Our Little Niches

“We are all experts in our own little niches.”

~ Alex Trebek,
Television Personality, Game Show Host & Actor

Advertisements

Mind on Fire

“I want my children to experience as much creativity as possible;
that’s what sets your mind on fire.”

~ Angela Bassett,
Actress, Author, Saturn Award, Image Awards (5x),
Golden Globe Award & Black Reel Award

Career Should be a Spiritual Pursuit

“Career should be a spiritual pursuit, not just a physical or financial one.
Your career should be where your dreams, aspirations, talents, and hopes
for the present and future play out.”

~ DeVon Franklin,
TV Producer, Author, Speaker & Spiritual Success Coach

Your Purpose & Your Unique Talent

“Everyone has a purpose in life and a unique talent to give to others.
When we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience
the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all goals.”

~ Kallam Anji Reddy,
Entrepreneur, Founder-Chairman – Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Chairman – Dr. Reddy’s Foundation (DRF),
Padma Shri Award (2001) & Padmabhushan Award (2011)

Believe & Keep Going

“Always believe in yourself and keep going. You don’t have to have the most talent in the world.
You don’t have to be the smartest person in the world. If you persist and you persist and you persist, you will be successful.”

~ Dean Cain,
a.k.a. Dean George Tanaka
Actor, Producer, Television Host

Being an Asset

“We all have a gift; we all have a passion – it’s just about finding it
and going into it. Being an asset to your family and community.”

~ Angela Bassett,
Actress, Author, Saturn Award, Image Awards (5x),
Golden Globe Award & Black Reel Award

All the Things I Love

“All the things I love is what my business is all about.”

~ Martha Stewart,
Entrepreneur, Writer, Television Host,
Founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia & former Fashion Model

Doing Our Best, Giving Our Best

“A diva is someone who is a perfectionist, who does her best in her craft.
So, if diva means giving your best, then yes, I guess I am a diva.”

~ Patti LaBelle,
Singer, Songwriter, Entrepreneur & Actress

~ Image via NAME HERE

You’ll Always Find the Time

.

“If you love what you do, then you always find the time.”

~ Heidi Klum,
Model, Television Personality, Businesswoman, Fashion Designer,
Singer, Television Producer, Author & Actress

It’s a Performance

“I’ve always enjoyed performing in smaller venues.
People can see all of me there. In large venues, audiences miss the essence of who I am.
Part of what I do is in my body language, my hands, my arms—all of that.
You miss a lot by just hearing my voice.
It’s a performance, it really is, and I love doing it.”

~ Nancy Wilson,
Song Stylist, Singer (Blues, Jazz, Cabaret, Pop & soul)
Grammy Awards (2007, 2005 1964, 3X)

Your Talent is Your Art

“Your talent is your art. It is not to be taken for granted.”

~ Paula Abdul,
Singer, Songwriter, Dancer, Choreographer & Actress

A Failure at Something Loved

“I’d rather be a failure at something I love, than a success at something I hate.”

~ George Burns,
Comedian, Actor, Singer, Writer,
Academy Award (1975), Hollywood Walk of Fame Stars (3x)

Unlocking the Gifts of Every Person

“The only way that we reach our full human potential is if
we’re able to unlock the gifts of every person around the world.”

~ Priscilla Chan,
Pediatrician, Co-Founder – Chan Zuckerberg Initiative & Philanthropist

~ Mark Zuckerberg,
Computer Programmer, Internet Entrepreneur, MIT Technology Review’s TR35 List (2007),
Co-Founder – Facebook, Co-Founder – Chan Zuckerberg Initiative & Philanthropist

Do You Love What You Do?

“Success is not the key to happiness.
Happiness is the key to success.
If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”

~ Albert Schweitzer,
Theologian, Organist, Philosopher,
Physician, Philanthropist, and Medical Missionary

~ Image via NAME HERE

A Broom-Handle Mic

“I was a shy kid with a broom handle
that I pretended was a microphone.”

