Sharon Orlopp's Blog, page 2
July 2, 2018
Celebrating Our Freedoms on the Fourth of July
As we approach the celebration of U.S. Independence, it is a great opportunity to thank those who have served and our currently serving in the military. It is also a time to recognize immigrant entrepreneurs who have made a difference in America.
Martin Greenfield’s memoir, Measure of a Man: From Auschwitz to President’s Tailor, is an amazing story of survival in the Holocaust, immigration to the States, and then success as a tailor. At age fifteen, Martin and his family were sent to Auschwitz. At the concentration camp, Martin’s father told him, “We must separate. If you survive, you must honor us by living.”
The book starts with a description of the boots and clothing worn by Dr. Josef Mengele, the Nazi physician nicknamed the Angel of Death. It foreshadows the role clothing played in Martin’s life.
The sign over the Auschwitz concentration camp said, “Work Makes You Free.” Martin concentrated on remaining as healthy as he could so that he could perform work and survive.
Martin’s descriptions of events at Auschwitz are horrific. He interjects humor and faith. He often asked, “Where is God?” while at the camp. Sometimes he would tell himself that God was really busy. When the war ended, Martin said that instead of manna, God dropped munitions.
Elie Wiesel was a teenager in the same camp as Martin. When the Holocaust ended, General Dwight D. Eisenhower had his troops personally tour the concentration camps, meet prisoners, and take pictures. After Martin immigrated to the US, he worked in a suit factory. A suit was being created for President Eisenhower during the same time as the Suez Canal Crisis. Martin wrote a note to the President expressing his opinion on what Eisenhower should do regarding the Suez Canal Crisis and tucked it into a pocket before the suit was delivered. Martin wanted to make sure that his “little guy’s” voice was heard.
Martin is extremely grateful that America is a nation of infinite possibilities. He rose from sweeping the floors of a suit company to founding a premier suit company. He and his sons have dressed Presidents Eisenhower, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. They have also dressed celebrities and athletes.
Martin’s memoir is a reminder that anything is possible if you apply yourself, dream big, and work hard.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Martin Greenfield’s memoir, Measure of a Man: From Auschwitz to President’s Tailor, is an amazing story of survival in the Holocaust, immigration to the States, and then success as a tailor. At age fifteen, Martin and his family were sent to Auschwitz. At the concentration camp, Martin’s father told him, “We must separate. If you survive, you must honor us by living.”
The book starts with a description of the boots and clothing worn by Dr. Josef Mengele, the Nazi physician nicknamed the Angel of Death. It foreshadows the role clothing played in Martin’s life.
The sign over the Auschwitz concentration camp said, “Work Makes You Free.” Martin concentrated on remaining as healthy as he could so that he could perform work and survive.
Martin’s descriptions of events at Auschwitz are horrific. He interjects humor and faith. He often asked, “Where is God?” while at the camp. Sometimes he would tell himself that God was really busy. When the war ended, Martin said that instead of manna, God dropped munitions.
Elie Wiesel was a teenager in the same camp as Martin. When the Holocaust ended, General Dwight D. Eisenhower had his troops personally tour the concentration camps, meet prisoners, and take pictures. After Martin immigrated to the US, he worked in a suit factory. A suit was being created for President Eisenhower during the same time as the Suez Canal Crisis. Martin wrote a note to the President expressing his opinion on what Eisenhower should do regarding the Suez Canal Crisis and tucked it into a pocket before the suit was delivered. Martin wanted to make sure that his “little guy’s” voice was heard.
Martin is extremely grateful that America is a nation of infinite possibilities. He rose from sweeping the floors of a suit company to founding a premier suit company. He and his sons have dressed Presidents Eisenhower, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. They have also dressed celebrities and athletes.
Martin’s memoir is a reminder that anything is possible if you apply yourself, dream big, and work hard.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
June 25, 2018
Family Separation Due to Deportation
With the current events around family separations due to deportation, I want to share some books with personal stories on this topic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BRW0...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
What books do you recommend on this topic?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BRW0...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
What books do you recommend on this topic?
June 22, 2018
Polio Vaccine Developed by Immigrants
Excellent, timely article in Forbes about how the polio vaccination was developed by an immigrant and the son of an immigrant.
