Spread Your Sunshine

03/30/2022

If you enjoy Patti Ketcham’s advice even half as much as it was fun to chat with her, you’re in for a treat. Don’t miss this fantastic interview taped in celebration of and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s 10th annual celebration of . Talk about a trail blazing inspiration. ☀️

03/30/2022

“Diversity is critical,” not only of age, race, gender, religion, disability, and additional legally recognized categories, but also of thought and social and emotional intelligence. Loved this interview with Tanya Davis regarding her extraordinary career and advice for cultivating same. ☀️

03/29/2022

Fabulous interview with Captain Carolyn Kurtz, one of only ten female harbor pilots guiding ships into U.S. ports, including some of the world’s biggest freighters. Awesome how she credits her parents with the confidence to pursue her professional passion. ☀️

03/22/2022

We’re excited to continue learning from all of the awesome advice shared by these incredible Trail Blazers. Be sure to tune in! ☀️

is proud to announce our 2022 Celebrating Women in Business Vlog Series, including Aida Bao-Garciga, of Beachfront Life LLC, a construction and design company; Tanya I. Davis, CPA, and partner at S. Davis & Associates, P.A.; Patti E. Ketcham, broker-owner of Ketcham Realty Group, Inc; Captain Carolyn Kurtz, Tampa Bay harbor pilot; and Christy Salters Martin, a former boxer, and boxing promoter at Christy Martin Promotions

Follow us each day from March 28-April 1 to hear unique perspectives from these dynamic women!

10/25/2021

10/24/2021

Having personally experienced and witnessed the impact of another loss since this message was originally presented during the Delta Zeta Sorority National Convention this past summer, the importance of building our resilience muscles is even further understood. Looking forward to this special presentation and learning from each other tonight. ☀️

06/21/2021

Tomorrow, join the Federal Bar Association, Tampa Bay Chapter for its Staying In The Game Boot Camp Series: Getting Down to Business to learn about Strategies for Creating A Business Plan and Cultivating A Personal Brand. You can register for this virtual lunchtime program at: https://www.federalbartampa.org/staying-in-the-game-2021/. ☀️

04/02/2021

This past week, I arrived home from errands to find the sweetest surprise - HayleyCakes and Cookies Spread Your Sunshine cookies from Christine Turner in celebration of our Podcast launch. Sister, it’s uh-mazing how you have time to be the most thoughtful friend, PR guru, community leader, amazing wife and momma, and so much more. Watching you shine is so inspiring, very grateful for your bright, beautiful spirit that lights up every place you go.

To listen to the initial 9 Spread Your Sunshine Episodes released in celebration of Women’s History Month, visit our Blog to see the Show: https://spreadyoursunshine.com/blogs/news. Or (and!!), subscribe and listen on Spotify and Apple. So excited to continue learning, growing and shining brightly with fabulous YOU!! ☀️



📸: Mike Rodriguez Photographer

04/01/2021

During our conversation yesterday, Florida State University Student Body President Elect Nastassia Janvier and I talked about the importance of being intentional, including regarding diversity, equity and inclusion. As an ally, I’ve realized that being intentional does not simply mean denouncing words and actions that are hateful, racist, discriminatory, and the like. Being intentional requires more. It requires action to create necessary and meaningful change.

Personally, I am working on being intentional within organizations of which I am a part. Many of these groups are diverse in membership. They are not, however, diverse in leadership, ownership, recognition, the pipeline, and beyond. I want to intentionally help to change this pattern moving forward and continue listening, learning, and growing so that I can best do so.

If you missed Nastassia’s Live Episode yesterday, visit the Spread Your Sunshine Blog to hear her advice about creating safe spaces for meaningful, and sometimes difficult, conversations: https://spreadyoursunshine.com/blogs/news. She is truly working to be the change she wishes to see in the world and wants to help you effect such positive change, too.

04/01/2021

Packing up Every Day Hero Gift Sets today has us reflecting on *all* of the people for whom we are grateful. Since gratitude is most effective when it is intentional, today, I am specifically thankful for my Mother-in-Law, Dr. Kathleen Griffin. She has endured so much loss, of her mother, father, first daughter, childhood home and possessions, and more. Yet, every day, she puts one foot in front of the other, walks deeply in her faith, and shows kindness, positivity and grace to everyone around her. She is truly inspirational and a blessing and role model to so many who know and love her, especially me.

Who is a hero without a cape in your life? Be sure to tell them what a positive impact they’ve made on you. As President John F. Kennedy once said, “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”

https://spreadyoursunshine.com/collections/gift-sets/products/every-day-hero-gift-set

04/01/2021

My son and I recently walked about a half mile to get ice-cream. Upon arrival, we realized we forgot our masks. We asked the attendant if we could place our order anyway and immediately leave. She said, “No.” My 3-year-old burst into tears. Seeing Maverick’s disappointment and knowing I should have remembered our masks made me cry, too. We sat down at an outside table to regroup.

A woman then sat down at the table next to us with ice-cream. Seeing us, she asked what happened. When Maverick explained that we could not get ice-cream, she immediately offered hers. I said we could not take it. She then offered to go back to the store to buy us ice-cream. I thanked her for her offer, but insisted we pay. She thought for a second and said, “Better yet, I have extra masks in my car that I can give you so that you can go into the store yourselves.” She was our hero!

