Michele Spry is a children’s author, businesswoman, philanthropist, daughter, sister, aunt and wife. She lives her life by the motto “Pay it Forward”, and works each day to make a positive impact in her community and beyond. She volunteers with Honor Everywhere, Central Missouri Honor Flight, Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors and a Partner in Education at Midway Heights Elementary School (the school she attended K-6th grade).
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Show Notes:
- The habit that has led to Michele Spry’s success has been being kind, giving back, and inspiring others.
- She met her husband in high school and they have been married for 21 years.
- From a young age Michele Spry knew that she wanted to start a business.
- She didn’t go to college but knew how to work hard.
- Michele and her husband have owned their business for 17 years now.
- She has authored two books:
- A Trip to Remember
- Tom T’s Hat Rack
- It has been scary writing books because you never know if people will really like the book or not.
- The support for the books has been great.
- She is self-published and each book tells a different story.
- A Trip to Remember
- This book was inspired by her work with the Central Missouri Honor Flight.
- She wanted to pay it forward and find a WWII veteran that they could take on the journey.
- Lessons from the book are honor and respect
- She also wanted to impact the students that she talked to.
- She needed a WWII veteran that had not been on the honor flight yet.
- One day she met Lt. Colonel Purdy who came in to get his lamp fixed.
- She said him, “Mr. Purdy, are you a veteran?” His simple reply was, “I am a Marine Fighter Pilot from World War II.”
- She asked him to go on the Honor Flight and he kept turning her down.
- Eventually he said he would tell her his story if she would stop asking about the Honor Flight.
- She reunited Mr. Purdy with his wing man who he gave credit to for saving his life.
- The second plane in his logbook was a Corsair that is owned by Planes of Fame.
- It had been decommissioned and used in the television show, Baa Baa Black Sheep.
- The plane had been restored to flying conditions
- It was verified that this was the exact plane that he flew in WWII.
- On June 16, 2016 they made history by finding a person that had flown this plane.
- She was able to help raise money to bring the plane to Columbia, Missouri for the men to fly in again.
- It was amazing seeing the veteran reunited to the plane that he flew in.
- For more information on these stories check out Michele’s Website.
- For Honor Flight, there are 137 hubs around the country.
- It was created for WWII veterans to see their memorials.
- Central Missouri is one of the premier Honor Flights. They have taken 55 flights and over 4,000 veterens.
- It is hard to process everything that goes on during a flight.
- Honor Everywhere with Sarah Hill
- This is the next best thing when Honor Flight is not an option.
- It is a Virtual Reality (VR) experience that was captured during a Central Missouri Honor Flight.
- This might be the only chance for some veterans to experience the memorials.
- In VR you are immersed in what you would be seeing if you were there.
- In these difficult times in our country, we have to have communication and discuss the things that are going on.
- This will help you to see all side of the argument.
- Paying it forward
- Going through Starbucks she wanted to buy a solider his drink and just tell him to have a good day.
- This created a spirit in her to do it more often and as much as she can.
- We have to realize all of the blessings that we have.
- There are a few ways that she gets through the busy and stressful parts of her day:
- She writes a list of things that she needs to do.
- Some days go really smooth and other days do not.
- Learning that it is alright to say no.
- Find your focus
- Support the Central Missouri Honor Flight
Michele Spry’s Recharge Round
- Share with us how you believe your mindset affects your life? Being kind and showing kindness creates a positive mindset.
- What do you do daily to bring Energy into your life? She puts a positive attitude out there.
- Share the number one connection that has made the biggest impact on your life? Sarah Hill: Her passion towards Veterans.
- What advice has Influenced you the most in your life? “Used negative advice to prove it to him that she did not need a degree to be successful”
“There isn’t anything that you can’t do, just things you haven’t tried yet” - Recommend a book and share why you love it? A Trip to Remember
- Define in one sentence or less, what legacy you want to leave on the world? “Be the change you want to see in this world” by Gandhi
Contact:
CentralMissouriHonorFlight.com
Connect with Michele through social media or on her website when you order a book and your book will be signed by Mr. Purdy and she will also throw in a copy of her first book, Tom T’s Hat Rack, as well.
Piece of Guidance:
Make a positive affect anywhere that you go
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