~ Patti LaBelle,
Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Grammy Awards (1992, 1999), NAACP Image Awards (1986, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2006 (2x))
Grammy Hall of Fame (2004), Hollywood Walk of Fame, World Music Awards – Legend Award (2005), Soul Train Music Awards – Heritage Award (1995),
Essence Awards – Triumphant Spirit Award (1998), BET Walk of Fame Award (2001), Lady of Soul Awards – Lena Horne Lifetime Achievement Award (2001),

Your Employees, Advisors & Partners

“Seek out and hire employees who are
brimming with talent, energy, integrity, optimism and generosity.
Search for advisors and partners who
compliment your skills and understand your ideals.”

~ Martha Stewart,
Entrepreneur, Writer, Television Host,
Founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia & former Fashion Model

Being the Best at What You Love to Do

“Once you have found out what you love to do, there is only one goal.
How can you be the best in the world at it.
It doesn’t matter if you are a filing clerk, an athlete, an accountant or a bartender.
All that matters is that you do whatever you can to be the best.”

~ Mark Cuban,
Businessman, Investor,
Owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, Landmark Theatres, and Magnolia Pictures

When YOU Think You’re Good

“When you think you’re good, you will play at that level.
If you doubt yourself, you will play like crap.

~ Kurt Russell,
Actor

Mastering Skills Makes the Brain Happy

“Your brain finds happiness in mastering skills.
It’s been that way since you were little.
So, don’t stop mastering life as you get older.”

~ Tai Lopez,
Entrepreneur & Investor

Empowering Passions

“It is your passion that empowers you
to be able to do that thing you were created to do.”

~ T. D. Jakes, Sr.,
Bishop/Chief Pastor of The Potter’s House,
Author, Talk Show Host & Filmmaker

Do YOU Believe in Your Abilities?

“Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities!
Without a humble, yet reasonable confidence
in your own powers
you cannot be successful or happy.”

~ Dr. Norman Vincent Peale,
Author & Minister

Thinking YOU CAN

“I didn’t see myself any different from my white counterparts in school.
I just didn’t! I thought I could do what they did.
And what I didn’t do well,
I thought people were going to give me the opportunity to do well,
because maybe they saw my talent,
so they would give me a chance.
I had no idea that they would see me completely different.”

~ Viola Davis,
Actress & Producer

Love of What You Do

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice
and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”

~ Pele
a.k.a Edson Arantes do Nascimento,
Footballer, Humanitarian, FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur (2013),
France Football’s Football Player of the Century (1999),
Player of the Century (1999), IOC Athlete of the Century (1999),
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1997)
Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (1994), Knight of the Order of Rio Branco (1967)
Commander of the Order of Rio Branco (1969) & Brasil Postage Stamp (1969),

Her Body, Talent & Brain

“I don’t want my body to be a distraction
from my talent or my brain.”

~ Shania Twain,
Singer & Songwriter

Whatever Else You Do Well

“If you bungle raising your children,
I don’t think whatever else you do well
matters very much.”

~ Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis,
Photographer, Book Editor &
35th First Lady of the United States (1961 – 1963)

Gifts, Talent & Ability

“I believe that God has put gifts and talents and ability on the inside of every one of us.
When you develop that and you believe in yourself,
you believe that you’re a person of influence, a person of purpose,
I believe you can rise up out of any situation.”

~ Joel Osteen,
Founder – Lakewood Church TV,
Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church & Author

Talents & Abilities Within

“Entrepreneurship is natural and normal for most people.
You have within you, right now, the talents and abilities that you need to start
and build a successful business, to take complete control over your life, and achieve financial freedom.
You just need to learn how.”

~ Brian Tracy,
Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur & Business Coach

Self: Respect & Disciplines

“Respect your efforts, respect yourself.
Self-respect leads to self-discipline.
When you have both firmly under your belt,
that’s real power.”

~ Clinton “Clint” Eastwood Jr.,
Actor, Director, Producer, Composer,
Musician, Businessman & Politician

Cycle of Creativity

“The cycle of creativity is only complete
when your work goes out into the world.”

