebrities and lose track of life's true heroes. Bethany Hamilton is one of life's true heroes. She encourages all of us as we watch her tackle her struggles and lean on an unwavering faith. What a simply amazing role model she is for our youth.

I run a motivational web site and blog (you're reading the blog now) (grin) for executives working hard to balance work and life and live their best lives.

Recently I had a peculiar question come through from my 'ask Bethany' portion of the site.

It read, "hi I was wondering if you could tell me a few tips of how to surf. me and my friend just love surfing but were not very good so please tell us some tips
love hannah YOUR BIGGEST FAN XOXO"

I didn't make the connection until Hannah emailed me back to say that the message was for Bethany Hamilton. I redirected her to the right Bethany.   Smile!

If you are looking for some motivational, log on and check out the 'other' Bethany's blog:http://bethanyhamilton.com/about/bethanys-blog/

Death of a TX Legend - The Texas Tornado

 

"The Texas Tornado", Louise Raggio, died yesterday at the age of 91. She is the woman responsible for giving women property rights. She is most known for her work in passing the The Marital Property Act 1967. Before the legislation, married Texas women were forced to give control of their bank accounts and real estate to their husbands. In addition, women could not borrow money without their husband's consent. Below is Dallas Morning News article - well worth the read. She was a champion of equal rights and a one of the most influential women's rights activists.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20110123-louise-raggio-trailblazing-dallas-lawyer-dies-at-91.ece 

 

 

 

Additional life highlights:

Only woman of a class of 10 to graduate from SMU law school - at night

1st female assistant district attorney (was paid $350 - half the salary of her male colleagues)

1st female to prosecute a criminal case

1st woman to be a director in the Texas State Bar

In the Texas Hall of Fame.

She was a trail blazer and she will be greatly missed.

(Thanks to Amie Hinderliter for this write up)

 

 

 

What Us Girls (Sometimes) Wish the Boys Knew/Understood

Sometimes us girls wish the boys knew what it is like to be us. Life as a working mother can be tenuous and difficult. I talk to a fair number of you and you feel, pretty strongly, that your mate doesn't really understand. Many things just naturally fall to the woman. We find ourselves managing the family calendar and facilitating much of the grocery and cooking duties. We tend to do a higher percentage of gift buying for family/friends and routine cleaning.

Often times the emotional bond is stronger between us and the children since we nurture by nature. Therefore, many times we shoulder emotional burdens for our children. It evolved from a time when women didn't work outside of the home and although the number of working mothers is on the rise--many other traditions have not changed.

We sometimes wish you could see the 'whole' picture of our responsibilities and tasks. Sometimes we are tired and worn out. Sometimes we wish we were you. When you look at us, try to imagine what it is like in our shoes. Try to envision the day we had at the office and the constant seeking of attention from the children (they seek us out more than dad). Visualize a worn out, exhausted lady on the verge of a complete meltdown- and, from what I hear from others (Laugh) this is a pretty actual picture of reality.

So- what am I asking of you? Draw your wife a bath, pour her a glass of wine, light some candles and give her a 3 hour vacation away from you and the kids. You can sweep the children away for one night to give her a break.

Try to 'live' aware of all that she must do and react accordingly. This is what we all wish the boys knew.

Reference:
See the Time Magazine article on the State of the American woman:  http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1930277_1930145,00.html  Tthis article highlights the many changes that have happended for women in the workplace since the 70's, yet also points out the struggles in managing it all...

"At times it seems as if the only women effortlessly balancing their jobs, kids, husbands and homes are the ones on TV"

Celebrating the Freedoms/Liberty that we Have

Ever heard of Nannerl Mozart?  Nope, me neither.  I'd never heard of the sister of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  She performed with him for several years very successfully.  She was a talented musician that was amazing at the harpsichord and piano.  Upon reaching a marriageable age- she was no longer allowed to display her artistic talents.  She was not allowed to travel and perform concerts with her brother.  She wasn't allowed to play in public. 

She then fell in love, but her father wouldn't let her marry the man she loved.  She was considered  an amazingly talented and gifted Austrian musician.  Her talent rivaled her brother, the very famous Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, yet many have never heard her name.

Can you imagine being INCREDIBLY gifted in music and traveling around on music tour with your brother for YEARS only to suddenly be told that you NO LONGER could EXPRESS your gifts because you were a woman- and women were expected to marry and have children? wow.

Today I celebrate the ability to choose a career and use the gifts that I've been given.  Today I'm thinking of Nannerl.  Her actual name is Maria Anna Mozart (Nannerl was a nickname).  For all those that went before us....for all those that have paved the road ahead, I thank you.  For those that suffered through long lives of 'wanting', I feel great empathy.

For a biography of Nannerl online:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Anna_Mozart

I also applaud the organization that is working diligently to write women back into history.  Most of women's accomplishments throughout history have not been documented .  They were kept out of the history books.  You can review information on the National Women's History Foundation online at  http://www.nwhp.org/whm/index.php and celebrate the freedoms that we enjoy.

The Womens Museum in Dallas

In the heart of Fair Park in Dallas is the Womens Museum.  It opened in 2000 and is the only museum of its kind in the nation.  It was built to encourage girls and women to become all that they can be- not limited or constricted by the world's view of what they can be. 

