Media mogul, author, syndicated columnist and political pundit Arianna Huffington came to Wilmington’s DuPont Theatre Tuesday night for a candid conversation about overcoming fear and finding balance in love, work and life.
The audience of (primarily) women 50 and up were clearly smitten with Arianna, whose down-to-earth style and enchanting stories left little question as to why she’s twice been named to Time Magazine‘s “100 Most Influential” list. (And a well-timed joke or two about ex-husbands never hurts, either!)
On her pronounced Greek accent: “My accent has been the bane of my existence…but as Henry Kissinger once told me, ‘You can never underestimate the advantages of total incomprehension.'”
On failure, perceived and real: “My mother always said, ‘Failure is the stepping stone to success.'”
On her move from right to left on the political spectrum: “I recognized that the private sector couldn’t do it alone…we needed government [to address social issues of importance to all of us].”
On her new campaign, “Sleeping Your Way to the Top”: “Never charge your electronic devices next to your bed!”
And her advice to unlock the fearless woman in all of us:
1. Learn to deal with the “obnoxious roommate” in your head. (Hers sounds like Stephen Colbert!)
2. Never lose in your own fantasy.
3. Control your attitude and avoid accumulation of stress.
3. Get more sleep!
Arianna’s presentation was part of the national “Smart Talk – Connected Conversations” series, whose mission is to connect, educate and inspire women of all ages and backgrounds by providing an entertaining and unique experience that will fuel minds and touch hearts. Tickets for the 2013 series are still available at the DuPont Theatre box office.
