Connie Murry Gaston

I attribute my success to staying positive and focused on happiness, which I believe is at the top of the chart, not money or material things. I was raised with the values that there is never too little to share and you only look down to lift up, which has guided everything I do. As a single mother for 17 years raising three sons who are five years apart, I learned to work from home and manage my business while being present for my children. I practiced meditation and journal to keep myself centered and balanced, especially during those challenging years. I always did five-year planning, not just for my children but for myself, asking where I wanted to be and what I wanted to be doing. Every position I've ever held helped me in every new position that followed. I've had mentors who gave me opportunities and stood for me, which taught me the importance of giving back and mentoring others. I've learned that you can't know everything, and what you don't know will make a whole new world. Even though I've been afraid in life, I've never been too afraid to move forward. My focus has always been on health, safety, and welfare, whether managing 300 Peace Corps volunteers or raising my own family, and that approach has served me well throughout my career.

Stay open to learning to things, be a forgiving person, knowing how to lead as well as follow and stand on truth and integrity at all times.

I would say that, first of all, always take care of yourself. I always did self-development, and I encourage you to always do self-development and self-analysis for yourself, a reality check, to keep yourself growing and advancing mentally, physically, and emotionally. It's very important because as you give, you need to have a reservoir where you are restoring. I'm spiritual, and I think meditation is crucial. When you rise in the morning take a few moments to breathe each day, to sit in silence, even if it's only for a few minutes, it helps you to restore peace within yourself, before you move out to the world. I got up hours ahead of time before my household woke up, just to take the time off the top for myself. I say keep yourself in good mental state of being, Self preservation is first. In moving forward, to whom much is given much is expected! You should always pay it forward by giving as well as receiving. A mentor is important, someone that will stand for you or assist you, because you can't know everything. New positions are a lot of on-the-job training, and what was very helpful to me, was what I had learned in prior positions, assisted me in new positions.

The Economy! Being able to survive and make a living to support your life style.

The values most important to me are treating everyone like you would want to be treated. I really like providing services, and distributing information to the community and to people, because you need to know your resources, and there lots of people who are not aware. Whatever I'm doing, I put that in the forefront in helping people. I was raised with the belief that there's never too little to share, and you only look down to lift up. Happiness is at the top of the chart for me, not money or material things, although I like those also. Happiness has to come from within; you can't depend on things and folks to make you happy. I believe in staying positive and giving encouragement to others. I want people to know that yes, you can achieve your goals, and to not be afraid. I've been afraid in life, but not ever too afraid to move forward. I focus on health, safety, and welfare in everything I do, whether it was managing Peace Corps volunteers or raising my three sons as a single mother. I practice meditation and I journal to keep myself centered and balanced. I believe strongly in team-building, because when you build a team, it's one for all and all for one, and that helps in every experience you have, whether it's family, work, or whatever you do. Education has always been important to me, and I'm grateful for what I learned at Michigan State University. I also believe in giving back and mentoring others, because I had mentors who gave me opportunities.