“Your grandmother had a stroke. She and your grandfather will be moving in with us so we can help take care of her.”As a twelve-year-old child, hearing my father deliver this news to my brother and me felt like an out-of-body experience. It was as if I were watching the whole scene unfold from across the room, and in that moment, my life forever ch…

"As I stepped through the doorway of my friend’s lavish home, I was awe struck. We were in Lincoln Park, the wealthy side of Chicago, and a world away from the tiny apartment I shared with my parents and three older brothers. The foyer, framed by the kind of buttery staircase I had only seen in movies, was bigger than my entire home, and the sunlig…

“We’re going to have to let you go.” I swallowed hard and stared ahead of me, too stunned to say anything. Had I heard that correctly? The air seemed to be sucked out of the room. A minute before the phone rang, I was reviewing my student’s work and contentedly planning my next lesson, and now I was frozen where I stood, the heaviness of what this …

"As a teen, Sam Brownback accelerated into the fast lane asa high school student in the 1970's. Driven by purpose, his rise to greatness continues through his relationships. Young Sam radiated with an air of destiny. His passion for involvement seemed to engulf all his waking hours. During his high school years, he drove back and forth across Miami…

"The courtroom was cold, and my feet echoed on the slick stone floors as we made our way to our seats. My future, my identity, my reputation—all hung in the balance. The events of the last two years had rocked my entire world. My marriage had fallen apart, my finances had taken a severe hit, my practice helping people in my community suffering from…

"As I watched the rain trail down my kitchen windows, I felt run-down. But in the never-ending grind of getting myPhD and running two companies, I always felt run-down.On a whim, I’d signed up for an online workshop on getting unstuck in your business, and on that Friday afternoon, I found myself with a few rare moments of quiet and could join live…

"No matter what, I had to get out of that house. My mind briefly flashed back to the murder-suicide that occurred on campus just one year prior, and I had made up my mind three, two, one...go! By the time he realized I had slipped out the front door, I was in my car with the gear in reverse. He darted down the hallway and out the door, still gaping…

"The building repair was too expensive,” they said. “Besides,”they added, “it doesn’t look that bad.” "I hear that a lot in my line of work as a construction engineer in Hawaii. On the Hawaiian Islands of paradise, people think buildings last forever. They ignore signs of danger. After all, there are waves to conquer, beaches to explore, mountains …

"I remember that early spring day vividly, with me starting off in a great mood to finish off the week, but by the end of the day, calamity had struck. Much akin to a person who leaves his house for work and never comes back, because he has had a fatal accident. The only difference was that I was dead in all ways, except physically. That night and …

"When my best friend got sick, traditional medicine offered few answers. Then she began working with a naturo-pathic doctor and his wife, a spiritual teacher. My friend, amazed by the results, told me I should see this spiritual teacher as well. “Why?” I immediately thought. “I’m doing just fine.” I was a very linear thinker then, having grown up i…

"Lisa Morgan is not just a Board-Certified Music Therapist and Certified Life Coach; she is a survivor, healer, and a beacon of hope for those navigating the darkest depths of trauma. With over two decades of lived experience, Lisa’s journey through the “The Dark Night of the Soul” has shaped her into a resilient advocate for inner healing, transfo…

"My daughter was fourteen the night she disappeared. She’d asked some friends to spend the night, and then they all wanted to go to the movie theater. It was late, but I agreed. I watched them all walk into the theater before driving away. When I came back to pick them up, none of the girls were there. I searched the lobby, the parking lot, and eve…

"DeLisa Branch-Nealy brings a wealth of experience and diversity to her endeavors. With a distinguished 37-year career as a Registered Nurse, she specialized for 33 years in surgery and served 4 years in the USAF. DeLisa's expertise spans various medical fields, including Breast Cancer, Ophthalmic, and Neurosurgery, with a focus on Plastic and Micr…

"One common belief among people everywhere is that life is hard. Each trial and tribulation can either make us or break us. Through my own roller-coaster journey, I’ve learned three keys through my own adversities and struggles that have enhanced my durability and impact resistance to become … shatterproof!" Following the release of Rise Up, Susan …

"Warriors are not born; they are made. Sometimes we don’t know what kind of strength we have until we are tested. My name is Kelli, meaning “warrior maiden,” and Kombat—well, that’s pretty self-explanatory. My greatest life lesson came to me at the young age of sixteen years old—I am the eldest of three; brothers Darren and David were twelve and ei…

Mattie C. Caruthers is a true veteran in the entertainment industry. Her career started in music at Little David Records, where she was an assistant to Monte Kay (founder of Birdland, and manager/jazz producer to Herbie Mann, Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins, and the Modern Jazz Quartet). Mattie was part of a small team working on all aspects of the record…

