| Extraordinary Profiles - Success |
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Derrick Boles
A Gentle Giant Stands Up for America
As a young child, Derrick Boles was raised in a single family household without a father, just as many young black children were then and are today. Boles explains, “Because of my low social economic background and educational history, my future was supposedly destined and projected for me to either end up incarcerated or deceased at a very early age.”
Despite society’s pessimistic view and the bleak statistics that indicate such children will never amount to anything, Boles overcame many adversities and eventually stepped outside of the box in which society had placed him.
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Julie Ziglar Norman
Growing up the Ziglar Way: The Blessings and the Struggles
She’s shared the stage with powerful leaders and well known individuals such as General Colin Powell, President George W. Bush, Steve Forbes, Joe Montana, Bill Cosby and many others. But most importantly, as the youngest daughter of America’s Motivator, Julie Ziglar Norman has often shared the stage with her famous father and motivational icon, Zig Ziglar.
Today as an electrifying speaker, Norman is inspiring audiences around the country by sharing her life’s story, her experiences with her dad and what it was like growing up the Ziglar Way.
She candidly shared with Exceptional People Magazine details about her personal life; her blessings and struggles.
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Jerry Craft
Cartoon Extraordinaire Educates and Entertains Through Humor
Jerry Craft’s ability to make children laugh has helped him create a special niche for himself. As the long-time creator of Mama’s Boyz, an award-winning comic strip, Craft has used his artistic ability and creativity to change communities around the country. His talents are amazing and endless, and he has the distinct ability to adapt his creativity in ways that lend a voice to those who want to educate the public on personal and social issues affecting us today.
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George C. Fraser
A Visionary with An Impeccable Leadership Style
For many young children, growing up in foster homes would have led to negative thinking and self destruction, but not George C. Fraser. Though he had little hope and no expectations while growing up in foster homes and on the streets of New York, it was that small inkling of hope that changed his life. It gave him the determination to become a force for change that today has impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of African American business owners and entrepreneurs, as well as corporate audiences.
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Emma Fraser-Pendleton
Inspiring Women and Young People to Reveal Their Hidden Potential
As a child, Emma spent thirteen of your formative years in foster homes with her two brothers, George and Joseph but even then, she was full of resilience and determination to make the best of every situation.
Her life experiences and knowledge are as varied as the people she has positively impacted. From dealing with academic issues in New York’s inner-city to working with women at the lowest points in their lives, Emma Fraser-Pendleton has opened the eyes of individuals who may have felt they had no direction in life. She helped them realize their true worth and inner strength. She helped people realize that their lives can be what they have envisioned them to be.
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Jeffrey Gitterman
An Innovative Approach to Achieving Financial Success
As an award-winning financial advisor and author, Jeffrey Gitterman is changing how people see themselves, their money and their future. He is spreading the word about what we can do to change our view of life, prosperity, and money in a way that will result long-term abundance. Gitterman is helping to evolve the financial and life-planning industry through his own holistic and purposeful philosophy.
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Derek O'Neill
Transforming Lives in a Phenomenal Way
Every once in awhile we encounter a new phenomena; in this instance a person who has an incredible gift of understanding, knowledge and the ability to impact and transform lives.
Derek O’Neill, an internationally acclaimed transformational therapist, has been recognized worldwide for his ability to help individuals change negative behaviors and conflicting thought patterns to reveal new exciting futures and much happier lives. He’s perfected the science of helping others transform their weaknesses into strengths and their fears into wisdom.
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Esther Austin
Empowering Others to Live Abundant Lives
From life’s tough lessons often come wisdom and the desire to create new opportunities for oneself. Esther Austin is no stranger to adversity, but how she chose to deal with it is what makes her stand out as an entrepreneurial powerhouse.
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Harry Shade
Leading Others to Live Purposefully
As a community leader, veteran seminar leader and coach Harry Shade has an enormous dream of helping one million people become a “better version of themselves." One might say that he’s well on his way.
As an individual who has dedicated his life to the service of others, Shade’s remarkable vision has truly come to life.
