The ANDERSONS: Matt, Howard, Ann, and Maggie

This summer, I have been working to satisfy an element of resiliency called ‘relating.’ Relating skillfully to others and our world makes us feel safe and connected and helps us bounce back from failures and heartbreak. According to Rick Hanson, Ph.D., resilient individuals have three strengths they exercise when relating: courage, aspiration, and generosity.

I have committed to fulfill a longtime aspiration of mine: publishing a book. When we started hearing stories of Olympians competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, I thought about how early the seeds of dreams are planted. Some Olympians like Sunisa Lee started as a six-year-old.

I may be too old to become an Olympian, but I am not too old to write about a process I have been mentoring others in for decades. These Olympians are helping me put my aspirations into context. Inspiration builds momentum and comes from many places.

Sunisa Lee became a U.S. gold medalist in the women’s artistic gymnastics all-around category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on July 29^th. The first Hmong-American gymnast grew up in St. Paul, MN, basically in my backyard. July 30^th was Sunisa Lee day in Minnesota. The magic beyond what we envision. A six-year-old girl achieves her dream at age 18.

Like most huge dreams that take years to create, the path to reaching our aspirations is plagued with disappointment, upsets and setbacks, tragedy, possible injuries, temptations to quit, and enough silver-lining moments like luck, supportive mentors, and miracles that keep us going. What are the odds? Simone Biles, the most outstanding athlete in the world, asserts self-leadership when making an incredible mental health decision to step down, and just like that, new opportunities and challenges surfaced as the stakes increased for the other U.S. Team gymnasts. Champions, like entrepreneurs, know when to seize the moment.

Simone’s mental health concerns appeared in the form of depression and ‘twisties.’ Not the snack food brand, twisties is a mental block that affects a gymnast’s performance. While in the air, they lose their space and dimension. This causes the performer to lose control of their body, doing unintended twists or turns and feeling disoriented, as Simone acknowledged feeling after a vault. Imagine how unnerving that would be and dangerous. You don’t know how you are going to land.

Simone’s decision to put her well-being first created space for Jordan Chiles and another Minnesotan, Grace McCallum of Isanti, to step up and realize their aspirations by winning U.S. Gymnastic Team Silver Medals along with Sunisa and Simone (who competed on the vault). And they won individual medals too. Mykayla Skinner won a silver medal for vaulting and Sunisa a bronze for her performance on the uneven bars. There is more than one way to make history and reach your goals. Simone’s encouragement and blessings cleared the path for new champions to emerge.

Today’s Guest Mentor, Ann Anderson, MBA of Retail Partner Solutions, LLC, had her own derailed experience with an injury as a gymnast in high school. You will hear how she reshaped her aspirations with courage. Ann says about her upbringing, “I come from a family of strength.” She and her husband, Howard Anderson, have raised two resilient adult children.

There are few people I have talked with who enjoyed corporate life. Ann is one of those who excelled in a wide variety of roles at TIME, Inc., spanning 31 years. Her leap from corporate executive into solopreneurship in 2019 has been a vast energizing learning curve. Her ability to find humor in what she is learning about herself helps. A new dream in the making and a champion in her own right.

You will hear how Ann cleverly packaged her retail expertise and got busy connecting with entrepreneurs in the food, beverage, kitchen, and other miscellaneous industries. Getting products in big-box retailers like Target, Walmart, Costco, and others is a hurry up and wait for kind of game. As a results-driven senior executive and retail strategist, Ann continually understands each retailer’s processes and timelines. Being skilled at building relationships is a must, and Ann is exceptional at it.

Tune in to hear these other parts of our inspiring conversation:

• The most significant shift Ann needed to make in going from a corporate mindset to an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Being raised by an Italian Mother and German Father. The impact of moving from Milwaukee to Iowa.
• Raising two adult children with her husband, Howard, in Minnesota.
• Ann’s two brothers, who liked to play tricks on her, prepared her for speaking up in corporate settings.
• The gems Ann learned at TIME, Inc.
• Pitching over 30 products and what she learned in 2020.
• Her life mentors, including me.
• Her passion for bridging the gap between buyers and brands.

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