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VOL2, NO 10 | JUL/AUG 2012
Content COVER STORY 16 Fail Up
A conversation with broadcaster, author, publisher, advocate, and philanthropist Tavis Smiley to discuss his book, Fail Up. Discover the advantages of failing and how it plays a role in the future of your success. Interview By: Tess Rutherford
FEATURES 11 Fall
Be determined to avoid falling into the areas that God has already given you the victory over. By: Ozara OdĂŠ
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8 To 5: Attitude Revolution An encouraging message on how to revolutionize your attitude and behavior so that it will bring glory to the Lord By: Reyna Oak
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Is it a Job, Career, or Ministry? Be encouraged in knowing that God grants the desires of your heart in his own, unique way. By: Jacqueline Harts
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How Faith can Impact your Career Learn the skills needed to place you above the rest in the marketplace. By: Marquita Miller
IN EVERY ISSUE: 8 Letter from CEO/Publisher: Tess Rutherford 10 Laughter for the Soul: Della Evans 9 Recipes 23 Spotlight: Book Review 6 Readers’ Voice
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CEO/Publisher Tess Rutherford
Editor Tina Mason - http://www.masonandmasonservices.com/
Graphic Artist Assistant Imari Rutherford
Writers
Della Evans
Laughter for the Soul: I BELIEVE, p. 10 A fun, caring, and loving woman who is naturally gifted to uplift people from sadness to gladness
Reyna Oak
8 To 5: Attitude Revolution, p. 13 A college student who loves Jesus, enjoys reading and traveling, and is passionate about writing as well as serving in her church’s children and youth ministries. reyna_oak@yahoo.com 4
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Ozara OdĂŠ
Fall p. 11 A Singer, Songwriter,Playwright, and Poet who has been compared to some of the most profound singers of all time. Imagine Nina Simone meets Prince, Tina Turner meets Sade, and you will have a better understanding of what Miss Ode’ sounds like. http://www.reverbnation. com/ozaraode
Marquita Miller
How Faith can Impact your Career, p. 20 She is the author of the recently published book, Faithpreneur as well as the owner of Five Star Tax & Business Solutions based in Kansas City, Missouri. info@fivestartaxkc.com www.fivestartaxkc.com
Jacqueline Harts
Is it a Job, Career, or Ministry?, p. 14 She is the author of Manna in the Morning, a daily devotional that has changed the lives of those seeking a word from God. Her compassion for people and her sensitivity to the hurting hearts of others gave her the desire to help alleviate emotional suffering. mrsjharts@roadrunner.com 5
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Readers’ VOICE
We Love To Hear From You!
Awesome!!! Keep up the good work Estreanda! - Jonathan C. Nice cover shot :D - Dan M. Wow congrats! I am so proud of you. You are such an amazing woman of God, Keep doing your thing Estreanda:) - Kimberly R. Glory to God! High five Estreanda! Blessings - Janice F.
Empowered Magazine
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Fail Up
A Conversation with NY Times best-selling author, Tavis Smiley Page 16 7
Jul/Aug 2012 | http://empoweredmagonline.com Photoraphy by
Earl Gibson III
Letter from CEO/Publisher Tess Rutherford Photo by: Ben Geyer Photography
When you first set out on a quest to pursue your destiny no matter the cost, you will be sure to experience plenty of angst along the way. There is this false notion that if we go after that which we love, things will magically fall into place and it will become an overnight success. Although immediate success does happen for some, it is not guaranteed to happen for all. I know of an Information Technologist, who is the CEO of his own company. He is overseeing many projects, required to wear many hats, and is expected to have a specialized knowledge of varied areas within his field. However, he has been known to take a little longer than most in the execution of his projects. His response to this was that a bulk of his time is spent considering the need, related variables, and ultimate outcome of his client’s request. He meticulously walks through various approaches in his mind until he comes up with the best and ideal solution. And even though the pondering phase can elongate the process, the implementation of the idea is significantly shorter. In the end, there is a high level of qual-
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ity in his work that supersedes all others. The moral of the story is great quality takes time. Despite what you have been told, nobody ever starts at the top of the mountain. We will all start somewhere and work our way up. When I first started Empowered Magazine a year and a half ago, I had no idea where it was going. I just knew that I wanted to use my talents, in some way or another, to change the world. True enough, I have had times of degradation but I have also had times of celebration, and with this, I managed to keep going. Whenever I direct my focus on the negatives, it appears I should give up and focus my attention elsewhere; but in meditating on the successes, it is clear that the magazine is blessed beyond measure, being directed by the mighty hands of the Lord. I choose to swing on the pendulum of the positive side. I have had the opportunity to interview prominent figures such as actor, director, and best selling author Hill Harper and a VP at Sony Pictures – Devon Franklin. To add to Empowered Magazine’s portfolio, we have been privileged to
interview the interviewer of interviews, the one and only Tavis Smiley. Though we seem to be taking a tad longer to get to our blue dot state, every published issue allows us to build our repertoire, which in turn increases the quality of our product. I still do not know for sure where the magazine is going, but I trust that God is guiding us accordingly. If you are in pursuit of something and you wish to know if it falls under God’s divine will, then know that he will make a way for you to have successes along the way. This is his way of encouraging you to keep going, to keep pressing, and to work harder. And once you reach your desired level, you will think back on the sweat, the tears, the agony and pain and understand the worth and value for it all. Good quality takes time. Remember this as you pursue God’s best for your life. This issue is all about Careers -- encompassing topics such as: business, success, purpose, gifts, leadership and passion. May the readings empower you!!
