“Age is an issue of mind over matter.
If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”
– Mark Twain
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting privately with Breege O’Donoghue.
Breege is one of the most influential business women in Ireland and is one of the so-called ‘Gang of Four’ who ran clothes retailer Penneys/Primark.
Most recently she oversaw Primark’s expansion into the US market before stepping away to “move on to her next phase of life”.
I was meeting Breege in preparation for a Q&A this Thursday at a sold out event I’m hosting for 70 business women in Dublin – The Dinner For Ladies Who Don’t Lunch.
Breege is in her late 70s and you’d think she’d be in a ‘retiring mindset’ but that would be a mistake.
Despite having left Penneys, she still acts as an ambassador for the brand and is also now the Chair of the Design and Crafts Council Of Ireland and sits on four other boards.
But what impressed me the most on meeting her was her mindset and attitude to living.
This is a woman who attends the gym three times a week, does hot yoga once a week, and once a year does a 10 day fast. She met me wearing an Apple watch and had the latest iPad Pro with Apple pencil at the ready. She loves travel and is also a step-mum to 10 children and grand-mother to 15 children. She’s also an active mentor to several business owners.
This is a person who is very switched on.
At one point I asked her this:
‘What drives you? What motivates you to keep doing new things, taking on new challenges?’
Her answer is one I think we can all be inspired by regardless of our situation, age or background.
‘I want to be fully used up when my time on the planet comes to an end. I want to have contributed as much as a I can.’
All of this starts with accepting where we are, and seeing what can be done to make it better. To make the most of whoever we are and whatever we have as abillities. It also includes a realisation that we have something to contribute and that hard work can conquer most mountains.
An attitude like this takes on big goals and moves around the inevitable obstacles that emerge with the river of business and life.
I wasn’t sure what to expect before meeting Breege but I left feeling very inspired and motivated to use more of myself.
I thought it worthy to share with you.
Shane
ps – If you’re one of the women attending the Dinner event on Thursday you’re in for a treat.
The Dinner For Ladies Who Don’t Lunch – Waiting List In Operation
The event referred to above is fully booked out. We have a waiting list in operation in case of cancellations. You can get onto that list here.
Online Academy: Achieve more clarity, excel in your personal and professional development with some of my online courses and talks. Learn at your own pace from anywhere. More details here.
Topics include:
- State Of Mind: Improve The Key To Better Results In Busines And Life
- Thrive: How To Do It In A World That’s Changing Faster Than Ever
- BluePrint Online : Improve your Purpose, Clarity and Focus
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