~ Marc Zegans,
Creative Development Advisor

Do It, Spectacularly!

“If I’m going to do something,
I do it spectacularly
or I don’t do it at all.”

~ Al-Waleed bin Talal,
Businessman & Investor

Journeying to Your Entrepreneurial Passion

“If you want to begin the journey to discover your entrepreneurial passion
you, first, must analyze your own interests, strengths, weaknesses, and desires.
You must consider carefully how hard you want to work.
And, then, you must research in a serious way
the job or field in which you believe you might want to work.”

~ Martha Stewart,
Entrepreneur, Writer, Television Host,
Founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia & former Fashion Model

Attributes of Leadership

“I know of no single formula for success.
But over the years I have observed
that some attributes of leadership are universal
and are often about finding ways of encouraging people
to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights,
their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together.”

~ Elizabeth II,
Queen of the United Kingdom
& the other Commonwealth realms,
Longest-Reigning Queen Regnant in History &,
Longest-Reigning British Monarch

Make Time for Your Loves

“You have to make time for the things you love.”

~ Author Unknown

No Doubt About It

“… The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”

~ Sylvia Plath,
Poet, Novelist, Short Story Writer

Your Love, Your Living

“There is no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love;
there’s only scarcity of resolve to make it happen. Doing what you love is the cornerstone of
having abundance in your life.”

~ Wayne Dyer,
Philosopher, Author, & Motivational Speaker

So Much Fun!

“When I see myself on film it makes me smile; I mean making a good living doing what I enjoy is so much fun. I just hope that everyone has the chance to enjoy life like I do.”

~ Adrienne Barbeau,
Actress & Author

That’s What I’ve Been Doing!

“All I wanted was to be big, to be in show business and to travel
… and that’s what I’ve been doing all my life.”

~ Count Basie
a.k.a William James Basie,
Jazz Pianist, Organist, Bandleader, & Composer

Enjoying Every Minute

“I am one of the lucky people in the world;
I found something I always wanted to do,
and I have enjoyed every single minute of it.”

~ John William “Johnny” Carson,
Television Host, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962-1992)
Comedian, Writer, Producer, Actor, Musician,
Emmy Awards (6x), the Governor’s Award recipient, Peabody Award (1985),
Television Academy Hall of Fame (1987),
Presidential Medal of Freedom (1992) & Kennedy Center Honor (1993)

Passion & Purpose Aligned

“I have learned that it is very possible to pursue different passions
but it is also very complicated to try and do them at one time.
I think strategic planning, time management, and focus are vital to multi-tasking.
Ultimately though, ask yourself, “What is my purpose for this life,”
and then make sure your passion and purpose align.”

~ Egypt Sherrod,
Multi-media Personality, Author, Real Estate Expert and Philanthropist.

~ Image via NAME HERE

Inherently & Endlessly Interesting

“Build your business success around something that you love—
something that is inherently and endlessly interesting to you.”

~ Martha Stewart,
Entrepreneur, Writer, Television Host,
Founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia & former Fashion Model

A Jackie/Jack of All Trades

“Variety is the spice of life. Honestly, I’ve always been a jack-of-all-trades.
I enjoy the unpredictability that each day brings. There are days when I might enjoy one career more than the other,
but then it kind of balances itself out. I must admit though, TV is a lot of fun.”

~ Egypt Sherrod,
Multi-media Personality, Author, Real Estate Expert and Philanthropist.

I Wouldn’t Trade It for Anything!

“Now I’m having the time of my life
being on the road with one of the world’s all-time great big bands,
and performing with symphonies.
I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

~ Doc Severinsen
a.k.a Carl Hilding Severinsen,
Pop & Jazz Trumpeter

To Rise Above

“To rise above the crowd, you must discipline yourself unceasingly to the strict demand and realities of your ambition.”

