We are HUGE fans of Suzy Welch. We got to meet her last year when she interviewed us for her segment on Kathie Lee & Hoda. The segment was on Professional Blogging, and she was did such an amazing job showcasing our (dare we say this!) unconventional career and showing how it really has become a desirable career choice. She took the time to get to know us (along with fellow friend and blogger Linda Grant) and know our stories. We appreciated that to the core.
Suzy’s such an inspiration… you can feel her positive energy when you’re around her.
A little about Suzy (from SuzyWelch101010.com): In addition to being a contributor on The Today Show, she’s an author commentator, and business journalist. The Welch Way, a weekly column that she writes with her husband, Jack Welch, appears in BusinessWeek magazine and is published by the New York Times syndicate in more than 45 major newspapers around the world, reaching more than 8 million readers. The Welches are also the co-authors of Winning, a #1 Wall Street Journal and international bestseller, and its companion volume, Winning: The Answers, along with The Real Life MBA. Suzy is a columnist for O, The Oprah Magazine, where she writes frequently about balancing work and life, as well as the delicate art of managing career challenges.”
Suzy’s also a mom of four and when we were with her, it was really wonderful to get her perspective on the whole hustle/mom/balance equation.
When we asked her if we could feature her on Permission to Hustle and ask her some questions, she got back to us immediately with a YES! This is why we love and adore her… she’s so open and kind and smart and willing to help other women with their hustles!
1. Tell us a little bit about your hustle. How do you define your hustle/business?
There is no audience like the women who watch Kathie Lee and Hoda, because they wouldn’t be tuning in if they weren’t in love with the KL&G vibe — fun, big-hearted, and authentic. My hustle — although I’ve never thought of it quite that way! — is to showcase ways for our wonderful viewers to energize their lives through work, be it from home, or part-time, or a first job back after being with the kids. In other words, I’m always on the lookout for stories that will encourage and inspire women in their careers, and once I find them, I hustle even more to make those stories come alive.
2. How do you dig deep to work hard and continue your hustle?
I’ve been a reporter since I was 21 years old, and even earlier if you go back to me editing my high school newspaper. I think I am just naturally addicted to looking for stories all the time. It never feels old to me, and in fact, there are still mornings when I wake up with a nervous knot in my stomach, and frantically think, “Oh my God, I’ve got to find something to cover today.” Then I get my coffee and walk the dogs, and calm down a bit. (A bit.)
3. What are some of your greatest professional successes?
Professional success — meh. But I’ll tell you something. Every time a woman tells me that something I covered helped her change her life for the better, I want to lay down and cry, it makes me so happy. I am blessed that this kind of conversation has happened more than I could have ever dreamt of, but I will never forget something that happened a few years ago. I had given a speech in New York, and a woman waited in line two hours afterward to tell me that the decision-making process in my book 10-10-10 had helped her family emotionally survive a terrible tragedy that it had endured. Honestly, hearing that felt better than being on the New York Times best-seller list for 30 weeks, which I assure you felt very, very good. I still think about her all the time.
4. Where do you find inspiration and motivation?
I think I’ve always been inspired and motivated by my kids. I wanted to set an example for how they should approach life, and to make them proud that I was their mom. My husband also inspires me every day, with his love and goodness.
5. What’s your secret sauce? Give us one tip that you think has added to your success?
I couldn’t answer this question myself without feeling self-conscious and sort of like a jerk, so I texted my daughters. Here’s what they answered.
Eve, who is 21: You’re very smart, and work very hard, and you never give up.
Sophia, who is 26: You do what you’re good at and love at the same time. Also, you believe in yourself.
Thank you, my lovelies.
6. Did you always know that this would be your path in life – career wise?
Yes! At age 7, I started a diary (oddly named “Vinnie”) and I started reporting on life, mainly my own, but also on weird stuff, like neighbors moving and relatives getting married. One of my longest entries was in 1975, when I did a low-down on the Vietnam War ending. Go figure. But I think it’s fair to say I never gave one moment’s consideration to any other career. I should note that I’m not sure I could actually DO anything else.
7. When you’ve faced obstacles/roadblocks – what do you do? How do you get past them?
When I was young, I was not especially great at obstacles, and certainly left jobs or situations rather than tough them out. For instance, I quit a job once because of a bad boss. That was dumb; I should’ve waited him out, or advocated to be moved to another part of the company. As I got older, and my kids taught me endurance, and I basically grew up and got my stuff together, I learned that when things get hard, you have to talk more to more people, ask for help, accept that bad things happen and good things can take a long time, and pray constantly.
8. Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you?
I have so many! One of my favorites these days is from this young hipster musician named Ethan Parker, whose band played at my church this summer. Out of the blue, between songs, he said, “We’re put on earth to fix what breaks our heart,” and that just blew me away. I love it and think it is true.
9. How would you love to hear your kids describe the professional you?
“My mom helps make the world a better place with her kindness and encouragement.”
That would just about slay me… dead. dead. dead.
10. Where can we find you on social?
Twitter: @suzywelch
Instagram: @jack_and_suzy
Website: SuzyWelch101010.com
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