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Voices of the 21st Century: Women Who Influence, Inspire, and Make a Difference
We are at a defining moment in history . . .
The world as we know it is shifting from a society based on a predominantly masculine model into a new era, one with women at the forefront as the leaders of the twenty-first century. Within these pages, you’ll discover powerful female voices rising up to educate, guide, and inspire.
Behind each story is a woman bold and brave enough to have her voice be heard.
The world as we know it is shifting from a society based on a predominantly masculine model into a new era, one with women at the forefront as the leaders of the twenty-first century. Within these pages, you’ll discover powerful female voices rising up to educate, guide, and inspire.
Behind each story is a woman bold and brave enough to have her voice be heard.
131 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2018
11 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Gail Watson
16 books4 followersGail Watson is president and founder of Woman Speakers Association (WSA), the go-to place for innovative leaders, change agents and women with a message. Under Gail's leadership, WSA provides a platform for women to get seen, booked, and paid AND be part of a global network reaching women in 120 countries. Whatever her "stage"-be it the classroom, a boardroom, or the floor of the UN, Gail is dedicated to empowering women to authentically express themselves, build a thriving, prosperous business, and transform the lives of their clients, companies, communities, and the world.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 17, 2018
‘Your voice is your ticket to freedom from abuse seclusion, whatever has bound you or kept you silent.’
Author Gail Watson makes her literary debut with VOICES OF THE 21st CENTURY: WOMEN WHO INFLUENCE, INSPIRE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Gail is President and Founder of Woman Speakers Association (WSA) – the focal point gathering place for innovative leaders, change-agents and women with a message to connect, collaborate and grow their visibility worldwide in order to fulfill their mission. The impact of WSA, as the first-ever global community for women speakers, reaches women in 120 countries and growing. Gail is equally at home in the classroom, a boardroom, or the floor of the UN, encouraging women to authentically express themselves and ‘build a thriving, prosperous business, and transform the lives of their clients, companies, communities, and the world.’
Gail has gathered thirty impressive women who speak to the power of women and the enormous potential of a world where women hold a far stronger voice and influence. She opens these important stories with her comment that establishes the tone of this volume: ‘They say I’m part of the Sandwich Generation—a woman who is taking care of her kids and aging parents. Who knew it could be so destructive! I was living a great life, no drama. I had been raised by parents who encouraged me and made me believe I could do anything I wanted to in this world. I was earning a large salary, feeling empowered and successful. While working in a fast-paced company that involved a great deal of travel, I was also managing my mother’s Alzheimer’s. Her illness had taken a sudden turn for the worse, and her behavior was becoming violent. My father, who was struggling to care for her, often called me in the middle of my workday, and I’d have to drop everything and go running. Very quickly things went downhill and I felt out of control. In May I was being celebrated as a top performer in my company, and ninety days later I was fired. I went from a hero to a zero. I have described this time as being on a smooth flight when suddenly you hit turbulence that won’t stop. This turbulence lasted close to twelve years. To the outside world, I kept smiling. I
didn’t ask for help, and like a bad cancer, the toxic energy of what was happening built up inside me. Eventually my body physically reacted to the stress inside of me. I started losing my hair, I couldn’t sleep at night, and when I was lying in bed wide awake, I couldn’t cry, but tears would dribble out of my eyes. I felt alone. Being fired was the biggest blow to my ego, and I never returned to the corporate world. Soon after, I was introduced to the entrepreneurial world and found myself running a women’s networking group. It was two years later that I reluctantly uttered the words “I was fired” when I was giving a speech. A reporter in my audience picked up on my story, and soon after there was an article in the paper with the headline “Fired for Caring.” Now everyone knew, and my inner voice told me that I would lose all respect from my contacts in the corporate world, that I was not worthy of success, that I wasn’t strong enough . . . that I was a failure. I continued to be very involved in my mom’s care, busy with my own young kids, and going broke because our second income was not there. No matter what I seemed to do, I couldn’t get unstuck from this place I was in. At the same time, even feeling like such a failure, often my friends would comment on how positive I was and how strong I was . . . What were they seeing that I wasn’t? It wasn’t until I started to open up and share the truth of where I was that I started to receive help and answers. The entrepreneurial women in my networking group surrounded me with kindness and encouragement, and they made me believe in myself . . . again. They were rebuilding me with words. When I think back to my childhood, that’s the foundation my parents built for me. When the opportunity came to be a co-founder of Women Speakers Association, I made a personal vow that