Immigrant innovation helps all of us.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartan...
The book, Standing Up After Saigon, shares Thuhang Tran's challenges with polio, war, poverty, family separation, and immigration.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Immigrant innovation helps all of us.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartan...
The book, Standing Up After Saigon, shares Thuhang Tran's challenges with polio, war, poverty, family separation, and immigration.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
June 18, 2018
A Chance In The World
Steve Pemberton is an AMAZING person. He endured horrific abuse in the foster care system. Thanks to the kindness of a neighbor, he found hope and the possibilities of a different future through reading books.
His memoir and the recent movie, A Chance In the World, are both well worth it! I highly recommend them.
I had the good fortunate to meet Steve at an event. He has made it his mission in life to ensure all people are included and valued.
The video clip includes some thoughts on narrative arc and the great job Steve did of hooking the reader and keeping them turning the page.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dHUv...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
His memoir and the recent movie, A Chance In the World, are both well worth it! I highly recommend them.
I had the good fortunate to meet Steve at an event. He has made it his mission in life to ensure all people are included and valued.
The video clip includes some thoughts on narrative arc and the great job Steve did of hooking the reader and keeping them turning the page.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dHUv...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
June 11, 2018
Character Development Tips: My Lost Brothers
Monday Morning Memoir Message:
Character development tips: My Lost Brothers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HQti...
#OnlyTheBrave17, #GHotshots, #BMcDonough20
Character development tips: My Lost Brothers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HQti...
#OnlyTheBrave17, #GHotshots, #BMcDonough20
June 8, 2018
Fathers and Daughters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeRZS...
Highlights three memoirs with strong father and daughter bonds:
Standing Up After Saigon
Generally Speaking
Muslim Girl
Highlights three memoirs with strong father and daughter bonds:
Standing Up After Saigon
Generally Speaking
Muslim Girl
June 7, 2018
Special Father's Day Tribute: Fathers and Daughters
As Father’s Day approaches, it’s a great time to reflect on the impact our fathers have had on our lives.
My parents had three daughters and one son. My dad strongly believed that his daughters would go to college at a time when families were investing in their sons’ college education and weren’t always sending their daughters to four-year universities. My dad is an ardent believer that girls and boys can be anything they want to be. He has been my biggest lifetime cheerleader.
In 2013, Harvard Business School conducted research about the role mothers and fathers have on career choices of their children. The research found that fathers are the “gatekeepers” to their daughter’s career dreams. Fathers who are egalitarian in their beliefs and actions around housework and childrearing have daughters who envision themselves with a career.
Indra Nooyi, CEO of Pepsico, Denise Morrison, CEO of Campbell Soup, and Denise’s sister, Maggie Wilderotter, CEO of Frontier Communications, credit their fathers with the career success they have achieved. All three have publicly stated that their fathers had a continual message and belief that their daughters could accomplish anything they set their minds on achieving.
Father’s Day is a day spent thanking our fathers and appreciating the love and sacrifice they have made for us. As a reciprocal gift, fathers should continue to be a contributor and champion of their daughters’ dreams by demonstrating true partnership at home.
One of the most powerful true stories about the bond between a father and daughter is Standing Up After Saigon. Thuhang Tran was diagnosed with polio as a toddler and became separated from her father for 15 years after the Vietnam War ended. After reuniting with him in the US, she had surgery that enabled her to stand upright after crawling on the ground for 17 years. Her father is her biggest advocate and now he follows her career by moving whenever her job requires it.
https://www.amazon.com/Standing-After...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
My parents had three daughters and one son. My dad strongly believed that his daughters would go to college at a time when families were investing in their sons’ college education and weren’t always sending their daughters to four-year universities. My dad is an ardent believer that girls and boys can be anything they want to be. He has been my biggest lifetime cheerleader.
In 2013, Harvard Business School conducted research about the role mothers and fathers have on career choices of their children. The research found that fathers are the “gatekeepers” to their daughter’s career dreams. Fathers who are egalitarian in their beliefs and actions around housework and childrearing have daughters who envision themselves with a career.
