Showing results by narrator "Jen Jacob" in All Categories

Anne grew up in an abusive home, leading to severe depression and a determination to do better as a mother. One of her sons wants a dog from the time he is a baby; Anne very much does not. For years she appeases him with creatures who live in cages and tanks, but on his tenth birthday she can no longer say no—and she proceeds to fall in love with their new four-legged family member, Mattie. Then Mattie dies a sudden and tragic death, and Anne feels herself begin to sink back into depression.

At the age of fifty-nine, Anne has never been to a concert. Then, she reluctantly goes to a Bruce Springsteen concert—a man she knows nothing about—to spend time with her son and daughter-in-law. For three-plus hours Bruce Springsteen’s energy, humanity, and enthusiasm lift her out of her lifelong depression and makes her feel alive. A year later, due to increasing classroom violence where she taught, Anne walks out the door thinking, I’m never coming back.

A simple, yet powerful truth - most problems have a solution that benefits all parties. That is pragmatic altruism. Drawing on her experiences as a healthcare management CEO, a parent, and a community leader, Dr. Kimberly Townsend shared her philosophy of why doing good is good for business in Lifecircle Leadership: How exceptional people make every day extraordinary. From creating an uplifting environment in the workplace to the importance of reaching out to the community and truly making a difference, Dr. Townsend’s approach delivered measurable results for her community.