She was 42, divorced, broke and couldn't bring herself to step outside her front door.

In desperation, she decided to start cooking and catering to make a few extra dollars to get through the tough times. She started small, just a few bag lunches. But within a mere six years, the restaurant she opened serving up such comfort-food-classics as cheesy meatloaf and deep fried Twinkies hit the big time - was earning her massive national (and international) fame and fortune.

Paula Dean (a.k.a., the Queen of Comfort Food) has since leveraged her success into an empire that includes a magazine, televisions, books, and more!

She's living proof that you can't let circumstances such as the economy dictate your dreams and prevent you from growing your business. You don't have to be a victim of circumstances; you make your own environment because you - no one else - is truly in charge of your life. An ancient proverb sums it up best:

"If You Master Yourself, You Can Master Anything".