A Diamond in the Rough

December 22, 2025 / Stephanie Dehesa / 30th Anniversary Posts

I am deeply thankful to Kirsten and Mary Jane for:

• Hiring me with no immigration experience in 2005
• Creating a collaborative, challenging, fun, and supportive environment to thrive in
• Inspiring me through their fearless, compassionate, and resilient leadership to become a better employee and person
• Fostering a work environment where individuals are seen, valued, and capable of achieving more
• Seeing all the hidden potential I had inside me and helping me to unlock and realize them
• Encouraging and empowering this unpolished gem to dazzle, sparkle, and shine bright
• Helping me forge a remarkable and multi-faceted life

As a fan of inspirational quotes, I found some to share below that I feel reflects what I have learned while working at Weaver Schlenger.

“Stay away from those people who try to disparage your ambitions.  Small minds will always do that, but great minds will give you a feeling that you can become great too.”

“On the difficult days, when the world is on your shoulders, remember that diamonds are made under the pressure of mountains.”

“The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday.”

“Never let success go to your head, never let failure get to your heart." 

“To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny bone.” 

"Act as if what you do makes a difference.  It does."

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

"If my mind can conceive it, if my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it." 

"It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent."

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." 

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new."

"If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else."

"Tough times never last, but tough people do."

“I never lose. Either I win or learn.”

“If you can do what you do best and be happy, you are further along in life than most people.”

“We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.”

“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.”

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”