~ Arturo Sandoval,
Jazz Trumpeter, Pianist, Composer, Emmy Award
Grammy Awards (10x), Billboard Awards (6x)
& Presidential Medal of Freedom

An Essential Value

“The main advice I feel I shall give to young talents, on top of always and firmly believing in their passions,
is to be humble. In our field, and not only (our field), it’s an essential value to grow professionally.” 

~ Tomaso Trussardi,
CEO, Trussardi Group

Multi-Creative You!

“What I really need is for people to know that I don’t just do this,
I do this and this and this and this. We all have creativity in us and
we all are multi-dimensional and we are all interested in a lot of things
and that women are fabulous. We can handle a lot of things.

There is a general knowledge that I am multi-dimensional,
that when you are creative you do a lot of things.”

~ Suzanne Somers,
Actress, Author, Singer, Businesswoman and Health Spokesperson

The Most Extraordinary Computer

“Man is still the most extraordinary computer of all.”

~John F. Kennedy,
35th President of the United States (1961-1963)

Get Good at It

“Love what you do. Get good at it.
Competence is a rare commodity in this day and age.”

~ Jon Stewart
a.k.a Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz,
Comedian, Writer, Producer, Director, Actor, Media Critic,
& Television Host, The Daily Show (1999-2015)

All in All

“Even if some days I feel like I’m ready to fall apart,
I am ultimately happier than I’ve ever been.
My family gives me more joy than I thought possible,
and my career fulfills me tremendously.
All in all, I feel like am in the exact place
I am supposed to be in,
doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing.”

~ Ali Landry,
Actress, Model, and Miss USA (1996)

Draw Start Play Write Build Do

“Draw the art you want to see,
start the business you want to run,
play the music you want to hear,
write the books you want to read,
build the products you want to use –
do the work you want to see done.”

~ Austin Kleon,
Author & Artist

~ Image via NAME HERE

Create a Ladder for Yourself

“There were periods of my life
when a lot of people didn’t believe in me.
I still had faith in myself.
I really had to ask myself life questions.
Where do I see myself in five years?
Create a ladder for yourself,
and walk up the steps. Climb that ladder.”

~ Fergie
a.k.a Stacy Ann Ferguson ,
Singer, Songwriter, Rapper, Actress & Fashion Designer,
American Music Award, amfAR Inspiration Gala Awards (3),
ASCAP Awards (6), Billboard Music Awards (8), FiFi Award
Footwear News Achievement Award, Glamour Award & Grammy Awards (8)

YOUR Gift, Given

“The meaning of life is to find your gift.
The purpose of life is to give it away.”

~ Pablo Picasso,
Ceramicist, Sculptor, Printmaker, Poet, Painter,
Playwright and Stage Designer

All the Way to The Bank

.

“Her trademark “cuchi, cuchi” comes from her nickname for her dog, Cuchillo (Spanish for “knife”):
“When Cuchillo was happy, he wiggled. I copied him and I used to say ‘como Cuchi, como Cuchi’.
Everybody thought that it was very cute when I wiggled and say cuchi-cuchi,
and they gave me cookies and candy.
Now, every time I say cuchi-cuchi, people give me money.””
“Around the world, I am known as a great musician.
But in America, I am known as the cuchi-cuchi girl.
That’s okay because cuchi-cuchi has taken me all the way to the bank.”

~ Charo
a.k.a María del Rosario Mercedes Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza,
Actress, Singer & Guitarist

~ Image via NAME HERE

Spend Life Well

.

“Life well-spent is long.”

~ Leonardo da Vinci,
Polymath: Painter, Sculptor, Architect, Musician,
Mathematician, Engineer, Inventor, Anatomist,
Geologist, Cartographer, Botanist, & Writer

Blooming Late?

“I’ll tell you, there is nothing better in life
than being a late bloomer. I believe that success can happen
at any time and at any age.”

