by Karen Brune Mathis
Managing Editor
Almost 400 people joined Women Business Owners of North Florida on Monday at its 25th annual Women in Business Awards presentation at the Hyatt Downtown.
WBO named its 2011 award winners. They are: Entrepreneur of the Year, Cynthia Montello, The Montello Agency; Franchisee of the Year, Grace Huxtable-Mount, The Learning Experience Child Development Center; Pioneer of the Year, Gwen Griggs, PARC Management LLC; and Corporate Leader of the Year, Candace Moody, WorkSource.
Keynote speaker Delores Kesler, chair of PSS World Medical and the founder of what grew to become MPS Group Inc., told the audience of men and women that there are three stages of life.
“First is preparation, followed by ‘doing it’ and ending with the ‘winding-down, giving-back’ stage,” she said.
Kesler said that preparation is critical. “It is absolutely the foundation for what you are going to do the rest of your life,” she said.
Part of preparation is mentoring, which she called “part of your core.”
The “doing it” phase is the most difficult, she said. That’s because men and women who are pursuing their life’s work also are busy outside of their careers with family and obligations.
“Building a business is the hardest thing you will ever do. It’s twice as hard as you think it will be,” she said.
“But it is worth it if you see yourself making progress.”
The third phase is “winding down” and “giving back.”
“Retirement is whatever you want to call it,” said Kesler.
She said that when giving back, though, “only do what you believe in.”
“You have to be very, very careful how you give back,” she said, saying that many people are pulled in different directions.
Kesler talked about giving time, talent and treasure. She said everyone has the same amount of time, each person has individual talents to share and people have varying degrees of treasure to give.
However, she said those attending the event already are donating by showing support for women in business.
“The fact you’re here, you’re already giving back.”
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