Tessa Greenspan’s motto is “Live life full out – create prosperity, wellness, energy and joy.” And she is one smart, successful business owner who sees a silver lining in every cloud.
The former owner of Sappington Farmers Market in St. Louis, Greenspan is now in her encore chapter as a motivational speaker and book author.
Available on Amazon, Greenspan’s international bestseller, “From Outhouse to Penthouse: Life Lessons on Love, Laughter and Leadership,” is her moving story about overcoming odds and learning to thrive. With unconditional love from her mother, a husband who was a produce wiz, and the support of her family and employees, Tessa took a failing business with $1 million in debt, successfully turning her grocery store around, grossing $10 million in sales.
Greenspan is a motivating, energetic force who strongly believes in the law of attraction, leading with a loving, generous heart, and knows that life is about being real, humble and kind. Never too old to dream, join her on her journey as she leaves a trail of kindness through hard work and determination, and uses the power of a giving heart to create her own destiny.
She is a life-long learner and risk taker who believes in opening a door for people and giving them a leg up. As a leader of the National Association of Women Business Owners and Women President’s Association, she has done just that for hundreds of businesswomen. This year, she will give the keynote speech at the Federal Reserve on how to be positive in a negative world.
Every morning, Greenspan suggests focusing on calming your mind. She starts her day with mindful meditation, some reading, and recording in her journal what she is grateful for, then reads it back to herself to kick-start the day.
“I choose to live full out, stay healthy, touch as many people as possible in a positive way, live a life of significance, and leave a legacy,” she said, offering the following tips for these challenging times in her book, in her blog and on her website at tessagreenspan.com.
On Business: Don’t ever let age stop you. Find a mentor and surround yourself with positive people. Join good organizations and stay away from negative people who naysay your dreams.
The Power of Positivity: Banish negative thinking. What you say to yourself is so powerful. Always be aware of what you put into your mind. You always hear what you say to yourself, even if you are thinking or dreaming it. To improve your life, change your thinking.
Rearrange Your Priorities: Like a messy desk or drawer that needs organizing, put family, people and kindness at the top of your list. Connect with your true self during these quiet times, and let your true north navigate the days ahead.
Manage Difficult Emotions and Thoughts: These are difficult times, and many of us are anxious and afraid. Reading self-help books about mindfulness and practicing mindful meditation with an app or subscribing to a blog, can help.
Reduce Stress Daily: Managing stress well makes a difference in your physical and mental health. Stress raises your blood pressure and cortisol levels and lowers immune system’s ability to fight infection. Make a list of the 10 things you feel stressed about and outline a game plan for alleviating the key stressors in your life. Tackle what you can and sweep the rest out the door of your mind.
Be A Mentor: Find a mentor in the profession that you aspire to work in. Work in that business and see what not to do before you start your own business.
Greenspan’s first mentor was her mother who never gave up or felt sorry for herself.
“We would talk about disappointments,” said Greenspan, after her 21-year-old mother lost her leg. “She raised two children on welfare, went to school on crutches and made something of herself by setting a goal and working on it every day.”
Greenspan mentors and inspires others in her speaking engagements and is a member of the Women President’s Organization, which she said is “a little like your own think tank for ideas, networking and out-of-the-box solutions.”
Greenspan is a motivational speaker, author and entrepreneur. She can be contacted at tessa@tessagreenspan.com. Nanette Wiser is a journalist and media consultant.
This is a book for everyone RIGHT NOW! As we go through difficult and unknown times, it is so important to have the right outlook to emotionally survive. Tessa has been a friend, mentor, and the second mother to me for years and knows a thing or two about how to make lemons into lemonade. Buy this book for anyone struggling right now. Empowering, enlightening, and good food for the soul.