"I felt the chill of the bathroom floor up through my body, and I stifled the sobs. My two kids were on the other side of the door, and I didn’t want them to hear me. As I sat on that cold floor, I realized something had to change. I could not do what I was doing any longer. I started dating my husband in 1999, and it was now 2015. In sixteen years…

Janell Westley-Edwards is not just a born leader; she is a beacon of inspiration and humanitarianism. Driven by compassion and fueled by love, Janell takes supreme confidence in providing thought-provoking knowledge to empower others. Her diverse background as a Mathematics teacher, Master Cosmetologist, Live Radio/Social Media Talk Show Host, Publ…

"After the whirlwind of candles, birthday cake, and three-year-olds running around the house, my husband and I cleaned up the chaos. Parents to a now three-year-old and a two-month-old daughter, we were both exhausted. We got our newborn and toddler to bed, and I immediately fell asleep. After a few hours I heard a noise. I’ve always been a light s…

Kimberly Bussey Lewis is a nonprofit CEO and the owner of Motivational Muse, LLC. She has more than two decades of executive level non-profit and business experience. She is originally from Charleston, SC and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the College of Charleston and a Master’s Degree from Marshall University in Huntington, WV, and is a Certified…

"Without warning, I collapsed, feeling the carpet suddenly beneath my knees. Then, confused and mind racing, I face planted against my bedroom floor. I had quite literally fallen out of bed, and I could barely move any part of my body. All I could manage was working my nose to the side so I could breathe a bit better. I was alone in the house and b…

It was Keiko’s dream as a child to create a world without hunger so that no child goes to bed hungry. After serving in the United Nations World Food Program for more than 25 years, Keiko is embarking on a new adventure with the publication of this book which allows her to heal the world, not by millions while working for WFP, but one little wave at…

"Perhaps I was destined to have a strong resolve. My grandparents had come to the United States as legal immigrants from Ischia (EE-skeeuh), an island in the bay of Naples, back when it was a rough time to be Italian in the United States. My grandfather came first, looking to make a better life for himself and his soon-to-be family. My grandfather …

"What if slowing down the aging process is real? What if, buried within the intricate workings of our brains, lie the solutions to some of the most fundamental challenges we face, from weight management and digestive health to the quality of our sleep and the ever-persistent presence of anxiety? This relentless pursuit of knowledge and understandin…

"The disrespect of the medical community toward young girls was really eye-opening. It sparked in me the desire to help other women. I thought, I don’t want anyone to have to go through what I went through. In my small Michigan town, I had been a wild child who cared more about hanging out with my friends than school. Detention and Saturday school …

"I used to be attached to the outcome of my work. I have learned that if I want people to understand the power of self-love, I must embody it, I must be it. When you try to force someone, you come from a space of judging. I need to exist at a higher vibration. I accept that people are whole and complete wherever they are. And that they, like all of…

"As an experienced financial adviser now, I wouldn’t recommend setting out to build a career the way I did. With just a few years’ experience and not fully qualified, I struck out on my own with high hopes and a $25,000 credit card limit. Forty years later, I lead a successful wealth management company for affluent, High Net Worth, and Ultra High N…

"Being safe in the digital era isn’t always intuitive to everyone. Comprehensive network assessments and security awareness training educate organizations and individuals, empowering them with the knowledge to help prevent cyberattacks. Companies that consistently execute security awareness training are less at risk of losing time, money, and sensi…

"My colleague slowly approached the woman, signing a few words with her hands until the woman calmed down and responded back. She was deaf! The woman – we soon learned – had misplaced her child. That’s why she was panicking. That’s why she was shouting. Thankfully, the story had a happy ending – her child was in another part of the room, just out o…

"On May 11, 1970, as riots rocked Augusta, a large unfriendly gathering appeared in front of our school in North Augusta, SC, right across the river. The police arrived, and trouble was clearly brewing. I found Curtis, and we talked. The word empathy didn’t become a normal everyday word until 1995 when Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman was p…

"I will never forget the fearful look on my mother’s face when she came to me, her youngest son, twenty-one years old, number nine of her ten children, and told me she didn’t have six hundred dollars to dig my father’s grave. The night before, he had died on a hospital bed in our living room after a three-year battle with colon cancer that had spre…

"Empathy and understanding are critical factors in a mediated divorce because there is no winner or loser. The end of the process is defined by an agreed upon solution. We never outwardly discuss these factors, but they are integral to every step we take. It is important to understand that ending a marriage, even by mediation, is never painless. Wh…

Neal Turner is a trailblazer in the realms of human performance and personal growth, dedicated to empowering individuals to maximize their potential and achieve their aspirations. As a martial arts enthusiast and respected instructor, Neal imparts invaluable lessons of respect, dedication, and mindfulness to his students, transcending the boundarie…

