Tag Archives: mentor

#BelieveInPeople

Today my friend and mentor, Charles Koch (Chairman and CEO of one of the largest privately held companies in the country, Koch Industries), released his brand new book titled “Believe in People” which he co-authored with Brian Hooks, CEO of philanthropic group Stand Together (which my husband and I are a part of).  Charles and […]

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 […]

How Will You Measure Your Life

Clayton M. Christensen, renowned Harvard Business Professor, strategy consultant, best-selling author, mentor, church leader, husband, father, and grandfather, passed away just over a week ago at the age of 67. He was an amazing man who taught a powerful lesson on how we ought to measure our lives – both through his words and through […]

What Will You Do With Your Platform?

Monday night this week I was asked to speak at The Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University to honor the graduating students. This group included female students in the Amy Rees Anderson Academic Entrepreneurs Program at USU as well. When I was asked if I would come and speak at Monday’s event […]

Great Advice Is Actionable Advice

Tonight I spoke at Brigham Young University’s student Women in Business’s Opening Social. Knowing I would have a late night visiting with students, I asked my son Dalton if he would be able to do a guest blog for me tonight so I could stay late with the students after my presentation and visit with […]

Get An Accountability Buddy

I don’t know about you, but I do WAY better in life when I know I have someone to account to.  Someone who I have to disclose my goals to, someone who I know will be checking in on my progress, and someone who I want to make proud by accomplishing the thing I set […]

There is no such thing as a perfect parent

“There is no such thing as a perfect parent so just be a real one.” – Sue Atkins Without a doubt the hardest job on the planet is that of being a parent. The stakes are so high because every mistake you make as a parent affects your children and you realize that so you […]

The Power Of Encouragement

“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.” –William Arthur Ward Today I was reminded of the powerful impact my mentors have had on me. I have had the privilege of […]

Don’t Just Talk About It – Get Out There And Actually Do It!

Over the years I have had a lot of college students and young entrepreneurs who have asked to meet with me to seek my advice about different business idea they have come up with. I couldn’t count the total number of people I have met with over the years to hear their idea and then […]

Living a life of fulfillment

Today I was honored to introduce one of my personal heroes, Alan Hall, for a speech he gave at Utah Valley University’s Executive Lecture Series. Alan Hall is someone I have had the honor of knowing for many years and he has been a significant influence in my life and is an incredible example to […]

Cut Them Some Slack, They Grew Up In A World Without Google

I’m just going to put it out there – the thought of having to teach an old person technology is absolutely terrifying. That’s why when my father, who is nearly 79 years old, needed his new iphone setup I was going to have my work cut out for me. My father is an incredibly intelligent […]

A Lifetime In A Day

“A funeral is not a day in a lifetime, it’s a lifetime in a day.” One thing in life is certain, and that is that each of us will eventually pass on from this life. When that day comes for each of us, the best we can hope for is to have words spoken about […]

What To Do and What NOT To Do

Throughout my life I have been blessed with some incredible mentors and role models. They have taught me the “what to do” things in life, and the “how to be” qualities, that if we embrace will turn us into someone others will want hope to emulate someday as well. The more in life I would […]

The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.

Of all the things I do with my time, one of the things I enjoy the absolute most is the opportunities I have to speak to groups of college students and to pass on to them as much knowledge as I can on all the life lessons I have learned in my journey from being […]

Avoid Blessing Blockers. Surround Yourself With People of Integrity.

When we surround ourselves with people of Integrity our lives are always made better. And by that same token, when we associate with people who lack integrity our lives will always be made worse. I refer to people who lack integrity as Blessing Blockers. Throughout my career I have had the blessing of associating with many great people of integrity. […]

Divine Intervention

Today I was at a meeting where I ran into a very dear friend and mentor of mine who is someone I admire and care about very much. A few months ago he had a major heart attack and went through serious heart surgery. It came as a shock to all of us when he […]

Experience: That Most Brutal Of Teachers

“Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.” –C.S. Lewis So true, isn’t it? When we look back at our lives we always find that experience was the very best teacher in life. Some days I really wish that wasn’t the case because often times experience can be brutal […]

Help them see their unlimited potential

Today I had the BYU (Brigham Young University) Founders Board Meeting. The Founder’s Board consists of people from all over the country who travel in for the board meeting each year.  The day started with me hosting the women’s luncheon at my home.  We had about 60 women attend and we all had a fabulous […]

American Gnuity: Think Shark Tank meets American Idol

American Gnuity:  Think of it as American Idol meets Shark Tank – this is the new Television Series that begins filming THIS VERY WEEK and the first city for company auditions is none other that Salt Lake City, Utah!  Next the show goes to Austin, Texas, then Nashville, Tennessee and then to Washington D.C. to […]

The Greatest Thing About Becoming Successful (Forbes Article)

One of the greatest things about becoming successful in business is the ability to take time to mentor young people who are just starting out. This week has been filled with one entrepreneurship extravaganza after another. It began with the IPOP Foundation (www.ipop.org) event at Alta High School with high school students pitching their entrepreneurial […]

“Education is not the filling of a pail. It is the lighting of a fire.”

Today I met with Lisa Altman.  Lisa and her husband are new to Utah and we were introduced by a mutual friend.  Lisa and her husband are both former Opera singers who have spent their lives supporting and promoting the arts.  They came to Utah for her husband to take a position as the Executive […]

“If you find yourself racing through life, slow down long enough to take along some good friends.”

Sometimes we get so busy living our lives that we forget to slow down enough to make time for our friends. I have been guilty of that myself over the years, especially with working such crazy hours for so many years of my life.  Taking time off this summer to spend with my family has […]

Be a Bridge Builder

The Bridge Builder   (by Will Allen Dromgoole) An old man, going a lone highway, Came at the evening cold and gray To a chasm vast and deep and wide Through which was flowing a swollen tide. The old man crossed in the twilight dim; The rapids held no fears for him. But he turned when […]

GO SPEED RACER!

Today I was a speed racer, but luckily there were no police officers pulling me over to give a ticket because I saved my speed racing for the Larry H. Miller raceway, where you get to pretend to be a real race car driver for the day!  I went with my husband and a group […]