Ramona, can you tell us a little bit about your business and how you got started, notably your skincare line TruRenewal, your jewelry line Ramona Singer Jewelry for HSN, True Faith Jewelry, and Ramona Pinot Grigio? This is a place where many entrepreneurs come to get inspired and educated. I read that your father gave you a $70,000 loan when you were 29 years old to start your own business, and you paid it back, with interest, in one month.
Today is one of my favorite days of the year! Today is National Entrepreneurship Day. And I am proud to be the spokesperson for this day. NED’s primary goal is to increase awareness about entrepreneurship and promote it among young people, and in the long term, increase the number of entrepreneurs. After all, our children represent the leaders of tomorrow, and there just might be the next Steve Jobs, Phil Knight, or Martha Stewart walking among us. It’s our duty, to inspire our youth to not only become entrepreneurs, but to also THINK like an entrepreneur. And that means teaching them skills such as– how to become proactive, how to become a self starter, how to be a leader in their surroundings, how to take matters into their own hands to create change, and to have a desire to innovate.
Low self-esteem seems to plague the female existence. We are faced with the insurmountable task of being beautiful, successful, sexy and powerful, all while making it look easy. Low self-esteem has been my Achilles heel since I was very young. Growing up, I was chunky with spotted skin, so I worked diligently toward being the class clown. Having my classmates laugh WITH me before they could laugh AT me was an art form I perfected.
I love to write. There, I said it. I friggin’ LOVE to write. It doesn’t matter much what I’m writing — a how-to article on banana clips, an academic piece on the Reformation, a high-adventure fantasy/sci-fi — chances are, I will enjoy writing it.
When I got the opportunity to marry two amazing things that I love, Kleenex and Oprah, I was thrilled. In honor of Kleenex‘s softest and newest tissues yet Kleenex Cool Touch, Kleenex kicked off their Softness Worth Sharing Movement at The Oprah Winfrey, O You! Conference in Atlanta, last month. As an inspirational Top 10 Brand, the strategic move to launch Kleenex’s softest tissue ever, Kleenex Cool Touch, at an inspirational conference, using me, an inspirational blogger as the ambassador, proved to be fantastic.
I gotta be honest, I can’t think of one single enemy I’ve ever made. I try to never burn bridges. I root for people’s success. I am kind. And I honestly can’t recall one hurtful email or tweet I’ve received to date… except this one, from Fred Flintstone, dated many years back.
In case you didn’t know, blogging can be quite isolating. If I’m not traveling for speaking engagements (where thankfully I actually INTERACT with other human beings), or at events, at the radio station, or coaching, I’m literally alone. Alone at home, or alone with my computer at Starbucks. Writing can sometimes be a lonely life. There’s no flagship location where all the bloggers can come, and work together. We are virtual, online friends separated by city, state, province, country, and continent. And with the exception of a few incredible blogging conferences, I just don’t get to see these amazing women often enough. I’ve been at this new gig for two years now, and I can honestly say, I am right where I was meant to be. I am in the flow. I am in the groove. I have unlocked the PASSION badge at Foursquare (if you’re a social media maven, that would make sense to you).
I recently had the privilege and honor of connecting with a great activist and actress, Holly Robinson Peete. Perhaps you remember her from 21 Jump Street with Johnny Depp. Perhaps you loved her on Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper, or watched her on The Apprentice raise the most money in the history of the show for her charity. Perhaps you loved her on CBS’s The Talk.
One thing I know about this chick… she is a straight shooter, honest, lovable and kind. Enjoy getting to know Holly in my interview…
If you remember back in April, I was thrilled to announced that I was the 2011 Spokesperson for National Entrepreneurship Day. NED’s primary goal is to increase awareness about entrepreneurship and promote it among young people, and in the long term, increase the number of entrepreneurs. After all, our children and grandchildren represent our leaders of tomorrow, and there just might be the next Steve Jobs, Phil Knight, or Martha Stewart walking among us. It’s our duty to inspire our youth to not only become entrepreneurs, but to also THINK like an entrepreneur, regardless of their career path. And that means teaching our youth skills such as– how to become proactive, how to become self starters, to take matters into their own hands, to be leaders in their surroundings, to have the desire to innovate. My love of entrepreneurship has been 12 years and counting, and my entrepreneurial journey has been thrilling and rewarding . Second to my family, it is what fuels me on a daily basis.
I, along with the rest of the world watched in awe this week, as the members of the Madoff clan spoke to the media. I admit, I am completely fascinated by this story. I would be lying if I said otherwise. But I would to begin by saying, the travesty of the situation, the lives ruined by one man, Bernard Madoff, are incomprehensible, and completely devastating. Charities wiped out, people’s nest eggs gone, a son dead, all because of greed and the twisted work of sinister mastermind, Bernard Madoff.
I help busy women (like you!) prioritize self-care so you can experience less stress, more calm and greater joy every day!