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Tess
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There lived a quiet and composed man by the name of Fred. Fred had been a Christian for 25 years. He normally kept to himself and stayed out of folk’s way. While attending church one Sunday morning, the pastor asked, by a show of hands, who would like to be baptized. Fred knew this was the time for him to conquer his fears and go for it! So he raised his hands to sign up to be baptized. Two weeks passed and baptismal service had arrived. Fred’s turn came around. The pastor asked him how long had he been saved. Fred replied 25 years. The pastor said we got a long day ahead of us. The pastor went on to ask,
“Do you believe Fred?” Fred said yes. The pastor dunked him in the water. When Fred came up, the pastor asked again, “Fred, do you believe?” Fred replied yes, and the pastor dunked him again, but this time holding him down a bit longer. Upon coming out of the water, Fred is angry, frustrated, and gasping for air. The pastor asked, “Fred, Do you..” Fred interrupted him and says, “Yes, I BELIEVE…I believe you are trying to kill me!” The pastor modestly replies, “Well… at least you’ll be going to heaven.” Fred stormed out of the church completely agitated by the pastor’s response.
Handle your Emotions God’s Way! explores 52 negative human emotions and provides real life examples and biblical principles to controlling one’s emotions God’s way. The book is available at Berean’s bookstore, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, tessrutherford.com and many other internet sites!
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-Ozara Odé 12
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By: R eyna Oak Reverse your way of thinking while you work 8 to 5, 5 days a week. Sound familiar? Full time job or not, all too quickly we become stuck in our daily routines. All too quickly we become busy in the business of life and are caught simply going through the motions. All too quickly does it slip our minds that each one of us is aggressively called and destined for a life of immense purpose. It is time to wake up and stop pressing the “snooze” button! Let’s be energized and revitalized where God has presently placed us. I believe the reason why this generation of working class citizens has become so easily susceptible to becoming stuck in “ruts” is because we have been looking at work in an entirely flawed manner. Dorothy Sayers says it best, “The fallacy is that work is not the expression of man’s creative energy in the service of society, but only something he does in order to obtain money and leisure” (Letters to a Diminished Church). Is it our intention to work solely for the purpose of paying our bills? You may be thinking, “What’s wrong with that?”
security it provides, and the result of getting the work done is only a by- product. Suggestion: instead, let’s shift our focus and work for the reward of getting the work done and have pay as the by- product. For example, think about the calling a teacher has. A teacher provides a safe, nurturing, academic environment for children to learn, express themselves, and grow. If a teacher would serve the work and be rewarded by the fulfillment of his or her duties, imagine the depth of their satisfaction and achievement. Missing out on that kind of gratification is what is wrong with working simply to pay the bills or make ends meet. All work can be done for greater purpose- for the purpose of exercising the gifts God has given us for His glory- as long as the work is not spiritually degrading. All work can be done wholeheartedly. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
and abilities more than others, and I believe that when one does not exercise those gifts, he is not doing his part as a Christ follower. However, God places us each in different positions at different times; wherever you are placed, do your work in a way that glorifies your Creator, God. In my experience, my heart is most full, and I am most joyful when I’m serving on the mission field. I can be in an unfamiliar place and in settings or conditions that I’m not used to and yet I feel completely at home because it is my calling. I am very in touch with my feminine side, but I can be perfectly content in work clothes, hair out of my face, nails bare, un-showered and digging a trench out in the hot sun because when I’m on a mission field, I feel most in tune with God- it’s where my heart beats. Finding where your heart beats is where you’ll find joy. Although I am not able to do full time ministry just yet, I can utilize my God given tools that I would use out on a mission field in my workplace. As a result, I will find that same joy. My encouragement to readers is to live passionately devoted to Christ even during those long 8 to 5 hours.
