INTERVIEW: Shannon Skinner interviews Pat Mussieux, founder, WealthyWomenLeaders.com (VIDEO)
I have heard it said that most women do not reach their full potential until their fifties. It seems for many women, it takes five decades of living to develop self-confidence or self-worth. It also seems to take that number of years to develop an attitude of not being concerned about what people think of them.
I have also heard it said that until we stop being worried or concerned about what others think of us, we will not become who we can truly be in this world.
The adage “life is a journey” rings true. Our life story unfolds like reading a book: word by word, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph, one chapter after another, from start to finish.
When we make a major change in our lives, usually the decision is a culmination of life events and experiences, like reading a story, that brings us to the proverbial aha moment: the one that seems to take a quick snapshot of our entire past and synthesize it with our heart’s desires and vision for the future.
The aha moment that changed Pat Mussieux‘s life and put her on the path of helping women entrepreneurs achieve success was the evening she turned 50. At her 50th birthday party, her two step-children spoke fondly about Pat to family and friends who gathered to celebrate (it was a surprise party). At that point in time, Pat was experiencing an unfulfilled marriage.
photo credit: Pat Mussieux
Something in her that night shifted.
The woman who previously ran a half-marathon a year and had a range of business skills, made a conscious decision to change her life.
At the age of 50, she began to fully realize her potential. Over the next few years, she divorced, moved across the country, re-established her business, wrote a book, established a relationship with her mother (who was estranged), and traveled around the globe on a private plane.
But, change is not often easy, and the road was a challenging one. She found mentors and harnessed her business skills, and worked on changing her mindset and attitude with new tools and techniques. She transformed her life; creating success and happiness.
When someone transforms their life, it does not go unnoticed. Pat’s friends asked what her secrets were and, once they started to use them in their lives with positive results, the “new” gutsy and determined Pat knew she was on to something. That “something” has helped many other women entrepreneurs create successful businesses.
I caught up with Pat Mussieux at the Ignite ‘n’ Connect event in Toronto. In this on-location interview with Pat, she gives some insights about why many women entrepreneurs do not succeed in business and provides some real solutions – check out the VIDEO (below):
Check out more of Shannon’s interviews at: http://www.ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com
© Shannon Skinner 2012. All rights reserved.
INTERVIEW: Shannon Skinner interviews Frances Cairncross, Rector, Exeter College, Oxford University
It is not often one gets the opportunity to interview a woman who runs a 700 year-old institution. That is what Frances Cairncross does as Rector of Exeter College, Oxford University — the first university in the English-speaking world.
Frances Cairncross, an award-winning journalist and author of The Company of the Future and The Death of Distance, has cracked the proverbial glass ceiling with a stellar career in traditionally male-dominated fields. Prior to her role at Exeter College, she was the Management Editor at The Economist. Prior to that, she was at The Guardian, The Times, The Banker and The Observer. She has chaired the Economic and Social Research Council and was President of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a Senior Fellow at the School of Public Policy, UCLA and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA).
photo credit: Frances Cairncross, Rector, Exeter College, Oxford University
Frances was once a student at Oxford (St. Anne’s College, where she read Modern History) and holds an MA in Economics from Brown University, Rhode Island. She also holds honorary degrees from Trinity College Dublin and many other universities. She is a non-executive director of Stramongate Ltd, and a regular presenter of BBC Radio Four’s Analysis programme. She even once held the honorary post of High Sheriff of Greater London.
Now that’s achievement.
I recently met Frances in New York at a reception for Exeter College alumni, which was held during the annual North American Oxford University alumni reunion. I had the privilege of attending Exeter College at Oxford in 2007, when I took the Creative Writing summer programme. It was one of the most inspiring times creatively for me; to be surrounded by the intellectual energy of some of the greatest minds on Earth who have – past or present — studied or lectured there.
When I discovered that Frances was going to be in New York for the Oxford reunion, I thought it would be inspiring to interview her. After all, I wanted to know what it takes — as a woman — to successfully run a 700 year-old institution. And so, I traveled from Toronto to New York to meet this highly accomplished woman who I felt held some wisdom that I could tap into and learn from.
Find out what insights Frances Cairncross provides in this interview below. Enjoy!
SS: What or who inspired you to become a journalist and author?
FC: I had finished university, wasn’t sure what I wanted to do for a career, and thought that journalism would allow me time to look around. I looked around for over 30 years!