no woman’s business would go down because “life happens.” What I’ve learned is that life does happen, and sometimes it serves up situations we feel we cannot handle—and sadly some of us don’t. What I know, though, is that no matter how low we go, if we have a community, a network, some kind of support around us, we will not and cannot fail. It is crucial for you to be part of a network outside of your family or close friends—a group that you’ve connected with because you share similar likes or interests. This is a group that will know how to catch you when you fall. I speak to hundreds of women every year—it’s what fuels me. I love getting to know each and every new member who joins Women Speakers Association. When I hear they are stuck, when I sense they are feeling alone, when my heart aches for them, I let them know they are not alone. I make sure they know that they don’t need to be alone, and that by surrounding themselves with a community of like-minded women, they will make it. I have redefined success. I used to measure success by my earning power, but today I measure it by happiness. I receive and am filled with happiness when I am in service to others. The more I give, the more fulfilled I feel. Kindness changes everything. How can we be kind? It’s the small things. When in a conversation, ask questions and go a little deeper. Listen, really feel that person, and think about how you can help. Smile! It might not come naturally when you’re feeling a little low yourself, but that’s the very time to consciously smile as you pass a stranger on the street or are next to another driver at a stoplight. Words are powerful. Always use encouraging, positive words. Words are like fuel—and you never know when someone’s tank is on empty. Your kind words might literally keep another person going. I was down, I was broken, and no one knew because everyone saw me as the “strong one.” It was the kind words of others that slowly brought me back and saved me. Helping another person starts by taking action. It starts with each one of us taking responsibility and watching out for the individuals who cross our path, stepping away from our ego and giving others our attention, our kindness, and our smiles. To the world, you might be one person, but to one person, you might be the world.’
A most impressive cadre of women with very important messages – not only for women, but also for sensitive men who see the need for changing the macho planet into a more significant place to truly live. Highly Recommended.
Author Gail Watson makes her literary debut with VOICES OF THE 21st CENTURY: WOMEN WHO INFLUENCE, INSPIRE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Gail is President and Founder of Woman Speakers Association (WSA) – the focal point gathering place for innovative leaders, change-agents and women with a message to connect, collaborate and grow their visibility worldwide in order to fulfill their mission. The impact of WSA, as the first-ever global community for women speakers, reaches women in 120 countries and growing. Gail is equally at home in the classroom, a boardroom, or the floor of the UN, encouraging women to authentically express themselves and ‘build a thriving, prosperous business, and transform the lives of their clients, companies, communities, and the world.’
Gail has gathered thirty impressive women who speak to the power of women and the enormous potential of a world where women hold a far stronger voice and influence. She opens these important stories with her comment that establishes the tone of this volume: ‘They say I’m part of the Sandwich Generation—a woman who is taking care of her kids and aging parents. Who knew it could be so destructive! I was living a great life, no drama. I had been raised by parents who encouraged me and made me believe I could do anything I wanted to in this world. I was earning a large salary, feeling empowered and successful. While working in a fast-paced company that involved a great deal of travel, I was also managing my mother’s Alzheimer’s. Her illness had taken a sudden turn for the worse, and her behavior was becoming violent. My father, who was struggling to care for her, often called me in the middle of my workday, and I’d have to drop everything and go running. Very quickly things went downhill and I felt out of control. In May I was being celebrated as a top performer in my company, and ninety days later I was fired. I went from a hero to a zero. I have described this time as being on a smooth flight when suddenly you hit turbulence that won’t stop. This turbulence lasted close to twelve years. To the outside world, I kept smiling. I
didn’t ask for help, and like a bad cancer, the toxic energy of what was happening built up inside me. Eventually my body physically reacted to the stress inside of me. I started losing my hair, I couldn’t sleep at night, and when I was lying in bed wide awake, I couldn’t cry, but tears would dribble out of my eyes. I felt alone. Being fired was the biggest blow to my ego, and I never returned to the corporate world. Soon after, I was introduced to the entrepreneurial world and found myself running a women’s networking group. It was two years later that I reluctantly uttered the words “I was fired” when I was giving a speech. A reporter in my audience picked up on my story, and soon after there was an article in the paper with the headline “Fired for Caring.” Now everyone knew, and my inner voice told me that I would lose all respect from my contacts in the corporate world, that I was not worthy of success, that I wasn’t strong enough . . . that I was a failure. I continued to be very involved in my mom’s care, busy with my own young kids, and going broke because our second income was