His outstanding record of accomplishments includes over 30 years of seminar leadership, training, facilitating and coaching individuals to live their best lives. Through many years of personal experience and as a certified Master Life Coach, Shade understands what it takes to live life to its fullest.
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Alexandra Watson
Happiness Coach Helps People Discover Joy
We all want to experience peace, harmony and lifelong happiness but for those who don’t have that experience, the question is, are you blocking your happiness?
Oftentimes, change is tough, but with the right mindset, change can lead to endless possibilities in your personal and professional life.
After asking herself that very same question, Alexandra Watson contemplated her life and realized she needed to make a change. She enlisted the help of great mentors and coaches, and she set about turning her life around. Alexandra conducted in-depth research to develop quick and easy-to-follow techniques, coupled with ancient wisdom and modern philosophies to ----. “It’s the perfect combination for today’s needs,” says Watson. It was simply the need for immense improvement in her life that led Alexandra to create The Happiness System. Fifteen years later Alexandra continues to teach her unique system to Olympic athletes, celebrities, business professionals, working moms and corporations throughout the world.
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Dr. Deana Murphy
Helping Women Design Their Lives
Interior Design – we’re all familiar with the term and we know what it means, but Dr. Deana Murphy has taken its meaning to a new level and dimension. As a career woman and entrepreneur, Dr. Deana designs what she calls tangible spaces.
After designing tangible spaces for well over a decade and having been showcased on HGTV, Fine Living and in O Magazine, award-winning author, speaker and educator, Dr. Murphy is designing something closer to her heart. She expanded her expertise to include a tangible image and attitude for professional women. As a Life Design Expert, she’s helping women create major breakthroughs in their lives, enabling them to achieve personal accountability, emotional clarity and inner direction.
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Tom Ziglar
Leads the Ziglar Empire Into the Future
Decades ago, a young man by the name of Zig Ziglar had a well-defined vision and purpose that would eventually impact the lives of over a quarter billion people, both personally and professionally. He built a company, The Ziglar Corporation, which provides personal and professional development and performance training to corporations and individuals.
The success of his empire was built on a solid foundation of impeccable ethics, integrity, caring and sharing his knowledge with all mankind. As one of the world’s iconic businessman, Ziglar’s impact on history will live on forever.
After decades of touching lives in countless ways, Zig Ziglar passed the baton to his son, Tom Ziglar who is now leading the company into new territories.
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The Honorable Dawn McCoy
Creates Future Leaders of America
As a nationally-recognized speaker and author, The Honoarable Dawn McCoy has trained thousands in the public service, corporate and academic arenas to effectively manage and lead multimillion dollar organizations.
McCoy empowers others to recognize their leadership potential and use that skill to guide their teams to success. Her vision is to transform ordinary people into extraordinary leaders.
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Carlene Altom
Integrity and Values Helped Her Earn a Six Figure Income by Age 40
She had a vision for her life and she achieved it. By age 40 she was earning a six-figure income. She enhanced her skills and used them to help others build wealth through their businesses. As a result, she created wealth for herself. Her solutions to office management have proven “golden” to many doctors. She's helped move their practices from near collapse to become multi-million dollar entities. Find out how she overcame enormous adversity to achieve a remarkable career.
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Winston E. Scott Captain, USN, Ret. NASA Astronaut
Excellence - Above and Beyond (photo courtesy of NASA)
As we have recently witnessed, an amazing era of space exploration has ended. Thirty years of Atlantis going “above and beyond” as it were – taking the world of science to new and spectacular levels has finally ended.
Former astronaut, Winston Scott is proud to have participated in the amazing journey into space. He says that the exploration of space has made great contributions to the technology that we enjoy today.
As a young child, his parents encouraged him and his sibling to become whatever they wanted to be and to be the best that they could be. Scott had a strong interest in science, technology, engineering and airplanes, so it was no surprise that he chose the path that he did.
His choice to follow his passion not only led him to excel in his profession, but his contribution has added incredible value to countless lives.
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Stacy Hawkins Adams
No bling required. When Stacy Hawkins Adams looks at you, she radiates all by herself. There’s no other word. She actually radiates. Her attention is so focused on the listener, it appears that rays of light are coming from her eyes, her smile, and even her dimples.
