While my friends were graduating college, I was eight years deep in eye care—at just 23. That realization sparked a plan. I grabbed a piece of paper, drew a circle, and marked eight “DOTS,” starting with 1987: the year I knew this wasn’t just a job—it was my calling.
That simple paper became my compass through marriage, motherhood, and career pivots. Years later, prepping for my first keynote and staring at a box of DOTS candy, inspiration struck: “Connecting the Eye Care DOTS.” That sweet moment became my keynote title, and those DOTS turned into a framework for life and leadership.
Each flavor represents what to savor, mix, or toss—just like experiences and relationships. Some are sweet, others… taste like pledge. But all are part of the journey.
So, what color is your favorite DOT? Mine is red. While red dye #3 may be banned, I pivot as we must and find the flavor that I will savor moving forward.
I love what I do—because I choose to do what I love.
You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”