Why is it so important for women to get a higher education?
Because it gives them self-confidence and a sense of self-worth. It also (on average) makes them happier, more employable and significantly raises their life-time earnings, compared to not having higher education.
What has been your greatest challenge to-date as a career woman?
To spend enough time with good friends and older family members.
Exeter College will soon celebrate its 700 year anniversary – what is it like as a woman, in particular, to run an institution that is so old and rich in history?
It’s a huge privilege. I look at the portraits of my male predecessors, which line the walls of our 1618 dining hall, and wonder what they would think if they knew.
Where do you find your greatest support to keep going?
From my husband, the journalist Hamish McRae, and from my two wonderful daughters.
Why should students consider attending Exeter College?
Because we will give them more personal attention, more intellectual stimulation and more interest than any other academic experience in the world.
What does “success” mean to you – how do you define it?
Success means doing what needs to be done without having to tread on too many toes or ruffle feathers unnecessarily.
How do you handle the pressures of your job?
By talking to my family, doing as much exercise as I can and finding opportunities to laugh.
Self-esteem, or lack of it, is an issue that affects many young women. What did you do to believe in yourself so that you could get beyond any self-doubts and reach the career heights that you have?
I was lucky enough to have loving parents – and especially a father who believed in the advancement of women. My parents argued plenty, but stayed together and enjoyed each other’s company more as the years went by.
One of the difficulties career women seem to experience is juggling “it all.” How do you balance work-personal life? Is it even possible to have balance and still achieve career success?
While your children are growing up, you can have two out of three of the following: work, family, friends. You can’t have all three.
Is there anything you haven’t yet done in your life – business and/or personal – that you wish to do?
Be a grandmother. But don’t tell my daughters in case they feel pressured.
Are you working on any new books or other projects that you would like people to know about?
I am working on a book about the College’s first 700 years, called Portrait of a College. We are taking advance orders now, so that’s quite a deadline!
Do you have hobbies?
I love swimming out of doors, all year round.
If you had one message to young women, what is it?
Remember that finding the right husband and raising a family ultimately may matter more to you than having a good job.
What is your top success tip?
When in doubt, ask yourself, “What would a man do?” – and then do it, but with more grace.
Shannon Skinner is the author of The Whispering Heart: Your Inner Guide to Creativity and host of Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner. She attended Exeter College at the University of Oxford (creative writing programme) in the summer of 2007.
copyright © Shannon Skinner 2012
The heart of a redhead in two minutes
I was recently invited to be a judge at a speaking competition that brought together grade 5 and 6 students from a number of Toronto’s private schools, which took place at Holy Trinity in Richmond Hill.
Over the course of a lovely afternoon, I witnessed 19 speeches, all roughly two minutes each, from boys and girls who had the courage to stand up on stage and give a prepared speech in a friendly competition. They all looked so adorable in their school uniforms, standing in the spotlight; some more noticeably nervous than others.
What I was not prepared for was how impressive these children would be. In fact, I was blown away.
Students preparing moments before the speaking competition. I was touched when the young girl introduced me as a judge.
In a short period of time, I learned about female oppression; what it is like to be considered a small person; why the world needs to eradicate hunger; why Muphy’s Law can be to blame when your bagel falls on the floor butter-side down; how to mix and match socks; the house of the future, one of the best sales pitches I’ve ever heard; about sports and superheros; what life is like as a sister of a hockey player; and more.
Every speech was amazing. As a judge, it made my job a difficult one, knowing full well that only four students would win prizes (from two categories, by grade), and the balance of the students — each deserving of recognition for their efforts — would feel disappointment; a heavy responsibility upon my shoulders.
There was one speech, in particular, that touched me. It was from a grade 5 student, who spoke with passion and humour about his life as a redhead. When he was finished, I felt a tear of inspiration trickle down my cheek. This young boy, who looked rather petite in his over-sized uniform, was not only entertaining, he was inspiring. He was inspiring for one reason: he spoke from the heart.
That is when I got it.
As a budding, inspirational speaker myself, I learned something from all of these children, and from this young boy with red hair, in particular. What I learned was this: when you speak from the heart, you will touch another heart – or many hearts.
And this is how you can change the world: touching one heart at a time.
At the end, the school gave me a few minutes to give a talk on the importance of learning to speak publicly, how it develops self-confidence and enables us to believe in ourselves more.
