Reminder at critical moments

Author: Malo Thomas
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-04-01
Features:
# New York Times Best Seller
# Wall Street Journal Best Seller
# Amazon Best Seller
# Top-ranked bestseller
# Advice from 85 outstanding individuals at critical moments in their lives
# 85 outstanding individuals, including: Laura Bush (First Lady of the United States), Hillary Clinton (U.S. Senator, former First Lady of the United States), Barbara Bush (former First Lady of the United States), Rudolph Giuliani (Mayor of New York City during 9/11), Michael Eisner (Chairman and CEO of Disney), Bob Pittman (Chairman and CEO of AOL-Time Warner), Jeff Bezos (CEO of Amazon.com)
Each shares their real-life stories. The advice they received at pivotal moments in their lives brought crucial turning points in their destinies.
Excerpt:
Zhong Bin, President of Elizabeth Arden Inc.
When I was a child, of course, I never dreamed of becoming a female CEO. But my mother’s words told me I had the ability to achieve all my dreams.
“Bin,” she said, “what boys can do, girls can do just as well. With hard work, women can reach the top in any field.”
I’ve never forgotten those words. Because what mattered to me was making my parents proud, what others thought I could or couldn’t do didn’t matter. My parents knew that my brother and I had taken their encouragement to heart. But they also knew that after entering the outside world, we needed strength to overcome others’ doubts. My mother knew, in particular, how difficult it was for a woman to break through barriers.
As I gradually achieved success in my company, I also faced some obstacles. (For example, I was sometimes underestimated because of my youth and gender). But my mother’s firm confidence in herself, in me, and in all women always supported me in overcoming these obstacles. I’m grateful for this precious gift from my family.
Even today, my parents teach me not to take anything for granted and to understand that even small things are important. I know that coming to this country was a blessing, and I should work hard and never be lazy.