~ Salma Hayek,
Actress, Director, Producer
Glamour ‘Woman of the Year Award’ recipient (2001)
Producers Guild of America Celebration of Diversity Award recipient (2003)
Time ’25 Most Influential Hispanics’ recipient (2005)
Harvard Foundation Artist of the Year Award recipient (2006)
Knight (Chevalier) of the National Order of the Legion of Honour recipient (France, 2011)

An Ageless ‘You’

“There is a Fountain of Youth:
It is your mind, your talents, the creativity
you bring to your life
and the lives of the people you love.
When you learn to tap this source,
you will truly have defeated age.”

~ Sophia Loren
a.k.a Sofia Villani Scicolone,
Actress, Best Foreign Actress BAFTA Award winner,
Best Actress Academy Award winner, César Award winner,
Golden Ariel Award winner, and Grammy Award-winner

Get ‘Happy Sleep’

.

“A well-spent day brings happy sleep.”

~ Leonardo da Vinci,
Polymath: Painter, Sculptor, Architect, Musician,
Mathematician, Engineer, Inventor, Anatomist,
Geologist, Cartographer, Botanist, & Writer

Better Than You

“Don’t bother just to be
better than your contemporaries
or predecessors.
Try to be better than yourself.”

~ William Cuthbert Faulkner,
Writer, Nobel Prize in Literature (1949) recipient
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1955, 1963) recipient, &
National Book Award (1951, 1955) recipient

Do Superbly-Well!

“The best preparation for Tomorrow
is to do Today’s work
Superbly-Well.”

~ Sir William Osler, 1st Baronet
a Founding Professor of Johns Hopkins Hospital,
Physician and “Father of Modern Medicine”,
Bibliophile, Historian,
Author, and renowned Practical Joker.

Every Human’s Life

“Every man’s life
ends the same way.
It is only the details
of how he lived
and how he died
that distinguish one man from another.”

~ Ernest Miller Hemingway,
Author, Journalist
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, recipient (1953)
Nobel Prize in Literature, recipient (1954)

It Never Exhausts

.

“Learning never exhausts the mind.”

~ Leonardo da Vinci,
Polymath: Painter, Sculptor, Architect, Musician,
Mathematician, Engineer, Inventor, Anatomist,
Geologist, Cartographer, Botanist, & Writer

A Wealth of Sunshine

“Inside everyone is a wealth of sunshine!
You don’t know how bright you can shine until you open up,
and let your goodness, your love and your potential shine!”

~ Jennifer Gayle

Things You Love Doing

“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love.
Don’t make money your goal. Instead,
pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well
that people can’t take their eyes off you.”

~ Maya Angelou,
Poet, Professor, Film Producer, Television Producer, Playwright,
Film Director, Author, Actress, Civil Rights Activist, and Dancer

Just Making Money

“It’s silly to have as one’s sole object in life
(to be) just making money, accumulating wealth.
I work because I enjoy what I’m doing,
and the fact that I make money at it– big money–is a fine-and-dandy side fact.
Money gives me just one big thing that’s really important,
and that’s the freedom of not having to worry about money.
I’m concerned about values–moral, ethical, human values–my own,
other people’s, the country’s, the world’s values.
Having money now gives me the freedom to worry(focus on)
about the things that really matter.”

~ John William “Johnny” Carson,
Television Host, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962-1992)
Comedian, Writer, Producer, Actor, Musician,
Emmy Awards (6x), the Governor’s Award recipient, Peabody Award (1985),
Television Academy Hall of Fame (1987),
Presidential Medal of Freedom (1992) & Kennedy Center Honor (1993)

Entrepreneur, Pioneer

“Going into business for yourself, becoming an entrepreneur,
is the modern-day equivalent of pioneering on the old frontier.”

~ Paula Nelson,
Author, Consultant,
CNN Business News Anchor & Entrepreneur

Operate Well in What You Do

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

“As an entrepreneur you have responsibilities
in trying to operate well in what you have to do.
There is a positive effect if you end up doing that.
That’s where I try to spend most of my efforts.”