Dressed in her characteristic basic black suit, pink shirt, black boots and understated jewelry, Adams greeted attendees at the Women Who Mean Business Summit sponsored by the Metropolitan Business League in Richmond, Virginia., in January 2011.
As part of the trade show, Adams had a booth set up to feature her six nationally published novels of inspiration. She was also one of a panel of authors who presented their personal stories and fielded questions from an enthusiastic audience of entrepreneurs.
Adams seems born for this role, and, indeed, she told the audience that her interest in writing dates back to early childhood in Pine Bluff, Ark. She loved to read poems. At the tender age of 10, she wrote a letter to the police department. She wrote some pieces which her sister, Barbara, stapled together for her.
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Joyce Rombinson Agu
An Amazing Race
How many of us can say that we won a contest and became a better person, physically, emotionally and spiritually because of it?
For Joyce Robinson Agu and her husband Uchenna Agu, it was more than just a contest. Up to that point it was the most challenging goal they had ever set for themselves. They were winners of CBS’s Amazing Race, Season 7.
A daring spirit, risk-taking attitude, and the thrill of excitement inspired them to enter the contest. Patience, teamwork, faith, humility, understanding and tolerance are what they learned during the contest. An unstoppable attitude is what they gained after winning. |
Sonja Fisher
An Extraordinary Motivational Speaker Inspiring Youth to Achieve Greatness
Today, more than ever, there are more women in the workplace and they play a major role in how business is conducted in the private and public sectors.
In 2009 Sonja was named Mrs. Corporate America. Her life-long passion is to help women achieve their dreams and overcome obstacles. As winner of the Mrs. Corporate America pageant, she adopted a platform to inspire women to enter the technology field.
As part of her mission and effort to help women achieve success in the field of technology, she formed the first technical sorority in America called Alpha Sigma Kappa (ASK), Women in Technical Studies. The organization now has over seven chapters and it has touched the lives of many women. |
Les Brown
An Extraordinary Motivational Speaker Inspiring Youth to Achieve Greatness
Over a span of 20 plus years, Les Brown has inspired millions to change their lives and to ignite the greatness that lies within them. Today, as one of America’s top motivational speakers, Brown is empowering young people and adults to live extraordinary lives.
Brown’s life has been filled with road blocks and adversity but through the power of positive thinking and learning to recognize greatness within himself, he has achieved more than many ever thought possible. As he often says, “All that I am and all that I ever hoped to be, I owe to my mother.”
In today’s society, we often become comfortable with the status quo. We settle for “what is,” even if it’s not what we desire. “My mission is to get a message out that will help people become uncomfortable with their mediocrity. A lot of people are content with their discontent. I want to be the catalyst that enables them to see themselves having more and achieving more,” Brown says.
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Ernestine Shepherd
Determine, Dedicated and Disciplined to be Fit
We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort." Jesse Owens
From one champion to another -- these are the words by which Ernestine Shepherd lives her life.
A champion herself, Shepherd has shocked the world with her resilience and determination to become a bodybuilder. She is known as the world’s oldest female bodybuilder. At age 72, Shepherd has earned a placed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
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Jackie Jeter
Breaking New Ground for Women in Transportation
Her professional career began as a metro bus driver and since that time she’s been “on the go.” As a veteran union activist, Jackie Jeter is an elected official with Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689 since 1994. She began as a shop steward for rail operations. She was subsequently elected as Assistant Business Agent, First Vice President and Financial Secretary-Treasurer in succession. She is the first African American woman to hold those offices.
She heads a union that serves thousands of commuters daily in the Washington, D.C. Metro area. As President and Business Agent of Local 689 Transit Union, Jeter has had an amazing career. When she was elected in 2006, she became the first African American woman to head the local since its founding almost 100 years ago. She has helped transform the system into one of the best public transportation systems in the country. Her dedication and service to over 10,000 members is impeccable.
With over 30 years of experience, Jeter runs one of the most challenging organizations in Washington, D.C. She is setting a new tone for leadership in union management. Her tenacity, commitment and dedication in preserving the rights of workers have won her the role of president for a second consecutive term.
