More than an average author of a how–to–succeed book, Ana Mollinedo Mims is on a mission. A devout Christian herself, Ana has blended what has brought her to the top of her game, as an executive at a Fortune 500 company, with the faith–based philosophy she believes is the foundation for her finding meaning, and thus success, in all aspects of her professional life.

The principles Ana discusses in this book–faith, integrity, humility, prayer, forgiveness, stewardship, and legacy–are concepts which have carried her well into a very distinguished career. They are principles that underlie a spirit–led career she believes is possible for anyone wanting to give purpose to the single most time–consuming aspect of all our lives: work.

Keeping The Faith looks at some of the common struggles all people face at various stages of their working lives–helping readers to remain true to what they deeply believe. From her own experiences, Ana shows us that when difficulties and doubts are confronted using her unique take on spiritual pragmatism, each difficulty can extend itself into success, growth, and a clearer understanding of one's self, and one's own sense of professional purpose.

Ana believes that the answers or the outcomes in each case will become clearer, more deeply satisfying, more "right," when one is able to shift one's line of sight, and consider what it means to blend a working life together with devoutly spiritual one.

I'm an ordinary person. There is nothing particularly special about me compared with countless others. If you came to know me over time, you might notice a few idiosyncrasies.

For example, I hate talking on the phone and I don't like to watch TV. I couldn't tell you who's a pop singer these days or name a top 10 song. Reading is a great pleasure of mine. In terms of style, my clothes, which have to last forever since I don't like to shop, are largely all black and shades of black. I started buying black almost exclusively during my years of traveling on the job, when a day started with a breakfast meeting and ended in a reception at night. I learned to dress in outfits that would look professional from early morning and into the evening. But the truth is I've loved black since I was a kid. I read once that black is defined as the presence of all color, so on that basis, I have always considered myself very colorful.

I can't cook, though I love to entertain. My friends call me the Hispanic Martha Stewart. I've developed a repertoire of interesting, delicious vegetarian appetizers that I like to serve, all neatly set out on pretty plates with little printed cards next to the dishes, so people know what they're eating. I enjoy the art of display.

In my next career, in fact, I might choose to be an interior decorator. Mixing fabrics and colors and pulling it all together in a way that feels peaceful and warm and unique is deeply satisfying to me. Again, I like the art of display. I believe home should be an expression of who you are. I'm big on having personal pictures around my house, telling a history of where I've been and about my family and my friends.

So again, a few idiosyncrasies, but nothing special. I'm an ordinary person living an ordinary life.

However, one night, years ago, I had an extraordinary experience that changed my life and subsequently who I have become and set me on a spiritual journey that shaped my decisions from an early age. This experience brought me to a place where I have grown to hold certain things true:

• I believe in destiny.
• I believe each of us has a path that points toward that destiny.
• I believe in God, the Lord God. Not Allah, not a univeral power, not an energy, but in the Living God who became man through the person of Jesus Christ.
• I believe that I am here for a purpose, not because of some random occurrence or decision by my parents.
• I believe events in my life happen for a reason, not by accident.
• I believe that we have free will, and when we cede that free will to God's purpose and plan, in life and in business, we will find ourselves on a journey that will fulfill and elate us, by no one's standards but His own.

I want to tell you about that night—what led up to it and where it led me.

I was an eighteen-year-old cuban-born girl, living in South Florida with my siblings and immigrant parents. I was basically a good girl—advanced student in school, not doing drugs or drinking, not playing around with boys. I was busy with part-time jobs and schoolwork. But during the previous year, at the age of seventeen, I had started feeling as if everything was in shambles. Personally, I felt I was a mess.

I was struggling with decisions about what to study and what to do with my life. And struggling with the family dynamics that most teenagers struggle with did not help either. I seemed to be growing and changing faster and to a greater degree than my parents could keep up with, and of course that was causing conflicts. The conflicts usually centered around typical and unsurprising issues: I was the oldest child, and so paving the way in new areas—determining my own schedule, getting my own car, and so...

More than an average author of a how-to-succeed book, Ana Mollinedo Mims is on a mission. A devout Christian herself, Ana has blended what has brought her to the top of her game, as an executive at a Fortune 500 company, with the faith-based philosophy she believes is the foundation for her finding meaning, and thus success, in all aspects of her professional life.

The principles Ana discusses in this book-faith, integrity, humility, prayer, forgiveness, stewardship, and legacy-are concepts which have carried her well into a very distinguished career. They are principles that underlie a spirit-led career she believes is possible for anyone wanting to give purpose to the single most time-consuming aspect of all our lives: work.

Ana believes that the answers or the outcomes in each case will become clearer, more deeply satisfying, more "right," when one is able to shift one's line of sight, and consider what it means to blend a working life together with devoutly spiritual...

Ana Mollinedo Mims has held executive positions with Fortune 500 corporations and not-for-profit organizations, guiding strategic development, change management, communications, media and corporate relations, government and investor relations, community and philanthropic efforts, and Web site/portal design and strategy. She speaks nationally to business groups about strategic development, growth, implementation of global corporate functions, mentoring, and building ROI through business integration of corporate affairs functions. She has a particular interest in the career development of young women and minority students and professionals. She has written articles and has appeared on television and in numerous business magazine interviews, including the cover of Black Enterprise. Ana is Cuban-American and lives in Connecticut with her husband John and daughter Sydney.