Whatever the job is, we can accomplish it with an attiDorothy Sayers proceeds tude of that as Jesus. With that to explain her idea by express- being said, obviously there are ing that too often people work occupations that allow a person for the reward of money and the to utilize their God given talents 13 Jul/Aug 2012 | http://empoweredmagonline.com
We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps (Proverbs 16:9). We need to be in constant fellowship and seek the LORD for specific step-by-step instruction, because God always has a plan. When I got hired as a clerk with the government, I told the woman that hired me, “I won’t be here very long.” At the time, I was working on a Master’s in Counseling and I thought I would transition into counseling shortly after I earned my degree. Well, twenty-one years later, I still work for the same government office. God enlarged my tent, as I received each promotion and went from a GS-2 clerk to a GS-12 Operations Director. What I thought was just a job, became a career.
seeking assistance. I realized God has me there for a reason. It’s so much more than the reports that need to be done and the forms that need to be filled in. More importantly, it’s about speaking into the lives of others, encouraging them, building them up, and sharing the love of God with them. I pray for their individual needs, and for us as a team. I seek God’s will and wisdom in all aspects of what goes on in our office. The housing office is not only a government run business, it is also the mission field to which I have been assigned. My position as an Operations Director is not just a career, it’s a full-time ministry and I seek every opportunity to be an example of God’s love and grace.
“I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord. “They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.” —Jeremiah 29:11 (GW) I used to wonder if I was ever going to get What God has envisioned for us, does not into the field of psychology. Then I realized, I uti- always look the way we think it should, but His lize my counseling degree every day. I have nine- way is good and perfect. And we can be sure that teen employees in my sphere of influence and un- wherever He has us today, He is always, purposeder my care in the Operations Department. The fully preparing us for our future. We can enjoy leadership skills I exhibit, allow the light of the success and fulfillment in life as we utilize the gifts Lord to shine through me and touch my employ- and talents God has given us. ees, as well as numerous other co-workers, upper management, and other government and contractor personnel. In addition, the military families who come to the housing office on a daily basis, 14 Jul/Aug 2012 | http://empoweredmagonline.com
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Interview By: Tess Rutherford
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T
avis Smiley has been named one of the most influential people of the world by Time Magazine. He holds many titles under his belt: author, political commentator, TV show host (PBS), radio show host (PRI), book publisher, and philanthropist (Tavis Smiley Foundation). He was the first person of color to own a nightly PBS show and to have a show on NPR. The corpus of his work is no less than a beautiful tapestry composed of many genres, reaching people from different cultures and backgrounds. It would be imprudent to assume that Smiley’s success happened overnight. Where he is today is a result of hard work, choices, and the favor of God. He has published a book titled, Fail Up. The book details 20 of Smiley’s biggest mistakes and shows the reader how his mistakes paved the way for the
Empowered: How do people who succeed handle failure differently from those who don’t succeed?
success he is a partaker of today. Empowered Magazine had the awesome privilege to speak to Smiley to learn a bit more about his story. We have learned that there is more to Smiley that meets the eye. In his heart of hearts, he desires to protect and serve humanity. With this, he has been called to speak the truth on behalf of those who have no voice. He carries this huge responsibility on his shoulder and he does it with all diligence. Smiley possesses the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King. He is a humble and gracious soul, who strives to remain true to his calling against all odds. Take a moment to read the transcript of the interview immediately following.
and talents and it’s all about our choices whether or not we learn from them. If we give a situation too much control, then there you have it. If we give it too much authority, then there you have it. I discovered that in life, on a daily basis, we are going to be challenged. We are going to be tested and tried. We cannot avoid the vicissitudes of life and we cannot avoid failing. Failing does not make you a failure…when you stop trying and give up, that makes you a failure. It all starts with your prism.
With this I am led to believe that opportunities precede failure. Tell me your take on this.