Indra Nooyi, CEO of Pepsico, Denise Morrison, CEO of Campbell Soup, and Denise’s sister, Maggie Wilderotter, CEO of Frontier Communications, credit their fathers with the career success they have achieved. All three have publicly stated that their fathers had a continual message and belief that their daughters could accomplish anything they set their minds on achieving.
Father’s Day is a day spent thanking our fathers and appreciating the love and sacrifice they have made for us. As a reciprocal gift, fathers should continue to be a contributor and champion of their daughters’ dreams by demonstrating true partnership at home.
One of the most powerful true stories about the bond between a father and daughter is Standing Up After Saigon. Thuhang Tran was diagnosed with polio as a toddler and became separated from her father for 15 years after the Vietnam War ended. After reuniting with him in the US, she had surgery that enabled her to stand upright after crawling on the ground for 17 years. Her father is her biggest advocate and now he follows her career by moving whenever her job requires it.
https://www.amazon.com/Standing-After...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
May 23, 2018
Immigrants and Innovation
Recently I had the great fortune to listen to Olympian Michelle Kwan speak at our shared alma mater, the University of Denver. Kwan’s parents immigrated from Hong Kong to the United States. Her parents sacrificed tremendously and worked multiple jobs to ensure Michelle and her siblings could pursue their interests. Her brother played hockey and her sister was also an ice skater.
Michelle spoke about grit, discipline, and determination. She said she learned to quickly recover and smile broadly after falling while skating. She emphasized that she kept practicing and applying herself over and over and continually learning from her mistakes.
Heidi Grant, author of a Harvard Business Review article titled Nine Thing Successful People Do Differently, indicates that grit is one of the key components of successful people. Grant describes grit as the willingness to commit to long-term goals while persisting in the face of difficulty. Research has demonstrated that people with grit obtain more education and have higher college GPAs.
Forbes reported that 40% of the current Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or children of immigrants. Some of America’s greatest brands—Apple, Google, AT&T, Budweiser, Colgate, General Electric, IBM and others were started by immigrants or their children according to The Partnership for a New American Economy. The National Foundation for American Policy reported that 44 of the 87 startup companies valued at more than $1 billion in 2015 have immigrant founders.
Glenn Llopis, author of The Innovation Mentality, describes the perspective of immigrants that allows them to seize opportunities in the global market:
• Inspiration to see opportunity in
everything
• Flexibility to anticipate the unexpected
• Freedom to unleash passionate pursuits
• Room to live with an entrepreneurial
spirit
• Trust to work with a generous purpose
• Respect to lead to leave a legacy
Llopis is a successful entrepreneur who knows that our thinking evolves when we associate with people who think differently than we do. Cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset to see opportunities others might miss requires each of us to explore, actively listen, and open our hearts and minds to those who bring unique experiences and perspectives.
Through a combination of grit, determination, grace after falling, passion, anticipating the unexpected, and having an innovation and entrepreneurial mindset, we can create significant change in our personal and professional lives as well as our communities and the world.
Michelle spoke about grit, discipline, and determination. She said she learned to quickly recover and smile broadly after falling while skating. She emphasized that she kept practicing and applying herself over and over and continually learning from her mistakes.
Heidi Grant, author of a Harvard Business Review article titled Nine Thing Successful People Do Differently, indicates that grit is one of the key components of successful people. Grant describes grit as the willingness to commit to long-term goals while persisting in the face of difficulty. Research has demonstrated that people with grit obtain more education and have higher college GPAs.
Forbes reported that 40% of the current Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or children of immigrants. Some of America’s greatest brands—Apple, Google, AT&T, Budweiser, Colgate, General Electric, IBM and others were started by immigrants or their children according to The Partnership for a New American Economy. The National Foundation for American Policy reported that 44 of the 87 startup companies valued at more than $1 billion in 2015 have immigrant founders.
Glenn Llopis, author of The Innovation Mentality, describes the perspective of immigrants that allows them to seize opportunities in the global market:
• Inspiration to see opportunity in
everything
• Flexibility to anticipate the unexpected
• Freedom to unleash passionate pursuits
• Room to live with an entrepreneurial
spirit
• Trust to work with a generous purpose
• Respect to lead to leave a legacy
Llopis is a successful entrepreneur who knows that our thinking evolves when we associate with people who think differently than we do. Cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset to see opportunities others might miss requires each of us to explore, actively listen, and open our hearts and minds to those who bring unique experiences and perspectives.
