It's All About the Questions

When I first met Sally Armstrong I knew instantly that my life would never be the same. When she spoke, my perspectives were challenged and my worldview shifted. What I thought I knew about women, men, culture and world religion went out the window and I realized how the power of a voice can change the world.

My producer was almost in tears when the show was over because he had never heard about some of the things we talked about and others he thought were no longer in practice. Sally challenges us to walk in the world with our eyes, minds and hearts open. I challenge you to look at your life, after you listen to the show and tell me, and the world where you have been silent in your life and how you are now going to use your voice. I am on twitter @TheLauraSteward and Sally is @SallyArmstrong9

Human rights activist, journalist and award-winning author Sally Armstrong has covered stories about women and girls in zones of conflict all over the world. From Bosnia and Somalia to the Middle East, Rwanda, Congo and Afghanistan, her eye witness reports have earned her awards including the Gold Award from the National Magazine Awards Foundation and the Author's Award from the Foundation for the Advancement of Canadian Letters. She received the Amnesty International Media Award in 2000, 2002 and again in 2011.

She was a member of the International Women’s Commission a UN body that consists of 20 Palestinian women, 20 Israeli women and 12 internationals whose mandate is assisting with the path to peace in the Middle East.

In 1996, Sally was honoured by the YWCA of Toronto with the prestigious Women
of Distinction Award in Communications. In 1997 she received the Achievement
Award for Human Rights for Women from Jewish Women International; in 1998 Media Watch's Dodi Robb Award and in 2003, the Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement from the National Magazine Awards Foundation.  In 2005, she received the Athena International Award (Chicago), the World of Difference Award from the International Alliance for Women (Florida) and the Red Cross Humanitarian Award - New Brunswick Region. In 2008 she received the Clarkson Laureate for public service at Massey College, University of Toronto. And in May 2008, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Journalism Foundation. In March 2010, she became the fourth recipient of The Calgary Peace Prize.

She is the recipient of eight honorary doctorate degrees and is a Member of the Order of Canada.

Her book Veiled Threat: The Hidden Power of the Women of Afghanistan was published by Penguin Books in 2002. The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor was published by Random House in 2007.  Bitter Roots, Tender Shoots: the Uncertain Fate of Afghanistan’s Women was published by Penguin in 2008. Her new book Ascent of Women: Our turn, our way – a remarkable story of world-wide change was published by Random House in March 2013. A revised version called Uprising: A new age is dawning for every mother’s daughter was published in March 2014 by St. Martins Press in New York. www.sallyarmstrong.org

From Goldman Sachs to Philanthropist and Chief Engagement Officer of Women Moving Millions to producing movies about rape on campus and making the Top 50 Global Diversity List by The Economist of individuals who have used their position in public life to make an impact in diversity my guest today reveals the questions that drove her and still drive her to make an impact each day.

Jacki Zehner dedicates her time and resources towards the advancement of women and girls. As the President of The Jacquelyn and Gregory Zehner Foundation, a role she has held for the past 15 years, Jacki funds a variety of projects and organizations, with a particular focus on women's rights, women's foundations, movement building, and media.

In 2012, Jacki became the Chief Engagement Officer and President of Women Moving Millions (WMM), a non-profit organization based in New York City dedicated to mobilizing unprecedented resources for the advancement of women and girls. With more than 240 members, each contributing a million dollars or more to organizations of their choice, WMM has successfully brought the needs of women and girls to the forefront of philanthropic giving. 

Prior to her philanthropic focus, Jacki was a Partner and Managing Director at Goldman Sachs in New York City, where she was the youngest woman and first female trader to make partner. Jacki serves on a number of boards and advisory committees, and is an active writer, speaker, consultant and featured expert on topics relating to women and wealth, philanthropy, and leadership. She currently lives in Park City, Utah with her husband Greg and two teenage children.