~ John Philip Jacob Elkann,
Industrialist, Chairman of Fiat,
Chairman & CEO of Exor

The Entrepreneur Will & Spirit, Unfettered

“Take your message of equality of achievement,
take your message of economic dependency,
take your message of enslaving the entrepreneur will and spirit
of the American people, somewhere else.”

~ Allen Bernard West,
Political Commentator, U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (retired)
& U.S. House of Representatives member (2011-2013)

Do the Dream!

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

“The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something.
It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas,
… there are few who decide to do something about them now.
Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today.
The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer (only).”

~ Nolan Key Bushnell,
Engineer, Entrepreneur & Founder
Atari, Inc. & Chuck E. Cheese Pizza-Time Theaters

Preference for the Entrepreneurial

“A friend of mine, a Hispanic entrepreneur,
asked me a question sometime ago, he said,
‘When is the last time you saw a Hispanic panhandler?’
I think it’s a great question.
I’ll tell you, in my life
I’ve never once have seen a Hispanic panhandler,
because in our community,
it would be viewed as shameful
to be out on the street begging..”

~ Ted Cruz,
Politician

Friends, Teachers & Experiences

“I’ve been blessed my whole career, my whole life,
with great friends, great teachers and great experiences;
I’ve done some wonderful things all along the line. But this is truly unbelievable!
So much of it is not just because your peers feel a certain way about you–and that is tremendous–
yet, also because you know how much it means to your family and to your friends,
because we’re all connected. And I honestly feel as though I’m representing all the gypsies. It’s all good stuff.”

~ Chita Rivera a.k.a. Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero,
Actress, Dancer & Singer,
Tony Awards winner (2x),
Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient
& Kennedy Center Honors Award recipient

West Side Story-Historical Rehearsal-Original Cast Members
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids’ 19th Annual Gypsy of the Year competition, one of Broadway’s most celebrated Fund Raising events, decided to make tribute to 50 years of West Side Story. They flew, from all over the country, twenty-two (22) cast members of the Original 1957 Production and put together, with young Broadway Gypsies, a historical Opening Number.
This is the rehearsal, at AEA audition auditorium, on 12/16/2007 where the Young Broadway generation performs snipits of the legendary Jerrome Robins Choreography, and the original cast members join to create one of the most moving and thrilling opening numbers of BC/EFA. You will see Ken LeRoy (original Bernardo), Mickey Calin (original Riff) along with all original Jets performing the “Jet Song”, Carol Lawrence (original Maria) performing “I am Prety”, followed by Chita Rivera for their “A Boy like that” duet. Chita Dancers from “A Dancer’s Life” do “the Dance at the Gym” with Chita and … … (click for more details)

 

Heart & Soul Works

“Sometimes I give myself over to a part heart and soul.
At other times, it’s just technique.
There’s nothing in particular to say about it except
it’s work. … I love to work!”

~ Enrique Tomás Delgado a.k.a. Henry Darrow,
Actor, Co-Founder of Nosotros,
Bambi Award winner, Emmy Award winner,
Ricardo Montalban Nosotros Award winner
& ALMA Awards’ Ricardo Montalban Lifetime Achievement Award recipient

Don’t Remain a Bud, Let Yourself Blossom

Use Everything He Gives You

“When I stand before God at the end of my life,
I would hope that I would not have a single talent left,
and could say, “I used everything You gave me.”.”

~ Erma Bombeck,
Humorist, Syndicated Columnist, Author & Writer

Thinking & Questioning

“Constantly think about how you could be
doing things better and keep questioning yourself.”

~ Elon Musk,
Business Magnate, Investor & Inventor

Our Passion for Making

“American Made is not just an event; it’s a movement
to spotlight and support the next generation of creative entrepreneurs
who are turning their passion for making into thriving small businesses.”

~ Martha Stewart,
Entrepreneur, Writer, Television Host,
Founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and former Fashion Model

Character & Skill

“Hire character. Train skill.”

~ Peter Schutz,
Motivational Speaker, Co-Founder of Harris and Schutz Inc.,
& President and CEO of Porsche (1981 – 1986)