On August 28, 1963 in front of Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a speech that became a pivotal turning point in U.S. history.  What made Dr. King’s dream a reality was his literally devotion to being in action.  He acted despite adversity, ridicule and criticism.  His thoughts and opinions were not popular and were considered not acceptable at the time.  What would…

Each year, I make the pilgrimage from coast to coast to spend time with my family.  It is a journey I greatly anticipate as I find myself not only home sick, but in need of family time after a few months away.  I eagerly anticipate my work day to end and the voyage to begin with a dash to the airport.  This delight usually melts away like a snowman standing in the sun, by the time I make it to the TSA…

I have been fortunate in life in that I have been given the opportunity to have worn many hats.  Having a broad level of experiences in life has given my personality a great deal of depth.  I have always been a marketer in some role or another.  One of these marketing roles was that of an entertainer, in which I marketed what would become my signature brand of “fun, joy and ease" as a singer and…

Recently, I competed for the National Title of Ms. US Forestry Queen and heard several times over the weekend, “You are an extraordinary woman!”  I am humbled and appreciative of any complement, but this one makes me giggle a little on the inside.  Why do I giggle?  Thank about…

In the past five years my job description has evolved into an amalgam of once individual positions, now viewed as a one-person juggling act.  When asked what I do for a living, the answer has become complicated.  I am a Sales Manager-Marketing Director-Information Technologies Developer-Public Relations Officer.  Whew!  Try fitting that on to a business card.  I am not alone, as many companies have down…

Growing up, my sister would call me a dummy. As much as I cringe to admit this, she was right. I am a dummy…..a crash test dummy!

In each incident, I was alone in the vehicle while sitting at a stop light, my standard transmission had been shifted into neutral, my foot was on the brake and I was perfectly still when….WHAM!!! Both vehicles were Japanese produced sports cars and sustained…

In constant pursuit of keeping up with the Marketing Jones Family, I came across a book by David Cummings and Adam Blitzer called Think Outside the…

Recently, I was invited to tour the new facility at my favorite dealership during a service visit.  From first glance, everything appeared to be in the framework of a typical dealership, until I got to the customer lounge.  This space had drawn a crowd in front of a large bank of glass windows.  I was curious about what all the excitement was about.  Did the dealership install an animal viewing area? …

Like so many other Americans, I gathered up my snacks and beverages to sit down in front of a television to catch the NFL Big Event.  Having a career in marketing and sales, I paid curious attention to the messages conveyed in the 60 second spots aired between plays.  This year, I heard it loud and clear from the Automotive Industry. 

One third of all advertisements aired during The Big…

“It only takes one bug in the potato salad to ruin a picnic,” according to one of the little old ladies I went to church with as a child.  As I move further away from a precocious child and closer to being a sweet little old lady, I am realizing that she was not registering a complaint about church picnics but planting a seed of wisdom that would develop as I grew older.  One little bug can ruin the…

Military, Law Enforcement, Medical Professionals, Teachers…what do these occupations have in common?  Each provides a highly valued service to our local and global community at large and does so as a result of education and extensive on-going training.  As a result, society can depend on these individuals to protect humanity, face danger, save lives, educate our youth, improve health and welfare and do…

I learned in differential calculus, that problem solving is easier if your start with the solution and work back to the problem.  At first, this is an awkward testament to a person’s ability.  We do not often spend time going backwards in life.  In this case though, I found if I focus on the desired resolution, the pathway to resolving the problem becomes clear.  

Once I have the pathway…

If I wanted someone to just take my order and deliver, I would go to a fast food drive thru.  When I go to have my car serviced, I want service.  I believe that service advisors are more than just order takers or the message delivery system between a consumer and a technician.  Think about it?  An advisor according to …

As shocking as this might seem to my peers in the automotive industry, I am not much of a golfing fan.  The game of golf is something I tend to endure as part of my job.  I wrote a blog recently about how changing your attitude can change your pathway to success.  I decided to heed my own advice and take myself in for an attitude…

IIt is not my job, it is my duty to be inspired and inspire others.  Since my early twenties, I have said final farewells to nineteen brave patriots, heroes and friends.  Each paid the price for freedom before the rigors of life made them old and gray.  These are nineteen friends that I had planned to grow old with, but instead I honor their sacrifice to trade in their future as an investment in my…

I was once the bride of an enlisted sailor, who during the course of our marriage made the transition from enlisted to officer by finishing his college education.  Once he had become an officer; he tackled the challenge of completing flight school to become a Naval Aviator.  When he graduated from flight school and to represent his accomplishments, I had a pewter tankard engraved with these words,…

Seldom does some one board an elevator from an upper floor to ride the elevator up.  Most of the time, if someone boards the elevator from an upper floor it is to ride back to the first floor.  Therefore, when considering progress, why let someone impede your progression by not being on the project from the ground floor?

Please allow me to further develop this concept for you with a real…

I am a vertically enhanced female which I normally see as a benefit, except when I am trying to buy clothing.  Most of the clothing options for women do not come with a choice for inseam or length.  This often leaves me in the dressing room wondering if I can pull of this dress being too short or do these jeans look like capris or a fashion faux pas.  I am stuck in a world in which one-height-fits-all…

When I was a teenager, I had to have some extensive surgery that landed me in a wheel chair for a few months.  Recently, one of my physical therapist from that adventure found me on Facebook and was compelled to share his story of that short part of my life.  He was a new therapist when he took on my case and had heard how hard teenagers can be in cases like mine.  He braced himself for a healthy dose…