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Funny Side Up: A Southern Girl's Guide to Love, Laughter, and Money
Why are you here? What is the unique gift you are meant to share with the world?
Rita Davenport says, “I fervently believe that every single one of us is sent into this world with a unique purpose and with all the talent we need to fulfill that purpose. And by everyone I mean you.…”
For the past four decades Rita Davenport has touched the lives of millions. As television host, bestselling author and motivational speaker, and legendary business leader and philanthropist, Rita has crisscrossed the country, bringing people the message that our lives can be richer than we have ever imagined.
For the first time ever, the master of straight-talking, laugh-a-minute, from-the-heart motivational speeches has put her story to paper.
Part memoir, part inspirational guide to living your dreams, Funny Side Up traces Rita’s extraordinary story and the lessons learned along the way—lessons that will inspire and challenge you to go beyond what you may have thought possible.
By both her example and her gentle wisdom, Rita shows you:
• As a leader, how to touch the lives of everyone around you by giving the greatest gift there is—the gift of yourself.
• As an entrepreneur, how to blow past any limitations and barriers to soar to the top of your field.
• As a person, how to create a life of fulfillment, joy, and stunning accomplishments.
Rita Davenport says, “I fervently believe that every single one of us is sent into this world with a unique purpose and with all the talent we need to fulfill that purpose. And by everyone I mean you.…”
For the past four decades Rita Davenport has touched the lives of millions. As television host, bestselling author and motivational speaker, and legendary business leader and philanthropist, Rita has crisscrossed the country, bringing people the message that our lives can be richer than we have ever imagined.
For the first time ever, the master of straight-talking, laugh-a-minute, from-the-heart motivational speeches has put her story to paper.
Part memoir, part inspirational guide to living your dreams, Funny Side Up traces Rita’s extraordinary story and the lessons learned along the way—lessons that will inspire and challenge you to go beyond what you may have thought possible.
By both her example and her gentle wisdom, Rita shows you:
• As a leader, how to touch the lives of everyone around you by giving the greatest gift there is—the gift of yourself.
• As an entrepreneur, how to blow past any limitations and barriers to soar to the top of your field.
• As a person, how to create a life of fulfillment, joy, and stunning accomplishments.
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2012
5 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Rita Davenport
27 books5 followersRita Davenport is an internationally recognized expert in the principles of success, time management, goal-setting, creative thinking, and self-esteem and confidence. Her unique background as an entrepreneur, corporate executive, author, speaker, humorist, and broadcaster sets her apart and has made her one of the most beloved and widely admired role models on the speaking circuit.
She produced and hosted her own award-winning television shows in Phoenix, Arizona, for 15 years. The Arizona Broadcasters Association inducted her into their Hall of Fame. She has also appeared as a guest on more than 200 radio and television shows, including ABC's Good Morning America, NBC's The Today Show, Lifestyles with Regis Philbin, and The Sally Jesse Raphael Show.
As a speaker, Rita has been called motivational, challenging, humorous, personal, and powerful. She is a charter member of the National Speakers Association and is listed in the NSA Hall of Fame, and has shared the speakers' platform with such notables as Erma Bombeck, Les Brown, Jack Canfield, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Mark Victor Hansen, Tom Hopkins, John Maxwell, Og Mandino, Denis Waitley, and Zig Ziglar. She has presented over 1,000 seminars globally and been retained as a management consultant to Fortune 500 companies.
Rita has written three books that have sold over one million copies, including the bestseller Making Time, Making Money and two cookbooks, Sourdough Cookery and De Grazia & Mexican Cookery, with famed Southwestern artist Ted De Grazia.
An accomplished entrepreneur, promoting Success Strategies, Rita was a pioneer in the field of personal development infomercials, producing two highly successful programs in the late eighties based on her audio programs, It's Time for You and Laugh Your Way to Success, which were viewed in over 32 million homes. In 1991 she was named president of Arbonne International, a personal care products company. Under her twenty-year leadership, Arbonne experienced tremendous growth and recognition in the direct sales industry, growing from a $5 million company to nearly $1 billion in annual sales and well more than a million independent representatives. Her story has been featured in many national magazines, such as SUCCESS, People, Networking Times, and Working at Home.