Smiley: I struggled with this Smiley: Like most things in life question for a while... We all it’s about your prism that is to love to hear about Christ’s resursay it’s about how you view it. rection and rarely want to wresThere is the old adage that talks tle with his crucifixion. I don’t about whether you view the glass think we can succeed without as half empty or half full. There failing. Success has no worth is much truth to this. It’s how or value if it’s not tempered by you imagine your circumstance. setbacks and stumbling blocks. The way you view it is directly For example, who values his or linked to how you approach it. her first car? The kid whose parTo put this idea another way, ents gave him a BMW at 16 years God grants each and every one old or the one who worked reof us the same 24 hours of every Empowered: In reading your ally hard by going to school durday, and the real question is how text, it is evident that you were ing the day and working at night you choose to use the 24 hours presented with some awesome and on the weekends to buy a that you have been granted -- opportunities, which are gener- Honda. Which kid values the car how you choose to use it, and ally not presented to everyday more? The kid driving the car what kinds of choices are you people such as working for the he purchased on his own or the going to make each day. Every mayor, living with Jim Brown, kid with the BMW? We all know one of us is born with a gift(s) landing coveted interviews. the answer. The more effort and 17 Jul/Aug 2012 | http://empoweredmagonline.com
energy you put out to secure a certain thing, the more you value it and the more you appreciate it. There is dignity, worth, and value in work. I just don’t believe a person can truly succeed if they haven’t struggled, stumbled, and screwed up on the way. I have been blessed with a number of opportunities. It’s wrong to start the equation with opportunities. Those opportunities were born of hard work, good choices, and sacrifices to put myself in the right place at the right time. I don’t just wake up on any given day and stuff just starts falling like manna from on high. I don’t walk around with a halo and everything is simply perfect. It’s not like the movie, Coming to America where they’re throwing roses at my feet. It’s about hard work, sacrifices, good decisions and strategically placing myself in situations where, when those opportunities come, I could take full advantage of it. For instance, when I first started out on my career of broadcasting years ago, the best I could afford was to stay in Motel 6. Every now and again I was fortunate to stay in the Holiday Inn. Eventually, I worked my way up to the Hilton and the Hyatt. As time went and I was blessed to have more, I found myself preferring certain kinds of hotels like the Four Seasons.
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I prefer places like the Ritz Carlton and certain boutique hotels. Many of the people I have had on my programs were a result of me bumping into them in these elite hotels. Some have invited me to concerts and etcetera. So much of what happens to me is a result of me staying in certain hotels. In these hotels, I am able to run into presidents, major recording artists, actors, and best-selling authors. My point is you put yourself in the situation, and when the opportunity comes, if you are prepared you can take advantage of it. Sometimes the blessing is a result of action on your part; but sometimes it’s the Lord blessing you with unmerited favor, and there is nothing you can do about it but raise your hands and say thank you. Empowered: If you cannot afford to put yourself in these places, what do you do in the interim? Smiley: The examples I am giving are what happens these days. But the idea of preparing yourself doesn’t require money. Many years ago, I would intern for no pay. I had to be creative and hard working. Internships were not about money. In addition, I attended the right conferences. Given the option to attend at a student rate, I used some of my student loan money to cover the
registration cost. This provided me with the chance to meet the people I needed to meet at the right place. Also, I consider volunteering to be a great avenue for shaping one’s path. The idea is to do the things that matter to you. All the things we do throughout our day have to do with choices. The better choices you make, the more opportunities will come your way. Empowered: In the last chapter, you talk a little bit about being in position for God’s grace and mercy. How does one go about doing this? Smiley: The short answer to this is gratitude. Gratitude and grace are inextricably linked. Grace is unmerited favor. You can’t purchase it, you can’t negotiate it, you can’t buy it, you can’t steal it, and you can’t appropriate it. It’s unmerited. God extends the grace and mercy to you. You can’t secure it through some methodology. The more gratitude you have the more grace you can be exposed to. This is not just a God’s grace question; it can be applied to everyday living. The people who are blessed with the most abundance are the people who exhibit the most gratitude. It’s a lesson I try to practice everyday - to be more humble and thankful.