From Goldman Sachs to Philanthropist and Chief Engagement Officer of Women Moving Millions to producing movies about rape on campus and making the Top 50 Global Diversity List by The Economist of individuals who have used their position in public life to make an impact in diversity my guest today reveals the questions that drove her and still drive her to make an impact each day.

Jacki Zehner dedicates her time and resources towards the advancement of women and girls. As the President of The Jacquelyn and Gregory Zehner Foundation, a role she has held for the past 15 years, Jacki funds a variety of projects and organizations, with a particular focus on women's rights, women's foundations, movement building, and media.

In 2012, Jacki became the Chief Engagement Officer and President of Women Moving Millions (WMM), a non-profit organization based in New York City dedicated to mobilizing unprecedented resources for the advancement of women and girls. With more than 240 members, each contributing a million dollars or more to organizations of their choice, WMM has successfully brought the needs of women and girls to the forefront of philanthropic giving. 

Prior to her philanthropic focus, Jacki was a Partner and Managing Director at Goldman Sachs in New York City, where she was the youngest woman and first female trader to make partner. Jacki serves on a number of boards and advisory committees, and is an active writer, speaker, consultant and featured expert on topics relating to women and wealth, philanthropy, and leadership. She currently lives in Park City, Utah with her husband Greg and two teenage children.

PR does not have to overwhelm your budget. Actually it does not have to cost anything other than a little sweat equity and if you do it in air conditioning you won't even have to sweat. With just a few simple PR Tips and PR Hacks you can book your own media tour, get your products featured in top magazines, have reporters calling you as their expert and have celebrities endorsing you and your products.

How? My guest today shares some simple and easy strategies and tips to figure out where you should be interacting to get PR, where your client hangs out and how to get reporters coming to you from local and national media outlets. Plus you get a free tips sheet on how to get noticed on HARO.

Christina Daves is a serial entrepreneur who has founded and run five successful companies over the past 20 years. 

With no resources remaining when she launched her latest venture, CastMedic Designs, Christina taught herself everything she could about generating her own publicity, which basically provided her free advertising for her business.

Since launching in 2012, she has appeared in over 250 media outlets including national and local television and publications. As a result of this success, she launched PR for Anyone® to help other small business owners have similar success.

Together with her clients, Christina has generated over 7 figures in sales relating to free publicity.

Christina is also the author of the bestselling book, PR for Anyone™ - 100+ Affordable Ways to Easily Create Buzz for Your Business.

Reinventions come in all shapes and sizes but the key to a successful one is in the quiet time you give yourself. With today's increasingly connected world it can be difficulty to get some uninterrupted quiet, reflective time to unlock the you that is wanting to burst out from inside yourself.

Today, reinventions are not just business ones. They can be physical reinventions, I need one of those, spiritual, financial, relationship and yes, business and career reinventions.  But how do you create a successful one? How do you start figuring what the reinvention means and how to make take root?

Enter my two guests. Experts at reinvention in their own lives and in helping others figure out their own. What I love is they thought outside the box and created an environment to help you dive deep into your own reinvention. Take a listen and let me know what your reinvention looks like! @TheLauraSteward or [email protected]

After a thirty year career in retail selling everything from socks to stocks, with only a computer and a plan, Bobbi Govanus launched her own small business and soon realized that she had discovered a true niche within the computer training industry.

Bobbi quickly grew that business from the basement of her Minnesota home by listening closely to her customers and providing customized computer training and solutions.  The company eventually brokered over one thousand high-caliber computer trainers across the United States and Canada and even served clients as far away as England, Japan, Germany and India.  She grew the company to sales of over twenty million dollars. 

In celebration of these and other accomplishments, Entrepreneur Magazine recognized Bobbi Govanus as their "Home-based" Business Owner of the year and Minnesota honored her as their Women in Business Advocate.

In 2013 Bobbi created the Reinvention Retreat at Sea bringing speakers, coaches and authors together to coach and assist attendees who want to make the rest of their life, the best of their life.  Bobbi published her first anthology book in 2014, How to Pilot When We Were Raised to BE Stewardesses, Reinventing your Life with Passion and Purpose.  This book explores the importance of choosing your own destiny no matter what obstacles you must overcome to do so. 

