Letters to My Daughter

What makes you happy? Undoubtedly, there would be numerous and varied answers to this question. Aristotle said, “One swallow does not make a summer, neither does one fine day; similarly, one day or brief time of happiness does not make a person entirely happy.” Let’s talk about what it means to be happy. What you’ll hear in this episode: Nicomachean Ethics Resources: Visit my YouTube Channel

Do you have a fear of public speaking? It’s a common fear for many people, even though many others--like me--use a speaking platform constantly in their chosen professions. So why does speaking in front of an audience prompt such immobilizing fear? How can it be overcome? Join me as we approach this topic today. “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I’m not going to be silent.”--Madeleine Albright What you’ll hear in this...

How is your communication? Do you regularly use the language of inclusion or do you use your words to marginalize certain people? These are important questions to consider, and they can make a huge difference in your relationships and in your business. Rollo May, an influential 20th century psychologist, said simply and accurately: “Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy, and mutual valuing.” What you’ll hear in this episode:

How big is your imagination? Do you dare to dream big---or does fear hold you back? Today’s show explores the idea of dreaming big and stepping out to do hard things. Before you go out to change the world, maybe you need to change things in yourself. Let’s talk about it! “Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.” This quote comes from American medical researcher Jonas Salk, and is the perfect lead-in to this episode. What...

Do you ever feel sorry for yourself? Most of us do at one time or another. We may call it “having a pity party” or self-pity, but it’s something that prompts very different opinions. In today’s show, I’m giving you a little advice about why it’s OK to indulge in self-pity at times. “Self-pity in its early stage is as snug as a feather mattress; only when it hardens does it become uncomfortable.” --Maya Angelou What you’ll hear in this episode:

Oscar Wilde said, “Always be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” That goes along perfectly with our topic for today--authenticity. What does it mean? How do we lead authentic lives? What does it look like when we aren’t authentic? Let’s discuss the idea of authenticity together. If you heard the show’s intro, then you heard me say that this is a weekly podcast--but that isn’t entirely true. It’s been almost two weeks since the last one, so what’s up? Why have I not been authentic?...

What does it take to be a winner? Do winners ever fail? Failure and struggle are important processes to go through to fully enjoy the beauty of winning. Failure is painful and hurts in many ways; no one likes that feeling of failure, but it’s an important part of life. There is no better example of all that comes with winning and losing than the subject of our show today. “Winning is great, sure, but if you’re really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody...

Who gets to give names to specific celebratory months? Have you ever wondered? For example, April is National Humor Month, National Internship Awareness Month, Inventors’ Month, Jazz Appreciation Month, Cannabis Month, National Alcohol Month, and the list goes on and on. I would like to focus on April as National Financial Literacy Month. Why? Because Tax Day is just around the corner! It’s important to talk to young people about financial literacy. The most valuable thing that young people...

Fortitude---do you have it? It’s also known as grit. Why do some people possess this quality and for others it seems so far removed? This is the topic of discussion on today’s show. Let’s find out more! Antonia Novello, the 14 Surgeon General of the US, said it this way: “I believe that fortitude is key. More than anything, be consistent. Go at it. Go at it. GO AT IT. When you succeed, don’t forget the responsibility of making someone else succeed with you.” She says it well, don’t you...

When women want to get ahead in the professional world, many will turn to their looks. They have been taught since they were little girls that a tilt of the head and a coy smile will get them what they want. The sad truth is that looks will fade, and many middle aged women will try to play the pretty card unsuccessfully. We need to be teaching young women the leadership and interpersonal skills that will get them ahead in their careers and then stay there. After all, true beauty comes...

When I think of the women who taught me the lessons for success, the first one at the top of the list is my own Mom. Mom wouldn’t consider herself a “wild feminist,” but she did do amazing things within male-dominated industries that paved the way for many women to come. Instead of seeing setbacks because of her gender as unfair obstacles, Mom simply worked harder to reach her dreams. In a time when it was weird to educate women just as we do men, Mom pushed to have every...

In a show about women mentoring women, it is important to pay tribute to the women who came before us and paved the way to equality. The fight for equal representation in our workplaces and in our society still continues, but I am inspired by the words of Florence Nightingale, “I attribute my success to this - I never gave or took any excuse.” Today, let’s take a leaf out of Florence’s book and stop making excuses and start being the leaders we want to see change the world. March 8 is...

As the great Ruth Bader Ginsberg once said, “My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant to be your own person, be independent.” It’s tough to learn how to be independent and self-assured without some guidance. The role of a mother or a mentor is absolutely important for young women on the rise, so I wanted to create a place for women to teach one another how to be a lady. My name is Elisa Hays, and this podcast is something like a letter to my daughters, and any daughters...