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Willie Jollie
An Attitude of Excellence
Named one of the Outstanding Five Speakers in the World, Willie has shared the spotlight with many extraordinary motivational speakers. He was inducted into the Speakers Hall of Fame by the National Speakers Association, joining other luminaries such as Ronald Reagan, Zig Ziglar and Les Brown. In 2003, McDonald Corporation, named him “A Black History Maker of Today”.
These accolades did not come easy to Willie. He set himself up for success. As a matter of fact he wrote the book on it – “A Setback Is A Setup For A Comeback,” a best-seller translated into eight languages. He also authored “It Only Takes a Minute to Change Your Life.”
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Ivan Rusilko - Mr. U.S.A.
Helping Others Achieve Their Dreams
Underneath that gorgeous, rugged look, is a smart young man with talent, skills, compassion, and lot’s of energy and drive. Oh, and there’s a lot of muscle too. He’s Ivan Rusilko, Mr. U.S.A 2008. Let’s face it, in the eyes of most young ladies today, he’s a “hunk”. Last, but certainly not least, he loves helping people. What more can you ask for in a gentleman?
He’s an intelligent young man who is grounded, level-headed and knows what he wants. Ivan Rusilko is living his passion and setting a standard for living life to it fullest.
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Vince and Barbara Dooley
Tackling Life with Grace On and Off the Field
If you are a fan of college football, then you probably are also a fan of Vince Dooley. He set amazing records coaching college football and is known as a sports hero. Vince has been a member of the college Football Hall of Fame since 1994. For 25 years, he directed the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team with a coaching style unparalleled to most.
Not only did he have the strength and passion to lead young men to victory on the football field, but his caring spirit touched the lives of people off the field, including his team. Vince is admired by many and is viewed as a legend in and outside of the college football arena. |
Emanuel Yarbrough
Largest Living Athlete and a Kind Heart to Match
 Emanuel Yarbrough (also known as Tiny) holds the World Guinness Record as the world’s largest living athlete. At 6 feet, 8 inches and 625 pounds, Emanuel has a long list of accomplishments, with more to come in the future.
A celebrity in his own right, for over 20 years, Emanuel has been involved in athletics, including football, wrestling, judo, mixed martial arts and Sumo wrestling.
He continues to travel the world promoting Sumo wrestling through Sumo clinics. A statue in the Czech Republic has been dedicated to Emanuel for his accomplishments in promoting the sport and helping others realize their potential to succeed. Traveling to foreign countries has given him a great appreciation for other cultures. His accomplishments have earned him recognition on major talk shows in the United States and in national and international magazines. |
Robert Crippen
Excellence in Flight
The NASA space program has contributed greatly to the field of science and aerospace in America. But more than that, it was a lifetime of wonderful adventures and interesting challenges for former astronaut Robert Crippen. His amazing contributions to the space program has won him many special honors and awards including the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal(1988), the NASA Distinguished Service Medal (), among a host of other awards. Crippen became a NASA astronaut in 1969 and has flown over 6500 hours. |
John Basedow - 360 Degree Life Change
It is amazing how life can present opportunities you never thought were possible, when you change your mindset and begin to see yourself as a winner.
This is exactly how John Basedow became known as one of America’s biggest fitness gurus with his Fitness Made Simple, Unlock Your Potential video he made on a shoestring budget. He changed his way of thinking and believed in his ability to succeed despite the challenges he faced.
John has achieved success over the years by following his own advice and what he calls his business model: “Start small, build big, and always keep control along the way.” |
Marc Davis - A Champion Racer Shares His Passion with Other Youth
Marc Davis lives life in the fast lane – literally. He has become a legend in his own right as a race car driver. At the age of 18, Davis has seen the checkered flag raised in his honor on several race tracks.
His love of racing began at the age of six. Davis is one of the most successful drivers who joined the Joe Gibbs Racing Team via the diversity program founded by Gibbs and the late Reggie White, an initiative that traces its roots back to May 2003. Formed by the former Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs and the late Reggie White (Pro Football Hall of Famer), the program to enables minorities who have the passion and talent for motor sports to live their dreams.
