About Molly

“If I was financially independent, I would … start a foundation.”

“If I had three years left to live, I would … spend more time with my children and do what I could to plan for their future.”

I ask myself these questions at different stages in life, and it’s interesting to see how the answers have evolved, and how close I am to actually living them. I did run a foundation for a while, as a volunteer. Now, my priorities are my family and running a successful business to provide for my family. By successful, I want my business to not only be profitable and ethical, but also make a positive difference.

There are several ways I make a difference with my business:

• Working for clients making a difference in the world. One of my clients is the Rewards for Justice Program at the US State Department. We promote awareness about a program that prevents international terrorist acts from occurring, and leads to the arrest and conviction of known terrorists. I help fight the bad guys—the really bad guys, like Osama bin Laden. It adds a lot of significance to my work knowing I’m helping to prevent the additional loss of life from international terrorism.
•  Helping my clients reach their goals. My work with clients tends to get personal. A corporate exit strategy needs to be aligned with a personal exit strategy for clients to be passionate about execution. Helping them reach their corporate goals and realize their personal goals is incredibly rewarding. Hearing and seeing their pride and satisfaction in moving the ball toward and into the goal is very motivating.
• Challenging my clients to be better. Working as a consultant, I can say what other people are afraid to. It’s my job to be provocative and to push as long as it’s productive.

 INFLUENCES

 I’ve been very lucky to lead a life rich in diverse experiences that have influenced me in a variety of ways. This is what I bring to the table:

 Multidisciplinary

• After college, I had the chance to polish and publish some original research I’d done on James Joyce’s Ulysses. Spending that much time on such a narrow focus would have frustrated me greatly, so I passed on it. I’ve never regretted it. In a world of specialists who dream up the fabulous innovations exploding daily, we need some generalists who are looking around and connecting the dots.

Open-minded

• Teaching diverse populations at Outward Bound, I learned that everyone has their own starting point and their own end point. I can’t tell them what it is. I can help them discover it.

Competitive

•  I crew for some very skilled sailboat racers. “If you don’t think you can win, you shouldn’t be on the water.” I like winning, especially against tough competition.

Analytical

• Remember the original research on Ulysses? I loved plumbing the intricacies of themes in modern literature. Most things in life are rife with multiple interwoven themes. Understanding the puzzle is fascinating to me.

Connection

• In three summers of teaching sailing during college, I only had two students I didn’t like. After traveling to different parts of the world by myself, I believe we have more in common with others than not. Finding those connections, laughing over the same thing, sharing similar revelations, makes my heart sing. It’s also what helps us move forward.

Productivity

• I spent ten years working in small non-profits, and eventually switched to the corporate world. In my first corporate position at a publicly traded company, I was able to study Eli Goldratt’s Theory of Constraints. Define your goal, and go get it.

Spirituality

• Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth has been influential to me. The concept of following your bliss is imperative. I also looked at these ancient myths and believe that as long as we are following our path with as much integrity as we can, we are all on the same path. When I am encountering extremists, this idea of integrity is important.

Change

• “The people that live the longest are those that accept change,” said my grandmother, upon telling me about her latest friend who had died. “Don’t you mean death?” I asked. “Death is just another type of change,” she replied. Change is inevitable. Embrace it.

Growth Edge

• This is my phrase for Stephen Covey’s four dimensions of renewal-sharpening the saw physically, spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, (page 288).

Choice

• Recognize when you are at a crossroads, and make the best choice you can. When you are not at a crossroads, make the most of the path you are on. (I learned this from someone, but I can’t remember whom. Please feel free to ask for credit if it’s you!)