Apr

13

Ellen Snortland

Filed Under Girls Fight Back!, Random, Safety & Self-Defense | 1 Comment

A few days ago I was chatting with my friend Ellen Snortland on the phone.  Ellen is a speaker, author, actress, on the Board for Impact Safety in California and one of the first women to write a book about women’s self-defense. She and I were discussing many things, but one thing that struck me was a story she shared about women suffragists.  Ellen is quite the women’s history buff, and she told me that public speaking was one of the most effective tools the suffragists used to lobby for a woman’s right to vote.  Specifically these speakers went on speaking tours, focusing on less populated cities in the Midwest to spread the message of their campaign.  I’ve always found public speaking to be very effective in communicating with women across the U.S. and it reaffirmed my belief that more of us need to get out there, grab a mic and share our stories and knowledge with one another.  After researching this, I found that Susan B. Anthony specifically was an incredible speaker and was the movement’s unofficial spokeswoman.

But back to Ellen – Since I became involved in women’s self-defense back in 2001 I’ve had a few permanent books on my desk.  As Girls Fight Back evolves, I turn to these old faithfuls to ground me in what ideals this company was built upon.  The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker is always a great reminder that each of us can (and should) trust our intuition when it comes to safety, relationships, life and business. The other book I always seem to turn to is Ellen’s book, Beauty Bites Beast. She recently returned from Brazil, where her book was just released in Portuguese!  (See the YouTube video above, which is a film project based on Ellen’s book.)

People like Ellen, Eve Ensler and Lee Sinclair are so inspiring to me, because they are the leading the charge to make women’s safety education and self-defense a global issue. Yes, we have overwhelming problems with violence right here in our own back yards.  But in countries where goats are more valuable than women, you can only imagine how much work we have ahead of us globally. Cheers for girl power everywhere!

Feb

2

Lee’s Blog

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For months now, I’ve been writing about my friend on a mission to end global violence named Lee Sinclair.  She founded the non-profit group, I’m Worth Defending, which is Kenya’s first women’s self-defense program.  She lives in San Francisco but is currently working in Kenya, along with another crusader named Carol Middleton.  Carol is the founder/owner of DC Krav Maga and DC Impact.  Together they are meeting with the trainers and taking their skills to the next level.  Can’t wait to join Lee in Kenya in January 2010, but in the meantime I’m loyally reading her blog.  Yesterday they visited a refugee rescue center and taught self-defense to teen girls covered head to toe in burkas.  Wow.  Read about Lee’s daily happenings by clicking here.

Jan

1

Top 10 Things I Learned in 2008

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Sometimes we plan too much for the future without reflecting upon the past.  Instead of making 2009 resolutions today, I’d like to re-cap what I learned in 2008.  Hopefully, this will help me realize what I need to work on in the coming year.  In no particular order, here you go:  The Top 10 Things I Learned this Year.

1.  I learned to take big, scary risks.  I hired a staff, got an office, produced an expensive live DVD of the Girls Fight Back seminar, had my own radio show and did more speaking engagements than ever in my career.  Risk is uncomfortable, but also invigorating!

2.  I learned it’s okay to have high expectations of people, and how to be equally prepared for pleasant or unpleasant surprises.  This year, I had both.  In the end, I learned a lot about being a boss and building a solid team.

3.  I learned that travel is cool and fun sometimes, but it’s also a bitch when you travel for a living.  Funny, but I seem to re-learn this one every year.

4.  I learned that Girls Fight Back is destined to be much bigger than me.  It’s time to grow.  A big announcement is coming soon, but here’s a hint:  GFB will be hiring Speakers/Instructors this year.  For real.

5.  I learned a lot about money…how to make it, how to lose it, how to manage it, how to invest it and how to beef up or slim down when necessary.  2009 will be more mobile, leaner, smarter and stronger…all with the help of Mint.com.  (Greatest website ever, IMHO.)

6.  I learned how much I want to become a mother someday.  I miscarried my first pregnancy in August, and several weeks later I began my Fall Tour.  It was sad, if not the hardest loss I’ve endured next to Shannon’s murder in 2001.  While this sort of life event can make a person quite bitter or envious, really I just learned what a miracle life is.

7.  I learned to let go.  Especially after the miscarriage, I started to realize how NOT in control we are of many things.  Sometimes there is peace in knowing we simply aren’t in charge, even for control freaks like myself.  I learned to stop and listen to what God or the Universe has in store for me, instead of me always calling the shots.

8.  I learned to think globally.  This year I began to dream bigger than my own country, and envision what is possible for the world. I met a woman named Lee Sinclair (Founder of I’m Worth Defending) who taught me about violence happening across the globe in Africa.  I’ll be going to Kenya next year to teach women’s safety and self-defense, and can’t wait to humbly contribute in any way I can.

9.  I learned to choose friends and critics wisely.  Everyone has an opinion, and you can’t be all things to all people. Haters (especially anonymous ones) are everywhere, but they’re only as important as you let them be.  So are friends – keep them close and show appreciation often.

10.  I learned to breathe.  It might sound crazy, but getting serious about yoga and meditation this year taught me how stressful my life was.  Literally, I was holding my breath much of the time.  It’s an ongoing struggle to keep my life within a reasonable balance – but who ISN’T struggling with this!  Baby steps, right?

What did you learn this year?  Please comment.

Aug

5

I’m Worth Defending

Filed Under Random, Safety & Self-Defense, Social Entrepreneurship | Leave a Comment

I’d like to introduce you all to my new friend and soul sister, Lee Sinclair.  Lee started Africa’s first women’s self-defense program in the slums of Kenya back in 2001.  Lee is a writer and activist living in San Francisco, and was first brought to Kenya while coordinating a child care and sponsorship program for AIDS orphans. It was her experiences with these vulnerable children and their stories of rape, incest and sexual abuse that led Lee to realize that her own Self-Defense training could be lifesaving when applied to children living in the area.  Lee began teaching SD to small groups of local children but it quickly became clear that the problem deserved a larger effort. In February 2007, with the help of two US based Self Defense Instructors, Susannah MacKaye and Wendi Deetz, the first I’m Worth Defending team was formed in Korogocho slum Kenya. On February 26th 2007, after a month of specialized training, classes began. Since then, thousands of women and children have learned self-defense…and self-worth in the process.  Lee and I are planning some exciting international projects, so stay tuned.

Watch video about I’m Worth Defending.