Dana Perino, former press secretary for George W. Bush, has written a new book to share her insights about life and faith.
“Everything Will Be Okay: Life Lessons for Young Women (From a Former Young Woman)” tells her story from her childhood in Wyoming and Colorado to the White House.
“So I go to the White House that Monday, I’m very nervous because I don’t really want to leave the White House, but my husband and I made this decision,” Perino, who hosts “The Five” and “America’s Newsroom,” Perino said. “I see Ed Gillespie and say, ‘Hi, can I talk to you after this morning’s meeting?’ He said, ‘Yes, I need to talk to you, too.'”
Fast forward to their private conversation and Perino was on the verge of breaking the news she was leaving Washington. “And he said, ‘Hey, do you mind if I go first?’ And I said, ‘Oh sure.’ And he said, ‘The president would like to name you as press secretary on Friday.'”
READ: Dana Perino shares personal faith in interview
Perino says she wonders what would have happened had she gone first in that conversation.
“It’s just another example of God’s grace and trusting that he has the plan,” she said. “You don’t have to plan. You can stop planning. You can have goals. You can work very hard. You can make assignments for yourself for things you want to improve and learn more about things and be a better writer and add more reading, and go to bed early and really try to take care of yourself because that’s a really important decision, but the truth is, everything is OK, because everything is in his hands.
“I love working. I love my job. I love all these opportunities that I’ve had. But I feel like at this point, one of the most rewarding things about working is helping younger people achieve their goals.”
“If you make good personal decisions, you will thrive. It won’t always be easy, but you will be able to succeed if you just follow your heart, be smart, make good decisions, don’t waste your time, surround yourself with good people, and everything will be okay,” Perino told The Daily Caller.
Interesting quotes from “Everything Will Be Okay”:
“Choosing to be loved is not a career-limiting decision”
“Being late means that no matter how talented you are, you don’t come across as committed and serious. Being punctual shows you care, you’re responsible, and you can be given more duties”
“In almost every field, women are succeeding more than ever before. Women are advancing rapidly, and yet they feel that time is not on their side. They’re in a bit of a hurry to make something (and everything!) happen.
“There has never been a better time to be a young, educated woman in America. Being born in the United States means you’ve already won the lottery of life.”
“You might consider starting a gratitude journal where you write down three things every day that you are grateful for.”
“One of the best parts of getting a little older is being able to help younger people. You end up with a little success and suddenly people will ask you for advice–and you think Really? What do I know? I’m still trying to figure it out myself!
“Nothing makes me happier than seeing a young woman emerge from her quarter-life crisis, realize her potential, and see her hard work pay off.”
“Having to make a decision isn’t a burden. Getting to make decisions is a blessing. Try to reframe your thinking into what a gift it is to live in a free country where you have so many choices to make.”
“One of the best ways to figure out who you want to be and how you want to live is to observe others. We learn best by watching and listening, taking it all in.”
“Role models change throughout your life–keep looking for them”
“I’ve always tried to be the most well-read person at the meeting, in the briefing room, during a morning call. It gives me confidence and power.”
“Find the most talented, most knowledgeable, and strong people possible, and add them to your team.”
“The best way to become a leader is to jump in, take a chance, be a good listener, make decisions, and fill a void. If you can demonstrate the qualities of someone that should be listened to and followed, you’ll earn the title of “leader.”
“We all like being liked. We crave it possibly too much. But I’ve learned that being respected is even better.”
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
