Christine Clifford Beckwith

Biography

Her experience taught her how to market and sell products, services and herself. Now, Christine Clifford Beckwith shares that message with others. Christine Clifford Beckwith has definitely cracked "the glass ceiling". At the age of 40, she was Senior Executive Vice President for SPAR Marketing Services, an international merchandising and information services firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As the top salesperson in the multi-billion dollar retail service industry for over eight years, Christine was responsible for accounts with Kmart, Toys 'R' Us, Wal-Mart, AT&T, Mattel Toys, and Revlon, among others. 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 won 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 her latest book, Cancer Has Its Privileges: Stories of Hope & Laughter was released by Penguin Putnam/Perigee (May, 2002). Christine's newest book, Your Guardian Angel's Gift was published (September, 2005) and YOU, Inc. The Art of Selling Yourself, which she co-authored with her husband Harry Beckwith (Selling the Invisible) will be released in March 2007 by Warner Books. She is also co-authoring the book Skin Wisdom: A Woman's Guide to Youthful Skin with two internationally renowned dermatologists. In 1994, Christine faced a life-changing experience and began her own company. Today that organization is the world's largest producer of humorous and helpful products for people with cancer. Christine's philosophies and strategies for becoming your industry's leader are proven theories that have propelled her and the companies she's worked with to the top of their fields. Ideas, action, results... 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 Better Homes & Gardens, MORE, 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 has 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 award 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. In 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 is on the Board of the National Speakers Association- Minnesota Chapter, a member of the National Speakers Association, 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. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Angel Foundation. Christine is married to speaker/author Harry Beckwith, and between them, they will have five sons: Tim, Brooks, Harry, Will & Cole; a daughter Cooper; a dog Sneakers; and a cat Simone. Christine lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Publications

You, Inc Christine Clifford Beckwith's newest book, You, Inc. The Art of Selling Yourself was just released by Warner Books.

Titles

YOU, Inc. The Art of Selling Yourself This lecture is a treasure trove of selling and marketing techniques that even the most veteran sales reps will benefit from, and that will help distinguish you from all your competitors. Selling the Invisible: The Four Keys to Selling Your Services Clifford Beckwith explores the four keys to selling services with colorful, humorous real-life life examples. Spinning Ideas Into Action How do you climb up the corporate ladder? By spinning your ideas into action! Clifford Beckwith's philosophies will inspire and motivate you to get going today! What Clients Love: Business Development for Professional Services This program will lead you to the front lines of today's business battles with the ammunition to succeed by doing the little things right and the big things even better. Laughter: It's Good Medicine In spite of many health crises in her immediate family, and her own battle with breast cancer, Clifford Beckwith is still laughing! In this multimedia presentation she helps organizations and individuals find the humor in life's adversities. An Afternoon of Hope, Laughter and Positive Thinking Clifford Beckwith shares all the hilarious things that have happened to her as she faced breast cancer at the age of 40. She uses these stories and her legendary sense of humor to inspire others to find the bright side of life's challenges. Am I Out of Sick Days Yet? Chronic Illness can wreak havoc on an office, especially with employees trying to "fill the gaps" of an employee absence. Learn how to deal with the changes in the office, ways to offer support, and methods to deal with the challenges.