not there. No matter what I seemed to do, I couldn’t get unstuck from this place I was in. At the same time, even feeling like such a failure, often my friends would comment on how positive I was and how strong I was . . . What were they seeing that I wasn’t? It wasn’t until I started to open up and share the truth of where I was that I started to receive help and answers. The entrepreneurial women in my networking group surrounded me with kindness and encouragement, and they made me believe in myself . . . again. They were rebuilding me with words. When I think back to my childhood, that’s the foundation my parents built for me. When the opportunity came to be a co-founder of Women Speakers Association, I made a personal vow that no woman’s business would go down because “life happens.” What I’ve learned is that life does happen, and sometimes it serves up situations we feel we cannot handle—and sadly some of us don’t. What I know, though, is that no matter how low we go, if we have a community, a network, some kind of support around us, we will not and cannot fail. It is crucial for you to be part of a network outside of your family or close friends—a group that you’ve connected with because you share similar likes or interests. This is a group that will know how to catch you when you fall. I speak to hundreds of women every year—it’s what fuels me. I love getting to know each and every new member who joins Women Speakers Association. When I hear they are stuck, when I sense they are feeling alone, when my heart aches for them, I let them know they are not alone. I make sure they know that they don’t need to be alone, and that by surrounding themselves with a community of like-minded women, they will make it. I have redefined success. I used to measure success by my earning power, but today I measure it by happiness. I receive and am filled with happiness when I am in service to others. The more I give, the more fulfilled I feel. Kindness changes everything. How can we be kind? It’s the small things. When in a conversation, ask questions and go a little deeper. Listen, really feel that person, and think about how you can help. Smile! It might not come naturally when you’re feeling a little low yourself, but that’s the very time to consciously smile as you pass a stranger on the street or are next to another driver at a stoplight. Words are powerful. Always use encouraging, positive words. Words are like fuel—and you never know when someone’s tank is on empty. Your kind words might literally keep another person going. I was down, I was broken, and no one knew because everyone saw me as the “strong one.” It was the kind words of others that slowly brought me back and saved me. Helping another person starts by taking action. It starts with each one of us taking responsibility and watching out for the individuals who cross our path, stepping away from our ego and giving others our attention, our kindness, and our smiles. To the world, you might be one person, but to one person, you might be the world.’
A most impressive cadre of women with very important messages – not only for women, but also for sensitive men who see the need for changing the macho planet into a more significant place to truly live. Highly Recommended.
October 24, 2018
Marcus Belling, a renowned hypnotist after his first national television and interview on the Therapy of Past Lives and Regression made him most famous among the competitor. Josef Savaterra, another hypnotist and Belling both had different work methods.
While Belling resisted commercial attitude of making profits and having any association with political parties and focused on treating his clients by using hypnosis, Josef was offered the post of Minister of Labour. Belling had the full support of his secretary Sofia Estelar who was behind his success and had good detection and filtering capabilities so that Belling’s clients are the real one needing his help. Meantime, Anne Pauline appeared and changed the dynamics of both hypnotists built over twenty years.
The hypnotists had a very different background and past experience which determined their current characteristics. Anne suffering from nightmares and difficulty in finding her right identity seeks help from Belling. The dreams of past lives used to invade her nights and appealed her to travel back to the past and finally, the door was opened and she was allowed to meet Marcus for the hypnosis session followed by series of questions.
More then just a fine novel, the book is an exploration of the human mind and senses, therefore, I really enjoyed the novel and this story is for people with interest in hypnotism and reincarnation. Though editing could be improved by focusing more on Anne Pauline. I will surely suggest that the book is worth reading in detail.
While Belling resisted commercial attitude of making profits and having any association with political parties and focused on treating his clients by using hypnosis, Josef was offered the post of Minister of Labour. Belling had the full support of his secretary Sofia Estelar who was behind his success and had good detection and filtering capabilities so that Belling’s clients are the real one needing his help. Meantime, Anne Pauline appeared and changed the dynamics of both hypnotists built over twenty years.
The hypnotists had a very different background and past experience which determined their current characteristics. Anne suffering from nightmares and difficulty in finding her right identity seeks help from Belling. The dreams of past lives used to invade her nights and appealed her to travel back to the past and finally, the door was opened and she was allowed to meet Marcus for the hypnosis session followed by series of questions.
