Early Years and Education
Christine Clifford was born in Michigan and raised in California. She started her education at San Marino High School where she was an active cheer leader.
When she was 15, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She died of cancer, four years later, when Clifford was 19.
She proceeded to University of Denver.She was also a member of Delta Gamma,Beta Theta Pi Sweetheart fraternity while at the University.She also study Speech Communication and Journalism at the University of Minnesota.
Growing Up and Career
She started her career at Hans brands Inc. in 1984 as a Regional Manager for about 3 years before moving to SPAR marketing services,a division of SPAR Group where she rose to Executive Senior Vice. A merchandising and information services firm based in New York.
The books and cartoons led her to starting her first company The Cancer Club, an organization through which she arranges seminars and support groups as well as sells humorous and helpful products for people with cancer.
After her second divorce in 2010, Clifford founded Divorcing Divas with her friend Barbara Greenburg. Divorcing Divas produces seminars for the newly divorced. It also sums up her own post-divorce story.
In 2011,the organization partnered with Tubman, a non-profit shelter in Minneapolis for abused women.
Clifford owns and operates Christine Clifford Enterprises, an umbrella under which four companies reside, offering motivational speaking and other services on sales, marketing, divorce and cancer
Downs
In 1994, when she was diagnosed with cancer, she started writing and drawing about her cancer, which led her to quitting her job and becoming a full-time author.
In 2013, she was informed that she got the cancer again, for which she had a double mastectomy.While going through treatment for cancer, this time she wrote her book, Laugh ‘Til It Heals: Notes from the World’s Funniest Cancer Mailbox.
Achievements
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.Christine is indeed one of such people who defied all odds to be successful in her choosing career.
As the top salesperson in the multi-billion dollar retail services industry for over eight years, Christine’s accounts included Kmart, Toys ‘R’ Us, Wal-Mart, AT&T, Mattel Toys, and Revlon. Taking her company from a million dollar per year loss to over $54 million in sales.
She signed the largest contract in the history of her industry with Procter & Gamble, doubling the size of her company overnight.She later became a professional speaker about a year after her cancer went into remission.
Clifford established a celebrity golf tournament called The Christine Clifford Celebrity Golf Invitational in 2006 and the maiden edition was one of the most successful charity event on cancer in America.
The tournament was able to raise about 100,000 dollars for cancer research.After just five tears of the early golf tournament, Clifford donated $1,000,000 through the money generated from the tournament.
Christine went on to write eight award-winning, humorous portrayals of her story and her experiences.
YOU, Inc. The Art of Selling Yourself, released March, 2007 by Warner Books, was named a “Notable Book of 2007” by the American Booksellers Association. She is also a featured author inMasters of Sales(August, 2007).
Other books by Christine include Not Now…I’m Having A No Hair Day!Our Family Has Cancer, Too!;Cancer Has Its Privileges: Stories of Hope & Laughter;Your Guardian Angel’s Gift ;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.
Christine’s last business book,Let’s Close a Deal! Turn Contacts into Paying Customers for Your Company, Product, Service or Cause was released on April, 2013 by Wiley & Sons publishers.
Her newest book,How Can I Help? Giving and Receiving Kindness & Caring When Someone You Love Has Cancer was released in April, 2018.
Christine has over 2,000 media appearances including Better Homes & Gardens,MORE,American Health,Golf Digest, as well as the Singapore Women’s Weekly and the Hindi India. She was Named a “Hero Award” Finalist by Coping. Christine has appeared on CNN Live as “one of the world’s leading authorities on the use of therapeutic humour.”
In 2002,Christine was awarded her CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation from the National Speakers Association Annual Convention in Florida.
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.
Minnesota Speakers Association, the Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humour, the National Association of Breast Cancer Organisations.
Christine has served as a Spokesperson for Health East Care Systems, St. Paul, MN and Astra Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, Wilmington, DE.She serves on the Board of Directors of the National Speakers Association,Minnesota Chapter and the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Southwest Florida.
She is listed in International Who’s Who of Professionals, the 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.”
She 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.
Christine was asked in an interview what advise she has for budding entrepreneur,she says,
“Don’t be a jack-of-all-trades; instead, become a master of one. Each of my companies has a very specific function, and I don’t wander away from our missions.”
“Use the media to gain recognition and grow your business. Create connections that can help you drive your business. And don’t forget to laugh!”.
This should serve as reminder to everyone that no matter how many obstacles we are facing in life, we can not afford to lose sight of striving for a fulfilling life.
Hard work and resilience are rewarded and the universe’s blessings are available to us at all times.
We hope you have enjoyed exploring Christine Clifford biography and her success story have inspired you to new discoveries.What do you think about the lessons taken from Christine’s story? Let us know in the comments below.
The How They Grind “My Inspiration series” profile global CEO, Sports Icons, Heroes, Professionals and Outstanding Individuals who are productive in their chosen field to use their success stories to inspire new generations.
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