Pundits are Cool. But what is a Pundit?

Wikipedia describes at Pundit as this:

A pundit is someone who offers to mass media his or her opinion or commentary on a particular subject area on which they are usually knowledgeable  The term has been increasingly applied to popular media personalities

Meet  Candace Reese. Candace is the founder & CEO, Envision Global Corporation and is a

Inspirational Speaker/Executive Coach.  She is also known as  The CEO Pundit™.  I follow her on Twitter and love her work. So, I wanted to know more about her, she agreed to be interview for my Permission to Succeed blog.  Read below and see how she gave herself the permission to succeed!

        How much research did you do before you made your move

I had been working in my fields of interest since college, but didn’t come to the realization of my true gifts until the burning desire to become an entrepreneur wouldn’t stop. Of course, I intensely studied and continue to study my crafts, because that is the only source of growth and operating in excellence.

  What did your friends say when you told them about your dream 

Until recently, I had very few individuals that I considered friends, so those who were in my circle were very supportive and some mentored me through the process.

       Did you have any people who did not believe in you

Of course—doesn’t everyone? However, that has always been even more motivation for me to succeed.

 

    Describe a life-defining moment of change.

My dear mother has always provided life-defining insight for me, but I had to evolve into a place of receiving it.  However, when I was coming out of a physically and emotionally abusive marriage, my current husband (who was my close friend since I was a teenager, and I never realized I would marry in the future) said to me, “I never saw you for everything you have gone through.  I always saw you for the person you’re going to be.”

That’s an amazing moment of having life spoken into your spirit—when someone sees all of your layers and still believes in you, more than you believe in yourself.

  

       Did you have moments of doubts about what you wanted to do, and how did you overcome it.

Absolutely.  I still question certain days whether I made the right decision, but each time I’ve tried to run away, I was immediately pulled back, because nothing else would work.  Therefore, even through my challenges, I must be operating in my purpose.

    What did you do to stay motivated through the process

I choose JOY.  With that genuine and authentic choice, I can accomplish anything, and I can inspire others, which is deeply intertwined into my purpose.

  

        Did you ever get down on yourself because you felt like you were not making progress

Yes.  But I know the plans my Source has for me.

  

       What advice would you give the person who is reading this blog and has been hesitant about granting themselves the permission to succeed?

Identify your purpose clearly. Step into a place of faith, not sight.  Prepare yourself—don’t get the light bulb above your head and go full speed ahead; add strategy to your plan. 

    Five years from now what’s your dream? Five years ago where did you want to be and are you closer or have you achieved your dream?

Five years ago—I can hardly remember, but I know that it was consistent with where I am now.  I wished for a loving marriage, happy sons and a thriving career.

Five years from now—My hope is to move out of the day to day operations and more into a mentoring role as chairman with my company, focus more on family, serving those in need, writing books, traveling the world, and enJOYing my peaceful space completely. 

  

.    What advice or motivation would you like to leave the readers about giving yourself permission to succeed?

Be bold.  Be confident.  Be unique.  Be grateful.  Choose JOY.

For further look at Candace and her business check out her links below and be sure to follow. She does follow back.. 

WAR EAGLE!!!     (that was for you Candace lol )

Personal links:
www.TheCEOpundit.com
www.Twitter.com/CRchoosesJOY
www.Linkedin.com/CandaceReeseJ
www.SpeakerMix.com/Candace-Reese
www.Facebook.com/CandaceReesetheSpeaker
PRO Reel for Empowerment Speaker Candace Reese
YOUTH Reel for Empowerment Speaker Candace Reese

Professional links:
www.EnviGlobal.com
www.Twitter.com/EnvisionGlobal
www.Youtube.com/EnvisionGlobal
www.Facebook.com/EnvisionGlobalCorporation
www.Linkedin.com/company/Envision-Global-Corporation

Success is wearable.

I did the following interview with Lisa Harrington of Bonitas International

  

Bonitas International is a hub of innovative design collections. The flagship line of BooJee Beads™ revolutionized the look and design of boring shoelace lanyards for employee badges and conference credentials, turning them into fashion accessories workers want to own. The ever-expanding line of Bonitas products are seen in the medical, education, transportation, and government industries in the US and Canada. 

Let' see what she has to say about giving herself the Permission to Succeed!

         How much research did you do before you made your move

We participated in many table sales, etc in hospital and corporate lobbies for about a year.  In this way, we were able to determine which styles were most popular.  From there we narrowed our collection down to 10 styles to start with.  Since our product was new, it was hard to find comparable products to research price points, etc.  This direct sell method allowed us to get feedback on color, style, price, etc. and it worked very well.

          What did your friends say when you told them about your dream

Many of my friends were excited and happy for me to pursue it.  So many people have great product ideas that could likely be very successful.  But, fear or lack of resources keeps them from making the move to launch it.  So, I believe they like to see that someone is really "going for it".

         Did you have any people who did not believe in you.

Not so much.  What we did have as a challenge was getting people to see the need or advantage of using/selling our products.  We really pioneered the whole idea of an ID necklace.  So, we had a lot of consumer education to do until the viral marketing happened.

 

         Describe a life-defining moment of change?

The day we sold our first order at a gift show was really important.  It was to a large chain of gift shops.  We had extended ourselves out there, in terms of considerable financial risk, and it was as if we received confirmation that we made the right call.

         Did you have moments of doubts about what you wanted to do, and how did you overcome it.

Yes, and I think I always will.  It is easier now that the business is successful.  But, there are always doubts about the direction we are heading into or products to release, people to hire, etc.  I believe we just try to make the best decision given all the data we can gather regarding that decision.  Then we see it through.  We learn from mistakes and move on.

         What did you do to stay motivated through the process

I stay motivated every day with the support of others who believed in us and our products.  I try to stay focused on our goals as a company and what needs to get done and not get caught up in fear and “what ifs”.

         Did you ever get down on yourself because you felt like you were not making progress

Yes, sometimes.  When you surround yourself with employees and supporters that care and believe in you, it makes it much harder to get down.  

         What advice would you give the person who is reading this blog and has been hesitant about granting themselves the permission to succeed?

    If you believe in what you are doing and surround yourself with positive people, you can absolutely succeed.  Success takes hard work and is earned.  You deserve the success that you are willing to build.

         Five years from now what’s your dream? Five years ago where did you want to be and are you closer or have you achieved your dream?

In five years, I would like my business to be double in sales volume with myself working half of the hours that I currently work. 

Five years ago, we wanted to have a larger company in 2012 than we do now with more sales and more employees.  The economic crash in 2008 dramatically impeded that goal.  However, I feel very proud that we survived that period of time and are back into a growth mode.  We have a new set of goals that we are exceeding currently.

          What advice or motivation would you like to leave the readers about giving yourself permission to succeed?

If you believe in what you are doing and surround yourself with positive people, you can absolutely succeed.  Success takes hard work and is earned.  You deserve the success that you are willing to build.

Thank you Lisa for sharing. Your story tells what can happen when you give yourself the

Permission to succeed and get off the bench and into the starting line up of life.  Check out Lisa's company and product, they are great. I sale them in my store and I cannot keep them in stock. 

www.boojeebeads.com

www.bonitasinternational.com

www.bonitaswholesale.com

www.eyeglassholders.com

I #recommend this video from The Speaker Man on @myPPK #PowerPressKit

I #recommend this video from The Speaker Man on @myPPK #PowerPressKit

I got this email from Kelli D. from Washington DC. she got a copy of my book and wrote me to talk about her feelings.  Here is what she said.

"I was truly surprised with my reaction to and the amount of internalizing that took place when I read "Permission to Succeed".  I was looking for an easy read that would quickly inspire me and tell me of all the things I'm doing right!  While it is an easy read, because the author has put himself so eloquently in the book, but it is also a deeper soul searching literary masterpiece.  The "Get off the Bench" Challenges at the end of every chapter provides thought provoking exercises that help you see in black and white what's the root of the problem and how to resolve it and move forward. Far too often in "Self-help" books they quickly recognize the problem/issue, but leave you helpless.  With "Permission to Succeed" Mark Wiggins provides the tools to get you through. All my life I was looking for "Permission" from others not realizing the power was within me."

I was very moved by her comments. I truly hope that Permission to Succeed helps those who read it.

Remember, the only person who needs to grant it is YOU!


Click here to order you copy

 I have started taking hot yoga, and in my last practice the instructor was talking about clearing your mind and silencing  the noise.  So I thought I would share this excerpt for Chapter 4 of my NEW book  Permission to Succeed: the only person who needs to give it is you 

Silence the Whispers

My mother was always the quite supportive one in the house. She didn’t speak very loudly, she deferred to my dad to come and clean up the mess.

However, if mom had to swing the wood she could.

She always had a way of reaching me in my “moments” and effectively made her points. 

For example, when I went off to college with a newly repaired leg (after a severe injury and subsequent surgery), I didn’t know how much of a struggle it would be to get back out on the court to play. 

Some said I would not be the same, some said I would be a better player, and even others just said stupid stuff like, “Why are you even trying to play again at all?”

When the time came for me to start playing, I was a little shaky, so I called my mother.

I lamented, “I am not sure I can play again, I’m not sure if I will be good enough to play in college ever again.” 

My mother, in her calming way simply said…

You need to silence the whispers.

So what are the “whispers”? They are the thoughts of doubt that creep into your mind when you are face with obstacles you are not sure you can overcome, even though you have the training and the desire to succeed… but you are still waiting for others to say it is “ok”.

How about you, are you sitting here reading this and thinking about an opportunity that you need to try or concept that you need to develop and just when you start to get to the good part, the actual starting of the project, you stop?

Is it because you hear the whispers questioning everything thing you do?  You need to acknowledge them for what they are, deal with them, SILENCE THEM and press on.  

Get your copy of Permission to Succeed: The only person who needs to give it is you at
Click here   I WANT TO BUY A COPY

 

I #recommend the The Speaker Man @myPPK - #PowerPressKit

I #recommend the The Speaker Man @myPPK - #PowerPressKit

Do you have Passion for your Purpose?