More then just a fine novel, the book is an exploration of the human mind and senses, therefore, I really enjoyed the novel and this story is for people with interest in hypnotism and reincarnation. Though editing could be improved by focusing more on Anne Pauline. I will surely suggest that the book is worth reading in detail.
October 16, 2018
What a great read and empowering book. This book is made up of short but encouraging stories. One of the stories really spoke to me and what's been going on in my life. "The Power of Community." So often in life we have things that we feel we can't deal with, when others see the strength in us. We have a community or network that if we make that leap of faith, can catch us if we fall. This book reminded me to reach out to people with like interests and to not be afraid of reaching out. We are all dealing with life issues and by reaching we can find solace and encouragement in the company of others. I also looked at age differently because of the chapter called "Raging Aging." I loved all the stories and the way there's a little bio on the author at the end of each chapter. Well worth a read.
February 9, 2024
Gail Watson writes this empowering book sharing stories of different women, who succeed and thrive in life. Voices of the 21st Century is a compilation of stories, with something in common: Passion and Purpose.
I bought this book as a gift and decided to purchase it for myself. As a man, I think that it sensitized me in many ways, and I grasped a deeper understanding of the subject. The author did a great job keeping the stories interesting and fresh, so it deserves a good review.
Overall, a book that shows a different side of things. Definitely recommended, it's an easy book to read, but powerful. The stories are well told and can bring delight to so many people.
I bought this book as a gift and decided to purchase it for myself. As a man, I think that it sensitized me in many ways, and I grasped a deeper understanding of the subject. The author did a great job keeping the stories interesting and fresh, so it deserves a good review.
Overall, a book that shows a different side of things. Definitely recommended, it's an easy book to read, but powerful. The stories are well told and can bring delight to so many people.
October 18, 2018
A inspirational read
I can’t say enough about this book. The authors are all so inspirational and I took a little something for each and everyone of them. I personally found myself in 2 of the authors situations and they both are giving me the courage to push forward with my goals and dreams. Thanks!!!
I can’t say enough about this book. The authors are all so inspirational and I took a little something for each and everyone of them. I personally found myself in 2 of the authors situations and they both are giving me the courage to push forward with my goals and dreams. Thanks!!!
October 16, 2018
Excited to be part of the Voices of the 21st century, where 30 powerful women come together and share their message. It is an inspiring book!
October 30, 2018
This book consists of a group of short essays that are designed to help women of any age as they make their way through the twists and turns that constitute daily life.
Whatever your emotional challenge is, someone in this book has been there. It could be dealing with the death of a spouse, attempting to survive, let alone thrive, in a male-dominated field like construction, being in an emotional rut, or the aftermath of being shot by an AK-47. They show how they came out the other side, with the help of spirituality, a new mindset, or simply not giving up.
Anger and fear are normal human emotions. How a person deals with those emotions separates the adults from the children. It is not possible to change the circumstances of what happened to you; it is possible to change your reaction to those circumstances. Consider forgiving the person who has wronged you. It is not intended to let them off the hook. Instead, it is to let you off the hook by letting go of that anger that is keeping you from moving on. If you wish, consider yoga. meditation or a vision board. Set a goal for yourself, whether personal or professional, then break that goal into smaller, more manageable pieces.
These essays are short; just a couple of pages each. This book can easily be read while waiting at the doctor's office, or at the grocery store. This book can be picked up and read starting on any page. It is also very much recommended.
Whatever your emotional challenge is, someone in this book has been there. It could be dealing with the death of a spouse, attempting to survive, let alone thrive, in a male-dominated field like construction, being in an emotional rut, or the aftermath of being shot by an AK-47. They show how they came out the other side, with the help of spirituality, a new mindset, or simply not giving up.
Anger and fear are normal human emotions. How a person deals with those emotions separates the adults from the children. It is not possible to change the circumstances of what happened to you; it is possible to change your reaction to those circumstances. Consider forgiving the person who has wronged you. It is not intended to let them off the hook. Instead, it is to let you off the hook by letting go of that anger that is keeping you from moving on. If you wish, consider yoga. meditation or a vision board. Set a goal for yourself, whether personal or professional, then break that goal into smaller, more manageable pieces.
These essays are short; just a couple of pages each. This book can easily be read while waiting at the doctor's office, or at the grocery store. This book can be picked up and read starting on any page. It is also very much recommended.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews