By Katrina Hammonds
I had the delightful opportunity to interview our own Bev Wilmore, Immediate Past President, WICT NorCal, to discuss her new book, Motivating Greatness. Here are some excerpts from our discussion:
Q: A few months ago I watched Oprah Winfrey share her road to success in a two-part series that aired on OWN. She spoke consistently about finding her purpose and doing what she was "meant" to do. What motivated you to write a book that helps others identify what they were "born to do" and why do you think knowing it is important?
A: "This book, Motivating Greatness, was written to encourage readers to focus on their power to choose greatness for each day, each moment and each experience. This way, they may learn whatever lessons are presented and look forward to getting and giving the best of themselves every day of their lives."
"I have always embraced my life, appreciating each day and each moment. Being a motivator and inspirer by nature, I realize that my best gift is to generate positive energy among others. I define greatness as a remarkable gift or talent that is unique to an individual. I believe that everyone has greatness. I do not take the gift of greatness for granted and have made a lifelong commitment to use my greatness to help others realize their purpose and passion. My fondest hope is to create an epidemic of greatness so that each day a person anywhere in the world awakens with a mindset to embrace every day and moment. I believe that you have something important to contribute because you matter...that is why you were born and that is why you are still here!"
Q: Some people are very clear about what motivates them to "embrace each day," others not so much. What are ways to identify the things that motivate or energize you?
A: “Tip #1 under my 30 motivating tips for daily greatness is: Find your Inner Driver and let that be your greatness.” “What gets you up in the morning? What are some of the things that you do that stimulate your creativity, or motivate you to take action? What are the things that come so easily for you and makes you ask the simple question, "doesn't everyone know how to do this?" Those things that you like to do, that come so easily for you is your greatness. Everyone has greatness, but not everyone has tapped into their greatness. One of the goals in life's journey is to discover your greatness and to share it with the world. It is that simple! It is so empowering once you realize that what you have to offer is unique to you and only you, as you are custom designed. There is no one else on this earth that is like you. What you have to contribute can only be contributed by you because you are the only one who can do it. When we begin to look at life from this perspective, we can then see that there is no room for jealousy because we all have unique qualities to add to tasks, projects, companies and to the world and we all have purpose and we all matter! So as my Tip #26 suggests, ‘Speak Up! You have something important to say.’”
A: “Tip #1 under my 30 motivating tips for daily greatness is: Find your Inner Driver and let that be your greatness.”
“What gets you up in the morning? What are some of the things that you do that stimulate your creativity, or motivate you to take action? What are the things that come so easily for you and makes you ask the simple question, "doesn't everyone know how to do this?" Those things that you like to do, that come so easily for you is your greatness. Everyone has greatness, but not everyone has tapped into their greatness. One of the goals in life's journey is to discover your greatness and to share it with the world. It is that simple! It is so empowering once you realize that what you have to offer is unique to you and only you, as you are custom designed. There is no one else on this earth that is like you. What you have to contribute can only be contributed by you because you are the only one who can do it. When we begin to look at life from this perspective, we can then see that there is no room for jealousy because we all have unique qualities to add to tasks, projects, companies and to the world and we all have purpose and we all matter! So as my Tip #26 suggests, ‘Speak Up! You have something important to say.’”
Q: Can you share a few motivational quotes from the book?
A: “The 12 motivational quotes in my book resemble the platform of which I stand with my philosophy of self. I assigned the motivational quotes in the book by month so that readers can be accountable to themselves for focus of greatness every month of the year.” Here is one for September:
My own quote is in the month of December as I wanted to end the year personally for the completion of one year and gear them up for embracing a new year:
Q: What was it like to write and publish your book?
A: “It was an out of body experience for me! The words flowed so easily. This was something that I wanted to do for a number of years and I finally decided to JUST DO IT! I had so much content inside of me to share with the world and I felt that it was time, that the world was ready to receive the messaging.”
Q: What are some tips you can share for those who may also have a book inside of them?
A: “Don't make it complicated, just begin to type your manuscript, however it comes to you. Don't worry about grammar, just get it on paper. I believe that it is no coincidence that we have a desire to share information, it is what we are assigned in life to do. So embrace the assignment and JUST DO IT!!!”
Q: How can our readers purchase a copy of Motivating Greatness?
A: “Readers can purchase a copy of Motivating Greatness two ways: Go to my web site at innermediavision.com and click on Author/Book and simply order it online or go to amazon.com and type in my name, Beverly Wilmore, or the book title Motivating Greatness. The book retails for $6.97. I am also available for speaking engagements and book signings!”