Once we all had ice-cream, we sat at our respective tables and chatted for quite a while. The woman had just moved from Missouri to Florida and was having trouble adjusting given that several activities in her new neighborhood were still closed due to Coronavirus. We told her how awesome Florida is and brainstormed alternative things she might enjoy.

When it was time to leave, the woman thanked us. I was surprised given that *we* were the ones who should have again thanked her. She explained, “Before I met you, I was having a bad day. Spending time with you made it better.”

What a profound moment. It never occurred to me that *we* were the heroes to the woman just as she was to us. What a good reminder that we never know the struggles someone else is facing and to treat everyone with kindness and grace. You might be the person who turns their day around even when you do not know how much your positive spirit is needed.

04/01/2021

The Importance of Creating a Safe Space to Address Previously Broken Conversations

Tazzy, the third Black female Student Body President at The Florida State University, is a game changer who challenges “people to be daring enough to think, ‘If not me then who.’” Her three-part process of awareness, accessibility and accountability makes her an effective influencer of positive social change. Beyond fighting equality injustices, Tazzy is passionate about helping her community achieve positive mental health. Hear how and more from this visionary leader at SpreadYourSunshine.com.

03/31/2021

Did you hear Morgan Barse’s Spread Your Sunshine Podcast interview on Wednesday? She had so much to share, including regarding the importance of building community and how to do so. If you missed her live, be sure to soak in all of her wisdom via the Blog: https://spreadyoursunshine.com/blogs/news/morgan-barse.

Then, get ready to watch our last Women’s History Month Episode airing at 8 PM EST Live on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Nastassia Janvier, the newly elected third female Black Student Body President at The Florida State University, shares her insights on diversity and inclusion, how to facilitate previously “broken conversations,” overcoming mental health struggles, and more.

03/29/2021

When you don’t receive feedback, it’s easy to get stuck in your head and question your work. That’s certainly the case for us, and that feeling reared its ugly head at the beginning of last week. We questioned if our efforts were paying off and helping our community. Then, out of the blue, a friend posted, “When I’m feeling down, along with affirmations . . . I also remind myself of my many dear friends. Amazing people like . . . Melanie Griffin and her organization and message of ‘Spreading your Sunshine’ the amazing gift she shares of empowerment and keeping that positivity in your life.” Wow, what a phenomenal compliment. And, just like that, it was the encouragement we needed to keep moving forward and serving others.

That is the power YOU have today. Right now. To *tell* someone that their hard work makes a positive difference in your life so that they *know* what you are thinking and how much you value them. Whose life will you positively impact?

03/29/2021

The Importance of Creating a Safe Space to Address Previously Broken Conversations

Tazzy, the third Black female Student Body President at The Florida State University, is a game changer who challenges “people to be daring enough to think, ‘If not me then who.’” Her three-part process of awareness, accessibility and accountability makes her an effective influencer of positive social change. Beyond fighting equality injustices, Tazzy is passionate about helping her community achieve positive mental health. Hear how and more from this visionary leader at SpreadYourSunshine.com.

03/29/2021

The Importance of Building Community & Connecting with Others

Leading the brand development of best-selling authors, Emmy award-winning journalists, and industry leaders, Gals with Goals and Wing Woman Brands Founder Morgan Barse is dedicated to helping her community map out their big goals, quit comparing themselves to others, and learn from those they admire so they can live their big dreams. To do this, Morgan is laser-focused with her time, including taking herself on “dates” to focus while having fun. Learn more from Morgan at SpreadYourSunshine.com.

03/29/2021

I would never look at my friend Leila Sabet and think that she was the victim of ethnic- and cyber-bullying. Leila is the reigning Miss Florida Citrus, who has also earned the titles of Miss Northeast Florida 2014, Miss Ponte Vedra 2015, and Miss Tallahasse 2018. In 2018, she was a Miss Florida Top 5 Finalist, who won the Lifestyle & Fitness Preliminary Swimsuit Award and Leave a Legacy Award. Based on these accomplishments, one might assume that Leila feels comfortable in her own skin. But, her senior year of high school, she was severely bullied for being of Iranian descent, including being called a “terrorist” and associated with the 9/11 attacks. As she reflected, it was the first time she remembers being judged for something she has no ability to change.

Knowing Leila’s beautiful spirit, my eyes well up every time I think of her experiencing such hate. Leila’s story is a good reminder that we never know what someone else is going through. Everyone struggles. Everyone. Which is why it is so important to always treat others with kindness and never to think that you are struggling, “failing,” or making “mistakes” alone. We are all on this journey together and learning and growing along the way.

To learn more about Leila’s journey and how she overcame her struggles, listen to her entire Spread Your Sunshine Podcast Episode on the Blog: https://spreadyoursunshine.com/blogs/news/leila-sabet. Then, tune in at 12 PM EST for more wisdom and advice from Morgan Barse when the Show airs Live on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. ☀️

03/28/2021

Too many times, employees view their emotions as a weakness, when oftentimes, they are a strength. High social and emotional intelligence leads to improved relationships, increased empathy, more effective communication, reduced anxiety and stress, defused conflicts, and enhanced ability to overcome life’s challenges. Hear first-hand through the Spread Your Sunshine Podcast available on our Blog how Leila Sabet uses her high EQ to thrive as an Amazon.com Manager of a male-dominated Team (and much more!): https://spreadyoursunshine.com/blogs/news/leila-sabet. ☀️