Bobbi currently lives near Orlando, FL with her husband Gary.  She can be reached at [email protected]

Kathleen McCarthy Peters is the owner of KMP Travel, a Cruise Planners/American Express travel agency.  Kathleen’s passion is travel and the performing arts.  She loves helping speakers plan transformational retreats and workshops in awesome destinations!

Kathleen was bitten by the travel bug early! But growing up on military bases was just the start. She went on to work onboard cruise ships as both Cruise Staff & entertainer. Kathleen has also lived and worked abroad in Europe, Mexico and Australia and has over 20 years experience working in the Hospitality and Tourism industries. 

Kathleen has successfully transitioned from Ballerina to MBA and from stay-at-home mom to advertising executive.  Her latest chapter is as entrepreneur and business owner where she can combine her love of travel and the arts to plan life-enriching journeys for her clients. Kathleen also believes in giving back by volunteering countless hours to encourage and mentor women making big career changes.  Kathleen believes that if you Love your life now and stay true to your core passion, gifts and talents…you will be led into amazing new opportunities where nothing from your past is wasted.

Are you focusing on impact? If you do, money will follow. The old ways of doing business aren't working as effectively as they used. "If you build it they will come" is no longer true. What is true is that if you make an impact on and in people's lives with your business they will buy and they will continue to buy and they will tell their friends who will tell their friends. As long as you focus on the impact you and your business will have for them, their business and their lives. But how do you do that?

My guest today is Wendy Lipton Dibner. One of my personal mentors and friends and someone I have great respect for because of the impact she has made in my life and the lives of others I know.

Forbes is following her current book tour as she makes an impact in each city she visits.  One of the lessons she teaches is "don't try to fit yourself into a model that is not you." And then she shows you how to create your model of business.

Her current book is titled Focus on Impact, The 10-Step Map to Reach Millions, Make Millions and Love Your Life Along the Way 

A little about Wendy: 

Wendy Lipton-Dibner is the world’s leading authority on business development through impact strategy. President of Professional Impact, Inc. and founder of Move People to Action™ Wendy is internationally recognized for her unparalleled ability to help clients maximize and capitalize on the unique impact they bring to people’s lives through one-of-a-kind marketing, products and services. A multiple-time bestselling author and highly sought-after keynote speaker, Wendy serves as a trusted advisor to doctors, executives, start-up entrepreneurs and top influencers around the globe. She is the author of the new business acceleration book, Focus On Impact® - The 10-Step Map to Reach Millions, Make Millions and Love Your Life Along the Way.

How do you move when moving hurts? The one thing that calms my body and my mind and doesn't make me feel like I got hit by a truck the next day is Pilates. Since I have a radio show I thought, why not bring my personal Pilates trainer, mentor and friend to the show so you could get to know her, ask her your questions and learn a few things you can do at home to get your body and mind back into alignment. Especially your body.

The first time I went to Pilates I had been in pain for a long time after some injuries to the discs in my lower back after a VERY bad round of golf. After 15 minutes, the pain was gone and my body and mind felt calmer. I got hooked and each time I go, I not only learn more about my body but more about the mind body connection and how they play tricks on each other.  If you aren't sure what I mean just tell yourself to stand up straight with your chin back to align the head and then look in a mirror. It surprises me every time.

If you are a breast cancer survivor, Gini Murphy also shares tip on reconditioning after surgery and will tell you about a free class she offers every month in Vero Beach, FL to help you.

Gini Murphy, Founder of S.T.A.R. Pilates has been a passionate teacher of movement for over 20 years. Her initial training in traditional Pilates, then certifying in contemporary Pilates, coupled with her years of teaching dance has enabled her to empower each individual client with the knowledge and tools to care for their body by teaching them that how you move is of utmost importance. 