Davis, a native of Silver Spring, Maryland, has certainly blazed a trail of success. In 2004 he became only the second African-American driver to win at the Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina. During an incredible rookie season, he racked up six victories, 17 top-fives and 20 top-tens. |
Geir Ness - The Sweet Smell of Success
Filled with the dream of becoming a famous actor, Geir set his sights on Hollywood where he would study acting. Upon arriving, his life changed in a way he never thought possible. While supporting himself as a student actor, an amazing opportunity was presented to him and he took on the challenge. Today he runs a multi-million dollar perfume company. A few years ago his line of products were included in the Grammy Awards gift bag. |
Imran Anwar - Forever New Visions
A man who made a lasting mark on two continents, Imran is living proof that success comes to those who envision a goal and unswervingly aim for it. You don’t have to be born in America to become a success in America. He explains that “living the American dream doesn’t necessarily mean you live an ‘easy’ life all the time. You have more choices in life, you can buy more on easier credit, but – you also accumulate more debt.”
He believes that usually he knows he is on the right track when people oppose what he is attempting to accomplish. “If you’re going to do anything meaningful in life you will find opposition. Otherwise you’re either doing something ordinary everyone else is doing or something so meaningless no one cares about it.”
Imran, through hard work, ingenuity and compassion, changed the lives of thousands in Pakistan by introducing Internet email and later by establishing branded credit cards to improve that country’s economic standing. His creativity in bringing about change to this underdeveloped nation was masterful. |
Dante Wesley - A Model Athlete and Family Man
In the quiet town of Pine Bluff, Arkansas is where Dante’ Wesley grew up. Raised in a single family home, he and his brother had a strong woman for a mother who taught them how to become self-sufficient and to always live their lives from positive perspective.
Dante’ is a professional football athlete playing for the Chicago Bears. He graduated with the highest of honors from Arkansas Pine Bluff College. He believes that education is very important and his message to youth who dream of playing professional football is, “Football is not forever, you are going to always have to have a strong education behind you because that’s what people are looking for. They don’t care what kind of athlete you are but they want to know what you can do for their business.
When it comes to achieving goals, college life has taught him some very important lessons which he shares with all of us and applies to his life. “Never give up on what you want to do. Going through school and college here in Arkansas has really taught me to work hard and do my best”, says Wesley.
Wesley is an active supporter of his community and he is dedicated to giving back to other communities as well. He often speaks to youth about reaching their goals and maintaining a good academic standing. |
Fran Capo - Dare to Live Life to Its Fullest
From setting world records as the fastest female talker to climbing Kilimanjaro, to doing a book signing at the bottom of the ocean at the wreckage of the Titanic, Fran Capo is one of a kind when it comes to making dreams come true. When she sets her sights on a goal she accomplishes it.
Tenacity, thinking outside the box, passion and just plain doing it, are the ingredients to her success. “With anything in life, you have to have the passion,” Capo says. She states, “My mother taught me that nothing is impossible and my father taught me to always look at the humor in life.” Her thinking is “that if someone else can do it, I can do it.”
Her advice is to “fear nothing, but if you do, do it anyway. Live everyday as it it’s your last and one day you’ll be right.”
Fran’s perception of life is that “it’s an adventure and God gave you this life to live to the absolute fullest, so that by the time you die, you should be able to say, I used up everything you gave me.” |
Emery Moorehead - Excellence In All Things
From football records to setting records as a real estate agent, Emery Moorehead has carried his passion for excellence on the football field into his post-game life. He is using his winning attitude to achieve success today as a realtor.
It may have been 20 years ago that Emery Moorehead last set foot on the field as a Chicago Bears player to hear the cheering and screaming of football fans, but his winning style and passion for success has carried him throughout his post-football career. Preparation, Emery says is the biggest key element to success. “You get opportunities in life and you have to be prepared for them. You can never over-prepare.”
Emery always finds time to contribute to his community and local charities. As a young kid, Emery was an Eagle Scout and he appreciates the benefits that he obtained through the organization. He serves on the North Shore Board of Directors, Northeast Illinois Council of Boy Scouts, working with urban outreach to encourage young kids to become involved in scouting. |
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