Through a combination of grit, determination, grace after falling, passion, anticipating the unexpected, and having an innovation and entrepreneurial mindset, we can create significant change in our personal and professional lives as well as our communities and the world.
May 15, 2018
Northwest Arkansas Magic
My co-author, Thuhang Tran, and I have been busy the past five days in Northwest Arkansas. Both of us used to work for Walmart, so it seemed fitting that our book journey would start in NWA.
On Saturday, we held a book signing in front of the Walmart Museum. It was a gorgeous sunny day and the Farmer's Market was in full swing. We had many friends and colleagues stop by and buy books and ask for autographs. We also had several Vietnam veterans stop by---we appreciate their service for our great country!
We had fantastic speaking engagements at Shopper Events, the Bentonville Rotary Club, and Walmart. People were RIVETED when Thuhang shared her story. There were audible gasps and laughter at various times.
Tomorrow is the last stop on the NWA tour train. From 5 - 7 pm, at The Center for Nonprofits there is a wine and author event hosted by Inseitz Group. The wine is free---that is awesome! Hope to see you there!
On Saturday, we held a book signing in front of the Walmart Museum. It was a gorgeous sunny day and the Farmer's Market was in full swing. We had many friends and colleagues stop by and buy books and ask for autographs. We also had several Vietnam veterans stop by---we appreciate their service for our great country!
We had fantastic speaking engagements at Shopper Events, the Bentonville Rotary Club, and Walmart. People were RIVETED when Thuhang shared her story. There were audible gasps and laughter at various times.
Tomorrow is the last stop on the NWA tour train. From 5 - 7 pm, at The Center for Nonprofits there is a wine and author event hosted by Inseitz Group. The wine is free---that is awesome! Hope to see you there!
May 5, 2018
Birthing A Book
Launching a book is similar to birthing a baby. There has been much anticipation, preparation, fretting, planning, and hoping.
It is a new beginning with fresh possibilities and it also seems overwhelming!
Thuhang Tran, my co-author, and I met in a coffee shop in November 2016. We had never met before. Her personal story captivated me and we put together a plan to write a book about her unrelenting challenges related to polio, war, death of her father, Communist policies, poverty, famine level food rationing, and immigrating to the U.S.
Thuhang's story inspired me because she continually reinvented herself. I have never faced the type of insurmountable obstacles she overcame. Her story empowers each of us to face our problems head on.
In the final 30 day stretch before the book launch, I had many grandiose plans about how to market the book. Then my son tore his ACL while skiing and needed surgery and a Mom to take care of him. My daughter arrived home for Spring Break along with her boyfriend---they had broken up on the flight; the two of them spent 9 days with us post-breakup. Then my husband needed shoulder surgery. While taking care of my son in Seattle, my kitchen flooded due to a leaky valve. Water traveled down hallways and into a bedroom looking for an escape route.
Yet all these challenges I faced pale in comparison to the situations Thuhang encountered. I treat my problems like a walk in the park compared to Thuhang crawling at ground level for 17 years.
It is a new beginning with fresh possibilities and it also seems overwhelming!
Thuhang Tran, my co-author, and I met in a coffee shop in November 2016. We had never met before. Her personal story captivated me and we put together a plan to write a book about her unrelenting challenges related to polio, war, death of her father, Communist policies, poverty, famine level food rationing, and immigrating to the U.S.
Thuhang's story inspired me because she continually reinvented herself. I have never faced the type of insurmountable obstacles she overcame. Her story empowers each of us to face our problems head on.
In the final 30 day stretch before the book launch, I had many grandiose plans about how to market the book. Then my son tore his ACL while skiing and needed surgery and a Mom to take care of him. My daughter arrived home for Spring Break along with her boyfriend---they had broken up on the flight; the two of them spent 9 days with us post-breakup. Then my husband needed shoulder surgery. While taking care of my son in Seattle, my kitchen flooded due to a leaky valve. Water traveled down hallways and into a bedroom looking for an escape route.
Yet all these challenges I faced pale in comparison to the situations Thuhang encountered. I treat my problems like a walk in the park compared to Thuhang crawling at ground level for 17 years.
