All of us have read or heard stories about people who turn lemons into lemonade. It is not often that we get the privilege of meeting such an individual.
Before her bout with breast cancer, Christine Clifford had definitely cracked the "glass ceiling". By age 40, she was Senior Executive Vice President for The SPAR Group, an international information and merchandising services firm in New York.
Once the top salesperson in the multi- billion dollar service industry, Christine's accounts included Kmart, Toys 'R' Us, Walmart, AT&T, Mattel Toys, and Revlon. Taking her company from a million dollar per year loss to over $54 million in sales, Christine signed the largest contract in the history of her industry with Procter & Gamble, doubling the size of her company overnight.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in December of '94, Christine went on to write a humorous portrayal of her story in a book entitled Not Now...I'm Having A No Hair Day! Her book was nominated in two categories including "Best Motivational Book" of 1996 and "Best First Book" by the Books for a Better Life Awards. It won "Best Health Book of 1995/96" and "Best Illustrated Book" from the Midwest Independent Publishers Association. It won "Best Cover Design" and "Best Self Help/How-To Book" from the Mid-America Publishers Association. Her second book, especially for children, is entitled Our Family Has Cancer, Too! It was nominated for a prestigious "Benjamin Franklin" Award for Parenting (Family Issues/Child Care) from the Publishers Marketing Association. Her third book, Inspiring Breakthrough Secrets to Live Your Dreams was published in December, 2001 (Aviva Publishing), and Cancer Has Its Privileges: Stories of Hope & Laughter was published by Penguin Putnam/Perigee (May, 2002).
Christine's fifth book, Your Guardian Angel's Gift, was released on May 1, 2005. YOU, Inc. The Art of Selling Yourself was released by Grand Central Publishing in 2007. Laugh ' Til It Heals: Notes from the World's Funniest Cancer Mailbox and The Clue Phone's Ringing... It's for You! Healing Humor for Women Divorcing have just been released (November, 2011) by Anshan.
Christine's newest book, Let's Close a Deal: Turn Contacts into Paying Customers for Your Company, Product, Service or Cause, was released by Wiley & Sons.
The year Christine faced a life-changing experience, she began her own company, The Cancer Club. Today that organization is the world's largest producer of humorous and helpful products for people with cancer.
Christine does business consulting on sales and marketing strategies at Christine Clifford Enterprises.
She is also CEO/President of Divorcing Divas, a company that hosts all-day educational conferences for people going through divorce.
Christine is a contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Survivor's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Golfer's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul, and is featured in the books The Courage to Laugh and The Triumph of the Human Spirit: Real Cancer Survivors, Real Battles, Real Victories.
She has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Better Homes & Gardens, MORE magazine, American Health, Golf Digest, as well as The Singapore Women's Weekly and the Hindu in India. She was a 1998 "Hero Award" finalist for Coping magazine, and appeared on CNN Live in 1998 as "one of the world's leading authorities on the use of therapeutic humor". She also appeared on Lifetime Television Network's New Attitudes show, and the Leeza Show.
Host of The Christine Clifford Celebrity Golf Invitational, a benefit for breast cancer research, Christine's inaugural event raised over $100,000, making it the most successful first-year event in the history of the American Cancer Society. She has raised over $1,000,000 for breast cancer research and has received the Council of Excellence Award for income development from the American Cancer Society.
In July, 2002, Christine was awarded The Order of the Delta Gamma Rose from the Fraternity to confer special honor upon alumnae members who have made distinguished contributions to the nation or to the world through their individual efforts and talents and whose achievements have been given national recognition. It is the highest honor one can receive from the Fraternity.
July, 2002 Christine was awarded her "CSP" (Certified Speaking Professional) designation from the National Speakers Association. The letters "CSP" following a speaker's name indicate a speaking professional with proven experience who brings a proven track record of experience and expertise.
Less than 7% of the 5,000 speakers who belong to the International Federation for Professional Speakers hold this professional designation.
Christine has served as a Spokesperson for HealthEast Care Systems, St. Paul, MN and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Wilmington, DE. She serves on the Board of Directors of the National Speakers Association-- Minnesota Chapter and Angel Foundation.
Christine is a member of the the National Speakers Association, the National Speakers Association-- Minnesota Chapter, the American Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, and the National Association of Breast Cancer Organizations. She is listed in International Who's Who of Professionals, International Who's Who of Entrepreneurs, and International Who's Who of Authors and Writers. She is also listed in Contemporary Authors and 2,000 Notable American Women.
Christine was voted one of the Top5 Speakers in Healthcare for 2010 by Speakers Platform, one of the United States most prominent speakers bureaus. Out of hundreds of nominees, Christine has risen to become one of the world's most respected and compelling speakers in healthcare.
In 2009, Christine helped launch a new direct marketing company with LifeVantage Corporation, San Diego, CA.
She has two sons: Tim and Brooks, and her beloved Siberian Husky Skylar. Christine lives in Minneapolis.
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