Full of Moxie

A serious injury changed the course of MARY KAY (MK) CAMPBELL’s career.

“I was in a really bad car accident and sustained a head injury,” she says, adding the experience prompted her to assess the professional choices she had made and what she was doing with her life. “I realized that while I had moved up the corporate ladder and gained responsibility and respect, I had moved further away from what really mattered.

Prior to the accident, Campbell had built an impressive resumé in strategic communications and marketing. She started as a public speaker, events manager, writer, and editor. That experience led to public relations work in the health care industry, where she became an executive. She juggled her increasing work responsibilities with the responsibilities of raising two children as a single mother.

What mattered, she discovered in what she terms her “epiphany moment” while in emergency care, was connecting with others, particularly women. She wanted to hear their stories and help them on their journeys toward greater confidence and awareness of their strengths and potential. Part of this, she says, was helping women, especially women leaders, move their focus from having it all to having what matters.

“Gen X women were the first to be told, ‘You can have it all,’” she says. “We are waking up and realizing that’s not true. Many of us are in that sandwich generation between aging parents and children at home or leaving the nest. There is no road map for us.”

That epiphany led to Campbell’s launch of Queens of Moxie, which helps women grow, blossom, connect, and find joy. One foundation for her efforts is her strong belief that one person can make a difference. She learned this as a teenager working at Disney World as a costumed character, bringing some sunshine to terminally ill children and their families.

“Moxie is a great word; it implies grit and confidence, standing in your power, and being true to yourself,” Campbell says.

The first step for a woman in building her moxie, according to Campbell, is developing her mantra – her individual mission statement.

“You’ll have greater joy and satisfaction when you know what your purpose – your cause or driving force – is,” she says.

With M representing the mantra, Campbell lists the other letters in MOXIE and what they stand for.

“O is optimism,” she continues, adding that gratitude is the highest-energy frequency. “When we find beautiful moments in our day we are raising energy in our day.”

X stands for what Campbell calls extra superpowers.

“They are those aspects of your personality that are who you are,” she explains. “Somebody tells you, ‘You do XYZ so well,’ and you say, ‘That’s no big deal.’ I am highly competitive and used to focus on what I did wrong. My hope and goal for clients is they can celebrate what they do well and look for opportunities to amplify their superpowers.”

The letter I represents a person’s inner circle, a group of friends and supporters. Campbell notes that it takes time and effort for adults to develop a circle of people who are likeminded, who cheer for each other and who challenge each other to be the best version of themselves.

E stands for ease: creating restful times by stepping away from electronics and learning how to quiet your busy mind and focus on being grounded. Campbell herself meditates and practices mental disciplines she learned while recovering from her traumatic brain injury.

“The idea is not to eliminate thoughts, it is to rest, so when you notice a thought, you do something with it,” she says. “In those moments of quiet mind, that’s when your creativity and innovation occur.”

Queens of Moxie builds on what Campbell calls one of her superpowers: The fact that people feel comfortable sharing very personal information with her, even upon meeting her.

“I realize I create a safe space for people to disclose those things,” she says.

Coaching clients as they overcome negative habits and fears is only one of several Queens of Moxie offerings. Campbell also gives talks (she is a TEDx veteran), teaches public speaking and networking techniques, moderates panel discussions, leads workshops for corporate and private groups, and offers programs for businesses on invisible disabilities. She says although most of her individual work is with women, her other offerings can also help men value themselves and others.

“What if all of us took time to help others, to extend caring, compassion and love?” she asks. “If we all did that, the world would be such a different place.”

To view more of photographer Madeline Gray’s work, go to madelinegrayphoto.com.

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