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The
Sampson Independent
Thursday April 26, 2001
Secretaries
challenged to set goals
by Kathryn Whitley
Lifestyles Editor
" This
woman is a fireball!"
This introductory
descriptive of motivational speaker Denise Ryan - speaker for the Annual
Secretaries' Day Luncheon Wednesday at the Agri-Exposition Center -
was fittingly stated by Susan Holder, chapter president of the Sampson
Charter Chapter of the American Business Women's Association.
Ryan is
the owner of FireStar — a firm specializing in enthusiasm — located
in Fayetteville and is an adjunct faculty member of Methodist College
in Fayetteville. She is a magna cum laude graduate of the University
of South Carolina and also holds a master's in business administration
from USC.
A member
of the National Speakers Association, she conducts seminars on marketing
and motivation. She has confronted a range from Fortune 500 companies
to small business and federal prison employees.
Ryan's topic
was "The Secretary: The Sun in the Office Solar System.'' An important
point she made in her opening remarks to the secretaries, but that
can apply to any employee, was "... your mood sets the mood of
the office."
Quoting
Norman Vincent Peale she said, "Enthusiasm is a rugged mental
attitude."
Six steps "to
keep the flame" she teaches are:
- Want
it - Only you can motivate yourself.
- Wake
up - Are you sleeping through your life? What will they say at your
funeral? Have a vision.
- Conquer
fear -Enthusiasm and fear cannot occupy the same mind - you choose.
- Set
big, audacious goals - inspire yourself!
- Believe
- Knowledge is power.
- Act — No
matter how small, any action will take you closer to your goals.
Don't leave your book unwritten.
Never settle,
never give up— make your life a blaze of glory, she said. She
stressed "no one can be motivated that doesn't want to be ...
some people choose to be miserable - stay away from them. They'll suck
up all your enthusiasm. None is so old as those who have lost enthusiasm."
Ryan also
said do not miss out on what we pass "through life's journey." You
may "wake up" one day wondering what happened to the time.
She then
said not to be afraid of criticism. 'The only opinion in this whole
world that matters is your own." In speaking of goals the group
was asked about New Year's resolutions and resolutions they most often
make. One mentioned was "losing weight." Ryan suggested
that particular resolution was usually non-productive and she offered
an alternative thought - "Have the body of a goddess! Now that's
a goal."
She continued
saying, "If you don't have goals, life slips through your fingers
... Life is long and it can be filled with fire and enthusiasm!" Recalling
the lady who, at age 109, wrote a book about life without her twin
sister who had passed away at 108,Ryan had this to say "If you
don't write your book, you'll never finish it." She suggested
writing a page a day. It's all about setting goals and reaching them
by acting.
Her commentary
was peppered with quotes made by famous people -
" I
would rather be a superb meteor than a sleepy and permanent planet.
The proper function of man is to live, not to exist" — Jack
London
" Whether
you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." — Henry
Ford"
You've got
to have goals. Believe you can!" — Denise Ryan
This event,
co-sponsored by ABWA and Sampson Community College, is the largest
fund-raising of the year for the club. Money raised provides scholarships
that are awarded each year to two or more persons — benefiting
high school graduates who wish to study at SCC or people in business
who wish to continue their education. This is our way of giving back — we
feel we are making an investment in the community. This is one of our
favorite events," Holder said.
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