Gini trains people of all ages and fitness levels whether novice or experienced.  Her specialty is instructing those with injuries and chronic conditions due to her extensive Pilates teaching in physical therapy clinics where she was engaged in sports rehabilitation, post-operative rehabilitation and aging populations.

Her objective is to is to have her clients gain strength, flexibility, knowledge of proper biomechanics so that it can be applied to everyday life and the understanding needed to manage, maintain and improve the health of their body.

She holds the following certifications: Instructor Trainer and Certified Instructor for Pilates Academy International, Certified STOTT PILATES® Post- Rehabilitation Conditioning Specialist, Certified CARDIOLATES® Instructor, Certified Post-Rehabilitative Breast Cancer Exercise Specialist , Bachelor of Fine Arts, Dance

Which comes first? Your purpose or your objective? Do you know the difference? Does your plan further them? Do you know how the language you use matters at all levels of your life and business?

We often hear that we must know our purpose and that if we are not living our purpose that is why we are left unfulfilled at the end of the day. I have struggled with this concept for many years and felt like I was failing because I couldn't articulate my purpose as it seemed it is supposed to be articulated.

Then I met my guest, Barry Laub and he presented the concepts in a different way that challenged me to look at the words I was using and the words being used by others. Pieces started to fall into place that had not seemed even remotely relevant to success and purpose.

Listen with an open mind as we discuss how objective is the thing we want to be looking at and defining and once you have that, the rest begins to fall into place.

Tweet to me @TheLauraSteward and to Barry at @BarryLaub to share your insights and ask us questions!

Barry Laub is a #1 Best Selling author, as well as an international bestselling author, President of Infinite Resources, Inc. a consulting, training and coaching company. He is known for transforming businesses, careers and lives. Barry is a highly sought after and engaging speaker.

A recent client testimonial described Barry as “having a real gift for helping his clients work on the key intangibles that benefit them professionally and personally. Through our work together in these recent months, he has provided me with the tools and foundational work to "re-engineer" my mindset, resulting in vastly more self-confidence, assurance, and savviness to deal with important business discussions and everyday situations. I can think of no book, lecture, or other teaching venue that could have been more effective.”

Barry possesses a master’s degree in guidance and counseling and special education. He had a distinguished career as a program director, guidance counselor and teacher trainer for the New York City Board of Education. After leaving the field of education, Barry received recognition as a top producing financial planner, especially in helping families that have members with Special Needs.

After his successful career in education, he created a national employee benefits company where he was CEO with over 40 employees.

Utilizing these experiences Barry maintains a private coaching and speaking practice. He conducts mastermind groups and teleseminars. He is a radio personality and has been interviewed on many television shows. His target market is primarily business owners, sales professionals and business executives. Barry is a very results oriented individual with the ability to put his clients at ease, while maintaining accountability.

Barry is an active Rotarian. He is a faculty member of the Rotary Leadership Institute and active with Rotary Youth Leadership. Barry is the proud and joyous grandfather of eight grandchildren.

Barry’s passion is using his experience to create environments which support other’s to live a gratifying and satisfying life. Make an impact on the lives of others is his purpose.

The business of being an author matters almost even more than the books do. Once you have a book or an idea for a book, what do you need to do to get it published? I was fortunate and made connections to to the right people to get my book, What Would a Wise Woman Do? Questions to Ask Along the Way published. I learned from some of the best on how to keep my book selling and ranking and winning awards. But what if you don't know those people?

Well now you do. My guest. mentor, publisher and friend is the Publisher of Morgan James Publishing and THE top PR guy for the industry for over 38 years. An 18 time bestselling author himself, we talk about the different types of publishing, what you need to do before, during and after publishing happens for you and share how you can get a free ticket to the top author event in the U.S.

Rick Frishman is Publisher at Morgan James Publishing in New York and founder of Planned Television Arts (now called Media Connect), has been one of the leading book publicists in America for over 38 years.

Rick works with many of the top book editors, literary agents, and publishers in America, including Simon and Schuster, Harper Collins and Random House.

