Category Archives: Ellyn’s Blog

Canyon Ranch III !

Posted on May 21, 2013 by espragins | 1 Comment

“What a terrific opportunity to look at my life in the biggest picture way possible, under the thoughtful guidance of Ellyn. Since a look in the rear-view mirror reflects the present, I find it empowering to be aware that if I’m willing to learn through my own experiences, I can be my own best advisor.” Rose Maloney, 2011 LTMYS Retreat attendee

My favorite part of last year’s Letters To My Younger Self® Retreat at Canyon Ranch (Lenox, MA) was a combined paddle-and-hike amidst the colorful Continue reading →

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Posted in Ellyn's Blog

Tagged B.I.G., Canyon Ranch Lenox, Ellyn Spragins, Entrepreneurs, Leading Women Entrepreneurs, letters to my younger self, Retreat

Fighting the Double Standard with a High-Visibility Cocktail Party

Posted on May 21, 2013 by espragins | Leave a comment

One of the unspoken struggles that flummox many women’s leadership initiatives is a double standard in perception.

As research reflects, when a woman executive keeps her head down, performs well and waits to be rewarded, she’s perceived as unambitious and lacking drive. If she’s aggressive and makes tough decisions, she may be viewed as a cold, calculating shrew. Continue reading →

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Posted in Ellyn's Blog

Tagged Ellyn Spragins, Enterprise Holdings, Kris Huber, letters to my younger self, Michelle Bosch, Success, talented women, woman leaders, women's interest network

My Soldier Dad

Posted on June 19, 2012 by espragins | 2 Comments

We had our father’s 89^th birthday celebration over Memorial Day weekend this year. My brother, three sisters and I had planned on a 90^th birthday bash, but our stepmother suggested this year might be better. There would be a better chance of Dad being able to enjoy it. Continue reading →

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Posted in Ellyn's Blog, Family, Health

Tagged Ellyn Spragins, family, fathers, letters to my younger self, Love, motherhood

Thank you David Brooks

Posted on June 18, 2011 by espragins | 2 Comments

I’m privileged to look behind the curtain and I know it. Working with executives, celebrities, neighbors, friends and women everywhere on writing letters to their younger selves gives me a glimpse into what I think of as their interior landscape. It’s emotional territory, but studded with distinctive landmarks, just like the earth’s topography: shining pools of pure, intense feeling, hills containing sedimentary layers of inchoate sensations and stands of giant trees clustered around supercharged memories. Continue reading →

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Posted in Ellyn's Blog

Tagged a letter to my younger self, David Brooks, Ellyn Spragins, identity, letters to my younger self, self-acceptance, Success, The Social Animal

What Men Say When They Talk To Their Younger Selves

Posted on June 2, 2011 by espragins | Leave a comment

What do male executives say in their letters to their younger selves? Frankly, I was recently blown away by the experience.

On May 10^th I conducted a standing-room-only Letters To My Younger Self® Seminar with five managing director panelists—three women and two men—for Deutsche Bank at its Wall Street headquarters. Because this event served as the kick-off for the Aspire Project, sponsored by DB’s Americas Finance Diversity team, it was well-attended by more than 150 male and female bankers from various disciplines and backgrounds.

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Tagged a letter to my younger self, Ellyn Spragins, Letters To My Younger Self Seminar, male executives, Success

Two reasons to write a letter to your younger self

Posted on April 27, 2011 by espragins | Leave a comment

Shopping is called “retail therapy.” But it sometimes gets out of hand. Jill Chivers is an Australian entrepreneur who helps women find a healthier approach to shopping. She recently decided to write a letter to her younger self and discovered the exercise’s surprising power. Here, she explains why.

There’s something magical about writing a letter to your younger self. In writing to my teenage self, I discovered two main reasons to do it: Continue reading →

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Tagged a letter to my younger self, blog, Ellyn Spragins, letters to my younger self, Teenager

A Night with Stars of WIKN About Success

Posted on March 21, 2011 by espragins | Leave a comment

On March 11th I enjoyed the rare, lucky experience of bringing What I Know Now About Success to life. Trish McEvoy, makeup artist and founder of Trish McEvoy, Mary Lou Quinlan, author and founder of Just Ask A Woman, and Linda Kaplan Thaler, author and founder of The Kaplan Thaler Agency all joined me at the Sony Technology Wonder Lab (just as wonderful as it sounds) for an event sponsored by New York Women in Communication. Continue reading →

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Posted in Ellyn's Blog

Tagged a letter to my younger self, career advice, Ellyn Spragins, how to succeed, letters to my younger self, Linda Kaplan Thaler, Mary Lou Quinlan, Successful women, Trish McEvoy, what i know now about success

The leaves will be beautiful…

Posted on February 24, 2011 by espragins | 1 Comment

Self-discovery and spa treatments–what could be better?

Please join me at Canyon Ranch, Lenox, MA on Oct. 16th for a Letters To My Younger Self with Ellyn Spragins Workshop Retreat.

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Posted in Ellyn's Blog

Tagged a letter to my younger self, Ellyn Spragins, inspiration, what i know now about success

Save the Date: October 16th, 2011 Join me at the first LTMYS Retreat at Canyon Ranch, Lenox, MA

Posted on February 24, 2011 by espragins | Leave a comment

Canyon Ranch Retreat

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Posted in Ellyn's Blog

Tagged a letter to my younger self, Ellyn Spragins, letters to my younger self, Letters To My Younger Self Party, Trusting Your Gut

Facebook-Worthy?

Posted on February 2, 2011 by espragins | 1 Comment

I’ve always loved the Duchenne smile—so called because an ambitious neurologist named Duchenne discovered in the mid-1800s that genuine happiness could not be faked with a smile. Real joy or amusement not only activates the muscles around the mouth, it also involuntarily sparks muscles near the eyes. When you receive one of these authentic crinkly-eyed smiles, I bet you feel a spurt of warmth somewhere inside. Continue reading →