The first person in her family ever to graduate from high school, Rita went on to earn a B.S. degree from Middle Tennessee State University and in 1984 was honored with its Distinguished Alumnus Award. She has been named an Outstanding Young Woman in America and been honored as Arizona's Woman of the Year. She has taught at both high school and graduate levels in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Phoenix, Arizona. Rita has also been involved in many professional organizations including the Direct Selling Association, Platform Professionals, American Women in Radio and Television, Arizona Press Women, and Women in Communications, and has been an active philanthropist, especially in her work to support Sojourner Center and Faces In The Mirror in Phoenix, Arizona.
Rita feels that her most outstanding accomplishments have been as wife to her high school sweetheart, David, and mother to her two sons, Michael and Scott. She resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her husband.
She produced and hosted her own award-winning television shows in Phoenix, Arizona, for 15 years. The Arizona Broadcasters Association inducted her into their Hall of Fame. She has also appeared as a guest on more than 200 radio and television shows, including ABC's Good Morning America, NBC's The Today Show, Lifestyles with Regis Philbin, and The Sally Jesse Raphael Show.
As a speaker, Rita has been called motivational, challenging, humorous, personal, and powerful. She is a charter member of the National Speakers Association and is listed in the NSA Hall of Fame, and has shared the speakers' platform with such notables as Erma Bombeck, Les Brown, Jack Canfield, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Mark Victor Hansen, Tom Hopkins, John Maxwell, Og Mandino, Denis Waitley, and Zig Ziglar. She has presented over 1,000 seminars globally and been retained as a management consultant to Fortune 500 companies.
Rita has written three books that have sold over one million copies, including the bestseller Making Time, Making Money and two cookbooks, Sourdough Cookery and De Grazia & Mexican Cookery, with famed Southwestern artist Ted De Grazia.
An accomplished entrepreneur, promoting Success Strategies, Rita was a pioneer in the field of personal development infomercials, producing two highly successful programs in the late eighties based on her audio programs, It's Time for You and Laugh Your Way to Success, which were viewed in over 32 million homes. In 1991 she was named president of Arbonne International, a personal care products company. Under her twenty-year leadership, Arbonne experienced tremendous growth and recognition in the direct sales industry, growing from a $5 million company to nearly $1 billion in annual sales and well more than a million independent representatives. Her story has been featured in many national magazines, such as SUCCESS, People, Networking Times, and Working at Home.
The first person in her family ever to graduate from high school, Rita went on to earn a B.S. degree from Middle Tennessee State University and in 1984 was honored with its Distinguished Alumnus Award. She has been named an Outstanding Young Woman in America and been honored as Arizona's Woman of the Year. She has taught at both high school and graduate levels in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Phoenix, Arizona. Rita has also been involved in many professional organizations including the Direct Selling Association, Platform Professionals, American Women in Radio and Television, Arizona Press Women, and Women in Communications, and has been an active philanthropist, especially in her work to support Sojourner Center and Faces In The Mirror in Phoenix, Arizona.
Rita feels that her most outstanding accomplishments have been as wife to her high school sweetheart, David, and mother to her two sons, Michael and Scott. She resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 6, 2018
This is one of the most encouraging books I have ever read. Rita was a keynote speaker at this year's Erma Bombeck Writer's Workshop. After hearing her speak, I had to read her book. She has encouraged me to set goals and believe in the gifts that God has given me.
April 12, 2021
humorous and encouraging
November 29, 2012
This is a must read!! Rita's wisdom is life changing and you will walk a better path after reading this book. One of my favorite Ritaisms: Don't hang around with people who are more messed up than you are.
August 23, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this heart-felt book. Rita lets the reader into her life and opens her soul for all to see. She gave me a new perspective and lots to think about with how I think about things and let life affect me. A wonderful book!
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June 16, 2013This is great book for anyone. It has a lot of humor and wonderful for ways to view life, your own battles and basically how to view and live your life.
January 31, 2013
Lots so inspiration here for everyone!
March 4, 2013
Good read, love Rita!
September 2, 2013
Excellent. Easy read. Full of lots of wisdom regarding not only business principles, but also valuable life principles.
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April 23, 2018Favorite quote:
"What makes a life genuinely rich is most accurately measured by how many ways you make a positive difference in other people's lives." p. 180
"What makes a life genuinely rich is most accurately measured by how many ways you make a positive difference in other people's lives." p. 180
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews