Tag Archives: courage

Kindred Spirits You’re Destined To Meet

“When you encounter someone you were destined to meet the conversation will take flight as if it were on the wings of angels, complete strangers confiding in each other as if you were lifelong friends.” – Kevin Hall Have you ever had the experience of meeting someone for the first time, but having that feeling […]

We’ve Got This!

I cannot even put into words how amazing this weekend was for me.  I spent Saturday and Sunday watching the Semi-Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ and it was two days filled with the most inspirational talks imaginable.  In a year where we’ve all been dealing with pandemics, earthquakes, fires, isolation, and […]

You Don’t Know How Strong You Are Til Being Strong Is The Only Choice You Have

“You never know how strong you are…until being strong is the only choice you have.” Over the course of my adult life I’ve gone through some really hard things that at times have been so painful I didn’t know how in the world I would ever be able to get through them. There’ve been days […]

It Is Not The Critic Who Counts

The other day I was talking with a college student pursuing their degree in entrepreneurship. They shared that they were feeling discouraged by a nasty message they’d been sent by a fellow student criticizing their entrepreneurial efforts. My response was to advise that in my experience people who tear you down like that are feeling […]

Talents In You Just Waiting To Be Discovered

There are powers inside of you which, if you could discover and use, would make of you everything you ever dreamed or imagined you could become.” – Orison Swett Marden Deep within each of us lies talents, abilities, and powers that go so far beyond anything we could begin to imagine. Too often in life we […]

Wish Flower Or Weed?

One day my husband and I were walking along a riverbank when I looked over and saw an awesome Wish Flower. I used to see them all the time when I was a little girl living in Puyallup, Washington. They were all over our backyard and as kids we would go out and pick the […]

It’s Time To Go in Search Of New Cheese!

Where to begin….back in March when the entire world changed in what seemed like an instant it caused all of us to relook at everything we had going on in our lives and really question what things we should keep in our lives, what things should be gotten rid of, what changes ought to be […]

Dare To Be!

When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully. When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light. When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it. When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway. When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back. When […]

Those Who Gave All To Defend God, Religion, Freedom, Peace, and Family

It’s difficult to put into words the profound gratitude and respect I have for all those who gave their lives defending God, religion, freedom, peace, and family. May we never forget the tremendous sacrifice they made: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

The Greatest Gift A Father Can Give His Daughter

The most influential man in my life turned 82 years old over the weekend. That man is my Father, Gerald Rees.  He is my rock, my exemplar, my advisor, my hero, and my friend. He taught me that that I am capable of doing anything I set my mind to if I am willing to […]

Not All Heroes Wear Capes

Today is National Superhero Day, a day to honor those who serve and protect while fighting evil.  My personal favorite superhero is Wonder Woman. I watched every episode of the original TV series back in the 70’s when I was a little girl.  And I knew that when I grew up I wanted to be […]

The Parable Of The Owl Express

The Parable of the Owl Express (by James E. Talmage) During my college days, I was one of a class of students appointed to fieldwork as a part of our prescribed courses in geology. …A certain assignment had kept us in the field many days. … As the time allotted to the investigation drew near its close, […]

The Power Of The Goal Poster

Tonight I spoke to a group of Young Women between age 11 and 17 about “The Power of the Goal Poster”. The Power of the Goal Poster is actually the title of a chapter from my book “What AWESOME Looks Like: How To Excel In Business & Life” that’s available for purchase on Amazon.com. Below […]

You Were Literally Born To Handle This – You CAN!

Figure it out for yourself, my lad, You’ve all that the greatest of men have had, Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes And a brain to use if you would be wise. With this equipment they all began, So start for the top and say, “I can.” Look them over, the wise and […]

Check You Out… You’re Doing It!

I’ve been buried today so my daughter Ashley Hill wrote tonights blog to help me out and it’s AWESOME!: Have you ever started a journey having no idea how to accomplish the tasks ahead, let alone know what tasks would be required? Where you feel absolute fear, hope, adrenaline, nervousness, and peace all at the […]

It’s Up To You

“You are the fellow that has to decide Whether you’ll do it or toss it aside. You are the fellow who makes up your mind Whether you’ll lead or will linger behind Whether you’ll try for the goal that’s afar Or just be contented to stay where you are. Take it or leave it. Here’s […]

Speaking Of A.D.D.

I have so many things to tell all of you about and yet each time I’ve tried to sit down to write a blog about them I get interrupted – From my husband being hospitalized unexpectedly last week, to me needing to fly to Washington DC this week for some really important meetings and to […]

Be Openly Vulnerable

I learned many lessons through my years of leading companies, but without question, the most surprising thing I learned was this: The thing you can do that will make you the strongest, is the thing that is most counter-intuitive to do:   Be openly vulnerable. Being vulnerable was not my strong suit growing up. In my […]

A Parent’s Letter To Santa

Last week we took our children and grandchildren to go ride the Polar Express train for Christmas. As I was watching my daughter-in-law getting her two year old son and her four month old daughter ready to go it reminded me of how utterly exhausting it can be to a mother with small children. The […]

Leaders: Clean Your Leadership House

“Hire and promote first on the basis of integrity; second, motivation; third, capacity; fourth, understanding; fifth, knowledge; and last and least, experience.”   -Dee Hock, founding CEO of Visa International I couldn’t agree with Dee’s statement more.  The following is an excerpt taken from a Forbes Article I wrote: “As a former CEO myself with the […]

Beautiful People Don’t Just Happen

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not […]

Speak The Truth

Years ago I wrote an article for Forbes called Speak The Truth Even If Your Voice Shakes which talked about the importance of giving people honest feedback in a respectful way, even at times it feels uncomfortable or  intimidating to do so.  In the article I shared seven lessons I’d learned about giving feedback and […]

Have Each Others Back

The other night I was watching a show about a Navy SEAL Team. Seeing the way the team has each others backs, through thick and thin, was so inspiring and it really got me to thinking…perhaps the reason those SEALs are able to be so brave and have such courage to face whatever obstacles lie […]

The Answer: Courage

“Courage!  What makes a king out of a slave?  Courage!  What makes the flag on the mast to wave?  Courage!  What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk?  What makes the muskrat guard his musk?  Courage!  What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder?  Courage!  What makes the dawn […]

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Today I went and spoke at the Intro to Entrepreneurship class at Brigham Young University.  Speaking to the students is one of my very favorite things to do because I look out into the crowd of young faces and I see so much about them that they haven’t even begun to recognize yet.  I’ve sat […]

There Is No Passion To Be Found In Living A Life That Is Less Than You Are Capable Of Living

“There is no passion to be found in living a life that is less than you are capable of living.”  -Nelson Mandela Today I had the opportunity to speak on a panel to a group of women at Utah Valley University. The students submitted great questions for the panelists on things such as overcoming obstacles, […]

Don’t Let Your Mind Be A Dumping Ground

“If you suffer from worry, from grief or shame, from jealousy, disappointment, or envy, I have something to tell you. Somewhere near your home there is a vacant corner lot. Although adjoining yards may be well tended, a vacant corner lot somehow is always full of weeds. There is a footpath across it, a bicycle […]

Celebrating Pioneer Day And A Legacy Of Faith

July 24th may be just a regular day for most of the world, but here in Utah it’s a State holiday called Pioneer Day when we celebrate the fact that on July 24, 1847, the Pioneers first arrived to settle the State of Utah.  If you are not familiar with the story of what these […]

You Can Keep Going Long After You Think You Can’t

“You can keep going long after you think you can’t.” – Roger Knapp If I’ve learned anything the last few weeks it’s that this quote is true – you really can keep going long after you think you can’t.  There have been several times the last few weeks when I’ve been so tired from the […]

Ask Yourself What Is Really Important

“Ask yourself what is really important and then have the wisdom and courage to build your life around your answer.”  -Unknown There were a million and one things on my to-do list needing to get done, but as I sat by my father-in-law’s side all day in the medical clinic I knew I was exactly […]