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Empowered: You ran for political office and made a u-turn when it didn’t work out in your favor. How do you know when to use rejection as redirection or to use it as a means to keep pressing? Smiley: When you come to a dead end and there is nothing else you can do, that, to me, is redirection. God wants to take that dead end and turn it into a new path that he will open up for you. It takes the power of God to turn a sinking ship into a submarine. There are certain things that we have the power and capacity to do and there are certain things that are completely out of our control. When I ran for office and lost, that was a dead end. If you lose, you lose. You cannot snap your fingers and change the results. If it was meant for me to win, I would have, but since I didn’t, that was a clear dead end for me. I thought my career was going to be defined by that of an elected official. I asked the Lord what I was to do next. I had to come to terms with the rejection from the voters. It was purposeful redirection for me. Had it not been for the loss, there is no way I would have wound up where I am today. I was able to take a new look and reassess what I learned from the race. I lost, but it was a very close race. I lost, but the voters took a keen interest in what I had to say. I did a ton of media. I was great at being interviewed. People wanted to hear my ideas. But running against an incumbent is difficult because they generally are able to raise more
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money and they already have gained a broader exposure. The experience enabled me to see what I was really good at and that was expressing points of view on topics that really matter. This realization led me to radio and to television. My real core strength would not have been realized had I not run. The same about me being fired by BET... I was doing very well on BET. I was a household name in black America doing very well but sometimes you don’t know your value until you test it in the marketplace. I am very grateful for the 5 years spent on BET but the question is do I want to stay in a marginalized space and talk to only black people all of my life or do I want to branch across cultures? Does Barack Obama only want to be a senator representing the south side of Chicago his whole life (nothing wrong with that) or does he want to be president of the United States? I would not have known that I could be on PBS every night or on NPR or on the cover of Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of the world. All of this came once I got out of the cocoon and went on to blossom and flourish on a much larger and national stage. All of this happened because I got fired. This is the message I want to impart from the book. All the lessons I learned, I learned through defeat… through failure. Failure is your friend. You learn lessons from these failings then go on to do greater things.
“Failure is an inevitable part of the human journey,” says awardwinning television and radio broadcaster and New York Times best-selling author Tavis Smiley. Smiley steps from behind the curtain of success to share intimate stories of his missteps, misdeeds, and often highly publicized miscalculations in Fail Up: 20 Lessons On Building Success From Failure. These instances of perceived “failures” were, in fact, “lessons” that shaped the principles and practices that now guide his life. Readers will find a kinship in Smiley’s humanness that inspires, informs, and reminds us of our ability to “fail up” in the face of life’s inevitable setbacks.
Available at:
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How Faith can Impact your Career By: Marquita Miller
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics Press Release, as of May 2012 there are 5.4 million long term unemployed Americans. This means that they have been unemployed for at least 27 weeks or longer. It also means that this is an employer’s market. Employers can now expect more skills, extra talent, higher education and additional qualifications; yet they are more likely to pay less for those attributes today than they would have paid ten years ago. In light of these facts, how does a person stand out in the workforce to gain job offers or promotions? I recently attended a career development workshop where Senior Executives spoke about specific qualities they look for when hiring. Although there are a range of different qualifications that can be beneficial to potential employees, the list can be summarized into three top categories: Technical Skills, Interpersonal Skills and Character. Technical Skills Technical skills are the knowledge and skill you have to actually perform the work for which you are seeking. Technical skills are often learned through on the job training and experience; however, you may possess certain abilities which were “self taught.” Having strong technical skills is often necessary in order to compete in an employer’s market. Interpersonal Skills Your interpersonal skills are based upon how you relate to other people. Do you work better alone or within a team? How do you treat people? Are you a good listener? Are you stable and dependable? How do you handle stressful work environments? Does your personal life always im-
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pact your professional life? Character My pastor says that character is who you are when nobody is watching. Do you stand up for what you believe regardless of what others may say or think? Are you willing to do what’s right even if it’s not popular? When you see something that needs to be done do you do it, even if no one is around? Do you have a sincere passion for the job or work for which you are applying? As you can see, it appears employers are looking for MORE. They are looking for some of the same qualities that can be found in most business owners. I recently published a book called Faithpreneur: God is Not An Agent For Your Failure, But For Your Success. The book deals with how faith based entrepreneurs should experience more by incorporating faith based principals into their businesses. I believe that employees could experience more success if they applied some of these same principals into their work ethic. Employers are looking for workers who will treat the job or position like it was their own business. They want you to be prepared to seek additional skills that will allow you to work smarter and better. They want you to treat every customer like they are your customer so that they will always be a returning customer. Ultimately, they are looking for employees who are ready and willing to go the extra mile until the job is done because this type of person will always stand out more than the employee who isn’t. My Pastor’s Wife says, employers are not firing “Good Help” and I believe that statement to be 100% true. I have kept good employees during times when revenue indicated the need for layoffs. As a faith-based believer, I understand that when
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you see or experience great qualities that are an asset to your company, you make the adjustment to bring or keep them on the team. I also believe that using your Christian values, morals and faith will eventually lead to job promotion. Many times it is hard to determine the Christian from the non-Christian employee in the workplace. You may find people from both groups that are stealing time by posting on Facebook, taking and making excessive personal calls while on the clock or putting down time worked when it was really time wasted. On the other hand, treating your position in a Christ like
manner can be the difference which makes you stand out to your employer.
