Women today continue to be tossed about the seas of corporate career storms, affecting their health and relationships. Janice Wilson, author, speaker, IBM manager and a “Nevada woman” has written a new book, inspiring women to practice the principles of heroic feminine power. Her 20-plus years of experience in the corporate world and her passion for personal growth and development are the foundation for this book. In a recent interview with Janice, she shared these insights for NEVADA WOMAN readers.

ELLEN LAURA: “I’m curious. Why did you name the book ATHENA?”
JANICE WILSON: “I’ve developed a great fascination for the female goddesses. Men and women of the ancient world revered and honored these deities. I discovered role models within their stories for all women and myself. They taught me how to celebrate, honor and respect my own feminine qualities. I needed a feminine metaphor that would help me meet life’s challenges and succeed as a woman in our modern world. I wanted

to be a woman who is whole, loved and feels her individual beauty and goodness. Athena is the goddess of wisdom, war and the arts. She was the daughter of the god Zeus. She disguised herself as Mentor in order to teach her friend, Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, valuable lessons about life and leadership. Through Athena’s mentoring, Telemachus became an effective and much-loved ruler. Today, we no longer need to disguise ourselves as men to be effective leaders. Athena’s principles teach us how to create a future worth living.”

EL: “So, you consider Athena’s wisdom value for the scaling of corporate walls?”
JW: “Absolutely. This new book, ATHENA, LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR THE MILLENNIUM, reveals ancient wisdom as it applies to our current challenges. Athena recounts the classic tale of suffering, hardship and loss in the work world. The heroine’s career is unexpectedly devastated. Mysteriously, her ‘inner voice’ guides her to relearn ancient leadership skills, combined with the modern aspects of profitability and productivity. As she practices the ‘Seven Principles of Leadership’ she begins to walk courageously along the path of personal enrichment and wholeness.”

EL: “What are Athena’s ‘Seven Principles of Leadership?’”
JW: “The leadership skills are the principles of pleasure, passion, power, play, purpose, profit and people.”
EL: “PLEASURE’ is one of my favorites as a writer, coach and entrepreneur. Please explain how you see it as a leadership skill in a corporate setting.”
JW: “Practicing the PLEASURE PRINCIPLE sets you apart from others because of the positive impact on your work, and it also adds sunshine to your life. If you learn how to please yourself in what you think, feel, say and do, all the rest will come to you! That was a quality I’ve always possessed in the corporate world, however, even I needed some valuable lessons on integrating pleasure with the other skills.”

EL: “So, when a woman experiences pleasure in the corporate workplace, you perceive this as positive?”
JW: “It is beyond positive. It boosts your momentum so you go that extra mile. When you do things that please you at work, it helps stop procrastination and lets you welcome challenges.”
EL: “What about PASSION? Most corporate work environments give lip service to passion, yet seem frightened of those who express this potent energy.”
JW: “Good question. Passion is a misunderstood principle. It’s our fuel. It’s the energy that helps us to complete our tasks, shoot for the stars and take control of our lives.”

EL: “How is passion related to controlling your life?”
JW: “I know some people believe that if they are passionate they will lose control of themselves. It’s quite the contrary. True passion is best expressed through disciplined actions. It’s learning how to trust nature from within and without. It’s not living in a damaging, irresponsible manner. It’s not about over-promising — it’s about delivering on your word. True passion encourages discipline and consistency. It lets us function at a higher level of excellence, so our achievements ultimately match-up with our heart desires.”

EL: “We all know that POWER is a leadership quality. But how do you create the balance between power and peace?”
JW: “I chose to blend the ancient wisdom of power by combining it with the contemporary vision of time management. Meditation is the power that was born from centuries of experience. When you combine this art with the ‘just do it’ attitude, a new power of strength and clarity emerges. The feeling of never having enough time is replaced by the enchantment of a specially cherished time. Athena instructs us to take the time to breathe deeply and dissolve tension before acting! The power principle teaches us to step into the future and banish fear. This turn-of-the-millennium approach to power borrows from a multitude of traditions. All good leaders have developed impeccable timing. The power principle helps you to be ready to act, no matter what the situation. One minute of practicing this principle equals hours of ‘unlimited power’ lessons. It teaches you tranquility and unknots your nerves while helping you to translate your thoughts into actions.”

EL: “So you do not see power and peace as opposing forces?”
JW: “No. In fact, when they are in balance with each other, success arrives quicker and lasts longer.”

EL: “Now, enlighten us about ‘PLAY.”
JW: “I like to look at ‘play’ as a new level of performance technology The real power of a leader is in her ability to be able to get the whole team to play. When we were kids, we knew how to balance schoolwork with play Recess renewed our spirits for the rest of the day’s lessons. Play reconnects us to our imaginative powers. It’s what opens our creativity and intuition. It’s a breakthrough technology for solving problems. Play frees energy and brings a renewed spirit that enhances productivity and quality. When you play you’re self-motivated. You participate fully and never seem to run out of steam. People want to he around someone who is light hearted and fun! Help appears out of nowhere. People are willing and ready to follow you. Leaders who are playful get you to do things you wouldn’t normally want to do. Play helps to capture and sustain your attention even when you might want to be doing something else. It’s the irrepressible spirit that brings joy and inspiration. This seems to contradict our old beliefs that only hard work pays off. The play principle brings harmony to work in a healthier and happier way.”

EL: That’s very forward thinking. Do you think corporate America is ready for it”
JW: “For 18 years I worked the old leadership methods. I did whatever it took to succeed at all costs, following a masculine model of leadership. My success carried a huge price tag. I suffered from chronic health problems: depression and my family relationships were strained. I had to make some drastic changes in my lifestyle and leadership approaches. I took a leave of absence from the business world to heal.
I’m currently back in the throes of IBM’s fast- paced business and the stressful demands of technology. This time, I see a huge difference in my personal happiness and success. The Athena principles made it possible for me to embrace the career challenges I longed for and care for my health and my family. They have helped mc accomplish more in less time. Pleasure, passion, power and play are my new productivity tools. I feel younger and have more energy. When I’m relaxed, I make better decisions. The only thing that is predictable in life is that we’re going to he challenged. This is how we grow and evolve. How we respond to these challenges showcases our creativity. By using the principles of Athena, we can become feminine leaders who are whole, complete. beautiful and loved. We will develop the stamina and flexibility to face all of life’s challenges. We will become the leaders who will make the transformational changes that enhance joy and happiness. And like the goddess Athena, these principles will help readers become the effective and much-loved leader in their homes, communities and in the professional world. When you read this book, you will find new ways to approach conflict directly and positively The principles will build your self confidence and provide you with the professional edge to succeed at work and in your life.”

EL: “Sounds like a worthy path to pursue. Thanks for your time and thoughts. You arc a seasoned professional and I know we will all be more successful at achieving our goals and dreams for this year with the help of ATHENA- Leadership Skills for the Millennium.”

Contact Janice Wilson in Nevada at:
702/233 8305 or email: goddesslv@aol.com