With a wealth of experience gleaned from over 1,000 private coaching sessions, Ariel utilizes her expertise as a Certified Myers-Briggs and NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) Practitioner to help high-achieving clients break through mindset barriers. Her coaching has facilitated transformative accomplishments, from remarkable business growth to imp…

"As a child, the confines of our small trailer drove my siblings and me outdoors often. Finding things to occupy our mischievous minds, we played endlessly among the woods of oak, sweetgum, and flowering dogwoods. “Stay out of trouble!” was a constant refrain from our parents. As we adventured, we encountered many different frogs – tree frogs, toad…

"While empathy and understanding often involve fulfilling present desires, they can also transcend to comprehending needs that customers themselves might not even be aware of. As demonstrated by Henry Ford’s insightful perspective, innovation springs from recognizing that customers might articulate a desire for a faster horse. However, the true inn…

"I still see that displaced nine-year-old in my past. He is now safe and secure, grateful, and approaches each day with a mindset of abundance. He finds joy in hearing the stories of clients, helping others and lives a life rich in love. He has a sense of purpose. He would enjoy the opportunity to hear your story." Following the release of Success …

"Life is an interesting teacher. And as I continue to explore its rich tapestry, I find I am just as eager to learn more and grow more. Empathy in business is not just about understanding another’s perspective. In a deeper sense, it is about recognizing and respecting their humanity." Following the release of Empathy and Understanding in Business,"…

"On the other side of my comfort zone, I discovered my purpose as a certified Life Coach. Having navigated major life transitions and embraced multiple pivots on my own journey, I possess the knowledge and tools to guide others through similar transformations. I am devoted to helping them navigate, pivot, and find the courage to create a life by de…

"So, dare to ask the Universe for guidance, open your heart to its whispers, and take inspired action. Success, when redefined through connection to ‘All That Is’, is the key to a life of peace, joy and bliss. Embrace the extraordinary journey that awaits and let your soul soar to new heights." Following the release of Success Redefined," Debra Sta…

"Change can be hard. We all know that. We advocate for our clients while bringing warmth and understanding into what can be stressful situations, where big financial and emotional decisions collide. My team looks at these times as opportunities instead of obstacles." Following the release of Empathy and Understanding in Business," Amy Pedersen, joi…

"Although it started with shoes, our bond was not about footwear. Nor was it about my choice to follow her in fashion...our deepening connection was about how I engaged her brain." Following the release of Empathy and Understanding in Business," Jennifer Little-Fleck, joined us on the podcast to discuss her take on injecting empathy into business d…

"Using empathy, let’s be curious in our problem-solving and invest the time to positively influence one another, so the connections we build between our columns remain strong and continue to be fortified by shared goodwill." Following the release of Empathy and Understanding in Business," Rob Greer, joined us on the podcast to discuss his take on i…

"Even the most thoughtful people delay necessary conversations about their plans for long-term healthcare. I know this from firsthand experience because, when I was younger, I watched both of my parents struggle with caregiving challenges." Following the release of Empathy and Understanding in Business," Raymond Lavine, joined us on the podcast to …

"When we keep serving others in the forefront of our mind, the pressure is off! The push stops, and the seeking to understand begins!" Following the release of Empathy and Understanding in Business," James R. Evans, joined us on the podcast to discuss his take on injecting empathy into business dealings and his chapter in the book. James' chapter e…

"The reality is that when you focus on speaking to one person, you build stronger relationships. You can offer them a relationship which is ultimately the kind of security we all wish to count on." Following the release of Empathy and Understanding in Business," Peter J. D'Arruda, also known as 'Coach Pete,' joined us on the podcast to discuss his …

"My path to success began with accepting empathy." Following the release of Empathy and Understanding in Business," Shaun Capps joined us on the podcast to discuss his take on injecting empathy into business dealings and his chapter in the book. Shaun's chapter entitled "Accepting Empathy's Challenge," shares his personal and professional experienc…

“You don’t need friends who become coworkers; you need coworkers who become family.” I made the mistake of initially thinking that hiring friends was a great idea when I began hiring employees. I was always worried that this would destroy our friendship, and my personality didn’t lend itself well to difficult conversations. Following the release of…

"It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future." ~ Yogi Berra Following the release of Success in Any Economy," Pat Ziemer joined us on the podcast to discuss his take on being an authentic leader and his chapter in the book. Pat's chapter entitled "The Power of Attitude, Motivation, and Commitment in Business Success," shares his per…

"I was proud of my skills and talents to help transform others’ lives, but I lacked confidence in my ability to be a business owner. Overcoming my fear to fulfill my dream was a major component in my success." Following the release of The Keys to Authenticity: Unlocking the Code to a Fulfilling Life and Business," Dr. K.A. Bloom joined us on the po…