He has worked with bestselling authors such as Mitch Albom, Bill Moyers, Stephen King, Caroline Kennedy, Howard Stern, President Jimmy Carter, Sophia Loren, Smokey Robinson, Nelson DeMille, Barbara Bush, Salmon Rushdie, John Grisham, Yogi Berra, Henry Kissinger, Jack Canfield, Alan Dershowitz, Arnold Palmer, Jackie Collins, Whoopi Goldberg, Gov. Mario Cuomo, and Senator John Glenn.

Morgan James Publishing publishes fiction and nonfiction books and by authors with a platform who believe in giving back. Morgan James gives a portion of every book sold to Habitat for Humanity.

Rick has also appeared on hundreds of radio shows and more than a dozen TV shows nationwide, including Oprah, Fox News and Bloomberg TV. He has also been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Selling Power Magazine, New York Post, and scores of other publications.

He has appeared on stage with notables such as Sir Richard Branson, The Dalai Lama, T. Harv Eker, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Tony Hsieh, David Bach, Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar and Brendon Burchard.

Rick is the co-author of eighteen books, including national bestsellers “Guerrilla Publicity”, “Where’s Your Wow”, “Guerrilla Marketing for Writers”, “The Expert Success Solution”, “250 Rules of Business, “Networking Magic-Second Edition”.and Author 101- The Insiders Guide to Publishing.  Rick’s 18th book “Mistakes Authors Make: Essential Steps for Achieving Success as an Author” (with Bret Ridgeway and Bryan Hane) will be published in May 2015.

Rick has a BFA in acting and directing and a BS in communications from Ithaca College. He is a sought-after lecturer on publishing and public relations and a member of PRSA and the National Speakers Association.

Rick and his wife Robbi live in Long Island, New York with their two Havanese puppies, Cody and Cooper. They have three children: Adam, Rachel, and Stephanie.

My favorite question that helps me get through so many challenges in my life and in my business is, "why?" Not just, "what is my why?" but, "why this goal?", "Why did we end up where we are right now?" "Why did my brother die so young?". Get the idea?

I never forgot the other questions like, Who?, What?, When?, Where? and How? but they were not the questions that seemed to unlock the door to my inner knowing like why? did. I would use all the other questions to dig deeper into the why yet there seemed to be a piece I was missing somewhere. I understood my why but I needed to also know an essential piece of me, my what.

The what is essentially the core essence of who you are and what you were born to do. I would get glimpses but then it would slip. It would manifest in many different ways yet I could not verbalize it other than to describe myself by what I did for a living.

As I was preparing for this show, I was watching Wayne Dyer's movie, The Shift and thinking, how do you unlock what is already inside of you to have the greatest impact on those you encounter along the way.

My guest today wrote a NY Times bestselling book called, What is Your What? Discover the One Amazing Thing You Were Born to Do and in it he lays out a plan to help you unlock the What you were born with and then how you can bring that into your life in every way. If I have to look at more than Why?, which we all must, then this interview will give you some steps you can take right now to begin unlocking your what and get a free copy of Steve Olsher's book so you can continue your journey after you listen to this show.

Steve Olsher is known as the world’s foremost reinvention expert. Famous for helping individuals and corporations become exceptionally clear on their WHAT – that is, the ONE thing they were created to do – his practical, no-holds-barred approach to life and business propels his clients towards achieving massive profitability while also cultivating a life of purpose, conviction, and contribution.

A 25+ year entrepreneur, Steve is the Chairman & Co-Founder of Liquor.com, an online pioneer who launched on CompuServe’s Electronic Mall in 1993, New York Times bestselling author of What Is Your WHAT? Discover The ONE Amazing Thing You Were Born To Do, author of the Business Technology Book of the Year, Internet Prophets: The World’s Leading Experts Reveal How to Profit Online, creator/host of Internet Prophets LIVE!, international keynote speaker, and in-demand media guest who has appeared on CNN, Fox Business and other national outlets.