On Wednesday, June 9, 2021, the Skandalaris Center welcomed Jenifer Bardot and three of her co-authors from the international best-seller Owning Your GRIT to share their stories of harnessing the power of growth, resilience, intention, and tenacity.
Jennifer Bardot, VP Senior Business Banker for Enterprise Bank and Trust; Shar C. Smith, founder of emPOWER You Consulting LLC; Cate Redfern, founder of Adansonia Consulting; and Trish Jensen, owner of Millicare by M.R. Jensen Enterprises and Millicare by Optimum Floor Care, are four of the forty authors who share their stories in Owning Your G.R.I.T. Moderated by Nancy Nigh, Skandalaris Center Communications and Events Manager, the authors provided a glimpse into the inspiring journeys highlighted in the book.
Owning Your G.R.I.T. came from the idea of sharing stories that might speak to other women and encourage them during difficult times. The process of co-authoring a book also allows the authors to show other women that they can publish a book. During Wednesday’s event, Jennifer, Shar, Cate, and Trish shared insights to encourage entrepreneurs. Some key takeaways include:
Jennifer Bardot on developing the book: “It was on my list of something to do for a while. At first, it was just going to be my story… but it became collective stories… The timing was really important because so many people were going through such hardships last year. I really wanted this to reach out audience and leave them feeling inspired, hopeful, and fighting.”
Cate Redfern on how “Owning Your GRIT” has manifested in her life: “I may not be where I want to be yet, but that doesn’t mean I can’t take a step to get there. It’s a journey. All you have to know is what the next step is. When I stopped being rigid in what I saw as the sequence of steps I needed to get there, it opened me up and allowed me to have different experiences. Letting go of the need to know everything and control everything – this has alleviated a lot of stress and anxiety for me.”
Shar C. Smith on taking breaks to prevent burnout: “You can never have enough self-care…One day a month, I give myself a celebration day just for myself – no work, no kids. It can be overwhelming when building a start-up, so you have to focus on self-care. Set smart goals so you can see tangible achievements to know what you are celebrating for yourself each month.”
Trish Jensen on characteristics to be a great entrepreneur: “You need to be clear on what you want and the direction you want to go. Clarity is power… Commitment alters everything. You do what it takes to get the job done in spite of thoughts, feelings, emotions, and moods.”
These are just a few of the great insights shared during the event. Check out our YouTube page watch the event. Visit the Skandalaris Center Event Page to discover more events like this one.