Last week, I was honored to be able to hear Geena Davis give one of the most powerful keynote speeches I have heard in a while. It spoke to my heart on a lot of levels and I thought I would share some of my “take-aways”:

3 qualities that helped Geena Davis become a success:

NAIVETE – Sometimes NOT knowing how difficult the journey is going to be is a blessing. I know that I often experience this in my life and my business.

COMMITMENT – You must be completely committed to what you want to accomplish. How committed are you to your goals?

TENACITY – If you want something, just keeping trying over and over and over. Get under the person’s skin. According to Dictionary.com, it is the act of being tenacious –

te·na·cious

[tuh–ney-shuhs] Show IPA

adjective

1. holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold (oftenfollowed by of ): a tenacious grip on my arm; tenacious ofold habits.
2. highly retentive: a tenacious memory.
3. pertinacious, persistent, stubborn, or obstinate.
4. adhesive or sticky; viscous or glutinous.
5. holding together; cohesive; not easily pulled asunder; tough.

I especially like #5 to define tenacity for entrepreneurs.

Great quotes from the presentation:

“This is YOUR time to make a change!” (referring to women in the room)

“Have unfailing belief in yourself”

In response to the open QnA:

Q: How can we follow in your steps as an activist for women’s rights?
A: I am not an activist. I am an advocate. I work with the world and the media to PARTNER and enlighten. I am taking research to experts to raise consciousness about women. The raised consciousness will then affect change about the representation of women in the media which will then empower women. (In response to the work she is doing at The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media)

Q: Do you have suggestions for achieving balance as a women?
A: I don’t know if balance is possible. You just do what you can do to the best of your ability. Stop beating yourself up for not feeling like you are balanced.

I could go on and on about the work that she is doing to affect change in the media for representation of women in children’s programming, but I will spare you the pulpit talk. You can check out her work on her organization’s site. But it is good. Let me just say:

17%

That is the same statistic that has held true since 1946 with the number of women compared to men in various programming….  enough said?

Overall, I absolutely LOVE her viewpoints about affecting change as an ADVOCATE instead of an ACTIVIST and accomplishing balance in your life.

geena davis nawbo slc