Encouraging stories of women in history dot the walls and stories surround you to encourage you and inspire the next generation to achieve all that they desire.

It's space is used as a gathering place for women's networking events, women's group meetings, and even for weddings and other gatherings.  It is an encouraging place with interactive displays and powerful information.

We have come so far....in such a short time.  I highly encourage you to visit the Museum and enjoy its treasures.

http://www.thewomensmuseum.org/

Go for a visit- - change the future by taking small steps to encourage yourself and others.

 

Congrats to the women on Modern Healthcare's Top 25 Women in Healthcare List

Congratulations to the women who made Modern Healthcare's Top 25 Women in Healthcare list.  You make us all very proud.

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=CH&Date=20090420&Category=FREE&ArtNo=420009998&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=1

Margot Perot

I was at the DFW Hospital Council Awards luncheon today and had a real treat.  Not only did we have some amazing people there, but I got to meet Margot Perot.  I have wanted to meet her for eons and never have gotten the chance.   I jokingly told her that she should hang out at the Perot office more often (we get the pleasure of seeing Ross Sr at the office real regularly).  Ross Sr laughingly said that Margot doesn't like the office. (grin)  What an amazing couple!

It is always amazing to meet the women that have shaped History and continue in each and every they can to change things for the better.  It encourages each of us to find a way to change the world for the better in our own ways.  Use your strengths and talents that God gave you to make a difference in the world.  You chan change the world one woman, one child, one good deed at a time.

Go change the world ladies!  I'm rooting you on.

Two Women that Changed History

This is from the National Women's History Project.  Enjoy!

 

Eleanor Roosevelt was born on Oct 11, 1884.  Although a shy child, Eleanor Roosevelt became one of the greatest humanitarians of the 20th century. During the Roosevelt Administration from 1933 to 1945, Eleanor used her position effectively to promote reforms to help women, minorities, and poor people.  She fearlessly challenged the sexist and racist social norms of! her times.  In 1948, as a delegate to the United Nations, Eleanor Roosevelt worked brilliantly to win passage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Until her death in 1962, she continued to work for social justice and humanitarian relief for the suffering people of the world. Visit the Eleanor Roosevelt Papers http://www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/ for more information about Eleanor Roosevelt.

 

Fannie Lou Hamer was born on October 6, 1917.   Hamer devoted 15 years to winning voting rights for blacks in the South.  Despite brutal beatings by the police, losing her job, and being forced from her home, Hamer did not falter in her organizing and demanding recognition and power in national politics for southern blacks. In 1964, she led the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party delegation to the Democratic Convention, forcing a change in the representation of women and minorities within state delegations, which is evident in today's Democratic Party Convention. Hamer successfully built an important coalition between black and white people to deal with the issues o! f poverty in Sunflower County, Mississippi.  When she died of cancer in 1977, Sunflower Country declared a Fannie Lou Hamer day to honor and celebrate her life. For more information about Fannie Lou Hamer, visit http://www.ibiblio.org/sncc/hamer.html

 

For information about other remarkable women born in October as well as women's history made during this month visit our website  www.nwhp.org and click October inWomen's History http://nwhp.org/news/calendar.php.

 

Please continue to help make women's accomplishments visible.

Thanks,

Molly

Molly Murphy MacGregor 

Executive Director and Cofounder

ednasmolly@aol.com

National Women's History Project
3440 Airway Dr Ste F
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
http://www.nwhp.org
(707) 636-2888
nwhp@aol.com

A Plan to educate ourselves on Women in History

I had a great conversation with Virginia Whitehill today.  I plan to 'make a plan' to educate myself on Women in History before I sit down with her.

There is so much I need to learn first.  Here is part of my plan.  Maybe you can join me in my pursuit.

Step 1:  Plan a trip to the Women's History Museum in Dallas.  3800 Parry Avenue Dallas, TX 75226 214.915.0860.  www.thewomensmuseum.org/    
The HOURS are Tuesday - Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m. (Closed Mondays)

Step 2:  Read some books on the History of Women:
     Suggestion 1:  Texas Tornado,  by Louise Ballerstedt Raggio
     Amazon link: (http://www.amazon.com/Texas-Tornado-Louise-Ballerstedt-Raggio/dp/0806524529/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222705000&sr=8-1)

     Suggestion 2:   Read America's Women:  400 Years of Dolls, Druges, Helpmates, and Heriones by Gail Collins.
     Amazon link: (http://www.amazon.com/Americas-Women-Drudges-Helpmates-Heroines/dp/0061227226/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222705136&sr=1-1)

Step 3:  Research info on Women in History

Did you know that it took 72 years for women to get the right to vote?  Do you know about Alice Paul's role in that?

Did you know that in Texas, married women were treated like children until 1967?  THey were not able to contract directly?

Did you know that Joanne Kathleen Rowling (author of the noted Harry Potter books) could not get her book published unless she removed her name from the cover and simply referred to herself as J.K. Rowling?

Did you know that George Sand and George Elliot were famous female authors that wrote under male names in order to get their works out?

Did you know that only 14% of Congress is female?