Our recent interview with International Women's Speaker
Patti Cotton
Patti Cotton -
A) I think of Maya Angelou, who told Oprah at one point, "Don't let anyone touch the small, white space inside you. That's the authentic you. Don't let anyone compromise that or take it away from you." There were years when I let others dictate who I was and what my future would be. Not now. Designing my own life is the greatest gift I have allowed myself to receive.
B) Know yourself, your personal values, and then use them as the guiding GPS for your gut. My gut has never steered me wrong. On the other hand, when I didn't pay attention to my gut, or I took action that was not aligned with my personal values, difficulties ensued. Rather than to count these situations as failures, I chose to identify them as learning experiences not to repeat! Failing and making mistakes are part of growth.
5) How do you personally define success and has your definition changed over the years?
A)What a great question! I used to compare myself to others, and to define success as "reaching the top." What I asked myself was, "Am I doing as well as that other person? Am I making as much money? Getting as much recognition? Ahead?"
Now, I compare myself to myself! And I define success by how I live up to my values and contribute back to the world. Questions I ask myself these days include, "Am I a loving person? Did I live up to my values? Did I make a difference in someone's life today?"
Interviewed by Sharon Nicholas
Sgarib