When I sat down and looked over at the young boy with red hair, he was beaming. Then he looked at me and mouthed the words thank you. My heart smiled from deep within.
It still does as I write this blog.
I walked out of the school armed with more education than I had when I walked in. It was an afternoon well spent.
© Shannon Skinner 2012
INTERVIEW: Shannon Skinner interviews Rona Maynard, former editor, Chatelaine (VIDEO)
I recently had the privilege of interviewing Rona Maynard, former editor of Chatelaine magazine, Canada’s leading magazine for women, on my talk show Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner.
Rona was at the helm of Chatelaine for 10 years and through innovation and drive, she made the magazine a massive success. During the time that she was running the magazine, I was working in the public relations field and read her regularly for not only professional interests, but also because in some strange way I felt connected to her.
I also secretly desired her job!
After years of pitching Rona and her editorial team to get my clients featured in Chatelaine (this is what PR people do), I was thrilled to meet her in person. After all, if there is one woman in this country who knows Canadian women — how we think, want we want, what we do not want, what makes us tick — it is Rona Maynard.
Once she left the magazine, Rona heard a whispering in her heart to write the story about her relationship with her mother in a book entitled My Mother’s Daughter. I chose to focus on the mother-daughter relationship, and how it can impact our success, in my interview with Rona because this is, in many respects, the most important relationship many of us have. It was a popular topic for her readers while she was at the magazine, and that conversation continues today at Rona’s blog.
Her insights are extraordinary.
Right after the interview, I reflected upon my relationship with my own mother and the bond we have. This pondering took me back to that dreadful day we don’t like to think about: 9/11. When 9/11 happened, one of this first things I did was, in a frantic state, try to call my mother. Neither one of us were anywhere near New York City; I was in Toronto, my mother was in Medicine Hat, Alberta. And yet, I needed to talk to my mom.
As the stories unfolded in the days after, nearly every friend of mine, and acquaintance, told me they tried calling their mothers immediately upon hearing the news of what was unfolding. There must have been a lot of calls to moms that day, perhaps seeking comfort or just the connection. I think this says something about our relationships with our mothers – and that energetic umbilical cord.
Rona’s relationship with her mother strongly influenced who she is today and her career success. Her mother had her own dreams, some that would not come to fruition because she was born ahead of her time – like so many mothers. And that would impact their relationship. But, like everything in life, it all served a purpose and shaped the woman who today has arguably more insights into Canadian women than probably anyone.
Rona is speaking at the Ignite ‘n’ Connect event on May 4th in Toronto, hosted by Positive Fabulous Women. I am looking forward to hearing her speak. I hope to see you there.
VIDEO INTERVIEW: to watch my interview with Rona Maynard, click here.
© Shannon Skinner 2012
Yes or no? Stand by your principles
Just this morning, I was thinking about why women (myself included) tend to say ‘yes’ to things we do not want to do. What perfect timing because this just so happens to be a topic today in Forbeswoman!
How many times have you attended a function or special event when really you would have rather done something else with your time? Like wash your hair. You felt obligated to a friend, so you showed up. Or a business associate asks you for a favour that is something against your principles and deep down you know it, you don’t want to do it, but you do it anyway – probably to appease them.
Is it because we are conditioned to be nurturers and therefore somewhere in a dark corner of our minds do not want to hurt feelings, or be rejected? I’m not certain there is a black and white answer to this question, but I do believe the more worth and confidence we have in ourselves, the more easily we can make decisions based on what is good for us – and say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ as appropriate.
I recall years ago one of my mentors telling me to stand by my principles no matter what, which requires saying ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ I strive to do this in my business and in life. However, I am reminded of a situation when a client asked me to provide some information related to my business that I was unwilling to share, because it was against my principles to supply that information they were wanting. I had told this person a number of times that I would not do it, but they pressed for it.
At the time, I came up with what I thought was a compromise: I would provide a portion of what they wanted, but not everything, and if I did that, I would keep the relationship in good standing and I would not compromise myself “too much.”
Too much???!!
It didn’t work.
The reason it didn’t work is because I was pissed off with myself for going again my principles in the first place. Now I realize it would have been better to piss off the other person than to piss off myself, by saying a flat-out ‘no.’
Lesson learned.
Do you stand by your principles? How do you handle it when someone asks you to do something you do not want to do?
© Shannon Skinner 2012
