Franchise Update Magazine Issue I, 2014 | Page 32

WOMEN AT 24 THE TOP Barbara Moran-Goodrich CEO and President, Moran Family of Brands Blink. I also have recommended two books over the years that have helped me communicate better: Smart Questions by Dorothy Leeds and Verbal Judo by George Thompson and Jerry Jenkins. Of course there are many other great business books I have read and am currently re-reading, such as Good to Great by Jim Collins and Traction by Gino Wickman, as we are implementing a new process with our management team. This has really helped our organization get back on track, and we are already seeing the results from our new structure. How has your life experience made you the leader you are today? I believe the saying, “You are the sum of all your experiences” is pretty accurate. I’ve experienced a lot of challenges throughout my life, both personal and professional, and those challenges have definitely helped guide me in leadership roles. As a young adult, I had a severe head injury that changed the direction of my life: I realized that you have to move on and not dwell on your situation. You need to get past it or you will become consumed by that moment in your life. Another situation I faced was that my son was born with a birth defect that caused him to stop breathing multiple times a day. Now that was a challenge! I learned that you often have to stay the course and believe the situation can get better. These are the same things I try to convey to our franchisees: Don’t dwell on your situation and things can get better if you stay the course. Ev