or not you are a Christian based upon how you work. Know that Christ like values should not stop
“I also believe that using your Christian values, morals and faith will eventually lead to job promotion.”
We have often heard people say, “Keep politics and religion out of the office.” If you are a Believer, then I am challenging you to “live out” your belief in the workplace. I am certainly not suggesting going over the top and holding Bible study during work time. However, allow others to be certain about whether
Sunday around 1pm. Instead, they should be the core of WHO you are! When you incorporate your faith into your work ethic, employers will see the advantage of hiring you because of your strong character, the difference you bring as an employee and your commitment to get the job done in a more excellent way.
At least one-third of the people we know are introverts. They are the ones who prefer listening to speaking, reading to partying; who innovate and create but dislike self-promotion; who favor working on their own over brainstorming in teams. Although they are often labeled “quiet,” it is to introverts that we owe many of the great contributions to society-from van Gogh’s sunflowers to the invention of the personal computer. Passionately argued, impressively researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, shows how dramatically we undervalue introverts, and identifies—based on the latest psychology and neuroscience—the advantages of being one. I prefer listening to talking, reading to socializing, and cozy chats to group settings. I like to think before I speak (softly). I’ve never given a speech without being terrified first, though I’ve given many. And somehow I know that everything I’ve ever accomplished, in love and in work, I owe to these traits, annoying though they may sometimes be. I’ve explored this paradox in my first book, “QUIET: The Power of Introverts In a World That Can’t Stop Talking
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BOOK Review Description:
When brothers, Soleus and Montana, compete for the affection of Princess Luna, one of them learns the true meaning of heart break.
About Author: Look to the Heavens is a part of a children’s anthology series called Father’s Pleasures...Children’s Treasures. For discounted bulk sales, please contact Prindle House Publishing at 866877-4635.
DeeAndra Butler is a Marine Corps veteran who graduated from Florida A&M University with a degree in broadcast journalism and a MBA. She has two children, Cameron and Kierre, to whom she dedicates her life. Although DeeAndra was raised in Jacksonville, she was born in Atlanta, so she considers herself a Georgia Peach that ripened under the Florida sun. DeeAndra currently resides in San Antonio, Texas
Contact info: http://heavenslook.com/ h t t p : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / # ! / pages/Look-to-the-Heavens/143248992412987 904-553-7821
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The Rich and the Rest of Us is the next step in the journey that began with “The Poverty Tour: A Call to Conscience.” Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West’s 18-city bus tour gave voice to the plight of impoverished Americans of all races, colors, and creeds. With 150 million Americans persistently poor or near poor, the highest numbers in over five decades, Smiley and West argue that now is the time to confront the underlying conditions of systemic poverty in America before it’s too late. By placing the eradication of poverty in the context of the nation’s moments of social transformation— such as the abolition of slavery, suffrage, and the labor and civil rights movements—ending poverty is emerge as America’s 21st -century civil rights struggle.
greatest woman’s sure to
As the middle class disappears and the safety net is shredded, and West, building on the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., ask us to our fear and complacency with 12 poverty changing ideas. They chalto re-examine our assumptions about poverty in America—what it rehow to eliminate it now.
Smiley confront lenge us ally is and
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Empowered Magazine is published bi-monthly: Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sep/Oct, Nov/Dec online and in print. Tess Rutherford, President/CEO. Online subscriptions: Free. Printed subscriptions: $5. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. It is the mission of Empowered to provide a quality publication to enlighten, educate, and empower our readers to reach beyond themselves and soar by riding on the strength of God’s power. For submissions and orders contact us: Empowered Magazine Address P.O. Box 882416, San Diego, CA 92168 Email editorial@empoweredmagonline.com Website http://empoweredmagonline.com
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